“It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what you can do through that equipment. That's where the soul is.” - Richie Hawtin

I’m old enough to remember what it was like before the proliferation of gear we have now was available. I remember the days of 100 mph tape, gutted paracord, and maglights hoseclamped to rifles. When everything had to be heavily modified to function at all. I’ve watched kit get lighter and more ergonomic, and weapons get customizable and modular. And this is a good thing. As I say in my classes when I’m asked about the custom pistols and rifles I prefer, “You can’t buy skill, but you can buy performance.” There’s a danger in forever chasing performance improvements by purchasing the latest and greatest weapons and kit however.

It’s indisputable that being properly equipped makes you more effective. And I’ve always believed that a professional in any field should have a professional’s tools. Experiment with your kit and weapons just as you experiment in your technical development. Optimize them for you, find your personal best setup.

And much like technical development, this is a never-ending process. You will always be tweaking and adjusting your kit to make it better. Don’t be afraid to streamline and be minimal. I’ve known operators who overloaded themselves with equipment they never needed and impaired their performance by doing so. Mobility and speed matter, and less is usually better than more.

Another hallmark of the professional is their maintenance of their tools. For your kit and weapons to perform for you they have to be properly cleaned and maintained. Take pride in your equipment, treat it’s care as if your life depends on it, because it could.

Never forget though that capability comes from skill and knowledge, not gear. Software trumps hardware, and highly-developed skill overcomes equipment disparity. Put your efforts into mastering your craft, and seek out new kit and weapons only when there is a legitimate improvement from doing so.