This post is about the Rip-Off IFAK from Dnipro TQ. “Rip-Off” or “Rip-Away” refers to the way you can easily remove it from your other gear not about it being a copy! And let me tell you one thing: This is so far the best first aid kit I had.
If you know me a bit, you know that I got a very strong interest in first aid and everything that helps with it. So I have to admit that I own quite a lot of different first aid kits. There are some great examples but I have no other that works so well for what I need like the Rip-Off IFAK from Dnipro TQ!
The Rip-Away system
First: Why “Rip-Off” or “Rip-Away”? This special kind of IFAK is a solution to a very common problem with first aid kits. On one hand you want them to be tightly secured to your other gear so you can’t lose them. On the other hand you need to work from them without having to deal with a huge backpack or them being mounted to your tactical vest. So Rip-Off-IFAKs are built in a way that allows them to be mounted securely to other gear but can be broken lose very quickly if you need them.
Especially with mounting systems like PALS or MOLLE you can have extremely strong connections between pieces of gear. Unmounting it in an emergency is close to impossible.
While most rip-off systems I know rely on a big velcro patch on the back of the first aid pouch and maybe a strap for extra retention the PM24 Gen 2 model from Dnipro TQ goes another way. But: If you like the usual velcro approach, they have one of these, too. This very model uses a quick release system which utilizes special PALS connectors. It’s a single piece, y-shaped, stiffened and you can pull it out of all loops at once. The connector is dummy corded to the pouch so you can’t lose it. Additionally you can secure it with a side release buckle when the connector is inserted into the loops.
Compared to the Velcro-based approach I like this variant a lot better. It’s just as easy and fast to deploy, it’s quieter and it won’t wear out easily. The only downside of the PALS based approach is that is a bit more complicated to remount. Since I’m a civilian and usually don’t have a need for quick exfiltration that’s not a matter of concern to me. If you need to remount your pouch quickly there are ways for makeshift connections. Like just route the connector through a few loops and secure it with the buckle.
The pouch itself
I tested and tried many different first aid kit pouches. Most of them don’t fit my needs regarding space. I’ve seen pouches that only have space for a small boo-boo kit with bandaids and other things that might be handy but won’t help with saving lives. Or you have kits that only hold the bare essentials but miss space for more sophisticated items. Even when you have one that holds all the live saving equipment then you will end up without stuff for less critical injuries. How often have I heard: “You’re carrying all this stuff but don’t have a simple bandaid?”
What I wanted is a kit that can hold vital, life saving equipment for people with more knowledge than a simple introductory course. And extra space for some items that cover smaller injuries you’re more likely to encounter in your daily life. And this kit is exactly that.
Ok, I have to admit that I might have repurposed some of the pockets because the kit was designed for the battlefield and I’m a civilian. But a great IFAK pouch will give you exactly that: options! Not trained to use a chest decompression needle? The loops for it will also hold shears and pincers. Need special medication like an asthma inhaler? A loop for a syringe should fit one.
With close to 3 litres of space you should find a place for every item in an individual first aid kit.
The layout
The pouch has a full clam-shell opening. So you can open the zips and lay it flat. Or you can have it hanging on your vest and all pockets have an opening that’s facing upwards. So nothing will fall out.
You might realize that I don’t mention tourinquets. This is an item you need so fast I usually carry it on the outside of my pack in an extra pouch. There are first aid kits that allow to add a tourniquet and it also should fit into the loops on the inside of the PM24 Gen 2 . But I prefer to have an extra bandage in the pouch and have tourniquets elsewhere. You just need to remember it before detaching the pouch and running away from your pack.
At the back of the pouch there are two slip pockets for smaller items. They will hold all the small parts you might need eventually but don’t need fast access to.
- Bandaids
- Dextrose
- Alcohol wipes
- Burn ointment / gel
- Extra wound dressings
- Needles
On the inside of the top of the pouch there’s a large loop you can open with velcro. It’s perfect to hold a few pairs of gloves.
On top of the two slip pockets you have big elastic loops. These loops feature big drawcords made of webbing for faster manipulation.
- Emergency bandage (also known as “Israeli”)
- Chest seals
- Compressed gauze
Beide these loops is a smaller loop that holds shears, pincers or a chest decompression needle
The other side of the pouch has another slip pocket, but inversed so all openings face the same direction when you open the pouch hanging on your vest or pack. On top of it there are several rows of loops on top of each other. So you can fit bigger items in the bigger loops and smaller ones on top of them.
- Nasopharyngeal tube with lube
- Small packs of bandaids, dressings, wound strips
- Space blankets
- Burn dressings
And on top in the smaller loops
- More alcohol wipes and bandaids
- Antiseptic gel
- Flashlight for eye checks
- Pen
And still there’s room to have lose items if you’re not afraid they might fall out. Like an electronic pulse oximeter for your finger or a roll of tape.
On the bottom of the pouch there’s an elastic loop to dummy cord items.
Details on the pouch
According to the manufacturer the pouch is made of 500D Cordura. The fabric and all buckles are sourced in Europe. It’s made in Ukraine.
I have not found a single lose thread on the pouch. Many seams are made double.
The fabric should protect the insides from rain but in case it’s submerged in water, there’s a drainage grommet on the bottom. The inside looks and feels rubberized so it should withstand heavy rain. I carried it through several rainy days and did not find any leakage.
Zippers have pulls made of cordage with rubber grips.
On the front there’s Velcro in form the TQ Dnipro logo. So you can add patches.
TQ Dnipro makes all their pouches in a series of colors: “UA Digital” (basically MM14 camo), MultiCam, black, coyote, olive and bright red.
Final thought on the TQ Dnipro Rip-Away IFAK
I was lucky enough to meet a few people of TQ Dnipro at this years Enforce-Tac fair. They are extremely nice people and I’m very happy that their gear lives up to the expectations. As someone who’s very much interested in life saving I consider my first aid kit one of my main every day carry / EDC items. And now I finally found one that really works for my needs.
I carried this very pouch over the last months on a daily basis. Connected to different backpacks and during every kind of activity. From walking our dog, bushcrafting to traveling. As expected, there’s not the slightest sign of wear and tear.
And I had to use it more than once. Luckily not in life threatening situations but in an emergency I came by. And in smaller incidents where I had to tend to wounds. It only took seconds to dispatch the pouch and grab gloves to start working. Just as I wished for.
Reattaching can take some time but that’s not a problem for me.
I will definitely keep on carrying the TQ Dnipro Rip-Away IFAK on my backpack and I can only recommend you to give it a look. I use it as “2nd tier” pouch in addition to the other pouch I carry in my pants pockets.