Pelican's new 7060 patrol flashlight is a breakthrough product for Pelican and for 21st-century law enforcement. For Pelican, it is a radically new design. For law enforcement officers, the 7060 is a fully functional lightweight patrol flashlight that—for better or for worse—cannot be used as a club.

The 7060 was created specifically to meet the needs of the Los Angeles Police Department following the uproar over a video that showed officers using larger flashlights to strike a suspect.

It should also be stated up front that making the light "soft" was not the only input Pelican received from LAPD administrators and street cops. Concerns that were addressed by the designers included size/weight, durability, light output, battery life, bulb life, and operating costs.

The Pelican 7060 is a very bright light. It uses a high-output LED that pumps out 130 lumens. That's enough to light a backyard for an area search or allow an officer to see a threat in a suspect's hand at 50 or more yards. It's also enough light to provide operational illumination at 120 yards. That's outstanding for a light that weighs 10.4 ounces with batteries and measures a mere 8.6 inches.

Runtime on the rechargeable Pelican 7060 is about 1.5 hours. Recharging time is about five to six hours. The light comes standard with a home charger, but the LAPD and other agencies are buying a patrol car charging system to ensure that their officers have a bright, fully charged flashlight.

Burn time on the Pelican 7060's LED is 10,000 hours. I'd lay odds that you will never need to replace it. In contrast, an incandescent bulb in a similar sized and equivalently bright light probably only lasts 30 hours.

All of that aside, it's the great ergonomics that make the 7060 a winner. The body is octagonal so it won't roll. It also has machine checkering to help you get a good grip in almost any conditions. But the best feature is the dual on/off switches—one at the tail and one on the body of the light. This allows you to activate the light from several different positions in your hand. It's a really nice touch.

If you want a lightweight, rechargeable, powerful flashlight with excellent ergonomics, take a close look at the Pelican 7060.

Danner

Telson Duty Boot

I have worn Danner's Acadia boot in one of its many forms for over 20 years. And I'm a big fan. I'm an even bigger fan of Danner now that I've tried the company's new Telson boots.

The Telson is a lightweight boot built with comfort and performance in mind. It's durable enough to be worn on the beat or patrol, yet light enough to run, climb, and jump in during training or when serving a high-risk warrant. Danner built this boot from the sole up to be an all-round uniform boot.

The most radical thing about the Telson and the way Danner made this boot lighter is the EXO system combining the footbed, shank, midsole, and outsole into one piece. This construction allows the foot to actually set into the EXO bed, and it is very stable and supportive. It even wraps the heel of the foot. The result is a really comfortable boot. At least, my feet liked it.

The Telson also looks good. It's not big and clunky, looking and feeling more streamlined like an athletic or lightweight hiking boot. The shaft of the boot fits closely to the leg, too. This helps keep the leg of your uniform trousers from catching on it, giving you the bubba look when you get out of your cruiser.

I'd wear Danner's new Telson boots on duty any day. They are solid, comfortable, and lightweight enough for serious action.

Gerber-Emerson

Model 7158 Knife

When two leading vendors in the knife world get together, amazing things happen and the alliance between Gerber and Emerson is no exception.

The Gerber-Emerson Alliance Model 7158 is a knife that reflects the design lineage of Ernie Emerson. Let me explain. This knife appears to be big, bulky, and rugged. But only one of these first impressions is true: it's rugged. Emerson specializes in making hard-duty knives that are light and easy to carry. Gerber's Model 7158 is no exception. It weighs only six ounces.

The frame is machined with small but aggressive checkering with what looks like the reticulation of a shrimp's shell; this gives the operator a good purchase in the wettest of conditions. The user's hold on this knife is further enhanced by aggressive serrations on back of the frame. Once you grip this knife it shouldn't come dislodged during strenuous activity.

Unfortunately, for anyone reading this who doesn't carry a badge or isn't in the military, the 7158 is an auto-opening knife. It uses a cross-bolt lock that is easily activated or deactivated with the push of a thumb. This lock can and should be activated whether the knife is open or closed to prevent the blade from accidentally opening or closing when you don't want it to. The opening action of the 7158 is firm and sure, but it doesn't whip the knife out of your hand when you open it. I really like the feel of this action.

Gerber gives you a few carry choices on the 7158. There is a pocket clip, which can be on the left or right side of the knife, depending on your preference. If you find the knife to be too large for pocket carry, a sheath is included. The sheath even gives you the option of vertical or horizontal carry.

The Gerber-Emerson Alliance 7158 knife is designed for duty. The blade is sharp; the frame gives you a solid purchase; and the knife gives you numerous carry options. If your agency authorizes auto-opening blades for duty carry, this knife is worth a serious look.

Tact Squad

Training Trouser

Tact Squad is known for supplying uniforms that meet the specifications of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol. Now the company has decided to make apparel for training and off-duty wear. One of its first offerings is the Tact Squad Training Trouser.

While it may seem that the market for "tac" pants is becoming crowded, Tact Squad's Training Trouser has several unique features to set it apart from the competition. The most visible of these are the dual sap pockets. While they may seem out of place on training pants, they do make a good place to carry your flashlight or store spare magazines. If you are a K-9 handler, these pockets work well for your dog's leash or reward toy.

The most notable feature, however, of the Tact Squad Training Trouser can't be seen because it is in the waistband. Tact Squad has a feature called the At-ease waistband. This waistband is hidden and expandable; and it gives you a margin of comfort when bending, moving, or when you have a tad too much at lunch. I found this also makes these pants very comfortable when driving.

Tact Squad has designed these pants to give you enough room to carry all of your stuff. In addition to the two sap pockets, there are two front slash pockets, two large thigh cargo pockets with Velcro-closed flaps, and two rear pockets with Velcro flap closures to ensure your stuff stays put. The rear pockets and the front slash pockets are still accessible when wearing a hip holster and assorted training gear.

Bushnell

Elite Tactical Scope

New for 2007 is the Bushnell Elite Tactical Series. The Elite Scope has been very popular with hunters and sport shooters, and now Bushnell has beefed up these scopes for law enforcement and military duty.

Having used many Elite Series rifle scopes on various projects, I was looking forward to using the new Elite Tactical scopes. The scopes did not disappoint.

The first thing you will notice about the tactical version of the 4200 Elite scope is that the tube is 30mm instead of one inch. This allows for more and better light transmission, giving you a brighter view and a better sight picture in low-light situations.

Having used a number of Elite Series scopes on varmint rifles, I was looking forward to putting them to use on my DPMS LRT-SASS tactical rifle. I found that, depending on the mission statement, the 4200 1.25 to 4X24, the 3200 5 to 15X40 (tested) or 6-24X50 will serve you well.

The 4200 Elite resembles a shotgun scope because it allows you little or no magnification for true CQB or 4-power to enhance accuracy at a distance. The one-mil-dot red dot enhances speed and allows the 4200 to mimic a red dot sight. This scope was fast, clear, and worked well on the LRT for simulated CQB on the range. At 1.2 power, the 4200 was like a Trophy red dot sight but, when set at 4-power, the rifle was capable of great precision at 100 yards.

The 3200 allows the same LRT to become a true precision instrument. The 3200 Elite has a fast-focus eyepiece, target turret elevation/windage adjustments, and front parallax adjustment. Its mil-dot reticle is bold and precise and, once mastered, allows you to accurately estimate the range through the scope. I found the 3200 to be easily adjusted for zero and the scope held zero during rapid fire of the LRT.

Bushnell has made a highly successful sporting scope into a tool for duty use. Best of all, the 3200 and 4200 scopes, when compared to many other "tactical" scopes, are affordably priced.

The Bushnell Elite Tactical scopes will serve you well for CQB and precision marksman applications. Check out these scopes; you won't be disappointed.