The concept of the fanny pack or waist pack is nothing new. There has remained a steady trend in the utilization of these types of packs within the SOPs of varying SOF units. Waist packs used as quickly removable IFAKS, assaulter load outs, and housing for extraneous breaching equipment have all found their niche within the context of these waist bags. Â I use a Spiritus System SACK on my Crye AVS to hold my extra Commo equipment. The central body placement, the ability to access the pouch ambidextrously, and the zero-sum loss of MOLLE space on your kit make waist based packs alluring for load carrying potential.
Enter the Tactical Tailor First Responder Bag. Â The bag itself, like all Tactical Tailor products, is built to last. Â Heavy 1000D Cordura meshed with YKK zipper will ensure that this bag need not be pampered. Â The Bag, in essence, bridges a gap between being a typically -sized IFAK and a smaller stand-alone med bag. Â
- Measurements: 12″ wide x 6.5″ tall x 5.25″ deep
- NSN: 6530015480940 (Black, Coyote Brown, OD.)
- MADE IN THE USA
The Exterior of the bag boasts a trauma shear pouch, a smaller zippered pouch, and generous MOLLE webbing for attaching extra ancillary equipment. Within the bag itself, there are four different panels of elastic webbing, ranging in girth, in order to stow and organize the medical gear of varying sizes. There is also a small pliable divider within the front portion of the bag. Like many other TT products, a hi-viz orange panel is sewn into the bottom of the bag to aid in visual acuity of the bag’s bottom.  The bag pictured is currently loaded with the following (there is so much more room for other equipment):
- 1 Trauma Shears
- 1 SOF-T W Tourniquet
- 1 SWAT-T Â Tourniquet
- 2 IZZY Dressings
- 1 Z-PACK GAUZE
- 1 OLAES Bandage
- 2 H/H Gauze
- 6 HALO dressings
- 2 Needle Ds
- 1 Nasopharyngeal tube
- 2 Nitrile Gloves
- 1 HEMCON dressing
- 1 CELOX powder
The bag also has buckled carrying straps with a wide range of size adjustment. If rocking the fanny pack is not your jam, one can wear the bag slung across the shoulders or over their armor.  For me personally, I currently have the bag affixed to a rear seat of my vehicle. I am seriously debating obtaining a second bag in order to organize and stow my SERE car loadout. The bag would fit that SERE gear setup nicely and look for a follow-up article depicting this bag’s many pragmatic uses.
Author – Ross R. is currently serving in the US Military Special Operations community.
