How Has Tactical Gear Improved Over the Years?

 

Tactical gear is becoming an everyday wearable for everyone, including the general public. The equipment is handy for many emergencies, and military and law enforcement units used them before they became available to the public. If you’re curious about how tactical gear has improved over the years, here’s what you need to know.

Vests

The vest is the most common tactical gear item used by many, but a common misconception about this clothing item is that a tactical vest makes the wearer bulletproof. Yes, the vest protects the wearer, but the person wearing it will still feel the bullet or object’s kinetic energy.

The bulletproof vest has seen a rise in improvements over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, knights wore metal sheets on horseback, while Civil War soldiers on both sides wore steel vests. It wasn’t until the Korean War that bulletproof (or “flak”) vests became a norm, as such gear was still in development and standard issue only to certain regiments during the World Wars.

Belts and Holsters

Actors in Western films use gun holsters and belts, but that’s not where they came from; they aren’t a modern concept at all. Belts and holsters began with the militia who carried around muskets and bayonets. They called what we know as holsters “bandoliers,” a term used to describe straps around both sides of the chest to hold individual bullets or rows of ammunition.

Since the gun-slinging cowboy era, belts and holsters have become helpful for soldiers carrying more than a few rounds of ammo. The cargo area found on a soldier’s uniform contains other compartments to hold extra items while in battle.
Tactical Knives

Where did knives come from—specifically those soldiers, hunters, and raiders used over the centuries? You might think back to the Vikings, but tactical knives have existed for much longer. The oldest recorded military knife used was in 1350, when Scandinavians and the English introduced the bollock dagger.

The bollock dagger soon transitioned into other knife styles, and as centuries passed, the rise of firearms decreased the use of combat knives, leading to the use of knives for utility purposes. Overall, the tactical knife is helpful in many situations, such as cutting rope for rescue missions and helping cut through thick foliage.

Backpacks

How has tactical gear, like backpacks, improved over the years? The bags seen today aren’t what they were in 3300 BC. First called rucksacks, hunters and soldiers made these bags from animal fur and whatever sticks and shrubbery they could.

These rucksacks were carried in different fashions—from sticks and canvas swaying from your backside to two-strapped bags that contained metal parts to reduce an object’s weight while on a mission. These bags continued to evolve until the modern day.

Before you place your order, take the time to understand the common misconceptions about tactical gear to educate yourself on using the gear properly. Also, keep the history of tactical gear evolution in mind as you shop around.