I have been looking for very specific pouches for long time. The pouches needed to be tall and slender enough to fit the sides of my Kifaru packs and still allow me enough space to Dock & Lock my Kifaru E&E pack on the front. The pouches would be used to carry some typical essentials while freeing the main compartment of the pack to carry bulkier items. It sounds pretty simple, but I couldn’t find what I wanted at a price I was willing to pay until I found the Fight and Flight Tactical Sustainment Pouches.
The split upper and lower MOLLE sections are a clever feature.
The Sustainment Pouch attaches via 4 short MALICE clips.
Stats
- Height: 14″
- Width: 6″
- Depth: 2.5″
- Capacity: 210 cu
- Material: 1000D Cordura
- Attachment method: 4 short MALICE clips
- Footprint: 2-4 MOLLE columns and 7 MOLLE rows to attach
- Price: 24.95 each (Multicam +$3, Multicam with Multicam webbing +$5)
There are no exposed cloth edges in these pouches. Note the double stitching.
The zipper is double stitched to the pouch.
Details
Just reading the above dimensions won’t tell you the whole story about how useful these pouches really are. They are large enough to fit 2 USGI 1 Quart canteens. You can also fit 2 32 ounce Nalgene bottles with room to spare. There is enough space for a hydration bladder or 2 MREs. I fit a set (tops and bottoms) of heavy weight polypro long underwear in one. The size and shape of this pouch makes it extremely versatile. They are relatively large compared to most general purpose pouches on the market, but due to their shape and the location they are designed to attach to on the pack, they look and feel compact.
The Sustainment Pouches exhibit very durable construction. Every seam is double stitched. The zipper is also double stitched to the pouch. Every seam is covered with webbing so that there are no exposed cloth edges. The MOLLE webbing is attached to the pouch with triple stitching that also serve to stiffen the front of the pouch and help it hold its shape.
The double zipper runs across the top of the pouch and a little past half way down the sides. This provides great access to the contents of the pouch. Each zipper is silenced with a paracord pull instead of a metal pull. The paracord is terminated with an ITW cord end.
The webbing on the back of the pack seems to be designed for maximum versatility. The pouch can be attached to MOLLE sections with as few as 2 columns or as many as 4 columns. This is ideal for packs like the previously reviewed Spec Ops T.H.E. Pack which only has 2 MOLLE columns on the top part of the side and 3 on the bottom side. These pouches work extremely well on my Kifaru packs as well (like the previously reviewed MOLLE Express). As long as your pack has 2-4 columns of MOLLE and 7 rows of MOLLE to work with, you can find a way to fit these pouches.
The Sustainment Pouches fit perfectly on a Kifaru MOLLE Express.
The double zippers feature paracord pulls to reduce noise. You can also see the heavy stitching used to tack down the MOLLE webbing.
Unique Features
These pouches also display some very nice features that I haven’t seen on anything else. The MOLLE webbing on the front of the pouch is split into two groups. There is a 4 column by 2 row section on top front and 4 column by 3 row section on the bottom front. There is a small space between the two sections. This allows you to mount pouches on the top and bottom section without obstructing access to top loading pouches on the bottom section (like magazine pouches). This gap in the MOLLE sections also serves to create a natural hinge point on the pouch where the flap can lay open for easy access to the contents of the pouch.
The Sustainment Pouches have a drainage grommet at the bottom center of the pouch. There is a pad of loop material sewn around the grommet. You can close off the grommet by placing the provided section of hook material over the grommet if you would rather not have an open hole in the bottom of your pouch. This hook and loop closure system is very clever.
The space between the MOLLE section of the front of the pouch allows the pouch to hang open for easy access.
The drainage grommet can be closed with an ingenious hook and loop pad.
Almost Perfect
As much as these pouches are perfect for my intended application, I still have to mention an issue. The pouches that I received initially had a heavy cigar smoke smell (which may be a bonus for some of you). I contacted Dave, the proprietor of Fight and Flight Tactical, about the smell. He explained what happened and that it was not typical. He also shared the steps that he was taking to correct the smell. He immediately sewed another set of pouches and shipped them to me before I had a chance to return the originals. Through the entire transaction and even before I purchased the pouches he maintained steady contact with me via email. Every gear maker is going to make a mistake occasionally. It is the reaction to these mistakes that separates the good from the great and Fight and Flight certainly reacted like a great gear maker. I would think that Dave has taken care of the cigar smell by now.
Conclusion
The Fight and Flight Sustainment Pouches are perfectly designed for their specific purpose. They offer a combination of low cost, high quality, durability, and functionality that I don’t think can be beat. I dare you find a better pouch than this for less money. Heck, I dare you to find a better pouch for twice as much money.
Check out the Sustainment Pouch on the Fight and Flight Tactical website.
