SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet - SAM Medical

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SKU: XT600-BK-EN

Type: Tourniquet

Vendor: SAM Medical

SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet — Metal Windlass

Name: SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet — Metal Windlass
Brand: SAM Medical
SKU: XT600-BK-EN
Price: 35.01 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.94 (32 reviews)

(32 reviews)

Weight: 3.8 Ounces Dimensions:2.5 Inches L × 1.5 Inches W × 7.25 Inches H Brand: SAM Medical

MARCH PROTOCOL Built around MARCH. Evidence-based trauma care sequence →

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

SAM® Medical · Limb Tourniquet

SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet — Metal Windlass

A windlass limb tourniquet built around one idea: get the slack out before the first turn. The TRUFORCE™ buckle auto-locks into the strap once you pull it to a set force, then a machined aluminum windlass finishes the job — click, twist, secure. Labeled for limbs 5.75 to 32.5 in. around, 4.4 oz packaged, in Tactical Black, Hi-Viz Orange and Hi-Viz Blue.

evidence-based standardTRUFORCE™ auto-locking buckle6061-T6 aluminum windlassLimbs 5.75–32.5 in.4.4 oz packaged

Most tourniquet failures are slack left in the strap. The SAM XT's buckle takes the slack out for you — it does not take the training out.

The short answer

What it is

A one-handed windlass limb tourniquet with an auto-locking buckle, nylon webbing strap, aluminum windlass rod, C-hook locks and a time band.

Use it for

Life-threatening bleeding from an arm or a leg where direct pressure is not effective or practical, and any traumatic amputation of a limb.

How it's used

Under threat, or when you cannot find the source: high and tight, over clothing. When the source is found and time allows: on bare skin 2–3 in. above the wound, never over a joint. Pull until the buckle clicks, twist until the bleeding stops, lock the rod, record the time.

Who carries it

Military, law enforcement and anyone armed carry it on their person. EMS, fire and civilians keep it as close as possible — belt, gear bag, go bag, vehicle.

At a glance

Buckle

TRUFORCE™ auto-locking

Windlass

6061-T6 aluminum rod

Limb range

5.75–32.5 in. (14.6–82.6 cm)

Weight

4.4 oz (124.7 g) packaged

Packaged

7.25 × 2.5 × 1.5 in.

NSN — Tactical Black

6515-01-670-2240

Part numbers

XT600-BK-EN · -OR-EN · -BL-EN

Use

Single use

FDA

Class I, 510(k)-exempt

Made by

SAM Medical, Tualatin, OR

12 things to know about the SAM XT

What the buckle does, what the strap and windlass are made of, where the labeling draws its limits, and what the data show.

01

The buckle does the first half of the work

SAM's TRUFORCE™ buckle auto-locks at a predetermined circumferential force: pull the strap hard and steady and its locking prongs deploy through holes in the strap, taking out nearly all the slack before the windlass turns once.^3,4,5
02

Why slack matters

In a manikin trial, failed tourniquet applications carried about three times the slack of successful ones — 10.5 mm against 3.2 mm. The SAM XT averaged 5.0 mm of slack, the C-A-T 5.2 mm and the SOFTT-W 9 mm.⁸
03

Predictable windlass turns

SAM states the design normalizes the number of windlass turns needed, which makes the device easier to train and more predictable to apply.^3,4
04

A strap that does not depend on hook-and-loop

The Precision Strap is single-layer nylon webbing with spaced holes; the buckle prongs lock into those holes as the primary hold, and hook-and-loop only secures the leftover strap. SAM's point: hook-and-loop-dependent tourniquets can fail when wet or dirty.⁴
05

Machined aluminum windlass

The XT600's windlass rod is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum bar, and it locks into angled C-hooks.⁴ SAM also makes a polymer-windlass SAM XT (XT700) as a separate model.^3,6
06

A plate that bends instead of breaking

The nylon TRUFLEX™ plate under the windlass spreads force as targeted pressure and is built to bend on smaller limbs without breaking.⁴
07

Built for weather and night vision

The time band's hook-and-loop is weather-resistant and works fully submerged, and the time band's outer material and the precision tab are optimized for night vision, and SAM states the tourniquet meets MIL-STD-810G for durability.⁴
08

Labeled for limbs 5.75 to 32.5 in.

SAM labels the SAM XT for first responders treating injured limbs 5.75 to 32.5 in. (14.6–82.6 cm) around, to control life-threatening bleeding where direct pressure is not effective or practical.⁵ Above that range, carry a tourniquet labeled for larger limbs.
09

evidence-based standard since the 2019 update

The evidence-based added new limb tourniquets in 2019, its first update since 2005, and its list names the SAM-XT under NSN 6515-01-670-2240 — SAM's Tactical Black XT600-BK-EN.^2,3,7
10

What the head-to-head data show

With 60 military medicine cadets on a manikin leg, the SAM XT controlled bleeding in 73.3% of applications and the C-A-T in 67.7% — not a significant difference — at mean pressures of 186 and 175 mmHg.⁸ In a smaller test with four users, the C-A-T came out ahead on seven measures and the SAM XT on two, with small differences.⁹
11

It works over most clothing

Over nine clothing setups on a manikin leg, the SAM XT and the C-A-T always exceeded 180 mmHg; only leather motorcycle trousers raised blood loss for both.¹⁰ Over military cold-weather clothing, both reached 180 mmHg in almost every application.¹¹
12

Three colors, one device

Tactical Black (XT600-BK-EN), Hi-Viz Orange (XT600-OR-EN) and Hi-Viz Blue (XT600-BL-EN) are the same XT600, each with its own part number and barcode.^3,6 Hi-Viz Blue is a live tourniquet, not a trainer: SAM registers it as a single-use tourniquet exactly like the black and orange.^5,6

How to apply the SAM XT

SAM's click, twist, secure sequence, with the placement decision made first.

1

Choose the placement. Under threat, or when the injury site is not easily seen: hasty — high and tight on the injured limb, over clothing. When the source is found and time and safety allow: deliberate — directly on the skin, 2–3 in. above the wound. If that point lands on a joint, move above the joint. Never place it across or directly over a joint.^1,5
2

Route the strap. Place the SAM XT around the limb and insert the tip of the strap through the opening in the buckle. Nothing solid in a pocket may sit under the strap.⁵
3

Pull until it clicks. Grip the strap close to the buckle and pull hard and steady until the buckle prongs deploy through the strap holes. Press the excess strap back on itself, keeping tension, without covering the windlass C-hooks.⁵
4

Twist. Twist the windlass rod until the bleeding stops and the distal pulse is gone. It hurts — that is expected, and it is not a reason to loosen it.^1,5
5

Lock and check. Fix the rod inside the C-hooks and confirm the bleeding has stopped. If it continues, add twists; if that fails, apply a second SAM XT side by side with the first.^1,5
6

Secure and record. Wrap the excess strap between the C-hooks, over the rod and around the limb, close the time band over the C-hooks, and record the time of application.⁵
7

Reassess a hasty tourniquet. Under TCCC, trained responders expose the wound when the scene allows. If a tourniquet is needed, place a second one on bare skin 2–3 in. above the bleeding site, tighten it, then slowly release the first. If the source still cannot be found, the first stays high and tight.¹
8

Leave it on — or convert by protocol. For civilians and most law enforcement, especially in self-aid, leave it on for the receiving clinicians; SAM's labeling says to remove or reposition it only under a medical practitioner's direction.⁵ Military protocol makes every effort to convert within 2 hours when the criteria are met.¹

Practice before you carry it. SAM labels every SAM XT single-use — reuse can cause infection or reduced performance — so a unit used for practice does not go back into a duty kit.⁵ Drill the click, twist, secure sequence one-handed on each arm and leg, in both placements.

Where it fits

Use it for

Life-threatening bleeding from an arm or a leg where direct pressure is not effective or practical⁵
Any traumatic amputation of an arm or leg — even one that is barely bleeding¹
Bleeding you cannot locate under threat: high and tight over clothing, then reassess^1,5
Limbs from 5.75 to 32.5 in. (14.6–82.6 cm) around⁵

Not for

The groin, armpit or neck — pack those wounds with hemostatic gauze and hold pressure
Across or directly over a joint — move above it
Over keys, phones or other solid objects in clothing⁵
Limbs larger than 32.5 in. around — outside the labeled range⁵
Bleeding that direct pressure or a pressure dressing controls

The evidence

The studies behind the numbers above, what each one tested, and how strong it is.

Study	Evidence type	What was studied	What it found
*Kragh et al., Ann Surg* 2009**	Human · combat clinical	Tourniquets as a class: 232 casualties with 428 tourniquets, Baghdad, 2006 (before the SAM XT existed)	Survival 90% when tourniquets were applied before shock vs 10% after; no limb lost because of a tourniquet
*Katsnelson et al., Mil Med* 2020**	Manikin · randomized	SAM-XT vs C-A-T Gen 7 vs SOFTT-W, 60 military medicine cadets, HapMed leg	Bleeding control 73.3% vs 67.7% (not significant) vs 35%; pressure 186 vs 175 vs 104 mmHg; slack 5.0 vs 5.2 vs 9 mm
*Kragh et al., J Spec Oper Med* 2018**	Manikin	SAM XT vs C-A-T, four users, simulated first aid	C-A-T better on 7 measures, SAM XT on 2, 12 ties; time to bleeding control 70 s vs 62 s; differences small
*Lechner et al., BMC Emerg Med* 2024**	Manikin · over clothing	C-A-T, SAM XT and SOFTT-W over nine clothing setups; trainer hired from SAM Medical	C-A-T and SAM XT always exceeded 180 mmHg; leather motorcycle trousers raised blood loss for both
*Lechner et al., Int J Circumpolar Health* 2023**	Manikin · cold-weather clothing	C-A-T Gen 7, SAM XT and SOFTT-W over military winter clothing	C-A-T and SAM XT reached 180 mmHg in almost all applications; SOFTT-W fell short in some setups
*Montgomery et al., J Spec Oper Med* 2019**	Expert review · evidence-based update	Review of limb tourniquets for the evidence-based's 2019 update	evidence-based voted to update its list in April 2019; the authors note the lack of unbiased data and official test criteria

Strongest to weakest: human clinical data, then manikin studies, then expert review. The SAM XT's published head-to-head data are manikin studies; the human data in this table are for tourniquets as a class.¹⁵

How it compares

The three evidence-based standard windlass designs buyers most often weigh against each other.

	SAM® XT (XT600)	C-A-T® Gen 7	TMT™
Maker	SAM Medical	C-A-T Resources; North American Rescue, U.S. distributor	Safeguard Medical
Slack removal	Auto-locking TRUFORCE™ buckle — pull until it clicks	Pull the band tight by hand, then fasten	Ratcheting pulls on the strap tail
Windlass	Machined 6061-T6 aluminum rod, C-hooks	Ribbed rod, ambidextrous clip	Torsion bar with audible lock
Labeled limb range	5.75–32.5 in. (14.6–82.6 cm)	Up to 35 in. (88.9 cm)	5.75–38 in. (14.6–96.5 cm)
Weight (manufacturer)	4.4 oz packaged	2.7 oz	3.5 oz packaged
Head-to-head data	73.3% bleeding control on a manikin leg vs 67.7% C-A-T — no significant difference⁸	Better on 7 of 21 manikin metrics vs SAM XT's 2; 12 ties⁹	Arm failure 19.4% vs 5.6% C-A-T in volunteers¹⁶
evidence-based standard	Yes — SAM-XT	Yes — C-A-T Gen 7	Yes — TMT

SAM XT figures from SAM Medical;^4,5 C-A-T figures from North American Rescue;¹² TMT figures from Safeguard Medical.¹³ Volunteer and manikin results are not directly comparable.

Build the system

Carriers for a windlass tourniquet, the other evidence-based standard designs, and what goes in the kit beside it.

Vanquest TQ-1 Holder

MOLLE tourniquet holder with red pull tab

5.11 FLEX Tourniquet Pouch

Belt, MOLLE or armor-carrier pouch

C-A-T® Gen 7

evidence-based standard, with a blue trainer

TMT™ Tourniquet

evidence-based standard, 2 in. strap

SAM® Junctional Tourniquet

For groin and armpit bleeding a limb tourniquet cannot reach

QuikClot® Combat Gauze®

Packing gauze for junctional wounds

Emergency Trauma Dressing

Pressure bandage for bleeding below tourniquet level

Tourniquet Arm Trainer

Bleeds until the tourniquet is right

Free from MED-TAC

The Trauma Brief

MED-TAC's free trauma field guide, written by a Medical SME and medical educator — what to do in the first minutes of a severe bleed, step by step.

Get the Brief ›

Questions buyers ask

▾Is the SAM XT evidence-based standard?

Yes. The Evidence-Based Standard Devices & Adjuncts list names the SAM-XT, NSN 6515-01-670-2240, which SAM assigns to its Tactical Black XT600.^2,3 Orange and blue are the same XT600 in other colors.

▾Is the blue SAM XT a trainer?

No. SAM sells Hi-Viz Blue (XT600-BL-EN) as a live tourniquet and registers it as single-use, exactly like the black and orange.^5,6 If your team uses blue to mark training gear, label duty units clearly so nobody confuses the two.

▾High and tight, or 2–3 inches above the wound?

Both are correct; the situation decides. SAM's own instructions use both: directly on the skin 2–3 in. above the wound, or high and tight when the injury site is not easily seen.⁵ If 2–3 in. lands on a joint, go above the joint. Reassess a hasty tourniquet once the scene allows and convert it to a deliberate one; if the source still cannot be found, it stays high and tight.¹

▾How tight is tight enough?

Until the bleeding stops and the pulse below the tourniquet is gone. The buckle has to click first — that is the slack coming out — then the windlass does the rest.^1,5 A correctly tightened tourniquet hurts; SAM lists considerable pain as an expected effect.⁵

▾What if one tourniquet doesn't stop the bleeding?

Add twists. If that fails, apply a second SAM XT side by side with the first and confirm the bleeding has stopped.^1,5

▾How long can it stay on — and should it come off?

SAM's labeling says to leave it in place until a medical practitioner directs otherwise, and warns that application beyond 4 hours may lead to muscle breakdown, fasciotomy or amputation.⁵ For civilians and most law enforcement, especially in self-aid, leaving it on for the hospital is good practice. The military direction: every effort is made to convert within 2 hours if the casualty is not in shock, the wound can be watched, and it is not an amputation; non-medical service members do not attempt it past 2 hours without direction from advanced medical personnel.¹ Long rural or remote transports are where conversion becomes a real question.

▾Should a tourniquet go on an amputation that is barely bleeding?

Yes. The TCCC Guidelines call for a limb tourniquet on any traumatic amputation.¹ Early on, adrenaline clamps the torn arteries down; when it wears off they open again and the bleeding starts.

▾Will it work on a child?

SAM labels the SAM XT for limbs from 5.75 in. (14.6 cm) around.⁵ Most commercial tourniquets work on most children; the pediatric studies used the C-A-T, which stopped the arterial pulse in every arm and 93% of thighs of 60 children aged 6 to 16.¹⁴ Most limb injuries in children never need a tourniquet: escalate from direct pressure to a pressure dressing first. For children 2 and under, direct pressure or a pressure wrap is the better tool.

▾How do I take it off?

Release the time band and untwist the rod. Lift the strap to expose the buckle and lift the tab on its front so the prongs retract. If they do not, cut the strap.⁵ Removal belongs to the receiving clinicians or to protocol-driven conversion.

▾How should I carry and store it?

Take it out of the factory packaging and keep it ready to apply in a pouch or holder, out of the weather — especially on body armor. Military, law enforcement and anyone armed carry it on their person; everyone else as close as possible. Inspect it on a schedule and replace any unit that is damaged or has been applied.

▾Can I reuse a SAM XT?

No. SAM labels it single-use; reuse can cause infection or reduced performance.⁵ Dispose of a used unit according to biohazard protocol.

Package & specifications

▾In the package — one tourniquet

1× SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet, metal windlass, in the color selected — Tactical Black (XT600-BK-EN), Hi-Viz Orange (XT600-OR-EN) or Hi-Viz Blue (XT600-BL-EN)
TRUFORCE™ buckle, Precision Strap, TRUFLEX™ plate, aluminum windlass rod, C-hooks and time band — all built in
Single use. Pouch or holder sold separately.

▾Full specifications

Specification	Detail
Manufacturer	SAM Medical Products — Tualatin, Oregon, USA
Model	SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet, XT600 (metal windlass)
Tactical Black	XT600-BK-EN · NSN 6515-01-670-2240
Hi-Viz Orange	XT600-OR-EN
Hi-Viz Blue	XT600-BL-EN — live tourniquet
Buckle	TRUFORCE™ auto-locking buckle with locking prongs
Strap	Precision Strap — single-layer nylon webbing with spaced locking holes; hook-and-loop secondary closure
Windlass	Machined 6061-T6 aluminum rod; windlass C-hooks
Plate	TRUFLEX™ nylon plate
Time band	Weather-resistant hook-and-loop, functions submerged
Limb circumference	5.75–32.5 in. (14.6–82.6 cm)
Packaged size	7.25 × 2.5 × 1.5 in. (18.4 × 6.3 × 3.8 cm)
Packaged weight	4.4 oz (124.7 g); varies slightly by configuration
Durability	Meets MIL-STD-810G (manufacturer)
Use	Single use; dispose of per biohazard protocol
Labeled cautions	Not over solid objects; leave in place until a medical practitioner directs removal; application beyond 4 hours may lead to rhabdomyolysis, fasciotomy or amputation
FDA	Nonpneumatic tourniquet, product code GAX, 21 CFR 878.5900 — FDA-registered, Class I (510(k)-exempt)
Patents	U.S. 10,258,347 · 10,363,046
TCCC status	evidence-based standard limb tourniquet (SAM-XT)

▾References — 16 sources

Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines, 1 May 2026.
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Evidence-Based Standard Devices & Adjuncts, 15 December 2021.
SAM Medical. SAM XT Tourniquet (MW) product information — models XT600-BK-EN, XT600-OR-EN, XT600-BL-EN; NSN; operating specifications. sammedical.com.
SAM Medical. SAM® XT600 Extremity Tourniquet product overview, AF-SXT600-SS-EN-07.
SAM Medical. SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet Instructions for Use, AF-XT-IS-EN-5 (issued 2025-11).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Product classification GAX (Tourniquet, Nonpneumatic), 21 CFR 878.5900, Class I, 510(k)-exempt; Establishment Registration & Device Listing, SAM Medical Products, Tualatin, OR; NLM AccessGUDID records XT600-BK-EN, XT600-OR-EN, XT600-BL-EN, XT700 series.
Montgomery HR, Hammesfahr R, Fisher AD, et al. 2019 recommended limb tourniquets in Tactical Combat Casualty Care. J Spec Oper Med. 2019;19(4):27–50.
Katsnelson S, Oppenheimer J, Gerrasi R, et al. Assessing the current generation of tourniquets. Mil Med. 2020;185(3-4):e377–e382.
Kragh JF Jr, Newton NJ, Tan AR, Aden JK 3rd, Dubick MA. New and established models of limb tourniquet compared in simulated first aid. J Spec Oper Med. 2018;18(2):36–41.
Lechner R, Oberst A, Beres Y, et al. COMBAT-C: COntrol of Major Bleeding by Application of Tourniquets over Clothing. BMC Emerg Med. 2024;24(1):90.
Lechner R, Beres Y, Oberst A, et al. Analysis of tourniquet pressure over military winter clothing and a short review of combat casualty care in cold weather warfare. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2023;82(1):2194141.
North American Rescue. Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T) product information and C-A-T® Gen 7 Instructions for Use, INST-001 Rev 08.
Safeguard Medical. TMT™ Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet one-page overview, DTF054_06-23-02.
Harcke HT, Lawrence LL, Gripp EW, et al. Adult tourniquet for use in school-age emergencies. Pediatrics. 2019;143(6):e20183447.
Kragh JF Jr, Walters TJ, Baer DG, et al. Survival with emergency tourniquet use to stop bleeding in major limb trauma. Ann Surg. 2009;249(1):1–7.
Treager C, Lopachin T, Mandichak S, et al. A comparison of efficacy, efficiency, and durability in novel tourniquet designs. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2021;91(2S Suppl 2):S139–S145.

Genuine SAM® Medical

Sourced direct from the manufacturer or an authorized master distributor. Ships from MED-TAC International, Florida HQ — Medical SME-Led, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.

Built around MARCH. Every kit we sell maps to the MARCH protocol — Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia. Learn the sequence in our complete MARCH guide.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Available Options:

Black
Orange
Blue

SPECS & MEASUREMENTS

Specification	Value
Width	1.5 Inches
Length	2.5 Inches
Height	7.25 Inches
Weight	3.8 Ounces

Built around MARCH. Every medical product and kit aligns with the MARCH protocol — Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia.

CLINICAL RATIONALE

Clinical Rationale — SAM XT

Why this tool matters clinically

Preset buckle force (“click”) reduces slack variance before windlass torque, improving first-turn effectiveness.
Rigid plate architecture spreads load to keep the arterial line engaged during muscle contraction.
Metal windlass resists torsional set for sustained occlusion through vibration and carries.

Evidence & Training Rationale

Training sequence: buckle click → windlass to pulse extinction → secure → time-mark → reassess after movement.
Use guideline-aligned conversion decision-making in prolonged care when feasible.

Selected sources:
SAM Medical — SAM XT;
JTS TCCC/CPG library;
Deployed Medicine: Tourniquet Skill Cards.

SHIPPING & RETURNS

Domestic & Military Shipping

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30-Day Returns & Medical Safety

Returns: Unused, unopened equipment in original manufacturer packaging is eligible for return within 30 days of delivery.

Bio-Safety Notice: To ensure sterility and patient safety, medical consumables with opened or broken tamper-evident seals cannot be returned.

Return Facility: MED-TAC International Corp., 15757 Pines Blvd, Suite 154, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027.

Export Compliance

North American Rescue (NAR) products and rifle hard armor plates are strictly restricted to US and APO/FPO addresses and cannot be exported internationally.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet CoTCCC-recommended?

Yes — the SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet by SAM Medical is CoTCCC-recommended by the U.S. Department of Defense Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care and has been fielded across military and law enforcement agencies. It meets MIL-STD-810G environmental durability standards, validating performance across temperature extremes, humidity, vibration, and shock. The SAM XT is an NSN-listed device (NSN 6515-01-670-2240 in black) available through government procurement channels and is the primary tourniquet alternative to the C-A-T Gen 7 in CoTCCC doctrine.

What is the TRUFORCE Buckle and how does it reduce application failure?

The TRUFORCE™ Buckle is SAM Medical's patented auto-locking buckle that engages strap holes within a defined circumferential force range — the buckle's internal locking prongs snap into place and audibly click when correct limb tension is achieved. This auto-lock mechanism virtually eliminates tourniquet slack, which is the leading cause of failed tourniquet application. Unlike standard windlass designs that require the provider to manually judge and maintain correct strap tension before tightening, the TRUFORCE™ Buckle provides mechanical confirmation of adequate tension before the windlass is ever turned — reducing application error in high-stress, fine-motor-skill-degraded environments.

How do I apply the SAM XT using the CLICK, TWIST, SECURE protocol?

Position the SAM XT 2–3 inches above the wound on the injured limb. Route the strap through the TRUFORCE™ Buckle and pull to tighten — the buckle will audibly CLICK and lock when proper circumferential force is achieved. TWIST the aluminum windlass rod until bleeding is controlled and no distal pulse is palpable; the TRUFLEX™ Plate distributes force evenly across the limb, requiring fewer windlass turns than traditional designs. SECURE the windlass by folding it into the retention clip and fastening the Time Band over it. Record the application time on the white Time Band immediately — time documentation is essential for safe tourniquet management and handoff to the next level of care.

What limb sizes can the SAM XT accommodate?

The SAM XT accommodates a circumferential range of 5.75" to 32.5" (14.6–82.6 cm) within the TRUFORCE™ auto-lock range, making it suitable for most adult extremity sizes from small arms and pediatric-adjacent limbs to large adult thighs. The aluminum windlass rod and TRUFLEX™ nylon plate are lightweight and weather-resistant, and the single-layer nylon precision strap feeds smoothly through the buckle without bunching or binding. The folded dimensions are 7.25" × 2.5" × 1.5" at 3.8 oz — slightly larger and heavier than the C-A-T Gen 7 but within standard IFAK dimensions.

How does the SAM XT compare to the C-A-T Gen 7 for self-application?

The SAM XT's TRUFORCE™ Buckle auto-lock provides a distinct advantage for self-application by giving the user audible and tactile confirmation of correct strap tension before beginning windlass turns — reducing the risk of under-tightening when operating with one hand or under severe stress. The C-A-T Gen 7 relies on the provider to judge and maintain strap tension manually before windlass application. The C-A-T Gen 7 is lighter at 2.7 oz versus 3.8 oz for the SAM XT, and has the larger body of peer-reviewed combat outcome data. Both are appropriate primary tourniquets; the SAM XT's mechanical confirmation step may benefit less-trained users and is a meaningful advantage in self-application scenarios.

SAM® XT Extremity Tourniquet — Metal Windlass

At a glance

12 things to know about the SAM XT

The buckle does the first half of the work

Why slack matters

Predictable windlass turns

A strap that does not depend on hook-and-loop

Machined aluminum windlass

A plate that bends instead of breaking

Built for weather and night vision

Labeled for limbs 5.75 to 32.5 in.

evidence-based standard since the 2019 update

What the head-to-head data show

It works over most clothing

Three colors, one device

How to apply the SAM XT

Where it fits

The evidence

How it compares

Build the system

Questions buyers ask