Field-Tested Security Gear: What I Actually Carried

Most gear guides are built from spec sheets. This page isn’t. It’s my field-tested security gear: what I relied on across more than 15 years in security: patrol, nightclub doors, executive protection and private investigations. It covers what held up, what failed, and what I’d buy again.

This is personal field experience, not lab testing. Much of it was years ago, and several products have been updated since. Where a link goes to a newer version than the one I used, I say so.

Quick answer

• Flashlight: Maglite for durability; a compact Streamlight for carry.
• Boots: Oakley assault boots: light and comfortable. Check traction on wet ground.
• Comms: an acoustic tube earpiece; non-negotiable for EP and loud venues.
• Nightclub pants: Dickies 874, tough enough for a physical job.
• EP shoes: ECCO, waterproof and slip-resistant.
• Surveillance: a car desk, and a proper portable bottle for long sits.

Watch: security gear that holds up in the field

Prefer to watch? This video covers the gear Yair Arad relied on across more than 15 years in patrol, nightclub doors, executive protection and private investigations: flashlights, boots, client-appropriate clothing, the acoustic tube earpiece and vehicle surveillance kit, with what held up, what failed and how to budget by role.

Video illustrations and narration were produced with AI tools. The field experience described is Yair Arad’s own.

My field-tested security gear at a glance

Gear	Where I used it	Why I liked it	Watch out for	Today’s pick
Maglite 3-cell	Field security, nightclubs	Nearly indestructible; a set lasts a full shift	Big; you go through a lot of D-cells	Check price
Streamlight compact	EP, nightclub backup	Small, very bright	Price, costly batteries; tail switch turns on in a pocket	Check price
Oakley assault boots	EP, field work	Light, very comfortable	Early versions slipped on wet surfaces	Check price
Acoustic tube earpiece	EP, guard work, PI	Discreet, hands-free	Standard tips fall out	Check price
Dickies work pants	Nightclubs	Don’t tear	Thick, less comfortable	Check price
Ties and ECCO shoes	EP	Ready for any dress code, formal or outdoor	ECCO is pricey	Check price
Car desk	Surveillance, vehicle patrol	Mobile office	Must be secured	Check price
Portable bottle	Long surveillance and shifts	Clean, leak-proof	You must empty it	Check price

Flashlights

FIELD SECURITY AND NIGHTCLUBS

Maglite 3-cell (and 2-cell)

For field security and nightclub work, I carried a 3-cell Maglite most of the time, and a 2-cell at times. It’s the most durable light I’ve owned. I dropped it constantly, and it kept working. It felt solid in the hand and lit up everything I needed.

Watch out for:

• Batteries. I used disposable D-cells on purpose: spares meant I was never left without light. A set lasted a full shift, but heavy use adds up. Rechargeables save money over time; I chose readiness.
• Retention. In a physical altercation, mostly at the club, a big light that falls or gets knocked away can be picked up and used against you. Carry it in a holster, or go smaller, as I did.

The link below is today’s LED version of the 3-cell, not the bulb model I carried.

EP AND NIGHTCLUB BACKUP

Streamlight compact

My small Streamlight fixed the size problem. It was compact, much brighter, and felt well made, though it didn’t take abuse like the Maglite.

Watch out for:

• Cost. The light, the batteries, and especially the rechargeable versions were much more expensive back then.
• Tail switch. The button was at the base. In my pocket it sometimes switched on without my noticing. It drained the batteries, and a few times it got hot enough to burn a hole in my pants. With any bright pocket light, check that it’s off, and look for a lockout mode.

The link is Streamlight’s current ProTac 2L-X, the closest model to the one I carried. It runs on CR123A batteries, so you can carry spares.

Read my full Maglite vs Streamlight field review.

For current models compared side by side, see Best Flashlights for Security Guards.

Boots

EP AND FIELD WORK

Oakley assault boots

I got Oakley’s Assault boots soon after they came out; the first generation was released in 2002. That early pair ran tight, but it was light, extremely comfortable, and looked sharp. I’ve always liked Oakley for how much innovation goes into its products.

Watch out for: My early pair had poor grip on wet concrete and asphalt. On an EP detail, right after it rained, I was walking down a steep driveway at a client’s residence, telling a colleague these boots had bad traction on slippery surfaces. Murphy’s Law: mid-sentence, I lost my footing and landed on my backside. Definitely field-tested.

Oakley has kept developing the line, and says its newer Light Assault III uses a custom outsole built to maximize traction. I still rate Oakley among the best duty boots. The link is the current Oakley Field Assault Boot, not my original pair, so check its traction details before you buy.

More options: Best Boots for Security Guards

Comms

EP, GUARD WORK AND INVESTIGATIONS

Acoustic tube earpiece (the “coily”)

The clear coiled earpiece, also called an acoustic tube or surveillance earpiece, is essential for guard work, investigations with a partner, and EP.

• Discretion: nobody nearby hears your radio traffic. For me, this is the main reason to use one.
• Hands-free: this matters most in EP.
• Hearing in noise: in a loud club, you hear far better.
• Professional look: it looks cleaner than a shoulder mic.

Watch out for: Standard ear tips slip out easily. A custom-molded earpiece fits better and is more comfortable on long shifts. It costs more, but it’s worth it if you wear one daily.

I haven’t used this exact kit. I picked it because it’s a full two-way setup with push-to-talk and works with moldable ear tips, the custom fit I recommend.

The linked Decibullz kit is a full two-way setup: acoustic tube earpiece plus an inline push-to-talk button and microphone. It fits Motorola 2-pin (M1) radios such as the CP200 and DTR650, but not Kenwood or Baofeng, so check your radio’s connector first. It ships with a standard ear tip and also works with Decibullz moldable earpieces (sold separately) if you want the custom fit I recommend.

Related: Two-Way Radios for Security Guards

Apparel

NIGHTCLUB SECURITY

Dickies 874 work pants

We could choose our own pants, and I wore Dickies. The job gets physical, and regular pants tear. Mine lasted a long time.

Watch out for: The thick material isn’t as comfortable as lighter pants.

EXECUTIVE PROTECTION

Dress for wherever the client goes

In EP you match the client’s day: outdoor wear, business casual, or formal for a red carpet. A good suit is essential, and so are accessories ready to go.

Keep a few versatile ties with you. At one red-carpet event I had to change mine because it was too close to what the client was wearing, and they didn’t want that.

Shoes: ECCO

On EP details I preferred ECCO: waterproof, comfortable on long days, and they don’t slip, which matters after that driveway story. They’re expensive, but worth it.

For suits and formal events, a plain black derby goes with everything:

For outdoor and casual details, a waterproof Gore-Tex shoe is the better choice:

Related: How to Become a Bodyguard · How to Become a Bouncer

Surveillance and Vehicle Work

SURVEILLANCE AND VEHICLE PATROL

Car desk

A car desk turns your vehicle into an office. On surveillance I used it to view maps on a laptop and to review and write reports. Some models hold paper, pens and water bottles. It’s just as useful for security work run from a vehicle.

Watch out for:

• Securing it. Strap it down firmly on the passenger seat. Once I had to pull out fast, and everything went flying.
• Steering-wheel models are fine while parked, but they’re slow to remove when you suddenly need to move.
• Cost. Higher-end models cost more, but they earn it.

Choose the style that fits how you work. Never use it while driving.

LONG SURVEILLANCE AND SHIFTS

Portable urinal bottle

It sounds funny, but anyone who has done long sits knows the problem. I started with empty soda bottles. A purpose-made one is leak-proof and more sanitary. The one I recommend is discreet; it doesn’t look like what it is.

Watch out for: You’re still going in your car, and you must empty and clean it after every shift. I once forgot a soda bottle after a shift. It rolled under the seat, and I found it a week later. It hadn’t spilled, but it wasn’t pleasant.

Related: Private Investigator Equipment List · Best Dash Cams for Private Investigators

Frequently asked questions

Did you test these products?

I used these types of gear on the job for years. Some links go to newer versions than the ones I used, and each entry says so. This is field experience, not lab testing.

Why include products you didn’t use yourself?

Several items I used are no longer sold. I link the closest current version and say so, so you can judge for yourself.

Will you add more gear?

Yes. I’ll add entries as I write about other gear I’ve relied on.

Reviewed October 28, 2026.

Sources

• Police1: Product review of Oakley’s S.I. Assault Boot (first-generation boot released in 2002)
• Oakley SI: An Uneven Playing Field: Light Assault III (custom outsole designed for traction)

Next steps

• → Best Flashlights for Security Guards
• → Best Boots for Security Guards
• → Two-Way Radios for Security Guards
• → Security Guard Equipment List

How we choose and check gear: see our Editorial Policy.

Disclaimer: This page shares personal experience for general information only. It is not legal, safety or professional advice. Follow your employer’s and client’s policies and local laws on carried equipment, use of force and uniforms. Products change over time, so check current specifications before buying.