Proxima Outdoor Supply

WELCOME TO

PROXIMA OUTDOOR SUPPLY

05/08/2013 – UPDATE: THE NEW CATALOG FORMAT IS UP, BUT A NUMBER OF LINKS AND PAGES ARE STILL “IN PROCESS.” Progress has been slow, and I have received an email or two asking when this would be straightened out so they could place an order. I have put other projects on the back burner and am bearing down on it now. I may place photos and descriptions of items first and links later. If you click on a photo and just get a larger picture, that item does not have an active link yet. If you are interested in it, then email, and I will create a product page and email you back the link. Thanks again for putting up with the reorganization. The new structure looks like this.

_ CATALOG – Photo and title links to major categories

____ CATEGORIES – with subcategories by manufacturer – example: Knives, Machetes, etc.

______ MANUFACTURER SUBCATEGORY – example: CONDOR Knives, CONDOR Machetes, etc.

________ PRODUCT PAGES – example: CONDOR Bushlore Knife, CONDOR Golok Machete, etc.

It is hard to believe the year is passing so quickly! We have attended a number of live events in the Dallas – Ft. Worth area, and repeat customers are dropping by our display tables more often. Check out the Events section for our schedule. We are looking forward to a good year and some new horizons in the items we offer!

A Hard Copy Catalog Is Coming. Our ad in Backwoods Home Magazine (if you are not familiar with them, then you should be — check them out at www.backwoodshome.com) has been generating numerous requests for hard copy catalogs. There are apparently a number of people interested in our supplies that are without Internet access, people living off grid, or as one woman put it in her voice message, “living miles back in the woods”. We are in the process of creating a hard copy catalog, and a bimonthly flyer (every 2 months) is getting close to being ready to mail out to fill the gap. If you want to get on the mailing list, then send us an email with a subject of “Catalog” or call us at at 972-231-PROX (972-231-7769), and leave your name and mailing address.

Our Goals

At Proxima Outdoor Supply (POS) we strive to supply your needs for times when you have no access to civilized infrastructure; thus the core needs for sustained outdoor living. That effort spans weekend hikes and camping trips to short- or long-term disaster scenarios and everything in between! Whether you are making prudent preparations for possible disaster survival, preparing to go to a disaster area to provide assistance, putting together your kit for an extended hiking or trekking adventure, or just getting ready for vacation, we will try to supply not only your needs via our online Catalog but provide helpful information, as well. (See our Articles section.)

This website is an evolving effort, so there will be gaps as the initial inventory fills out and then changes over time. The initial inventory was partly based on a Hierarchy of Survival. The hierarchy is a listing by priority of things in the wilderness and disaster situations that can kill you with the most critical issues first and the least critical further down the list. But even such a hierarchy is flexible depending on the situation. Around a volcanic eruption even breathing becomes top priority, while it is taken for granted in most other scenarios; getting lost or injured during a hike where search teams will be looking for you means different needs than surviving natural disasters; in very cold conditions warmth and shelter outweigh the immediate need for water; in a hostile environments, whether from animals with four or two legs, physical security becomes a primary factor; and so forth. (Read more on Hierarchy of Survival)

Future plans include a section for first responders; one for amateur radio operators (I am KE5VOC); one for those going into disaster areas; another for those with tactical environment needs; and another for trekkers and minimalists, those going beyond the marked trails, on extended duration hikes, or who are interested in an ultralight equipment load. If you do not see what you need here, then be sure to ask! Your feedback will point out areas we need to address, and we can get far more items for you than we have listed, so let us know if you do not see what you are looking for. We can always be reached through info@proxima-supply.com.

Two Main Principles:

1. Our Products.

We strive to supply “real equipment for real people” – equipment that will function as expected and not let you down when you are depending on it but will not break you financially, either. You will not find any $12.95 survival knives that will break when your life depends on them. You will not find fire starters that do not start fires. You will not find ANY item that does not do the job for which it is intended.

We try to keep the pricing of our items within a reasonable range, real tools for real people, but we only have so much control over that. Good quality products often carry a higher price tag, plus some manufacturers have a minimum advertised price (MAP) they allow. And the unfortunate truth is that the US dollar fluctuates and imported item prices are affected. While price is one indicator, there are high quality items and lesser quality items in every category, and there is no way to ensure perfect performance of all products. We can never know how well an item was fabricated and have to rely on reviews, manufacturer statements, maker reputations, and of course your feedback. Nor do we know how you will use an item, whether it is a tactical or survival knife, a tent, a cook stove, or any piece of gear. We can only attempt to find the best possible products for their function and encourage you to learn how to use them, and to practice that use, well ahead of any possible critical need. If something will fall short of expectations, then it is far better to find that out on a weekend or two week hiking trip than in a sustained survival or tactical situation!

But equipment can only take you so far. Knowledge and a realistic outlook are your best tools. If the unexpected happens, if the worst case scenario occurs, do you have the skills and knowledge to adapt, overcome and survive? Our best suggestion is to learn and practice primitive survival skills, and then you can be confident in any outdoor situation. When you have this deeper level of skill, the modern equipment will enable you to do more and do it better. We strive to offer equipment that will empower people and on which they can depend. (Read more — Skills & Equipment)

A word about imports. We try to lean the inventory toward products Made in the USA, but imported items are a fact of life today. Many old and recognizable brand names are now either importing their products or having their manufacturing or assembly done overseas. There are some countries we have absolutely no issue with, and there are some countries we simply do not trust, and the issue hinges on quality of materials, quality of manufacturing, and quality control. If the manufacturing process is good, and if the the quality control ensures a consistently high level product, then there is no problem importing from them. Taiwan is one such country, and we offer a number of product lines manufactured there: Smith and Wesson knives, some Ka-Bar knives, and NDuR compasses are a few. We also offer a number of products made in Europe: Aitor and Muela are high quality Spanish knife makers, Snugpak in England is a top of the line commercial and military issue camp and pack gear maker, and of course Swiss Army Knives from Victorinox and Wenger. Condor Tool & Knife in El Salvador is one of our core lines, producing excellent quality, hard working, and reasonably priced edged tools made on German equipment using German and English steels. Both U.S.-made and imported products are constantly evaluated for functionality and reliability, and only the ones that “make the cut” remain in our inventory listing.

2. Our Warranty.

If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason, ever, then return it with the original purchase receipt for a full refund of the purchase price, excluding any shipping charges. It is preferred that the item be in original condition and able to be resold, with the original box, etc, but I understand that you may only become unsatisfied after using it for a while, so this is not a requirement. The only minor restriction is if an item has obviously been abused. Using a product to the extreme limit of its function is understandable and should be approved, but I, Michael Garrett owner of Proxima Outdoor Supply, will be the sole judge of whether I feel something was abused or used beyond reason. But even abused items will receive either a store credit of equal value to the original purchase price toward a  replacement from current inventory, or else a 50% cash refund of the original purchase price, as YOU choose, again excluding any shipping costs in any case. But only once in the case of abused items; return that replacement item again in abused condition and no refund. So aside from repeated abuse, your satisfaction is guaranteed. That is our warranty. Period. Save those receipts so we can fulfill that warranty promise. If you do not have the receipt, then we will try to find a record of the sale from this end. If we can, then that will suffice. If you purchased the item from us at a live event and did not get a receipt, we will try to verify it and help you out. So contact us, and we’ll see what we can do. But replacement or refund is the full extent to which we can warranty our products.

Legal Notices

Customers must be 18 years of age to purchase edged tools on this website, including but not limited to knives, machetes, axes and tomahawks, swords, spears, and similar implements, and by placing an order for any edged tool, you, the purchaser, are stating and giving assurance that you are at least 18 years old. By purchasing from this website you further agree to use all knives and edged tools purchased here in accordance with the laws of your city/county/state/province/country, and your purchase indicates and assures that any products you order are legal for you to own, and that it is legal for Proxima Outdoor Supply to ship such products to your location.

By purchasing from Proxima Outdoor Supply, a division of Proxima Development LLC, you acknowledge that we have no control over the manufacturing processes for items we sell nor the manner in which you will use the products. You further agree that any use of products purchased on this website is at your own risk and discretion, and you agree Proxima Outdoor Supply, Proxima Development LLC, its owner, or its employees cannot and will not be held responsible for any use, misuse, inability to use, accidents, injuries, failure to function, or problems of any kind related to any product, and that the purchaser’s sole recourse in the event of dissatisfaction, failure of function, or results from such product failure is limited to, and our liability will extend no farther than, the refund or replacement of the product as stated in our warranty above.

Once again, it is strongly encouraged that you learn to use, test, and practice using any product before you must depend on that product, whether such dependence means working or recreational activities, camping, hiking, hunting, providing comfort and camp chores, or sustaining your life or others’ lives in a survival or tactical situation. Find out if it works as you expect before you need it! If a product has an obvious manufacturing fault, then it may be best to contact the manufacturer directly, and we will gladly assist you with this, but our liability will extend no farther than replacement of the product or refund of the purchase price, as stated in our warranty above.

Catalog Sales

Proxima Outdoor Supply was started as a web-only business, but that is expanding. We attend many more live events than originally intended, and we have had numerous requests for a hard copy catalog, especially from those without Internet access. In response to this a catalog is being developed, and a bi-monthly flyer will be mailed in the interim. You can be added to our mailing list by signing up at live events, sending an email request, or you can call our office at the number below. If you call to request a catalog, then be sure to leave your mailing address. Oddly, some people don’t.

Payment Methods

We accept all major credit cards (Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover), checks, and money orders, so if you use plastic or not, we are ready to fulfill your order. Do not send cash via mail, but we gladly accept it at live events! Credit cards are cleared by PayPal for our website purchases, and you DO NOT need to have a PayPal account to use the online shopping cart. Card purchases at live events are processed through Square, another credit card clearing agency.  In either case, you will find Proxima Development, PROXIMADEV, PROXDEV, or some similar name on your credit card statement, as Proxima Outdoor Supply is a division of Proxima Development LLC. Please note that checks can take up to a week or more to clear, but usually less these days, and we will ship your order as soon as our bank shows your check has cleared. Any check returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF) will incur a $25 Returned Check Fee.

If you prefer, we are glad to accept credit card orders by phone, as well, but our office hours vary, depending on live events we are attending, as well as other business commitments. We try to ensure someone is available from 12:00 (noon) to 20:00 (8:00 PM) Central Time Monday – Thursday for phone contact and orders at 972-231-PROX (972-231-7769). If you call and receive the answering machine, then please leave a message as to the purpose of your call as well as your contact information, and we will try to return your call as soon as possible. If you are calling to request a catalog, then be sure to leave your mailing address. Just saying “I need a catalog” and hanging up (it has happened!) will not work.