10/20/08 - I'm proud to introduce my latest collaboration with EMDOM USA, the TNT (Tactical/Non-Tactical) Bag. The TNT project started back in mid 2007, when I expressed my desire to Ken at EMDOM to design a bag that is practical enough for EDC (Every Day Carry) use, doesn't look overtly 'tactical', but still has some gun-friendly/tactical features concealed internally. I have seen most of the 'messenger/Spartan/tactical man-purse, patrol, tactical briefcase, bail-out bags' out there; and there are some very good designs to fit a variety of needs. But, none of them were matched exactly what I had in mind, so I set about thinking and sketching up a design. Over the next few months, Ken and I exchanged numerous drawings, diagrams, emails and phone calls, and went through three prototypes to arrive at the production version. As usual, I was very impressed with the way EMDOM's prototype/pattern maker was able to translate drawings into a finished product and figure out how to fabricate the more challenging features in the most elegant way possible.

Design philosophy - I envisioned a shoulder-carry bag. A shoulder carried bag is easy to access and stable enough if a waist strap is provided. I didn't want a messenger bag style flap. Flaps get in the way if you're trying to access the contents of the bag. I wanted everything to be relatively easy to access when the bag is being worn (that's the whole point, I think). The bag also had to be stiff enough to have some shape when loaded up, and not act like a floppy duffle bag. Just like a backpack, the heavier the load, the more support is needed. This bag would need a stiffening sheet and be padded vs. an unpadded fabric-only soft bag. Padding would also provide protection for the contents and make it more comfortable when wearing the bag against the body when it's banging around.

I decided against MOLLE/PALS, inside or outside. I wanted the bag to look relatively non-descript, and not stand out in a crowd as something unusual that might attract attention. MOLLE webbing on the outside shouts 'tactical', and while I like modularity, and the ability to customize the inside of the bag with MOLLE-compatible pouches, I feel that most MOLLE pouches and the attachment method takes up too much space and is too bulky for inside use, especially for a bag of this size. 1000D pouches are overkill for internal organization. That's additional weight to carry. Most pouches are not designed to be used internally and can be difficult to access unless the bag opens out flat. One of the issues with bags that open out flat is that the zippers can open up too much if you're opening the bag while wearing it and the weight of the contents can end up opening the bag all the way. With the TNT, the main compartment zippers only opens until about a third of the way down the side of the bag and won't open up accidentally. You can run the TNT with the main compartment zippers completely open without fear of the bag opening like a book.

The gear needs to be organized inside a bag, not necessarily retained with a velcro flap and SR buckle. I decided to try and design a universal and effective layout of internal and external organization that should fit many needs, so the bag is good to go and is ready to load up from the start, without having to buy an additional $80 worth of pouches to organize your gear. I also wanted to avoid too many individual small pockets on the outside that looked busy. It was also important that all the features or compartments were easy and convenient to access, whether the bag was being worn or not.

I'm fortunate to have a wide array of bags to examine, which helped me determine what size would be most practical. It couldn't be too small, so it could carry a binder or two, papers/magazines or some medium sized laptops (up to a 15.4" screen), but not too large since it's an over-the-shoulder bag. Even a relatively small bag can be quite heavy when loaded up with a pistol and ammo, plus rifle magazines. The first prototype was actually too small, and we increased the size by an inch in all dimensions which provided more usable space inside the main compartment. What we ended up with is a medium-sized shoulder bag, sort of in-between a messenger bag and tactical briefcase, which I think is just about the right size to be very practical for regular, every day use. It's not overtly 'tactical', yet it has features incorporated into the design which also make it a bag for fighting out of - suitable for concealed weapons carry and rifle magazines, which is where I came up with the 'TNT (Tactical/Non-Tactical)' name - it serves both functions.

Coyote TNT Prototype

MultiCam TNT production version

SDU Grey production version

Note that the Coyote TNT shown in the photos is the second prototype, and has small differences from the final production versions, shown here in Crye MultiCam and SDU Grey . The only differences between the production versions and the Coyote prototype shown here are:

• Metal D-rings instead of plastic hardware for the shoulder strap attach points
• Shoulder strap attach points have been reinforced and extend down further
• Front pockets are 1" taller on the production version than the Coyote prototype
• SDU Grey version has an added snap on the rear "newspaper compartment" opening
• Internal slot pockets have elastic retention
• Internal pockets will have contrasting 420D nylon.

Everything else is the same - the SDU Grey represents the final production TNT bag. The Coyote prototype is shown here for illustrative purposes only.

TNT Bag specs and features (detailed descriptions are below):

• 1000D Cordura construction, YKK zippers and mil-spec velcro. Total volume approx 1600 c.i. (main compartment and external pockets). The TNT is the first EMDOM item to be offered in SDU Grey. EMDOM's manufacturing partner in Hong Kong makes nylon gear for Hong Kong's Special Duties Unit (SDU) in a special grey nylon, so since they had it in stock, I figured it'd be a great non-descript colour for the TNT. It's a medium grey and matches foliage green hardware and webbing very well. The TNT is also available in EMDOM's standard colours: Crye MultiCam, Sewer Green (OD), Coyoteish (Coyote), and Black. Some people have asked "will you make it other colours like Navy Blue or ACU?". Not at this time, as EMDOM does not carry those fabrics.
• All internal edges are finished and seam taped. You will not see any exposed edges of material that will fray. The quality and attention to detail that EMDOM puts into their products will match or exceed any other top of the line tactical gear manufacturer, which is why I chose to work with them. Compare them inside and out, and judge for yourself.
• ITW Ghillietex metal and plastic IR hardware
• Main compartment estimated volume 1000 cu.in. (stuffs out when loaded), protected or padded on the bottom and four sides
• Four folding slot pockets in main compartment to hold 8 M4 mags
• Three mesh pockets in main compartment
• Two pleated/low profile Side Stash pockets (150 c.i. each) with contoured opening for bottle retention, elastic shock cord closure, internal dummy cord tabs. Sized for Nalgene bottles, USGI canteens or four M4 mags
• Drilex lined padded stowable/removable shoulder strap
• Stowable/removable waist strap
• Quilted rear panel on the back for comfort and grip
• Top zippered Frequent Access Compartment for small items with divisions
• Low profile/stowable carry handles with padded wrap
• Velcro lined, quick access pistol compartment with adjustable pistol holder and magazine holder. HDPE stiffener sheet to support weight of pistol
• Rear 'newspaper' compartment for flat items, or stowing handle, shoulder and waist straps
• Two large front organizer pockets (150 c.i. each) with internal 420D nylon organizers for phones, PDAs, pens, CD/DVDs. magazines etc
• Two hidden/concealed passport pockets
• Weight - 3.75 lbs
• Approx overall dimensions: 18" wide x 12" tall x 6" deep.

Overall Features and Dimensions - Externally, the TNT bag body measures approximately 15" long x 12" tall x 5.5" deep (not including external pockets). Subtract about a half inch from those dimensions for the main compartment internal dimensions to allow for padding. It has one main compartment, padded on both sides and the bottom with internal organization, two front pockets, a front pistol compartment, rear newspaper/magazine compartment, a top frequent access compartment, and two side stash pockets. 4" x 3" loop velcro fields are provided on the front two pockets for ID, patches etc. The design, sizing and dimensions for the pockets and internal organization were based on multiples of the M4/AR-15 30-round magazine, as you'll see below.

The TNT is constructed completely of 1000D cordura with 420D used for internal organization. ITW ghillietex metal and plastic hardware is used throughout, as well as YKK zippers and mil-spec velcro (the good stuff). EMDOM customers should already be familiar with EMDOM's bomb-proof construction, quality of workmanship, and attention to detail.

Shoulder strap -The TNT comes with a padded, Drilex lined shoulder strap with one HK snap hook. The TNT shoulder strap is designed to remain attached to the bag, and stowed in the newspaper compartment when not in use. The HK snap hook allows the front of the strap to be released relatively quickly, but not so easily that someone else can do it. We chose not to make an SR buckle on the shoulder strap a standard feature for EDC in public because an SR buckle on the main strap can make it very easy for someone else to release the bag and run off with it. For users in the military, where this might be less of an issue, or if someone wants a emergency release feature on the shoulder strap, a split-bar/field repair ITW SR buckle (not included) can be installed on the D-ring loop as shown below. It's a tight fit, but it works.

The 18"-long padded portion is 2" wide and the straps are 1" webbing with dual ITW ghillietex metal bar sliders. It's more comfortable than webbing-only straps, and with the fixed pad, there's no separate pad to slip and slide on the strap. It's also more low profile than most padded shoulder straps. I found that there was no reason to have 2" wide webbing for the entire strap - the 1" webbing gets in the way less and with over 1500 lbs of breaking strength, it's more than strong enough. We experimented with different padding options for the padded portion, and found that adding more padding didn't make it more comfortable. If you chose to, you can add any removable shoulder pad designed for 2" wide straps from other manufacturers. However, try it and you'll see that it might not be more comfortable. More padding also meant more bulk when you stow or fold the shoulder strap away inside the TNT.

Normally, there is no need to attach and detach the shoulder strap as it is stowable without removing it. There are four metal D-ring attach points, giving the user a choice - two on the rear and two on the front. Attaching the shoulder strap to the rear D-rings allows the bag to sit against the body better than if they were attached to the sides/middle of the bag. This allows complete access to the main compartment without the compartment being pressed against the body and compressed.

The rear panel of the TNT is padded and quilted, for comfort and to provide some 'purchase' when wearing it snug with a waist belt. The carry handles are 1.5" webbing, and are short for the lowest profile possible. There is a padded velcro handle wrap for connecting the carry handles together if desired.

A removable waist strap is also included. This is 1" webbing with a SR buckle, and attaches to the TNT body with metal bar sliders that route through 1" tab loops on the body. The waist strap stows when not in use, and need not be removed under normal use.

Side Stash Pockets - There are two Side Stash Pockets, one on each side of the TNT body. They are 9" tall and are of a unique pleated design which allow them to lay somewhat flattened when not in use for a lower profile, yet expand away from the bag body when needed. When expanded, they add about 3" to each side of the bag. The Side Stash Pockets are designed for multiple uses, like quick stowing of items - almost like a mini dump pouch. They have an elastic shock cord closure with a sewn-in ITW cord lock for one-handed tightening.

I wanted them to be large enough to be useful, and not intrude on the internal capacity of the main compartment, which is where the pleat comes into play. They're sized to hold a Nalgene bottle securely. If you look at the side profile, you'll notice that the outer edge of the pocket angles up, and is taller than where it attaches to the bag body. This is so that it wraps over the shoulder of the bottle, preventing it from slipping or popping out. It will also fit USGI 1-qt canteens, four 30-round M4 mags, or three .308 FAL/M1A mags. I've illustrated it below with four Magpul PMags with Ranger pulls. The shock cord loop can also be put over the neck of a bottle for extra retention, although when cinched up, the contents are very secure.

Inside the Side Stash Pockets are two additional tab loops, for dummy cords or adding another loop of shock cord for retention of radios (stick it over the antenna).

Top Frequent Access Compartment (FAC) - Whatever bag I carry, I always find myself wishing there was a small compartment for keys or frequently accessed items that was easy to get to, not buried inside the main compartment. The solution? The top Frequent Access Compartment (FAC). The FAC is sewn to the top panel of the TNT bag, and is a long, flat zippered pocket with two internal dividers, creating three compartments. Each compartment is 4" long and 3" deep, and can hold items like keys, a small folding knife or multitool, pack of gum, etc. The FAC is sized as large as allowed by the dimensions of the bag. Making it larger would require an increase in size of the bag.

I've illustrated the FAC with a Leatherman Wave, a Petzl E-Lite, and my cell phone in the separate compartments. Great for storing business cards as well. That's where I put my keys so I can get to them conveniently. The zipper is concealed with a rain flap and only the cord zipper pull shows. Note that the compartments are not completely separated from each other - there's about an inch where the partitions stop short of the zipper. So, small loose items things like coins or single keys might migrate from one compartment to the other.

Pistol Compartment - One of the common features of many Tactical bags is a pistol compartment. The TNT is no different. The pistol compartment of the TNT is at the front of the bag, kept closed by velcro, and accessed by ripping open the pull tab. There is no velcro at the tab, so you can get your thumb behind it to aid in pulling it apart. It's not difficult to open, but secure when closed as 1.5" velcro instead of 1" is used. It will accommodate most full-sized handguns. I experimented with the pistol compartment at the rear of the bag, but access wasn't as quick or as easy, with the full weight of the bag pressing up against your body and the compartment. A front compartment is easier to access.

It's not a completely concealed 'secret' compartment, but it's not too obvious either. The inside back panel face is lined completely with loop velcro, for the attachment of any velcro accessories (other brands/maker's stuff will work, too). The TNT is supplied with a pistol holder and an elastic mag/accessory holder. The pistol holder is completely adjustable, and designed such that one of the velcro bases can fold under the pistol, so that the pistol can be located closer to one end of the compartment or the other.

The mag holder has four elastic loops, which is the maximum there's space for in the compartment. It'll hold 1911 single stack or most other double stack pistol magazines. Magazines with long floor plates should be loaded so that they overlap for easier retrieval. You can also put flashlights in the loops, but there's no real point to concealing a flashlight. The mag holder can also be placed overlapping one of the pistol holder bases to save space.
To support the weight of a handgun and mags, the back panel is stiffened with a sheet of HDPE. This ensures that the panel will not sag under the weight, and also serves to provide support and shape for the entire bag. The HDPE stiffener also supports the mesh pockets in the main compartment.

Rear Newspaper compartment - The rear newspaper compartment panel is lightly padded, both for comfort and for shape. It's meant for paper magazines, a folded newspaper, notebook etc - any large, flat item essentially. It's kept closed by a velcro patch in the middle for quick closing and a snap for added security if desired.

It's also designed to stow the waist strap and shoulder straps, and the carry handle, depending on which ones are not in use. If you look at the photos below, you'll see how the waist and shoulder strap attach points are located to facilitate their stowage in the newspaper compartment without having to detach them.
If the bag is being worn over the shoulder, and you want the carry handles out of the way, you can stow the rear handle in the newspaper compartment and the front handle in the pistol compartment, for a 'slick' top.

Main Compartment - The main compartment two-way zipper opens down to the top of the Side Stash Pockets and are protected by a rain flap. The main compartment opening is more towards the front of the bag instead of in the middle. During experimentation, we found that when the opening was too close to the body, it was more difficult to access the contents. The offset zipper also makes room for the top Frequent Access Compartment. The main compartment is protected by closed cell foam on the bottom and sides, slightly thinner padding on the rear panel, and the HDPE sheet in the front panel. The main compartment will fit most laptops up to 15.4" screens.

Slot Pockets - Sewn to the inside rear panel are four bellows slot pockets made out of 420D cordura with elastic retention. These slot pockets fold flat out of the way when empty. Each slot pocket is 6" tall and is sized to fit two M4 30-round magazines or one .308 magazine. Whatever fits in a double M4 pouch will fit in these pockets. They can be also used for radios, PDAs, etc. The elastic on the outside of the slot pockets can be used to retain flashlights etc. The advantage that these have over magazine pouches attached to internal molle inside a bag is that besides being lighter and less bulky, there isn't any flap to contend with. You can have the zipper partially open, reach inside, and pull mags out with ease, just by feel.

Mesh Pockets - On the inside of the front panel are three mesh pockets. The one on the left is a full 12" tall, and the ones on the right are 6" in height each. All are 7" wide. The mesh is sewn baggy so that the pockets are not flat, but have volume to hold more items. Each has a zipper opening with short pull. When empty, the mesh pockets lay flat and don't take up any internal volume.

Of course, adding items in the slot and mesh pockets takes up internal volume, but with the slot pockets flat, I'm able to put a couple of three-ring binders inside, with some room to spare.

Front Organizer Pockets - One feature I look for in an every day use bag is good organization for smaller items in the pockets. I dislike having a couple of large pockets with everything in a mess at the bottom.

There are two pockets on the front of the TNT bag, each with slightly different organization inside. Each pocket is 10" tall, 7" wide, and 2" deep. Both have two-way zippers which open 3/4 of the way down. This allows the pockets to open outwards almost completely but not all the way and have items fall out. The internal organizers are made of 420D nylon. Inside the front of each pocket are two staggered slot pockets. The taller one will fit a couple of DVD cases and the shorter one will fit CD cases. The tall slot pocket also fits two M4 30 round mags side by side and the short one fits two .308 magazines (since they're shorter). As mentioned before, the sizing of the main pockets on the TNT bag are sized to fit multiples of M4 mags. Eight in the main compartment slot pockets, four in the front pockets, and four in each Side Stash Pocket. So, you can carry at least twenty 30-round mags in just the pockets alone, with room left over in the main compartment.

Looking at the front of the bag, the pocket on the left has a main slot pocket for PDA, notebooks etc, and sewn to its front is a slot for business cards, and three oversize pen loop. I was tired of puny pen loops that were too tight, so asked for larger ones that would accommodate Sharpies, markers etc.

Inside the right front pocket are two staggered slot pockets with elastic strap retention. The slots in the back are flat, and suitable for additional business cards. The pockets in front are pleated, and will expand to hold most cell phones for 'non-tactical' use. For 'tactical' use, they'll also fit distraction devices - I've shown them below with two dummy Def-tec #25s.

Hidden Passport Pockets - Underneath each of the two front pockets is a secret/concealed 'passport pocket'. They're basically for putting flat items like documents or maps that you don't want found if the bag is subjected to a cursory visual search. I say 'cursory' to be on the conservative side, but no one I have let examine the TNT bag in detail has ever noticed those compartments. But then, they weren't looking for something hidden. The openings to both pockets are velcro closed, and in between the front pockets. Under normal circumstances, the entrance is not visible.

Using the TNT

Through my collaborations with EMDOM, we refined the design of the TNT based on my daily use of the prototypes since late 2007, and I think we've come up with a very practical size and design that's quite universal. Tactical and non-tactical users alike will find good use for the features and organization. The TNT is designed around function first, looks second; and is intentionally non-descript.

Every Day Carry (EDC) - I've been using it for EDC on my shoulder while riding my motorcycle and the waist belt keeps it in place and behind me, when adjusted correctly. Since I'm left handed, I prefer to wear the TNT on my left side/hip so everything is easily accessible with the strong hand. In Coyote and SDU Grey, the TNT doesn't stand out as too 'tactical', and no one has really given it a second glance that I know of in public. Crye MultiCam (or any camo) probably stands out a bit around town, but the TNT sure does look damn good in MultiCam.

Fighting Bag - Depending on what you consider a 'fighting bag', the TNT might be on the large side if you're only intending on carrying a few mags, pistol, etc. It's not designed primarily as a small dynamic movement fighting bag - there are lots of smaller bags on the market that will suit that purpose. The TNT is designed as a more all-round bag that can be used to fight out of, if needed, that carries more than just mags. Fighting and combat is something I know nothing about as I'm just a civvie, but I did my best to design features into the TNT that could be used by people who go in harms way. Here are my thoughts anyway. If you're going to 'fight out of the bag', and use it primarily for reloads, the TNT might be better worn on the 'weak' side. There's not much you can do about having the pistol and spare mags on the same side, but the way I look at it, you're going to access the pistol once, and the mags four more times. You can always draw with your weak hand. I tried the TNT on the weak side, and with the main compartment zipper open, you have 8 rifle mags right there, which are quickly retrieved for a reload. If mags need to be retained, the main compartment can be used as a big dump pouch.
The waist strap is really essential if you're going to be running around with the TNT. No, it's not going to make the TNT rock solid on your hip when it's loaded up, but it really does help keep it where you want it. Shortening the shoulder strap to wear it a bit higher also reduces movement of the bag on the jog.
Obviously, a shoulder bag will not be as balanced and stable as a pack worn on your back during movement. But try reloading from a pack on your back.

Small Range Bag - Though I didn't design the TNT for use as a range bag, I found that it actually works pretty well as a small/compact bag to support one or two handguns, or one handgun and a rifle. The handgun can be transported along with its mags in the pistol compartment, and you can carry a bunch of M4 mags inside and outside the TNT. With a water bottle in one of the Side Stash pockets, and 12 mags in the slot pockets and other Side Stash pocket, additional ammo fits in the main compartment along with my EMDOM Kitmat, spare parts and tools. It makes a great 're-supply' bag for a tactical class, with mags, ammo, food and water near the firing line instead of going back to your larger gear bag that you brought everything else in.

The TNT is a complex and labour-intensive bag to make with all the internal organization built in (it takes a full 8 hours to produce one TNT). If you add up the cost of buying the equivalent molle pouches plus the added weight and bulk, you'll see that the TNT offers the least costly and streamlined way to carry and organize all that stuff. It's not a cheap bag, but it isn't overpriced. People will shell out the same amount of money for a rail system for their rifle and even more for a decent optic without hesitation, but go cheap on a nylon bag they'll use every single day.

It's completely biased of me to say "the TNT works perfectly for my needs" because I designed it specifically with those needs in mind. But it really does work as I imagined it would, thanks to the help and hard work by EMDOM to make it into a reality. Hope you find it as useful and practical as much as I do - thanks for looking.

For ordering info and a ton of other photos, visit EMDOM USA's TNT Bag page.

• 2ndLine Assault Pack - Empty Main Pack only
• 2ndLine Patrol Pack - Empty Main Pack & External Pack
• CTOMS MED 2ndLine Assault Pack - Main Pack & Internal organization components
• CTOMS MED 2ndLine Patrol Pack - Main pack & External Pack with Internal organization components
• LowVis - Empty main pack variation for plain clothes operations made out of 420D cordura and no MOLLE on the outside
• CTOMS MED LowVis - Main pack variation for plain clothes operation with internal organization components

• Construction - 500D cordura with ITW Ghillietex plastic hardware.
• 9 rows x 2 columns of PALS on the sides.
• 7 rows x 8 comuns of PALS on the front panel (including two blocks of 3 without spaces).
• Top handle and low profile side handles.
• Removable plastic frame sheet provides structure for the pack - the packs has a full-sized insert compartment accessed at the bottom of the back through a velcro-closed opening.
• Removable closed cell foam insert minimizes profile when worn with armour and provides comfort when wearing without armour.
• Full-sized front flat pocket - this can store flat items or a plastic frame sheet can be used to provide stiffness for the front flap.
• Removable padded shoulder straps - the contoured shoulder straps are completely removable and feature quick-release buckles with beaded pulls. A sternum strap is also provided. The shoulder straps are lined with drilex.
• Top width adjustment of shoulder straps - the top attach point of the shoulder straps can be moved in or outwards for varying sizes of shoulders and necks. The shoulder straps attach to the pack by 1" webbing, which runs through loops sewn to the pack. These are normally covered, and not visible.
• Low profile shoulder straps available separately as an accessory- these low profile shoulder straps are not padded and are made of 2" webbing. They're intended for use when the pack is worn over body armour.
• Top hydration port - this has a velcro-closed flap.
• Loop velcro field on the top front of pack.
• Compression straps with ITW web dominator strap management - there are two compression straps on each side, and two at the top. When the external module is attached, the compression straps attach to the external module instead. The female side buckles are of the slotted kind, so they can be moved from the main pack to the external pack.
• Accommodations for waist strap - a 2" loop loc is provided for a 2" waist belt/strap (not included). The pack is meant to be worn with armour and gear, and much of the time, a waist belt can't be used with it. Also, it rides high, and is not low enough for a waist belt to sit properly on the hips for weight distribution.
• 3 rows of webbing on the bottom of the pack with no spaces (9 columns).
• Top and bottom zippers for external module attachment.
• Drainage gromment at the bottom (under the webbing).

• Inside of pack is covered in loop velcro - inside the front panel and also the back of the pack.
• Hydration pocket - behind back loop velcro panel; can be used for flat items such as splints.
• Three hydration bladder hangers - 1 center and two off center for more efficient internal space usage.

External Module Worn - The External Module wears similar to the Main Pack, except that the shoulder straps are unpadded and non-removable, and don't have a sternum strap.

External module worn

Main Pack with External Module Attached

Should the Main Pack capacity be too small, the External Module can be quickly attached with the two zippers (top and bottom) and the existing compression straps on the Main Pack are then connected to the external module. This doubles the packs capacity.

The External Module is solidly attached, using this method. Both the Main Pack and External Module can be opened independantly, just by unclicking the compression straps on the right side and the top. The ones on the left side can remain buckled. As you can see in the photo below, even when the External Module is attached, the pack still remains relatively low profile, especially because of the lack of external pockets (except for the Saddle Bags).

Internal Organization Components

The CTOMS MED packs come with some of the internal organization components shown below. Others are available separately as accessories.

Half MOLLE Panel - The Half Molle Panel covers half a panel, hence the name. There are 4 rows x 8 columns for attachment of any MOLLE compatible pouch. A full molle panel is also available (not shown here).

Clear pocket - The Clear Pocket has 9.5" x 5" of flat storage space, for smaller items or maps etc. It's velcro-close with pull tabs for opening. There's a loop velcro strip on the top for a label.

Mesh pocket - The Mesh Pocket measures 11" x 5.5" and is intended to be placed at the top of the front panel so that it's accessible through the top of the pack, by only unzipping it at the top. It has one row of MOLLE webbing sewn inside for dummy cording items inside.

Modular Adjustable Retention System - MARS Panel - The MARS panel is a pretty nifty way of providing the user with a customizable elastic loop panel. It's a 9" x 6" sheet of stiff plastic sheet, with mesh material sewn onto its front and velcro on the back. The mesh has hexagonal holes in it, in a honeycomb pattern, through which elastic shock cord can be weaved in and out to form loops. The size of the loops are determined by the user and are limited only by the geometry and distance between the holes in the mesh, and the length of the shock cord, of course. Shock cord and cord locks are supplied with each MARS panel (3 long and 2 shorter pieces of shock cord and 5 cord locks). A forceps is supplied with the MED packs to facilitate the weaving of the shock cord. Each CTOMS MED pack comes with four MARS panels. The MARS panels will attach directly to the velcro in the pack, or to the Book Folders.

Use of the MARS Panels requires some planning. It's useful to lay out the items you want to attach to the panel, in the arrangement they're going to be on the panel, before you start weaving shock cord. The mesh is sewn down tight to the panel, so the shock cord requires the forceps for lifting up the mesh so the end can be threaded under it then out. When items are removed, the shock cord is pretty well retained by the mesh and doesn't loosen up much or cause the other items to fall out of their loops.

Quad Fold Pouch - The Quad Fold Pouch is made out of 420D cordura, and has a base measurement of about 9" x 6". The height of the pouch is limited to the length of the flaps, and will accomodate items about 4" in height, if they fill the pouch. The side/inner flaps overlap and are secured with velcro, with a pull handle on one of them. The outer flaps fold over lengthwise, and also secure with velcro. There are pull handles on both flaps for quick opening of the pouch by pulling them apart. This was specifically chosen over a zipper closure so that the act of opening the pouch was a gross motor movement vs. a fine one. One of the handles has velcro on it for glow labels. The entire Quad Fold pouch can be ripped out from the main pack by grabbing both handles together and pulling. The inside bottom of the pouch is lined with velcro. The CTOMS MED pack comes with three Quad Fold pouches.

The Quad Fold Pouch is pretty roomy, and a great way of organizing rifle and pistol ammunition in the pack. As seen below, it can accommodate different combinations and sizes of ammo boxes. I'm able to fit six factory boxes of Black Hills .308 match, or three 50-round plastic boxes of .308, or six 50-round plastic boxes of pistol ammo with room to spare.

Book Folder - The Book Folder is a tri-fold pouch, similar to the Quad Fold pouch but with the ends left open. The base of the Book folder is a bit larger than the Quad Fold, measuring about 10" x 6". It's also made of 420D cordura and attaches to the inside of the main pack. The Book folder has two panels with large slot pockets, covered in velcro. Two MARS panels can be installed to the velcro, or a Quad Folder can be attached to the each panel. The panels overlap and secure with velcro at the top, and two handles enable the Book Folder to be ripped away from the pack when grabbed together, and quickly opened when pulled apart. There are also two 3/4" compression straps with ladder locks for cinching down the contents.

In the pics below, I've illustrated a Book Folder set up for pistol matches, with a Quad Folder full of pistol ammo boxes and a MARS panel with ten .45 1911 magazines. It can be easily grabbed out of the Main Pack and used as a stand-alone unit.

Shown below are the Mesh and Clear pockets mounted inside the front panel, with the half MOLLE panel below them. Three Book folders and one Quad folder are mounted inside the main pack compartment.

General Impression and Notes - My interest in the CTOMS 2ndline Pack System is from a general use/shooting pack, rather than a combat medical pack. I can see this pack being used by competition shooters - for both pistol and rifle who will appreciate the ease in which items are organized and accessed.

I used the 2ndline pack system for a trip out to the desert (click here for more pics of the trip) where we were shooting long guns. I used both the Main Pack and External Module.

Before shooting, I did a bit of walking/scrambling around the area to see how the pack carried. Since this pack was designed for combat use as an assault or med pack where the user is wearing it over body armour or load bearing equipment, it doesn't have a suspension system or waist belt - all the weight is on the borne on the shoulders. The frame sheet does provide some stiffness and shape, but is still flexible enough to comform to the body. That being said, I still found it quite comfortable to haul my gear around and stable enough when climbing up and down rocks that I didn't feel the need for a waist belt.

I had my shooting kit organized inside the Main Pack in three Quad Fold pouches and a Book Folder, as shown below. I had both .308 and .223 ammunition, a wide-angle SLR camera lens, my EMDOM Kitmat, AR multitasker tool, an Ergo rear squeeze bag, laser rangefinder, Sordin hearing protectors, notebook and pens, two FRS radios, gloves, hat, and some other misc items. I had my Tactical Concealment Viper Hood in the external module along with some clothing/soft items (BDU top, boonie hat, cap, shemagh).

Shooting gear

The Quad Fold pouches and Book Folders worked very well for organizing and segregating the loose items in the pack, and prevent shifting of the contents, especially the heavy ammo boxes. The slim profiles of the packs are deceiving - both of them can 'stuff out' and accommodate items bulkier than their seam-seam box dimensions. Any velcro-compatible pouches or organizers can be used in the main pack or external modules - they're not limited to the CTOMS internal organizers. Besides the original med pack role that these packs were designed for, I can definitely envision them being used for a variety of other roles where light weight, modularity and organization are needed. Competition shooters (especially long range rifle shooters), for example, will appreciate the quick access and internal organization that these packs are capable of, and the comfort over a regular range bag that they provide, especially if there's some humping involved over distances and you have to carry all your equipment with you.

Used alone or with the External Module, the Main Pack would serve well as a light assault pack/2-day pack, expandable as the mission dictates. In the medical pack role, or any other where organization and modularity are desired, the CTOMS 2ndline Pack System is well worth considering.

CTOMS MED 2ndline - a look inside

10/26/09 - I recently got together with Chris Kopp, CEO and Director or Research & Development for CTOMS. Chris's experiences and lessons learned in the Canadian Forces led him to start CTOMS in an effort to develop better combat casualty training and equipment for his fellow soldiers, and others who may benefit from it. Since I have no tactical medicine knowledge or insight, I wrote the above review of the CTOMS 2ndline Pack System from a very general point of view (please refer to it for details on the components of the CTOMS 2ndline pack system). However, I felt that it would be beneficial to ask Chris to share some of the design philosophy behind the pack system, what he carries in his, and how he sets it up. He offered to send his pack down so I could take a look at it and snap some photos, but we decided to wait until we could get together in person and go through it. I asked him a few questions:

- What is the primary purpose of this med bag loadout, how many people can it support, and what kind of mission would it be used for?
- Why is it organized the way it is?
- What features does it have that other med bags don't?

The following paragraphs in italics are Chris's answers to my questions and description of the contents of his MED pack.

First, this pack is a supplement to a smaller kit that I carry on my vest. The pack is set up to primarily facilitate management of penetrating trauma, be it from GSW's or shrapnel from secondary blast trauma. It can also facilitate management of primary blast trauma and blunt trauma (tertiary blast, MVC, falls etc). It's impossible to be specific with a number of casualties or a duration that the pack can facilitate managing as that is based on the care provider's abilities, confidence, what the other members of the element are carrying, resupplies available, vehicle support etc. I may have the worst casualty and only have enough gear to take care of him for 25 seconds, or I may have 20 not too bad casualties and be able to take care of them for 25 days. The pack as it is set up is for dismounted combat operations.

For mounted operations, a 3rdline medical kit would be located in a support vehicle or aircraft and would include items such as extrication gear, pelvic binder, X-Collar, Simplified Ambient air Ventilator (SAVe) etc.

Mission specific items can also be added for operations with canine, equine or asinine (you laugh, but it means operations using donkey's) elements or pediatrics. You could also throw in a chest tube kit, blood transfusion kit
etc.

When I designed the pack, I took a 'Human Performance in Combat Casualty Care' approach, meaning that I tried to take into consideration the negative effects of stress on performance and cognition. Where I could, I tried to
remove fine motor skills, like small zippers and small zipper tabs or anything finicky.

The problem with med bag layout is that you can have 4 different medics and 6 different opinions about how a medic bag should be laid out. I tried to design the layout to be as modular as possible so that the medic could
configure it the way he needed and wanted to, and not the way the manufacturer thought was best for the medic.

Exterior compartments

Photos 1, 2 - Front and rear of CTOMS MED pack (main pack only, no external module)

In the frame sheet pocket, I remove the factory foam and inserted two REDI Splints (I like these because they are much more rigid than other moldable splints) and a Helios System, which is a two piece vapor barrier blanket for the casualty that allows full access to them and secures down to the litter.
Photo 3 - 2 x REDI Splints and 1 x Helios System (casualty blanket)

On the outside flap pocket I carry two biohazard bags and a PocketFX Litter. The biohaz bags allow me to cleanly package any amputations for transport, and also to manage garbage. Garbage needs to be policed up for reasons from counterintelligence to FOD prevention.
Photo 4 - Biohaz bag for garbage (or amputations) and a PocketFX Litter

Photos 5 and 6 - The PocketFX Litter isn't for taking the casualty to the hospital on, but it folds nice and flat, takes up no space, and gives me a means to more easily move a casualty. Once I get them to a bigger litter, I can stow their equipment in it so it allows me to manage all of the casualty's gear.

Saddle bags and exterior pouches

On the outside for fast access are hemorrhage control items - tourniquets, bandage and hemostatic dressing. There is also a triangular bandage so that I can stabilize a pelvis quickly, primarily prior to extrication, without having to dig into my pack. I also have signaling equipment handy on the outside of the pack - glow sticks, strobe, panel marker, smoke etc. These are in the Saddle Bags and Tourniquet Pouches on the outside.

Photo 7 - Saddle Bag: Strobe, Smoke, Panel Marker, Headlamp and glow sticks.
Tourniquet Pouch: SOF-TT

Photo 8 - Saddle Bag: Triangular bandage, Combat Gauze, 4" Olaes Bandage.
Tourniquet Pouch: Combat Application Tourniquet

Interior layout

I made the pack open sideways like a book so that when the pack was open, it had the smallest foot print possible. I don’t like medic packs where the flap opens to the bottom. The foot print is huge and doesn’t facilitate operating in a confined space. I also put a frame sheet in the flap so that I can lean it up against the wall and it doesn’t collapse.

On the inside, it's a very straight forward layout. The labels I made with a glow in the dark background and with a label sheet, you can put it in a laser printer and create custom labels. The glow backlights it so that you can read them in low light. This way you can do labels in any language and terminology you want. The labels are also removable with Velcro so you can orient them and the pouch the way you want. The label is the actual handle that pulls the pouch out of the pack as well. The pack can also be hung without its contents spilling.

Photos 9 and 10 - In the main pack, I set it up so that the most important module - hemorrhage control, is closest to my right hand (right hand dominant). The second most important is closest to my left hand - Airway and Breathing. The ones that are less important are in the 'back row'.

The way I arrange the Book Folders, Quad Fold Pouches and MARS Panels is so that they can all be opened while they are in the pack, and you can visualize everything. As much as possible, I also try to secure everything down. If everything but the Quad Fold Pouches are opened, you can pick up the pack at the top or side handles and shake it, and nothing should fall out. When you open the Book Folders, the MARS Panels unfold to the outside, so that nothing is overlapping.

I try to keep 'one layer' of kit. There are actually several layers, but they are organized layers. What I avoid, and another aspect I dislike about most medic packs is that they tend to be packed as a stuff sack, with layers of kit that require digging through to find the right piece of equipment. This inevitably turns into the med bag kit bomb far too quickly, and far too frequently. I think this is a failure of design, not necessarily the medic's equipment management skills (though I'm sure it is a combination of both).

The other thing I tried to do was to keep weight down. My third dislike about med bags is the amount of nylon, buckles and zippers that go into them to make an 'organization system' but they turn into a heavy maze of nylon where is it actually slow to find things because they all have their 'little corner pocket' and the weight of the construction adds up quickly.

On the inside inner flap is the miscellaneous items. Gloves in the window pocket for quick access. Also Warrior Wipes to wash my hands. I threw my otoscope in there because I basically had nowhere else to put it. The Mesh Pocket on the top can be accessed without opening the entire pack. I keep the main opening zipper tabs on the top right corner. This allows me to easily open the top of the pack without opening the side. It also facilitates a simple and quick opening of the entire pack. I always know where the zipper tabs are. In the Mesh Pocket I keep casualty and triage cards, a marker, hemostats and safety pins.

Photo 11 - Mesh Pocket: Small Wound Kit, CasPro Kit, 2 x hemostats, Safety Pins, Casualty Cards (not shown). Window Pocket: Gloves, Warrior Wipes, Otoscope.

Book Folders and Quad Fold Pouches

The Book Folders and Quad Fold Pouches all opened using gross motor movements. You grasp the handles with your two hands and pull apart, as opposed to trying to grasp a tiny zipper pull when your buddy is laying in front of you missing his leg and clinging to life and your hands are shaking like crazy with blood all over them.

Photos 12 and 13 - Hemorrhage Control Pouch - 2 x 4" Olaes Bandages, 2 x Blast Bandages, Combat Gauze, Combat Gauze Trauma Pad, HemCom Bandages, Emergency Military Tourniquet.

Normally, med bags have sewn loops of elastic webbing to secure items. The elastic wears out and you have to make your medical kit fit into the elastic loops. Instead, I wanted the elastic loops to fit my medical equipment, so I
designed the MARS Panels.

Photos 14 and 15 - Airway and Breathing Pouch - Suction Easy and pediatric catheter, Heimlich valve, Surgical Airway Set, 2 x 10g x 3" angiocatheters, 1 x 14g x 3.25" angiocatheter, 3 x nasopharyngeal airways with lube, NuMask (on BVM) with 2 x oropharyngeal airways, NuMask holder and nose clips, SMART Bag Valve Mask with PEEP valve, CBRN Adapter and CBRN Filter (not carried in pack. Shown only for capability). 1 x hemostats, 2 x HALO Seals (not shown).

I also like to 'pre-pack' specific procedure kits. For example, I take the antibiotics, sterile water, syringe, needle, swab and put them in a small zip lock bag, and them secure it down. I also designed a saline lock kit and surgical airway kit for the same reason. I don’t like searching for each different component in my pack to do a procedure when I can simply grab one little bag and know that I have everything in there for that particular procedure.

Photos 16 and 17 - Fluid Administration - 1 x Mobile IV Systems inflatable cuff, 2 x MIVS all position administration sets, Manual EZ-IO, Sternal EZ-IO, 2 x Saline Lock Kits, 3 x spare IV angiocatheters, 50cc Normal Saline (to flush saline locks), 2 x Hypertonic Saline Dextran (Canadian Forces use only - US would use Hextend), 3 x GastroLyte.

Photos 18 and 19 - Medication Pouch - Various syringes and needles, antibiotic kit, Sharp Shuttle, 2 x Drug Boxes and drug vials, 2 x small pelican cases for tablet medications.

At the end of the day, as a medic you should be able to walk into any bad combat casualty situation with a plastic shopping bag full of an obstetrics kit, a rubber chicken and curling iron and have the skills and confidence to
deal with the situation. The kit doesn’t make the medic. Skill, knowledge and confidence make the medic, but in combat, every advantage counts so I take time and pride in setting up my med bag so I can help set myself up for
success when things really matter.

Thanks to Chris for sharing this information.