Episode Details

State of the Second host John sits down with Tony and Ryan from Vertx, the tactical bag and apparel brand whose parent company, Flying Cross, has been making first responder and law enforcement uniforms for more than 180 years. The conversation traces how Vertx grew out of that uniform business: after 9/11, one of the three-letter agencies asked the company to build low-visibility gear so people deploying overseas wouldn't be a target on day one, and that work eventually turned into the commercial bags and clothing the brand is known for. The guests explain the core idea behind everything they make, which they call tactical function, not tactical fashion. The goal is normal-looking gear that quietly carries a folded AR, a pistol, a med kit, or an armor panel without announcing itself.

Much of the episode is about real-world carry and preparedness. John shares stories about backpack guns, the GoBag, the Gamut, and using his bag's first-aid setup when his sister-in-law slipped on a Smoky Mountains trail and cut her knee open. The hosts and guests dig into off-body and hybrid carry, the surge in fanny packs (one top-three account saw seven of its top ten Vertx items become fanny packs in a year), and the partnership with Lena that built a women's line designed for how women actually dress and carry rather than the shrink-it-and-pink-it approach. They cover Vertx's work with Premier Body Armor on NIJ-certified panels, including the uncomfortable reality that parents buy panels for school-age kids, and the bag's luggage pass-through that doubles as a way to use the pack as a shield.

The back half turns to the Second Amendment and the gun industry itself. John makes the case for GOA membership at 25 dollars a year, points to wins like Bruen and the bump stock case, and explains why GOA won't back constitutional carry bills loaded with red flag laws. Tony delivers a guard-the-gate argument that the Second Amendment is only what the Supreme Court says it is, which is why elections and court appointments matter. They also talk about the close, supportive culture of the firearms industry, where people congratulate the company for landing a good hire rather than the other way around, and where brands compete for customers but still support each other. The episode closes with a pitch for GOA's first GOALS event in Knoxville, where Vertx shares a footprint with Premier Body Armor and people can put hands on the product.

Links

• goals.gunowners.org

Questions this episode answers

What is the history behind Vertx, and how did a uniform company more than 180 years old end up making tactical bags?

Vertx grew out of its parent uniform company, which has made first responder and law enforcement uniforms for more than 180 years. After 9/11, a three-letter agency asked it to build low-visibility gear so personnel deploying overseas wouldn't be targeted, and that work became the commercial bags Vertx sells today.

What does Vertx mean by tactical function, not tactical fashion?

It means building normal-looking gear that quietly does a tactical job rather than advertising it. A Vertx bag or piece of clothing carries a folded AR, a pistol, a med kit, or an armor panel without announcing itself as tactical.

Why have fanny packs taken off as a carry option, and how does the Lena partnership serve women who carry?

Fanny packs took off because off-body and hybrid carry are surging; one top-three account saw seven of its top ten Vertx items become fanny packs in a single year. The partnership with Lena built a women's line designed for how women actually dress and carry, rather than the shrink-it-and-pink-it approach.

How does Vertx work with Premier Body Armor, and why do certifications matter when choosing armor?

Vertx partners with Premier Body Armor on N