Exclusive: New product launches from PHLster

Originally known for their AIWB holsters, PHLster has had breakout successes with the genre-defining Flatpack tourniquet carrier and the Flex modular inside-the-waistband gear platform.

We caught up with company founder and HMFIC Jon Hauptman here at SHOT and managed to wrangle an exclusive on some forthcoming product launches.

First up is the Flex Micro, which is a smaller version of the Flex, suitable for attaching to an AIWB holster to mount a spare magazine pouch, flashlight holder, or other compact EDC item. Unlike a rigid holster/mag-pouch combo, the Hypalon Flex Micro would allow the mag carrier to conform with the movements of the wearer’s body, greatly increasing comfort.

Launching at the same time as the Micro will be the Flex Mini. This is intended to allow the discreet IWB carriage of two or three larger items, such as a first-aid kit, double mag pouch, handcuff case, or similar on a single, flexible, easy-on and easy-off platform.

The Flex Micro will come three to a package and do not include hardware, since it’s likely the user will be using the screws already on the holster to affix the unit. The Flex Mini package will include a single Flex and a package of mounting hardware. Units should begin shipping in February with an MSRP of $19.95 for the Micro and $24.95 for the Mini.

Not long behind the new Flex products, PHLster will be launching the Flatpack XL, a jumbo-sized version of their existing tourniquet carrier, shown in the header photo of this post.

This product is designed to provide a secure method of arranging and carrying medical gear, all attached to a panel sized to fit most tablet or small laptop bags.

The more we looked at it, the more benefits we could see. Items could be inventoried at a glance, without having to dig through a medical bag. Multiple Flatpack XLs could be used as “pages” in a medikit “notebook”, with a tourniquet page, a gauze page, a hemostatic agent page, et cetera.

The individual sheets not only have the included shock cord to mount individually packaged items, but also allow mounting of MOLLE accessories, like shears or glove pouches. The mounting holes at each corner can be used to daisy-chain multiple pages together with a D-ring or paracord, or the Flatpack XLs can be hung on the wall at the range or in a vehicle.

MSRP on the Flatpack XL hadn’t been finalized at the time of this writing, but an individual unit should be under $35. They’ll also be sold in 3-packs, and will be available in several colors (Which could also be a benefit: Imagine telling a bystander “Bring me the yellow carrier,” instead of “Bring me the bag that has the chest seals in it.”) You'll also be able to order the medical components to populate the Flatpack XL a la carte from PHLster at the same time as you order the carrier itself.

Look for the Flatpack XL sometime in Q2 of this year.