Known for its variety of tactical nylon accessories and plate carriers, HRT Tactical offers a variety of accessory and magazine inserts and hangers. Of these is the Gen 1 HRT Tourniquet (TQ) Pouch. With a generous male/female hook-and-loop tab, the TQ Pouch can be configured to fit a variety of configurations.
Made from a nylon elastic cuff, with an extension hook-and-loop panel, the TQ Pouch can be inserted vertically or horizontally into any associated belt or plate carrier connection (with a forward-facing hook-and-loop cummerbund). The panel material itself helps ensure that proper function between the mating fields of the equipment maintains its operational function.
The TQ Pouch can be used ambidextrously and help ensure you always have the lifesaving means necessary at hand to staunch an arterial bleed. Also, by moving a tourniquet to a dedicated side pouch, the TQ pouch offers to free up valuable MOLLE space on a plate carrier or belt.
The TQ Pouch was updated recently to a Gen 2 that includes a shorter connection panel, and slightly more elastic cuff material to allow for the inclusion of medical shears.
Specifications:
- Overall Dimensions: 4” (L) x 6” (H) x 3/8” (W)
The HRT Gen 1 Tourniquet Pouch comes in Black (featured), Coyote Brown, and Ranger Green.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): At an inexpensive $12.95, the TQ Pouch offers an innovative way to add critical life-saving resource to a plate carrier or belt. In terms of cost, shooters have used everything from shock cords, elastic cuffs, and more elaborate means to retain tourniquets to belts, plate carriers, helmets, or wherever they could be accessible. The closest comparable alternative on the current market would be the Hammock by Blue Force Gear ($12.95) or the CAT Tourniquet Holder by T. Rex Arms ($15.00). The TQ Pouch’s relative low cost and unique mounting system gave it a good scoring.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): The TQ Pouch’s elastic nylon material was very pliable and thus offered a perfect level of retention to the tourniquet. Depending on where the associated mounting kit was positioned, the TQ Pouch was either readily accessible on top of the belt or slung underneath. Likewise, on plate carriers it was stored vertically. Drawing the tourniquet was a little difficult however, because in essence you are pulling against the elastic material that is enclosed against the tourniquet, so unless the user’s pulling straight back/out, the draw angle (due to curvature of the body or belt) made deployment slightly difficult. It felt drawing the TQ was easier when mounted vertically off the plate carrier and thus gave a good level of comfort.
- Durability – Good (4/5): The main material of the TQ Pouch appeared to be made from 500D elastic nylon and a hook-and-look panel of similar make. During evaluation the TQ Pouch by itself had a high-degree of durability, and retained its elasticity throughout. Over time some minimal fraying was noted along the edging of the TQ Pouch’s edges, but that was comparable to other similar products and usage. But none of it rose to the level to compromise the integrity of the product.
- Functionality – Average (3/5): Use of the TQ Pouch was very simplified, and did exactly what it was intended to do. Add to that, the TQ Pouch was mountable to any plate carrier or belt with an ensuing overlap of hook-and-loop, the product had a wide array of applicability. By itself, the TQ Pouch was better for securing a tourniquet over shock cord or other field expedient means, but was directly comparable to other dedicated tourniquet pouches. While easily deployed one-handed, re-holstering the tourniquet into the TQ Pouch did require both hands.
- Weight – Good (4/5): At a mere 0.6 ounces (empty), the TQ Pouch had a good degree of minimal weight thanks in large part to its nylon material and hook-and-loop panel. The system drastically reduced the overall materials and corresponding weight needed in comparison to The Hammock (approx. 0.6 ounces) and the CAT Tourniquet Holder (approx. 1 ounce). Furthermore, dedicated TQ pouches like Blue Force Gear’s TQ Now! (1.44 ounces) or NARs CAT Holder (1.26 ounces) demonstrate that HRT’s TQ Pouch is of lesser weight than more traditional designs which earned is a good scoring.
Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)
Product Link: https://hrttacticalgear.com/product/hrt-tourniquet-pouch/
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