CANCON Arizona 2025 is within the books and it proved to be an motion packed weekend for taking pictures, tactical, and preparedness lovers This 12 months featured a whole lot of firearms, extra taking pictures lanes than ever earlier than, high-end gear distributors, an incredible VIP expertise, and the revealing of the model new OFFGRID Basecamp expertise!
The OFFGRID Basecamp Expertise
OFFGRID Basecamp was designed to reinforce the CANCON expertise by bringing arms on coaching throughout quite a lot of preparedness matters together with emergency medical care, correct use {of professional} and emergency CBRN masks, enhancing situational consciousness, tactical carbine operations and extra! Along with offering important sensible preparedness expertise, the OFFGRID crew additionally curated a few of high gear distributors so attendees might get their arms on a number of the greatest objective constructed gear survival gear in the marketplace! We could also be barely biased, however we expect the Basecamp tied the entire occasion collectively.
Above: OFFGRID Senior Editor and host of the OFFGRID Podcast, Patrick Diedrich, greets the gang on the OFFGRID Basecamp.
The Lessons
No Basecamp is full with out some subject material consultants to equip vacationers with a lot wanted knowledge. This 12 months we had 4 corporations who went above and past to share their insights extensively with our VIPs, and with the general public viewers as nicely:
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American Reconstruction Ideas (ARC): Tactical Carbine Problem
One of many standout moments from the weekend was a fast-paced 10-round drill designed to check each velocity and precision underneath stress. Contributors had been challenged to fireplace precisely and effectively whereas sustaining strong fundamentals—stance, grip, set off self-discipline, and visible monitoring—all in speedy succession. The category centered on how nicely you could possibly maintain type when your coronary heart price was up and the clock was ticking.
The drill was led by Michael Caughran, a former USAF SERE Specialist and the founding father of ARC. With a background in personnel restoration and superior fight coaching, Caughran introduced a stage of instruction that merged navy precision with a civilian-applicable mindset. Along with serving to college students discover ways to get rounds downrange, he additionally centered on sharpening the type of approach that holds up when every part’s on the road.
Above: ARC teacher Michael Caughran walks VIPs by a tactical carbine speedy fireplace drill.
AVON Safety: Tactical Fuel Masks 101
In a hands-on course offered by AVON Safety, attendees bought a sensible crash course in respiratory readiness. The category broke down how you can choose, match, and keep tactical fuel masks constructed for real-world use. Past the essential donning and doffing, college students discovered how you can spot filter incompatibilities, keep away from frequent gear failures, and ensure their masks would maintain up when lives rely on it.
Teacher Jeffery DeSocio introduced a singular perspective to the session. With a background in broadcast journalism and a present function as Content material Advertising Specialist for AVON Safety, he was capable of mix deep trade perception with a communicator’s readability. His ardour for preparedness and tactical coaching got here by as he guided the group by the necessities of respiratory safety, reinforcing the concept good gear solely issues if you know the way to make use of it when it counts.
Above: Do not take clear air without any consideration. Understanding how you can correctly choose and put on the correct PPE is life-saving data.
Greenside Coaching: Weaponize the Senses
Introduced by the one Native American owned and operated monitoring college within the U.S., this course gave contributors a strong basis within the artwork and science of monitoring. From figuring out refined footprints to deciphering disturbances within the terrain, college students discovered how you can decide path of journey, learn environmental clues, and construct a clearer image of human or animal motion. Along with studying what could possibly be detected on the bottom, the category additionally emphasised the significance of tuning in to every part round you. The talents gained right here had clear worth for search and rescue, private safety, and anybody who desires to be much less blind to what’s occurring of their environment.
The course was led by Freddy Osuna, founding father of Greenside Coaching and one of many foremost voices in visible monitoring as we speak. A former Marine and fight monitoring teacher, Osuna combines Native American fieldcraft with fashionable tactical considering. His method is rooted not solely remark, however understanding. Coaching the mind to note what others miss. His ardour for the craft and deep data made this course probably the most eye-opening (pun supposed) periods of the occasion.
Gorilla Medical: F*** I Obtained Shot! Now What?!
Hosted by Gorilla Medical, this crash course in trauma response lower straight to what issues most: maintaining somebody alive after they’ve been shot. Attendees had been put by the necessities of bleeding management, chest wound therapy, and tourniquet utility with zero fluff and all depth. The objective was to verify each scholar might take quick, efficient motion when time is brief and stress is excessive.
Instructors Kristopher Hasenauer and Mandy Espinal introduced a long time of battlefield and scientific expertise to the desk. Kris, a board-certified doctor assistant and former 18D Particular Forces medic, has spent his profession balancing front-line care with big-picture medical planning inside U.S. Particular Operations Command. Mandy, a retired Military Fight Medic, introduced a grounded, no-BS perspective formed by each navy service and her work supporting veterans within the nonprofit world. Collectively, they delivered a course that gave college students the arrogance to reply when lives are on the road.
Above: Correct utility of a tourniquet is a ability for folks of all ages.
The Distributors
Along with the unbelievable manufacturers who put collectively courses, we additionally had some glorious distributors that helped make our Basecamp a convincing success:
PNWBushcraft: PNWBushcraft made a giant impression on the Basecamp, touring all the best way from the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest to share their handmade waxed canvas gear. This family-run firm began over a decade in the past with a mission to create rugged, heirloom-quality gear constructed to deal with the area’s unforgiving components. Impressed by classic outside gear and old-school adventures, their merchandise mix basic design with critical sturdiness. It was nice having them on-site, displaying off the craftsmanship and legacy that’s earned them respect throughout the survival and bushcraft group.
- Stroup Knives: This veteran-owned household enterprise has been turning out high-quality survival and fight knives since 2017, with each blade designed to deal with laborious use with out breaking the financial institution. Stroup Knives makes every part from EDC to field-ready tactical instruments, and their lineup displays a dedication to sturdiness and real-world operate. It was nice having the Stroup household make the journey and share their work with a crowd that appreciates gear constructed with objective.
- Jack Wolf Knives: Jack Wolf Knives introduced a singular mix of nostalgia, precision, and craftsmanship to the Basecamp. Native Arizonian Benjamin Belkin showcased his line of heirloom-quality knives—every one designed in-house and impressed by 80s and 90s tradition, knife gathering, and childhood recollections of his grandfather’s slip joint. Each knife is a chunk of useful artwork, mixing fashionable supplies with timeless type. It was a deal with having him there in individual, connecting with fellow knife lovers and sharing the story behind his model.
- Auxiliary Manufacturing: Auxiliary Manufacturing confirmed up sturdy, bringing their no-nonsense method to blade design and field-ready instruments. Recognized for crafting knives that mix hard-use performance with a definite visible type, their lineup is constructed for individuals who really use their gear. Each blade displays a dedication to efficiency, with designs that stability utility and aggression. It was nice having them make the journey to be a part of the occasion and join straight with people who put their instruments to the take a look at.
- OTIS Expertise: Otis Expertise made their mark at Offgrid Basecamp, touring in to showcase what Good Gun Care actually seems to be like. Based within the mud—actually—when a failed deer hunt sparked a greater option to clear a rifle, Otis has spent a long time rethinking firearm upkeep from the bottom up. Their American-made merchandise are designed to make gun care quicker, simpler, and more practical with out chopping corners. It was nice having them on website, connecting with attendees who worth precision, longevity, and the type of innovation that solely comes from real-world expertise.
The VIP Remedy
This 12 months, our VIP Ticket holders bought the expertise of a lifetime together with a full day of VIP solely taking pictures, particular coaching programs on the OFFGRID Basecamp, and a VIP Bag loaded with a number of the greatest gear on the market!
VIP Vary Day
The VIP Vary Day at CANCON Arizona 2025 kicked off the occasion with unique early entry on Thursday, April tenth, on the Ben Avery Taking pictures Facility. VIP ticket holders loved a catered trade dinner on the vary and acquired a swag bag stuffed with premium gear from high producers. The day supplied a unfettered entry to expertise a wide selection of absolutely suppressed firearms, together with lever-actions, bolt-actions, pistols, rifles, full-auto machine weapons, and our private favourite: a completely suppressed mini-gun!
OFFGRID Basecamp VIP Instruction
The VIP Vary Day at CANCON Arizona 2025 kicked issues off with extra than simply set off time—it gave attendees unique, hands-on instruction from the skilled cadre behind Offgrid Basecamp. Not solely did VIPs have your complete vary to themselves, additionally they leveled up their survival expertise. Instructors who would go on to show full courses over the weekend supplied in-depth steering on firearm fundamentals, tactical motion, gear setup, and mindset. It was a uncommon likelihood to coach in small teams, ask questions, and sharpen expertise alongside a number of the greatest within the enterprise earlier than the crowds rolled in.
Above: Attendees and distributors alike had been capable of strike a pose on the quilt of their very personal challenge of Recoil OFFGRID (picture courtesy of Heather Salisbury)
VIP Bag
Probably the greatest components of the VIP ticket is the inclusion of a bag filled with goodies. No two VIP luggage are the identical, which ensures that, even should you had been fortunate sufficient to snag a VIP ticket final time, you will nonetheless get some one thing distinctive the following time round. At this 12 months’s CANCON Arizona, 75 tickets had been supplied and bought out in minutes. Though the contents are saved high secret earlier than the occasion, individuals who went for it and got here away empty handed usually marvel what that $1300 ticket would have gotten them. This 12 months, the VIP bag cache had a worth nicely over $3400, and far greater relying on the place you utilized the included product reductions. Here’s a breakdown:
Above: This years VIP bag was loaded with goodies!
A Absolutely Suppressed Weekend
We pulled out all of the stops this 12 months — including extra lanes, extra firearms, and the most recent improvements in suppressor know-how to supply the report breaking variety of attendees ample alternative to shoot suppressed pistols, carbines, rifles, and even sprinkled in a couple of car mounted belt fed miniguns! The Execs vs Joes competitors afforded one other alternative to win a firearm should you might greatest a Recoil shooter.
Going to a spread the place each firearm has a silencer on the top, able to shoot for the price of the admission ticket, is already a enjoyable expertise. It is the proper alternative to take completely different fashions for a take a look at drive earlier than deciding to purchase, and a fantastic likelihood to study firearms and firearm security. Add in meals vans, distributors, and a spot to study helpful expertise, and it rapidly turns into an occasion that may be a class of its personal.
If you happen to had been there, thanks for attending and we hope you had a fantastic weekend of firearms and coaching! If you happen to did not attend and want you probably did, don’t be concerned we can be again in November for CANCON South Carolina! Try the official CANCON web site to remain up-to-date on ticket availability!
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