Best Molle Accessories

The world of MOLLE is a fast-paced one. It is important to understand some basics about this system before venturing into the world of gear to make sure you pick the best Accessories for your needs,

Size

There are two main sizes of MOLLE: 1″ and 2″. The size refers to the length of the webbing used in construction. The larger 2″ version is generally stronger, but also larger and heavier. A good rule of thumb is that if you have a pouch that closes with velcro, get the 2″ size accessory to use as pouches. If your pouch uses snaps to close, get the 1″ size.

Webbing

MOLLE uses 1″ wide nylon webbing for construction. The actual color of the webbing may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, as can its thickness and durability. All other things being equal, thicker and tougher is better when selecting a strap or sling, but thinner will be lighter.

Material

MOLLE is a nylon-based system. Nylon is durable and has good tensile strength but can be damaged if not cared for properly. It is best to keep MOLLE gear dry at all times and if it gets dirty, wash the item thoroughly before use. Regular washing with detergent will extend the life of most MOLLE items by preventing dirt from entering any bonding points within your favorite piece of kit.

Hook and Loop

Velcro is used in MOLLE to allow quick attachment/detachment of pouches or similar gear. The beauty of this system is that it will enable you to reconfigure your kit as needed without having to carry a bunch of spare parts around with you. For example, if you need more room on your vest for ammo, you can easily unstrap the pouches from one area and move them somewhere else where there’s room. At the same time, some people feel that hook-and-loop fasteners are less durable than buckles or other hardware. The fact is that manufacturers keep making them, and people keep buying them because they are quick, easy to use, versatile, and cheap.

Buckles

Buckles are used for the more permanent attachment of pouches to belts or vests in the case of MOLLE vests. Most belt-mounted pouches will have a webbing loop on the back with two small metal pieces attaching to a buckle. All buckles attach to a strap using the same principle as a seat belt – there’s a tab that you push down into a receptacle that has two bolts sticking up from it (sort of like an upside-down L). To release this type of buckle, it can be pulled apart by hand, or you can slide something in-between the buckle and the strap to remove it.

Ladderlocs

Another form of attachment that is becoming more popular among vests is ladder locks. Ladderlocs are like standard buckles, but instead of a loop on the back with two small metal pieces for attaching, there are holes drilled into a bit of webbing that you insert the bolts through from underneath. The second piece of webbing then slides over this first and attaches with an additional set of plastic strips to lock it all in place – very simple. To

Webbing Adapters

Webbing adapters are used when you need to attach two pieces of webbing, but there isn’t enough length of the same material. For example, if your vest has a strap with male webbing on one end and female on the other (this is how most vests come), you can use a simple adapter that just slides over the ends and adapts them so they will connect. This keeps it all nice and neat instead of having a bunch of loose straps flopping around.

Wrap Around Straps

Another type of adapter is the wrap-around strap, which looks like a belt and has male or female ends on either side. The straps can be attached and MOLLE pouches to secure larger items onto your vest or pack.

Slings

A sling is used to carry an item on your body without using a pouch. This is especially handy for things like tourniquets that you’d rather not have bouncing around in a pouch all day long. It also keeps them readily accessible and free from damage. Some slings are made so that they will attach directly into MOLLE webbing if desired.

Manufacture

Not all manufacturers are created equal when it comes to MOLLE gear – you get what you pay for! If possible, always purchase the US or European manufactured hardware as they tend to have a better quality control than some Asian products.