Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch

North American Rescue — Tourniquet Carry

A slim, low-profile C-A-T® carrier in 500D IR-signature-reduced nylon, using an end-tuck MOLLE attachment instead of a button snap. Lighter and more compliant than the standard 1000D pouch — built for soft platforms and weight savings. Four colors.

On a tightly packed plate carrier or a soft inner belt, a stiff 1000D pouch with a button snap adds bulk and one more mechanical part that can fail or hang up on the draw.

What if the carrier was slimmer, lighter, and had nothing to snap?

The Elastic CAT Pouch — also called the C-A-T® Elastic TQ Holder — is NAR's streamlined alternative to the classic nylon pouch. Built from 500-denier IR-signature-reduced nylon, it's more flexible while keeping the durability and IR reduction operators expect. The defining difference from the standard pouch (30-0057) is an end-tuck MOLLE attachment instead of a button snap — one less failure point and a lower profile on packed carriers. At 2 oz it's barely more than carrying the C-A-T® Gen 7 bare, with an elastic pull tab for one-handed retrieval.

Slim. Light. No Snap.

Genuine North American Rescue, shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.

When to Deploy the Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch

• High-Tempo Tactical Operations: The elastic body allows the tourniquet to be drawn outward, upward, or downward from the pouch — critical when the draw angle is constrained by gear, body armor, or shooting position.
• Vehicle Crew and Dismount Integration: Vehicle crew members who alternate between vehicle (seated) and dismounted (standing) positions benefit from the elastic draw — the same tourniquet access motion works in both positions.
• Night Operations and Low-Light Access: In low-light environments, the elastic pouch allows tactile tourniquet removal without locating the snap/tab — grab and pull in any direction releases the TQ from the pouch.
• IR Signature Reduction Operations: The 500D IR Signature Reduced Nylon construction reduces the pouch's near-infrared reflectance — preferred for night-vision-equipped threat environments where standard cordura has a distinct IR signature.
• Plate Carrier Cummerbund Mounting: The compact L 7 in. × W 1.75 in. × D 1.5 in. profile fits on cummerbund webbing where a standard hard-shell pouch would interfere with movement.
• IFAK Supplement Carry: Operators who carry a tourniquet outside the IFAK for immediate access use the elastic pouch to stage a dedicated TQ on the shoulder strap, chest, or hip webbing.

How the Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch Compares

Elastic CAT Pouch vs. Standard CAT Tourniquet Pouch: The standard CAT Tourniquet Pouch uses a rigid 1000D Cordura shell — more environmental protection, more rigid profile. The Elastic CAT Pouch uses 500D IR-reduced nylon with an elastic body — lighter (2 oz), lower profile (L 7 in.), directional draw, and IR-reduced. Choose elastic for high-tempo tactical and IR-reduced environments; choose standard for vehicle mounting and maximum environmental protection.

Elastic Pouch vs. Rigid Gen 7 CAT Case: The Rigid Gen 7 Case provides maximum hard-sided protection for the tourniquet — preferred for vehicle B-pillar mounting and environments where the pouch is subject to impact. The elastic pouch is soft-sided, lighter, and flexible — for body-worn carry where rigidity would restrict movement.

IR-Reduced Nylon vs. Standard Cordura: Standard 1000D Cordura has a near-infrared reflectance signature visible through night-vision optics. 500D IR Signature Reduced Nylon is processed to reduce this signature — a tactical advantage in NVG-equipped threat environments at no measurable loss in durability for the application.

See all tourniquet carry options in the Tourniquets collection at tactical-medicine.com.

Frequently Asked Questions — Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch

Q: Is the Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch compatible with Gen 7 C-A-T® Tourniquets?

A: Yes. The Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch (30-0184-c) explicitly accommodates both Generation 6 and Generation 7 C-A-T® Tourniquets. This is a key differentiator from the standard CAT Tourniquet Pouch, which is listed for Gen 6 compatibility.

Q: Does the Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch include a C-A-T® tourniquet?

A: No. The Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch is a carrier/holder only — the C-A-T® tourniquet is sold separately. The pouch stages a separately purchased tourniquet.

Q: What does IR Signature Reduced Nylon mean?

A: 500D IR Signature Reduced Nylon is nylon fabric processed to reduce its near-infrared (NIR) reflectance signature. Under night-vision optics, standard fabrics reflect NIR light and appear bright — IR-reduced fabrics appear darker, reducing visual signature in NVG-equipped threat environments.

Q: What is the weight and profile of the Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch?

A: The Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch measures L 7 in. × W 1.75 in. × D 1.5 in. and weighs 2 oz empty — a low-profile, lightweight tourniquet carrier suitable for cummerbund, shoulder strap, and tight MOLLE webbing positions.

Q: What mounting system does the Elastic CAT Tourniquet Pouch use?

A: The pouch uses a tuck-finish MOLLE/PALS-compatible attachment — the elastic body threads through PALS webbing and is retained by the tuck tab, providing a low-profile secure mount without protruding snaps or buckles.