Most of us here, I am sure, are gun people. We emphasize carrying weapons much more than we emphasize carrying less exciting things. Unfortunately for us, if we are serious about the self-protection/protection of those we care about, a gun is really just a small part of that equation.
For a couple of years now I have made the habit of carrying a tourniquet on my person. It is easy enough. The struggle has always been finding an acceptable way to take more than just a tourniquet. I have tried a couple of ankle kits since those seem to be the typical answer and have not been a huge fan. The latest foray has been with the PHLster Pocket Emergency Wallet (PEW). The idea being, maybe by moving the kit off the ankle, I will be more likely to carry it.
What is it?
The PEW is a compartmentalized elastic sleeve that can be ordered as just the elastic sleeve or it can also be ordered stocked. Stocked, the PEW comes with a pair of black gloves, H&H mini compression bandage, H&H compressed gauze, and a packet of Quick Clot gauze or Wound Clot. Other than the black gloves, the components are all pretty good, with an emphasis on being small and compact. Important to note, all of the components also have quite a bit of life left before they reach their expiration dates. Specifically, the Quick Clot, which is the one I would be most concerned about anyway.
As it comes, the PEW is pretty thick. About 2” or so. Putting it in a back pocket is pretty much not an option as it comes. If we wanted to give up one item, like the compressed gauze, that would reduce the thickness enough that it is easier to carry in a back pocket. I left it all in the kit though and carried it in my front pocket, or a cargo pocket if available. In the khakis that I normally wear, the front pocket was not much of a problem. It is bulky, but not uncomfortable. As my stylish dad self in cargo shorts, a cargo pocket worked well too.
What is it like to carry?
After carrying the PEW in its as-delivered form for a while, I eventually started messing around with the contents and ran a few different configurations. Some worked better than others, but this is one of the points of how the PEW is designed. There is some room for user customization if it is needed for their specific circumstance.
While not exactly its intended purpose, the PEW also makes a good kit to stash in places other than a pocket as well. I have used this one in my range bag where space is at a premium, and also as a glove box kit in the car. While a more comprehensive kit might be justifiable for in-vehicle use, this can fill the role. At least temporarily.
What does it lack?
The PEW doesn’t check all of the boxes though. It is not as “full-featured” as some of the ankle kits that are available. I do think it is more versatile than an ankle kit though and hits a need just under what an ankle kit gives. Going back to my original purpose for exploring this kit, so far, I have carried it more than I did any of the ankle kits I have tried. At this moment, it is sitting in my back-left pocket, having removed the compressed H&H gauze. If you need a lower profile solution than an ankle kit and want something you can just stuff in a pocket, this is the current ticket. The build quality is good, and the components are all optimized for the task.
