During SOFIC last year I was invited by 5.11 Tactical to preview their HEXGRID technology. Much to my surprise, I saw some samples of the technology in their SHOT Show booth.
Like the name implies, HEXGRID consists of hexagon shaped holes in a substrate which will accept PALS compatible pouches. Due to the geometry, the pouches can be attached at several angles rather than just up and down.
Tags: 5.11 Tactical
I imagine a lot of people are wondering why they didn’t think of this first, that’s very intelligent, though I can’t see where it’s attached to the backer.
Around the edges.
I meant throughout the web, as others have, I’d be concerned about a fully loaded panel sagging in the centre. A very tight fit could improve that I suppose.
Good point. It appears it would load bear ok only for the gear attached closer to the edges like they show on the photo above.
Does this platform have rigidity issues when it comes to attaching pouches? I remember that was one of the concerns with laser cut, and this is even less material. What about the system retaining more dirt and debris as well because of how open it is?
I think this system might be the first real example of what we will come up with to go beyond laser cut slits, but I wonder how far we can really go, and what the tradeoffs are for a system like this.
This would look great with contrasting colors on a pack.
this would look good with ken doll dress up, going to the range and be fashionable!
At first I was like, “What?”, and then I was like, “Whoa.”
Do you often find yourself going “I wish I could put half my pouches at 45 degrees and the rest upright” on your tiny plate carrier?
It’s cool, but I see this more as a novelty..
this should be all molle webbing from now on, sheer brilliance.
Should it really?
I can see how simgle attached pouches could work verically but anything with dual attachemnt will have to be installed horisontaly.
I see this being used in movies really quickly. Nothing says sci-fi or dystopia like honeycomb.
DISTOCOMB.
It’s just revolutionary. If it’s rigid enough, it should standard for all PALS and MOLLE.
To be a standard means it needs to widely licenced or not protected by IP. Little chance of that.
I’ve already seen already seen 45 and 90 degree Molle adapters out there on the market for a couple years now.
Is this honeycomb being hyped in the comments? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Is the innovation large? No. No. No.
(But big thanks to SSD for the kicking a coverage of SHOT)
I wouldn’t go anywhere with that many number sixes on my kit.
666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666
now do it with something somehow seven-sided and i’d wear that
top of my list of innovations at SHOT.
How thick and heavy has every angled molle adapter been so far? Most also introduce more play into the system. When I’ve angle mounted before I got creative with p-cord because their isn’t an angle adaptor on the market you could pay me to use.
they did have a dual channel molle pouch installed at a 45* angle, I didn’t look super close but it was done.
laminate looked crazy thick, like way thicker then 32oz hypalon, I’d be more worried about weight then rigidity.
While I applaud their ingenuity (big time) I do agree it might not be that important for many people. Holster is the only thing I could think of that I had a real desire to mount 45*
Inside of the carrier wasn’t on my short list of comfy looking interiors, but I can’t wait to see where this tech gets used.