Posted on February 25, 2026April 3, 2026 by True North Tradecraft

Marathon – Best In The Long Run

Last year I started dipping my toes into watches. Not ultra-luxury nor cheap things, but rather some proper tool and dive watches.

For the past couple of years I have begun to procure some higher-quality tool/dive watches. Mostly for reliability, function and then form. As a recreational SCUBA diver and sometimes-adventurer, I want to ensure I have something rugged and reliable on my wrist. As ex-Military and ex-law enforcement, I also want something that’s “bad-ass”-reliable, yet stylish and somewhat of a conversation starter. Something notable. A watch that would get a nod. More recently, however, I have wanted to support Canadian brands specifically, and Marathon has been on my radar for a while.

I have been thrilled with all aspects of my experience with Marathon – from the amazing customer service, the support in customization and of course, the quality and comfort of the watch itself.

The Maple Leaf edition of the 41mm GSAR is a special edition variant of the Government Search and Rescue watch Marathon has had available for years. Issued to Military and Search & Rescue personnel worldwide, it is a solidly-built reliable tool watch which easily navigates extremes of depths, pressures, temperatures and shocks. It features a Sellita SW200-1, self-winding automatic movement with Incabloc shock absorber and 26 jewels for accuracy and a 41hr power reserve. The lume is provided via MaraGlo and tritium gas tubes for easy legibility. A screw-down crown and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal complement the stainless steel case for a water resistance of 30ATM (300m/1000ft). More than I’ll ever need. I suppose if I went overboard at some point and the crabs ate my body, I could be identified by the watch. The customized engraving and “Frankensteining” of the parts to create a unique timepiece for me says a lot about the company as well as the individual piece.

Full specs for the watch itself are available HERE and HERE on the Marathon site.

My 41mm GSAR with custom foil Red Maple leaf.

My watch from Marathon is a bit of a custom-Frankenstein: it is a 41mm GSAR with Stainless Steel bracelet, BUT with a Red Maple Leaf, rather than the grey one. Marathon had this combo with a slightly older movement years ago in a 41mm case and when they upgraded the internals also moved on from the Red Maple. So, that means Marathon currently only has a Red Maple on the 46mm or the Arctic White 41mm. They were super-kind to customize mine with a red leaf on the black face and then do some fantastic case engraving as well.

First impressions: this watch is SOLID. I own other tool watches (Doxa Sharkhunter, Momentum SQ30 Eclipse, Scurfa MS-25 PVD, Citizen Pro Diver, and others) but this one is an absolute unit. It sits a bit tall but not to the point that it impedes anything I wear. It fits well on my wrist and the bracelet and watch are both comfortable to wear. I thought that the crown might dig in a bit but I was pleasantly surprised that it never does.

The 41mm fits my wrist just right, and the micro-adjustments on the stainless steel bracelet are spot-on and very comfortable.

I have worn this watch a lot, in both outdoor and work environments and have had zero issues. Accuracy has been spot on with no issues other than when the reserve runs out and I have to re-set the time. I have since received a watch winder and when it’s spinning it maintains accurate time to the extent that I can’t really tell any deviation. Though it is a lot taller than some of my other watches, it is still unobtrusive and wears easily in any context. The crown doesn’t dig into me in any way, which was a concern when I initially tried it on.

The Tritium lume is wonderful at night. I have had no issues with it. It is bright and clear and legible in the dark. By far it’s the brightest late-night watch I have. The indices are clearly marked and the different colours make telling the time easy.

On thing I will say is that I have not taken it diving…yet. I will be sure to do so the next time I go and update this post when I do. Suffice it to say, I left it in a waterfall for an hour and it just got cold – no skew in timekeeping or function at all. I do wear it in everything else I do, so rough days, workouts, building and getting dirty has zero negative effect on it. Perfect.

I left the GSAR in an ice-melt waterfall for an hour and there were no issues. It was just really cold when I put it back on.

The extra care and work the Marathon team put in to this piece – and how they cared about the entire process was a refreshing change from the world of customer experiences which have seemed to have gone downhill over the past several years. The Marathon crew was awesome in that they delivered my watch to me at the Toronto Timepiece Show ( https://www.timepieceshow.com ), which was a nice treat as I got to meet the fine folks involved in making it happen.

Meeting the Marathon crew at the Toronto Timepiece Show was a real treat. Made the watch more special as I met everyone who had a hand in making it happen.

Another thing I am fond of with my Marathon GSAR is that, amongst watch nerds and “operational” types, it has instant caché and recognition as a solid watch. Reliable reputation and it’s also a cool watch to discuss with other nerds like me. Though it’s not a Rolex or Omega, I feel that, in a pinch, it could be traded for something like safe passage or some food or money during an emergency while abroad. The bezel, with its solid clicks do make rudimentary navigation by watch easier. Of course, in these days of crazy tariffs and whatnot, paying less for a watch because there’s no import fees or duties, can make it a more affordable watch than some alternatives.

Bottom line: this is an awesome TOOL WATCH. Hands-down, it’s a workhorse which embodies the ethos of “use your tools”. It does what it’s supposed to do: it keeps accurate time, in harsh conditions, is comfortable, reliable AND it looks sharp. The heft of it makes you know it’s there. The look of it draws the eye. The insides keep the time and lets you forget about having to check it it’s working or not.

Marathon offers several variants of their 41mm SAR watches. For me, this was the perfect one.

My Marathon GSAR on a hike – complimented by my cool Wild Geese Explorer’s Club patch. I’m in good company.

Posted on December 7, 2021December 13, 2021 by True North Tradecraft

The Last Page: Recoil OFFGRID Issue 46

I am very humbled to share that Recoil OFFGRID has allowed me to contribute to their magazine again – this time it was The Last Page: a book review.

The editors suggested that I review the infamous ANARCHIST COOKBOOK, and to furnish my thoughts about it to their readers.

So, if you go to HERE , you can read the entire review.

THE ANARCHIST COOKBOOK REVIEW: A RECIPE FOR CONTROVERSY

OUR REVIEW OF THE INFAMOUS 1971 COMPENDIUM OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRUGS, WEAPONS, EXPLOSIVES, AND GUERRILLA TACTICS.

For those of you who have never heard of it, or ever read it, do give the review a read.

https://www.offgridweb.com/preparation/the-anarchist-cookbook-review-a-recipe-for-controversy/

Till next time, stay safe and #staycrafty.

Posted on September 17, 2018November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Product Review – Fat Lazy Cat Knives (hint, they’re neither fat nor lazy)

An assortment of G10 implements from FLC Knives.

FLC knives are pretty interesting…

I haven’t, to this point, dipped my toes into the waters of G10 implements. After doing some training down south of the border, I was introduced to G10 tools. Strong, non-metallic, non-magnetic, very light-weight and can be fashioned into almost any shape, I was properly intrigued. I reached out to Dave at Fat Lazy Cat Knives , just outside of Toronto, and read up on his materials, production processes and available models.

For those who don’t know what G10 is (like I didn’t) here is the explanation from Wikipedia:

G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate, a kind of composite material.^[1] It is created by stacking multiple layers of glass cloth, soaking in epoxy resin, and compressing the resulting material under heat until the epoxy cures.^[2]^[3] It is manufactured in flat sheets, most often a few millimeters thick.

G10 is very similar to Micarta and carbon fiber laminates, because they are all resin-based laminates, except that the base material used is glass cloth. G10 is the toughest of the glass fiber resin laminates and therefore the most commonly used.

Dave and I chatted for a while and I arranged a small batch purchase to test and play around with. That was a few months ago. I have now had an opportunity to poke things with these sharps and I am very impressed with their durability, sharpness and craftsmanship.

As I can only speak to the models I have tried I will say that I received prompt, courteous service, fast shipping and nicely packaged products.

I received as follows:

Get Off Me Tool (GOMT) No. 6 in G10, stubby, offset, with Kydex sheath
GOMT No. 4 (ventilator)
GOMT No. 1 (Synthetic, Slim) with Kydex carrier
“Hatchlings” (both thick and thin profiles)
Cool stickers. (Thanks Dave!)

Immediately out of the box I noticed a few things:

SHARP points on all (good thing they come in protective tubing)
Very lightweight. I’d equate them to a pen.
Sturdy, durable and smooth.
The jute twine which furnishes the handles is comfortable and epoxied to hold the cordage in place. It works well.

Though I have yet to test them in an organic medium, they easily penetrate several layers of cardboard and towels. The points seem sturdy (none have broken yet, but again, no organic medium testing yet) and maintain their sharp points even after several uses.

The box testing I did (the photos in this entry are not all-inclusive) showed no damage to the points, an easy grip and to-the-grip penetration. The GOMT No. 6 even managed to cut the box (with the point) several times without noticeable resistance and maintain its integrity.

Get Off Me Tool (GOMT) No. 6 (left) and a Hatchling.

No resistance or deformation of the point.

Cuts just like a metal knife through cardboard.

Strong point. Very sharp. Easily field sharpened on concrete.

As you can see, the G10 penetrated with ease and there was no damage to any of the points. The ergonomics worked quite well and felt comfortable in the hand – easy to hold and manipulate. They can even be re-sharpened on concrete in a pinch!

To see some more, check out some YouTube videos of other testing of FLC Knives:

Get Off Me Tool #4 – Durability

Hatchling 2.1 – Organic Medium

All told, the implements made by FLC Knives are top-notch quality. I am very happy with my purchase and do not hesitate to recommend them to others. Just be careful, they’re pointy.

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

Posted on September 2, 2018November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Product Review – Nanuk Hard Case: Top-tier protection for your gear

The 935 Roller Case by Nanuk. Solid protection for your sensitive gear.

In an effort to organize some of my equipment, I have gone through several options to address issues surrounding ease of transport, durability, security and protection. I initially went with low-cost/low-quality options such as boxes, bags, duffels, etc., and tried to keep everything organized, protected from damage and loss and something properly sized to fit everything in one piece. I was hesitant to go with a Pelican case, as their price point was too high for what I was looking for, so I searched for other options.

Enter Nanuk Professional Protective Cases, by Plasticase.

Earlier this year, when I was at the Toronto Sportsman’s Show, I had the fortune of meeting Dan from Nanuk (pronounced “Na-Nook”, the Inuit word for the mighty Polar Bear) and exchanged contacts. Their display was expansive and their options for protective cases ranged across sizes, colours, shapes and options. I also liked the fact that they were Canadian and also that they offered a Military/Law-Enforcement discount.

A couple of weeks ago, after several failed trials to organize my gear the way I wanted, I reached out to Dan and arranged to purchase the Nanuk 935 hard case. The following covers my experience dealing with Nanuk and my impressions of the Nanuk 935.

First off, the service was FAST. As in the case arrived at my door within 48hrs. I was impressed. The customer service and administration was excellent. The team at Plasticase is very efficient.

The 935 arrived mint.

My first impression of the 935 (even though I had seen it before at the Sportsman’s Show) was how solid it felt. Everything on this thing is heavy-duty. Not a piece feels flimsy or cheap, despite its relative light weight.

Here is a rundown of some of the key features of Nanuk cases generally and the 935 Roller Case in particular:

Features the “Powerclaw” latching system.
Waterproof: rated to IP67 for 30mins under 1m(3.3′) of water.
Automatic pressure release valve
Hard-wearing NK-7 resin for impact resistance
Stainless steel hardware
Model-specific bezel and gasket system to ensure a watertight seal
Handle & lid stays
Polyurethane wheels
Conditional Lifetime Warranty
Model 935 features a 2-stage, heavy-duty pull handle for rolling the case behind you like a carry-on.
Model 935: Interior dimensions (L x W x H): 20.5″ x 11.3″ x 7.5″ & Exterior dimensions (L x W x H): 22.0″ x 14.0″ x 9.0″, Weight 11.6lbs (5.2kg)
Carry-on compatible (check with your airline for specifics)
Comes in a variety of colours and internal configurations.
Made in Canada!

For more complete details about the Nanuk 935, go to the webpage here.

Below are more detailed photos with cations speaking to the above specifications and observations.

Powerclaw latches are beefy, tough and connect with a positive and satisfying click. To open, you have to actuate the button and latch.

Stainless steel hardware and tough, large gasket seal to ensure long life and solid seal.

Steel-ringed (x2) rivets for padlocks. Make sure you get something high-quality. Nanuk cases don’t protect themselves from thieves.

As a note to the latching system, though the latching system is effective at preventing water and dust from getting in, it is NOT effective in securing the contents from unauthorized access. It is a hair-pulling pet peeve of mine when I see people buy a top-of-the-line protective case (like a Nanuk or Pelican, etc) to store an expensive piece of equipment (like a tricked-out rifle, research gear, optics, etc) and then go to Home Depot and buy a $10 lock to keep it “secure”. Just don’t. Please. If your investment in case and equipment is up there, why entrust it to a $10 lock? Do yourself a favour and visit a proper locksmith and spend the $80-$120 or so for a high-quality padlock (Like an ABUS, Abloy, S&G or something similar) and keep your stuff protected. Just do it. You’ll also be interested to know that Nanuk now offers to retrofit the latches to lockable latches to TSA specifications if you would like to lock your Nanuk without a padlock.

Heavy-duty polyurethane whees with stainless steel hardware roll smooth even when the case is fully loaded.

Substantial pull arm features a 2-stage adjustment and easy-access release button.

Easy to carry with 3 handle options, lightweight for what it is and comfortable grips.

All loaded up. With room to spare. Fantastic piece of kit.

All in all, I am very impressed with the Nanuk 935. You can take a look at their entire line of products here.

They feature protective solutions for everything from your smart phone to weapons cases, sensitive electronics, photography gear, laptops and even custom solutions for whatever you may need.

If you’re looking for a high-quality, Canadian-made protective case for your equipment, do consider Nanuk cases in your search. Unfortunately, members of the general public will have to look for Nanuk dealers near you to purchase, but if you’re Military or Law Enforcement, you can buy directly from them.

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

Posted on June 22, 2018 by True North Tradecraft

Book Review – 375+ International Prisoner Survival Tricks

A while ago I heard about a book which chronicled the history and evolution of skills and tips for the Prisoners of War (POWs) or captives in a foreign land. After much digging, I contacted the author, Mr. Joseph A. Laydon Jr., and arranged to purchase a copy to be shipped to Canada.

Mr. Laydon was very kind and forthcoming in his communications with me and I received my copy (and a bunch of other goodies) from him shortly afterward.

Mr. Laydon’s compendium is a ~350-page tome of well researched historical material. He has dug deep into the world of POWs (in an American context, specifically) from the US Civil War to Cold War-era and their methods of survival, escape and reunification through simple tips as well as in-depth case studies.

As the nature of warfare has changed with the introduction of ever-advancing technologies, the realities of captivity remain. Allied soldiers have been held captive in more recent conflicts such as the Gulf Wars, The Balkans/Former Yugoslavia and in the Middle East. And though one never knows in advance the circumstances of one’s possible captivity, a study of historical methods (both by captors and captives) is beneficial. It gives scope and depth of knowledge which may be adapted in given circumstances. In some current theatres of conflict, one’s adversaries may tend to be on the less-technologically advanced side. If one is to be effective in combating such foes, a study into their “low-tech” methods will yield insight into their weaknesses. To that end, studying past historical methods of captivity and restraint allows for the operator or agent to understand the weaknesses in those methods and train to exploit those weaknesses to one’s advantage.

As an example, “high tech” security features, such as locks and handcuffs, may be in use by one’s own forces, but in some areas in the world, technology may be 50-80 years behind the times, often using outdated and “low tech” restraints and locking mechanisms. Awareness and training in the exploitation of these are crucial to one’s survival.

You never know where you’ll end up. Prepare now.

I would also argue that even by reading through it in a non-military or operational context, if one were to find themselves kidnapped or held in unlawful confinement, some of the points discussed in this book may be of help, again depending on the circumstances. But the more you know, the more options you may have.

To bring this around full circle, Mr. Laydon does an excellent job of providing a thoroughly researched historical account of survival methods used by POWs and also the captivity methods of their captors and aggressors over a very long period of time across a wide range of theatres. Even more useful are his personal notes from his time in the Military and through various survival schools. All very useful information. There are many practical and informative (and genuinely interesting) tips and tricks covered. It is not an instructional manual, per se, but rather an in-depth reference highlighting many historical and contemporary methods and ideas for use in such environments. The author has augmented historical methods with personal anecdotes and experiences to bring context. There are no pictures or diagrams to see (though there are a few exercises to learn some of the tricks shown) however the sheer multitude of referenced tips and tricks leaves one much to internalize and think about. I would recommend this publication to anyone looking to expand their knowledge of this subject matter. Sometimes, the saying “what’s old is new again” may come to pass. You never know, it may come in handy some day.

Though the information in this book is good to know, Would highly recommend finding training in these skillsets in-person. Nothing beats hands-on instruction and personal first-hand experience.

Joseph A. Laydon Jr. can be reached through www.survivalexpertbooks.com or at [email protected] and this book can be found on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca . He has written many other books on various other survival-related topics, similarly sized and deeply researched.

Till next time, stay safe and Stay Crafty.

Posted on October 29, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Persec Aware- A solid option for a custom belt, handmade in Canada.

For years, I’ve been on the lookout for a solid belt. When I say solid, I include in that definition fit, style, strength, durability, functionality and dependability. Almost two months ago, I think I hit pay dirt with that.

While I was planning my Bruce Trail outing, (read about it here) I found that I was missing a key piece of gear: a “solid” belt. Sure, there are a load of well-known commercial companies that offer quality belts, but I was looking for something specific. I wanted what they offer, something I considered “solid”, not ridiculously over-priced and, if possible, Canadian-made.

Enter Persec. We had followed each other on Instagram and I reached out asking some questions about their products, their hardware, colours and the like. Not only was I happy with the answers, but also the questions I was asked. Custom work, apparently, is even better when the one making the product has a better understanding of the customer’s intentions and requirements.

Extra stitching, clean and tight cuts. Quality materials.

Some fast-facts about the belts offered by Persec:

They offer 3 widths – 1.5″, 1.75″ and 2″
Several colours (black, ODG, camp, coyote, etc)
Built from a combination of high-strength webbing and Codura for rigidity
Available in a variety of stiffnesses, strengths;
All are custom-lengths;
Every belt is made by hand, in Toronto, Canada, and with incredible attention to detail that is immediately apparent.
All manner of customization is available – contact them directly for more details.

As I received my order of belts, I was immediately relieved with my decision to go with Persec and try them out.

The belts were custom-sized. Exactly what I had requested. The shipping was very fast (they are located in Toronto). When I held them, I could feel the quality of construction in the materials but also, when examining them closely, could tell the attention to detail in the craftsmanship. Most consumer goods made in bulk have loose stitching, imperfect cuts and the like, but not these. Every detail was exacting. I was impressed.

What I had requested was a belt which would cross-over easily from the trail to the urban jungle, in black, with semi-rigidity, custom-length, with both buckle options (hook and Cobra Buckle, respectively). Persec did not disappoint.

The Cobra buckle (left) and hook buckle (right) options on Persec belts.

The semi-rigidity of the belts, as well as the widths (they recommended 1.5″ as opposed to 1.75″ as I was interested in the cross-comparability of daily wear as well. The 1.75″ would be more appropriate for a duty or gun belt setup). I was happy for the choice as it easily works with jeans as well as hiking or tactical pants.

Persec belt works well as a daily wear belt in the urban wilderness as well as on the trail. Also, the Lolly in my pocket (from Delta2Alpha’s Accent Series) compliments the belt in more ways than one.

The adjustment options for the belts work very well. The hook buckles have three attachment points which, in harmony with the velcro hook & loop patch on the opposite side, allow for a perfect fit every time. With the Cobra buckle, you have only the velcro strip opposite the buckle, but this too works very well as the cam cinched down reliably.

Hook buckle. Once attached is very strong and secure.

I equipped myself with two of these belts (one with the Cobra buckle, in black, the other with a hook buckle in black subdued camouflage) for the miles of hiking and have been wearing one almost every day out since returning. They have become my daily wear.

After almost 2 months of wear, use and some abuse, my conclusions are as follows:

The custom fit is great. Better than regular commercial products, I find;
Each piece is made with great attention to detail, high quality materials and much pride. In my correspondence, this was very apparent.
Both belts are “solid” by my standards. I have no doubt that they will last a long time.
There has been barely any warping – this tends to happen, especially when I load the belt up – but despite this, it has been minimal.
The black of the material has not faded at all, despite long periods in the sun, water and dirt. It’s still pitch-black.
The semi-rigidity of the belts allow for ease of movement without digging in to me at any point, even when equipping with clip pouches or anything “in-the-waistband” (This includes a holster. No concerns, even for the range).
I have even worn it with my uniform in a training environment and like it far better than the “rigger’s belt” I’ve worn for years. I have switched them out and feel good about it, though I’ll likely order another in OD Green so that no one gets bent out of shape about the non-issue colour.

Bottom line, I’d recommend checking out the items offered by Persec without hesitation. You can find Persec Aware on Instagram and Facebook. You won’t be disappointed.

Then while you’re at it, load it up with stuff from Canadian Gun Worx, held by custom Kydex from Gray Fox Strategic and some apparel from Tactical Beaver. And don’t forget to pocket a few useful tools from Delta 2 Alpha Design, then you’ll really be good to go!

Till next time, stay safe and stay crafty.

Posted on May 25, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Review: RAIDOPS Defense Gear – Fighting Frog & Delta

RAIDOPS is a South Korean company which designs and distributes a variety of personal defence gear, knives and accessories made to very high quality specifications. A high percentage of their products are made from titanium, enabling a solid product with a low magnetic footprint and low weight. Their designs are also very practical and low-profile, giving them a minimalistic appearance and also the ability to be carried through many non-permissive environments without undue attention.

I purchased two personal defence products to try out a little while back – the Delta (one of several designs) and the Fighting Frog. They arrived very quickly direct from South Korea to Toronto and came as below.

(Quarter for scale)

Upon taking each one out of their small boxes, I was surprised at how light they were. The titanium was indeed very light and very strong. The small ball-chain they came with felt heavier than the items themselves.

After handling each one, I was also very happy with the ergonomics. Both were very comfortable to hold and use.

They are intended to be used as impact weapons. Held between the index and middle fingers of a closed fist to facilitate acute damage to an assailant (See below).

Small, light, but VERY sturdy. And no pain when hitting a tree, so a person should be just fine. By the way, it took some chunks out of the tree (I didn’t have my phone for pics at the time – sorry!) so I can only imagine what it could do to a person.

Though their prices may be a bit steep ($48 USD for the Fighting Frog and $40 USD for the Delta) it isn’t too out of line with similar weight titanium products.

You can even double them and jewelry in non-permissive environments and you’ll still have an accessible impact weapon if needed. Here I am wearing it overtop my Triple Aught Design Tradecraft Shirt for a better view.

Again, lightweight, low-profile and easily worn in more non-permissive environments. No issues to wear in a Canadian context, as at that point, it’s a fashion statement.

One thing I may look at, is the collection of RAIDOPS finger spinners. This is essentially a fidget toy that is made of titanium but doubles as an impact weapon. Here is an example. Though somewhat pricey ($110 USD) I may consider getting one.

At the end of the day, the strength, low weight, comfortable ergonomics and durability of the Delta and Fighting Frog make them effective and reliable. I recommend checking them out.

Stay Safe. Stay Crafty.