First Gear | Ditale Outdoors Eve Performance Top, DeSoto Bronze Mirror sunglasses, SOG PowerAccess Deluxe Multi-tool

by
posted on January 29, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
long sleeve shirt, sunglasses, multitool
Photos: Peter Fountain

1. Feature-Rich Base Layer I can hear you now … it’s another performance top for women. And, indeed, there’s no shortage of these to be found on the market—but what sets the Ditale Outdoors Eve Performance Top apart for me is its women-specific tailoring and off-shoulder seams. The stretch knit is flattering to your figure (though you’ll have to be certain to buy the right size for it to be so) and the off-shoulder seams mean you can carry a backpack or even a purse without the usual bunching up and chafing. Plus, of course, it’s moisture-wicking, has antimicrobial odor control and has UPF 50-plus sun protection so you can stay on the range all day—and the long-sleeved version has those handy thumb holes so you can usually skip the gloves on cooler days. That’s a lot from a basic top. (ditaleoutdoors.com; $69)


2. Sunglasses for Changing Conditions Leupold is one of the most-respected names in optics, and their considerable experience in that realm shines through in the DeSoto Bronze Mirror sunglasses. They are perfect for changing light conditions, like cloudy days or the indoor/outdoor range experience. The bronze polarization will make colors pop, particularly blues and greens, and cut glare; also, unlike most sunglasses, the polarization is
infused rather than merely an outside coating, while the lenses are scratch-resistant. These features are really helpful for those of us who are hard on their gear (ahem). They are also shatterproof and ballistics-rated, have a non-slip bridge and are hydrophobic. (leupold.com; $189.99)


3. 21 in One I love multi-tools and keep them scattered around—in the kitchen, car, office, other car—everywhere. If you’re like me and just want to have the tool you need on hand whenever and wherever you need it, consider this stainless-steel SOG PowerAccess Deluxe with its whopping 21-tool setup. It, of course, includes the usual items like knife blades, openers, screwdrivers and a saw. But, more rarely, it also has a magnetic driver with an included hex-bit kit and compound-leverage pliers that give you more power than usual. (sogknives.com; $79.95)

Latest

Screenshot 2026 02 20 At 11.38.22 AM
Screenshot 2026 02 20 At 11.38.22 AM

Ryan Petty Explains How to Stop Possible School Shooters

After Ryan Petty lost his 14-year-old daughter, Alaina, to a 19-year-old mass murderer in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 in Parkland, Fla., he wanted to know what happened. Most of all, he wanted to find the holes in the system to, as best we can, stop such horrors long before they occur.

Another Example of What Actual Free Speech Does for the Second Amendment

This is the sort of truth bombing X can now give us—thanks to Elon Musk’s purchase of the social-media site—if we are discerning about who we follow and take the time to be cautious about what we believe.

Hawaii Wants to Go Further Than Mere “Aloha Spirit” in Defiance of Citizens’ Rights

Within weeks of the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing oral arguments in Wolford v. Lopez, Hawaii lawmakers are moving on legislation to find other ways to keep citizens’ Second Amendment rights effectively off-limits.

The DOJ Civil Rights Division Strikes Again

In a poignant rebuke of the Massachusetts handgun roster, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in the case Granata v. Campbell.

Armed Citizen Interview: NYC Homeowner

Moshe Borukh heard glass breaking downstairs in his Jamaica Estates home in Queens, N.Y., around 2:40 a.m. Borukh grabbed his pistol and investigated. He soon discovered that a man was inside his home.

Why Did This NFL Offensive Tackle Get Arrested in NYC?

Rasheed Walker thought he was following the law when he declared he had an unloaded Glock 9 mm pistol in a locked case to a Delta Air Lines employee at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on January 23.

Interests



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.