You only have so much space to carry the gear that you need. The best pieces of gear will be versatile enough to serve multiple functions and maximize that limited space. The 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel from Fight and Flight Tactical is just such a piece of gear. It is simple concept with many applications.
4x4 Hybrid Patch Panel in Coyote Brown
Overview
The 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel is about 4″ tall by 6″ wide. The front of the pouch is covered with 4 rows and 4 columns of PALS webbing, hence the 4×4 part of the name. That PALS webbing is sewn over with loop Velcro, hence the patch panel part of the name. There are two sleeves integrated into the body of the pouch that are sized to carry a number of different items, hence the hybrid part of the name.
The back of the 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel is also covered with PALS webbing that allows you to attach it to any other PALS webbing using the 2 included short MALICE clips. It also comes with 2 bungee retainers with pull tabs that are adjustable for length or completely removable.
Fight and Flight Tactical makes these in all the usual colors including Multicam. The Multicam version is pretty slick since printed Velcro is used to cover the PALS webbing on the front. It is cut and then realigned during sewing so that the camo pattern is intact.
Shown with a Glock 17 and Glock 21 magazine
Quality
The 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel is very well made. The body of the panel is constructed from folded over 1000D nylon. All of the cloth edges are covered with binding tape which is always a very nice touch that increases durability by preventing fraying. The PALS webbing is triple stitched to the body of the panel. This should be a very long wearing piece of gear.
The back is identical to the front except for the loop Velcro so this 4x4 Hybrid Patch Panel is actually reversible.
In Use
The key to the versatility of this pouch is the sizing of the two internal sleeve type pouches. They are sized larger than you might expect so that they can be used to carry items like pistol magazines, multi-tools, flashlights, folding knives, medical shears, tourniquets, energy bars, or anything else that you can find to fit in the sleeves.
Even larger multi-tools like my favorite, the Multitasker Series 2, fit perfectly. The belt case on some multi-tools like the Leatherman Wave can used to turn the sleeve into a flap covered pouch.
It works very well on plate carriers or chest rigs. I don’t always carry pistol magazines on my plate carrier or chest rig since I prefer to reload from the belt but it is nice to have the option of carrying them. The 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel can be mounted high center on a plate carrier and used much like a compact admin pouch or it can be mounted lower in much the same way that you would mount a pistol mag pouch. It can be used to carry so many different types of gear that you will only be able to determine a mounting location based on what you are carrying in it.
Knives and flashlights are easily retained by the bungee straps and pull tabs. The split design of the pull tab allows the light to be held without activating the tail switch.
It also works very well on a backpack. It lets you attach a few patches can keep your multi-tool and flashlight (or other items) handy on the exterior of the pack. I found that some multi-tools could be carried by placing their entire belt pouch into the sleeve and then the flap on the belt pouch could be fastened to the Velcro on the front of the panel. It effectively turned the sleeve into a flap covered pouch.
The 4x4 Hybrid Patch Panel can be mounted and used like an admin pouch (shown with a knife and flashlight).
I tested it with Glock 17, 19, and 21 magazines. The sleeves are large enough to easily accept the Glock 21 magazines. Glock 17 magazines work perfectly but Glock 19 magazines are just a bit too short to be able to easily remove from the pouch. The included bungee retainers work very well with handgun magazines and they are necessary to retain the magazines since the sleeves are too large to retain the magazines on their own.
I really appreciate how low profile the 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel is when there is nothing loaded in the 2 internal sleeves. It really isn’t much thicker than most patch panels but it offers a ton of additional utility versus most patch panels. It isn’t obtrusive at all when it is empty so you won’t mind keeping it on your gear, even if it is just to hold some patches. It also saves space on your gear by virtue of all the different items that it can carry. This one pouch may be able to cover much of your admin pouch and pistol mag pouch needs.
It also works well when it is mounted and used like a pistol magazine pouch.
Conclusion
The 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel is versatile enough that every person that uses it is going to be able to find something unique to carry in it based on their specific needs. It is simple and low profile enough to serve as a great patch panel until you need it for something more. This is just a very simple, well executed pouch that serves a wide variety of purposes.
Read more about the 4×4 Hybrid Patch Panel on the new and improved Fight and Flight Tactical website.
