It has been said that it costs about a thousand dollars to get on a SWAT team — not because the equipment isn’t provided but because there are so many accouterments a SWAT pup must provide for themselves. Here’s my list of items I found to be worth every penny:
1. Camelback
Recent studies indicate hydration isn’t as important as was once thought. No one involved in those studies was a SWAT guy in full gear working callouts during the Oklahoma summer. A camelback hydration pack is a lifesaver in the field. I nearly lost consciousness from dehydration on a barricaded mental several years ago. The combination of extreme heat, humidity, helmet, body armor and lack of hydration did me in. One of my teammates dragged me behind cover and gave me what was left of his water.
- Designed with body mapping technology for efficient ventilation and lightweight comfort
- Integrated tool organization
- Secure zippered pocket: Perfect for keys, phone or other essentials
- Professional 3L hydration bladder: Made of 100% BPA-free, tasteless TPU
- Quick release valve allows you to refill water without connecting hose
- 360-degree rotatable mouthpiece allows for easy drinking
- Middle baffle keeps the bladder flat and makes it easier to place into the backpack
2. Snacks
I always kept several packs of beef jerky and peanuts in my SWAT callout uniform pocket. A callout may be canceled a few minutes after the balloon goes up or it may drag on for days. Having a little bit of protein at the ready is a must.
Tip: Always check your SWAT uniform pockets for snacks before putting them in the washing machine (and especially before putting them in the dryer).
- Made with 100% beef and easy to chew
- Meat snacks require no refrigeration
- Buy in bulk for a great way to get protein
- Low sodium, low fat, low carb, sugar-free
- Beef is 100% grass-fed & finished, certified humane and nitrite-free
- Jerky sticks are keto-friendly, Whole30 approved, Paleo, non-GMO and certified gluten-free
- Contains 6 packs of salted cashews, 15 packs of salted peanuts and 15 packs of honey roasted peanuts
- Kosher-certified peanuts and cashews
- Individual snack packs are convenient and portable for snacking on the go
3. Waterproof boots with ankle support
One of the responses to my article on 7 investments worth every penny for law enforcement inspired this suggestion.
“Are those boots waterproof?” the SWAT instructor at basic tactical operator school asked me. “I’m not sure,” I replied. They weren’t.
That’s one of those self-correcting problems you learn the hard way. It had been raining all week as we did our field search exercise and I quickly learned how important waterproof boots were. I was blessed with the equally important lesson that SWAT boots need to have solid ankle support for unforgiving muddy terrain. That extra few bucks for those protections are worth every penny.
- Two-zone lacing system with adjustable fit and ankle protectors
- Waterproof CROSSTECH liner
- Anti-slip, shock-absorbing sole with resistance to fuel, oil and heat
- Insulated soles for comfort in cold or hot weather
4. Magnification
Speaking of field searches, every SWAT cop should have a small pair of binoculars or even a decent monocular in their pocket. The naked eye is a wonderful piece of organic equipment, but it works much better with some man-made magnification. There is little more comforting than lying in a well-concealed position with the ability to surveil the surrounding area with an optic before moving to the next position.
- Compact, highly portable binoculars
- 10x high magnification ratio with a 30mm/1.18 in. objective lens effective diameter
- Improved power efficiency and battery consumption
- Long eye relief (14.5mm/0.57 in.) helps ensure comfort, especially for those with glasses
- 10x magnification and 36mm objectives lens
- Non-slip grip
- Waterproof and fogproof
- Adjustable eyecup allows for comfortable viewing with or without glasses
- Backed by unlimited, unconditional, lifetime, VIP warranty
5. Cat Crap
Yes. That really is what the best antifogging lens product is called. You can buy it online and at camera shops for about $11.
I remember being on a hostage barricade that lasted several hours. It was a cold and humid night. I was doing my rotation on the Immediate Action Team (the SWAT guys who are set to make entry upon any escalation by the suspect) when the suspect came out the front door. I raised my carbine’s optic to my eye and saw nothing. The glass had fogged up on my red dot. I transitioned to my pistol, of course, but I’ve never forgotten that lesson learned the hard way.
I reapply Cat Crap every month to all of my important optics. It also works on goggles, sunglasses and shooting glasses.
- Easy application: Rub the balm on, wipe off for improved visibility and lens clarity
- Half-ounce balm holds enough for multiple uses
- Spray on, then wipe off for improved clarity
- One-ounce spray bottle holds enough for multiple uses
- Safe to use on all lenses, including eyeglasses and sunglasses
- Spray also repels lint and dust, and provides protection from mild scratches
6. Multi-tool with wire cutters
I never really understood why all the old SWAT guys had multi-tools on their belts. I figured it was probably a bleed-over from their farm days. I was wrong. Hanging upside down in full SWAT gear from a barbed wire fence is a character-building experience. I don’t recall those fences being that difficult to scale before I was in my 40s. They started making them taller, I suppose. Thankfully, I had been running security for a long-time friend and K-9 handler during our field search. He not only cut me down but also immediately mended the fence with items he had on his person. Farm kids know how to do stuff. I’m quite certain he felt a little less safe with me as his “security” after that. I immediately purchased two quality multi-tools and kept one with me at all times for several years after I retired from SWAT.
- 100% stainless steel construction and removable wire/hard-wire cutters
- 17 tools in 1: Knives, pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, an electrical crimper, a wire stripper, bottle and can openers, a file, a saw, an awl and a ruler
- 25-year warranty
7. Lights
Get as many lights as you can afford. Small ones. Big ones. Cheap ones. Expensive ones. I tried to keep one low-powered unit when I didn’t want to attract too much attention and one scorcher for identifying things at distance. Get them all. Keep a primary on your tac vest and one on your belt. If you don’t have lights on your pistol and long guns, you’re not really SWAT. If you do teamwork long enough, I guarantee you’ll appreciate having all those lumens at your disposal.
- Mil-Spec Hard Anodized aluminum body makes this 1000 Lumen LED light rugged and durable, suited to the toughest operations
- Custom TIR lens creates smooth, far-reaching light with a larger center spot beam
- Includes 12 extra Sure Fire CR123A batteries and 3 Lightjunction battery cases
- Total runtime on high of 1.25 hours on two batteries; bundle can run the light for 7.5 hours
- High for maximum illumination: 1000 lumens; 12000 candelas; 219m beam and runs 3 hours and 15 minutes
- TEN-TAP programming allows the choice of three programs: 1: high/strobe/low; 2: high only; 3: low/medium/high
- Multi-fuel technology, uses rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included); also accepts two CR123A lithium batteries or Streamlight SL-B26 protected Li-Ion USB rechargeable battery pack
- Fully recharges the battery in 7 hours with Streamlight AC/USB adapter and charges the Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery in the product
- Two output levels - 500 lumen high for maximum light, 5 lumen low for extended runtime
- Virtually indestructible LED emitter regulated to maximize output and runtime
- TIR lens produces focused beam with sufficient surround light for peripheral vision
- Bundle includes 12 extra Surefire CR123A batteries and 3 lightjunction battery boxes
I’m sure there’s a lot I’ve missed. For all you SWAT cops out there, what is on your list? Email editor@police1.com.
NEXT: Discover the SWAT gear Police1 readers swear by — from gadgets to indispensable personal items:
This article, originally posted on February 12, 2021, has been updated.
