How to Mount Esstac KYWI Pouches | The Ultimate Esstac KYWI Guide
Esstac KYWI pouches are some of the most popular rifle and pistol magazine pouches on the market. The “KYWI” in the name stands for “Kydex Wedge Insert,” and you pronounce KYWI like the kiwi fruit.
The confusing thing about KYWI mag pouches is that there are a bunch of different mounting options. Each option is designed for different applications, so if you order the wrong type, it can be annoying. If you’ve never messed with MOLLE pouches and MALICE clips, you may not know how they work or how to use them. It can be puzzling, trying to figure out what attachment system is right for you.
This article is going to answer all of your questions about Esstac KYWI pouches! I’ll explain the various mounting options available and show you how to install each style, including helpful pictures and videos along the way!
Table of Contents
Here is a cheat sheet for various acronyms and phrases you'll see and what they mean:
MOLLE – “Modular Light-Weight Load-Carrying Equipment” is a pouch or other gear designed to interlace with PALS. It’s pronounced like the name, “Molly.”
PALS – “Pouch Attachment Ladder System” is the horizontal rows of heavy-duty nylon fabric sewn onto backpacks, plate carriers, chest rigs, and battle belts.
MICRO MOLLE – Battle belt webbing that is ½ inch wide webbing vs the standard 1″ MOLLE
KYWI – “Kydex Wedge Insert” is the molded Kydex insert that Esstac uses in their pouches.
KYDEX – Kydex is a thermoplastic moldable material used for Esstac KYWI pouches. It gives them a rigid shape that helps retain magazines.
MALICE CLIPS – Plastic flexible bands that lock in place, these are one of the industry standards for mounting MOLLE pouches on PALS webbing.
WTFIX Straps – “What The Fix” or “WTF” Straps are made by Whiskey Two Four from laser-cut Hypalon material. They are very flexible and strong, and they do not cause hotspots, as MALICE clips can.
ONE-WRAP – This is a double-sided, one-inch wide strip of Velcro®. It’s the best way to attach MOLLE pouches to battle belts and duty belts, by far.
ZIP TIE – Zip ties are a type of fastener used for all kinds of things. They are made from strong, flexible, plastic material and are designed to lock as you tighten them.
MAGAZINE – A magazine is a device that holds ammunition and feeds it into firearms.
PLATE CARRIER – A type of tactical vest, designed to carry hard ballistic plates and other gear
CHEST RIG – A type of tactical vest, designed to hold various items like magazines and other gear, chest rigs typically do not hold ballistic plates.
IFAK – An “Individual First Aid Kit,” also called a “Blowout Kit,” designed to be small enough to carry on a belt or plate carrier. It contains medical tools to stop massive bleeding.
LARPING – “Live Action Role Playing” is a type of interactive role-playing game. The participants portray characters through physical action, often in costume and with props (usually in their mom’s basement while the chicken tendies finish cooking).
Now that we have the jargon out of the way, let’s get started!
What are Esstac KYWI pouches?
Esstac KYWI (pronounced like kiwi fruit) pouches are hybrid nylon/Kydex pouches. They are designed to hold magazines and other gear securely, while also helping to reduce noise from weapons, slings, and other junk rubbing against them. The outer nylon pouch is basically a hollow rectangle with loop velcro sewn onto one side. The Kydex wedge insert (“KYWI”) is shaped in such a way that it will securely hold your magazines without the need for bungee cords, straps, buttons, or any other nonsense. Having the tops of your mags exposed without extra junk in the way makes them much faster to access if you need to do an emergency reload. Esstac KYWI pouches come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to accommodate different types of pistol & rifle magazines, handcuffs, radios, and more. All Esstac KYWI pouches are made in the United States and are fully Berry-compliant (DOD requirement for military gear to be made in the United States).
-
Esstac Triple 5.56 Tall KYWI Magazine Pouch
$65.00 – $77.00 -
-
Esstac Triple 5.56 Midlength KYWI Magazine Pouch
$65.00 – $119.00 -
-
Esstac KYWI Single 5.56 Shorty Magazine Pouch W/ PALS Webbing
$24.00 – $51.00 -
How Do Esstac KYWI Pouches Work?
Esstac KYWI pouches are designed with a Kydex insert that compresses against the magazine and keeps it in place with tension and friction. The outer pouch is generally made from 500D Cordura Nylon, which helps keep the magazine quiet while not sacrificing any durability or security. Esstac KYWI pouches have no closure system and are designed to mount onto a MOLLE webbing platform or belt. Unlike most other tactical nylon brands, Esstac does not sew MOLLE straps on the back of their KYWI pouches.
The reason Esstac doesn’t include dedicated MOLLE straps is to allow the end user to decide what mounting solution would be ideal for their intended application. For example, if you were going to mount the pouch on a battle belt, the best option (in my opinion) is One-Wrap Velcro®. On the other hand, if you were mounting Esstac pouches on a plate carrier, you might want to use Tactical Tailor MALICE Clips or WTFix Straps.
By allowing the end user to choose a mounting solution, Esstac pouches are extremely versatile and can be used for a huge variety of applications.
Various Ways to Attach Esstac KYWI Pouches
MALICE Clips
MALICE Clips were invented by Tactical Tailor and have evolved over the years into the current “Fight Light” version, which is lighter, stronger, and easier to use than their original square designs. Tactical Tailor MALICE Clips are made out of a semi-ridged plastic material that is flexible enough to weave through PALs loops but strong enough to hold pouches and other gear securely in place.
MALICE Clips also feature a locking design that requires a flat head or similar prying device to unlock it, making them extremely secure. They are available in two sizes, 3″ and 5″, as well as black or brown colors.
WTFix Straps
WTFix Straps are made from laser-cut Hypalon® material by Whiskey Two Four in Arizona. Legend has it, these are named based on the number of F-Bombs you’ll drop while trying to install them correctly. However, once you get them right, they are awesome! As far as I know, these are the lowest profile and lightest methods to attach pouches and other gear. WTFix Straps are extremely flexible, but they don’t stretch at all. Unlike MALICE Clips, WTF Straps don’t have a large locking mechanism that will cause hot spots over time. Though they can be tricky to install, if you use a zip-tie as a lead, it’s pretty easy. More on that below!
Velcro One-Wrap
One-Wrap is a flexible 1″ wide strip of Velcro® material that can be used to wrap around surfaces like belts or other webbing. One side is hook (scratchy), and the other is loop (soft). It can be wrapped in either direction and will stick to itself very effectively. Velcro One-Wrap is the ideal solution for attaching Esstac KYWI pouches to a battle or duty belt. One-Wrap is also great to keep in your kit for repairs, field expedient mounts, and general uses.
1.75" & 2" Belt Loops
The belt loop options from Esstac are plastic injection molded and are designed to weave into the PALs webbing on the back of the pouch. They allow you to thread the pouch over any standard belt that doesn’t have a dedicated MOLLE/PALs attachment system. Basically, if you prefer wearing low-profile or conventional belts, the belt loop option may be a good fit for you. Personally, I would recommend going with One-Wrap, as it will be a lot more secure and less likely to move around your belt.
MOLLE Sticks
The MOLLE Stick is a simple, but extremely effective attachment system for MOLLE/PALS webbing. Made from high-strength Acetal polymers, the MOLLE Stick is designed to be inserted through the webbing and then locked in place with the top latch. Removal is just as easy, with a firm pull on the cord, unlocking the top latch, followed by an upward pull to remove the MOLLE Stick. The MOLLE Stick is also equipped with bridging cord loops that enable quick and easy removal of multiple MOLLE Sticks. The MOLLE Stick is simple, strong, and easy to use, making it an essential gear for anyone using MOLLE/PALS webbing. These are best for attaching IFAKs and other first aid gear that needs to be easily accessible and quickly removable.
Zip Ties
Zip Ties shouldn’t be your primary method of attaching pouches to your gear. While they can seem to work well, they can also break fairly easily. Think of zip ties more as a secondary or backup mounting solution, rather than your go-to method. These are great if you need to tighten a pouch down to prevent movement when attached via a different method. For example, battle belts that use micro MOLLE webbing will leave enough space for MALICE Clips and WTF Straps to move around quite a bit. You can use zip ties to tighten everything down and drastically reduce that movement.
Zip ties also work well for rigging up field-expedient repairs and unconventional requirements (i.e. if you had to carry a set of bolt cutters or other breaching gear and didn’t have a purpose-built pouch for them). Similar to One-Wrap, always keep a few zip ties in your kit, just in case.
Which Attachment Method Is Best For You?
The best attachment method for Esstac pouches depends on your intended application and personal preferences. It also depends heavily on exactly where you’ll be mounting the pouch. For example, if you are mounting a pouch to a battle belt, One-Wrap Velcro would very likely be your best bet. On the other hand, if you were going to mount it on a plate carrier or tactical vest that has MOLLE/PALs webbing, then MALICE Clips or WTFix Straps would be better choices.
-
Kore Essentials MOLLE Battle Belt 2 Part System – B2 Buckle
$139.95 – $159.99 -
Kore Essentials Battle Belt 2 Part System Micro MOLLE – B1 Buckle
$139.95 – $159.99 -
-
-
-
Mounting Options Summary
One-Wrap Velcro is best for any and all belts, especially two-piece battle belts with velcro attaching the inner and outer belts together.
MALICE Clips are best for fast and strong mounts on plate carriers and chest rigs, as long as you don’t mind the large locking section at the bottom of each clip.
WTFix Straps are best for chest rigs and plate carriers, if you’re trying to go as light and low-profile as possible. These are best for preventing hotspots and pressure points if you need to flex and move in your gear quite a bit (compared to MALICE Clips). WTF Straps would be a good choice if you tend to spend long periods of time laying on your stomach and you already have enough back problems.
Belt Loops are best if you’re using a belt that isn’t specifically designed to carry pouches via MOLLE webbing, and you want to be able to slide the pouch(es) on and off the belt quickly. Esstac belt loops weave into the PALs webbing of their pouches and lock into place very securely.
Zip Ties are a good backup retention system for tightening the pouches down to prevent movement. Zip ties should not be your primary method of attaching an Esstac pouch to anything unless you don’t have any other options.
My personal favorites are One-Wrap for belts and WTF Straps for everything else. The MALICE Clips are the second easiest to use behind One-Wrap, but I’m not a huge fan of the large square portion that will stick out beneath each pouch. This is especially important to think about if you’re working with very limited space on your kit. Another negative aspect of MALICE Clips is that those locks can really dig into your hips, kidneys, etc., depending on where you have them mounted. I definitely would not recommend MALICE Clips for battle belts.
Pro Tip!
Use a flat, dull object to slide between the Kydex and the back of the Esstac pouch to remove and reinsert the KYWI. This makes it MUCH easier to mount the pouch, without fighting the Kydex tension the whole time.
How To Mount Esstac Pouches With One Wrap Velcro | Step By Step
The One-Wrap Velcro system is ideal for battle belts, as well as any other belt, even if it isn’t specifically designed to carry pouches. One-Wrap is not a good option for plate carriers or traditional MOLLE weaving patterns. For that reason, the following instructions will be dedicated to mounting a pouch on a belt:
Begin by figuring out where you ultimately want the pouch to live on your belt. This is generally best to do while wearing the belt and all of the other gear you'll be running. Just think of this as a great excuse for a legit LARPing session, and get your kit on. Once you figure out where you want the pouch, either make a mental note or a small mark with a pencil. If you're mounting more than one pouch at a time, go ahead and figure out the others at this point, as well.
Slide the One-Wrap under the top two rows of webbing with the soft (loop) side up. The reason you shouldn't go under all three (or more) rows of webbing at one time is that the belt you're attaching to is thinner than the 3+ inches of those PALs rows (unless of course, you're mounting your pouch on a WWE championship belt...in that case, you do you).
Wrap the velcro ends around the belt. I usually secure the bottom end first, so that the top part goes over/on top and makes it smoother. Because the One-Wrap is the same type of Velcro material as the hook/loop of your battle belt, this is a very secure way to mount pouches. When you put the two belts together, the One-Wrap is sandwiched between them and is locked in place.
Using Velcro One-Wrap insures that the pouch will stay exactly where you placed it, no matter how hard you pull on it. It won’t slide around. Using this method also gets the top of the pouch lower than the other methods, which makes accessing your magazines easier and faster.
-
Esstac Double Pistol GAP KYWI Magazine Pouch
$32.00 – $59.00 -
Esstac Single Pistol KYWI Magazine Pouch
$17.00 – $30.50 -
-
-
How To Mount Esstac Pouches With WTFix Straps | Step By Step
WTFix Straps are ideal for mounting pouches on chest rigs and plate carriers. They can be tricky to work with because they are so flexible. However, once you get them installed correctly, they do a great job of locking the pouch down. WTF Straps are the lowest profile and lightest method of attaching MOLLE pouches that I’m aware of. Also, they will not absorb water, and they aren’t affected by hot or cold temperatures.
One awesome tip for mounting WTF Straps that I learned from Scuba Steve on AR15.com is to use a zip tie as a guide for the strap. You weave the zip tie through the two cut-out ends of the WTF Strap and then pull it through the various layers of webbing when you install it. The zip tie does a great job of pulling the WTF Strap through and makes it MUCH easier to do. You may also find that a pair of needle nose pliers come in handy for this job too.
Begin by figuring out where you ultimately want the pouch to live on your gear. This is generally best to do while wearing the gear, along with all of your other kit, so you can get a better idea of how everything will feel when it's in place. Remember you may have a rifle, sling, and other junk in the way, so don't skip this step if you're setting things up for the first time.
Once you've figured out where you want the pouch, either make a mental note or a small mark with a pencil. You can mark out several pouches at once or go one by one, whichever is easier for you.
If you're mounting the Esstac pouch on a plate carrier, it's best to remove your plates, as well as the KYWI inserts from the pouches. This makes everything much easier to work with and a lot more flexible when you're trying to weave the WTF Strap.
Slide the WTFix Straps under all of the webbing on the back of the pouch, so the squared-off end with the two holes in it is towards the top. Use a fairly large zip tie, and weave it through both of the holes in the WTF Strap to use as an installation and pulling tool. (Seriously, this makes a huge difference.) If you're mounting something like a triple 5.56 tall pouch, don't worry about putting a WTF Strap into every available slot. Those pouches work great with four straps, so there's no need to over-do-it unless that's just how you want it.
Next, slide the square ends of the WTF Strap under the highest row of MOLLE webbing, where you want the top of the pouch to end up once it's completely installed.
Note: If you mount a pouch on a battle belt using WTF Straps, the top of the pouch will stick up over the top edge of the belt by roughly one inch. If you want your pouches lower on your belt, consider using Velcro One-Wrap instead of WTF Straps.
The next step is to feed the ends of the WTF straps BACK THROUGH the second row of PALs webbing on the pouch. This is extremely important because if you skip this step, the pouch will be too loose on your belt and won't work as well for you. This is true for basically all the different methods of mounting MOLLE pouches. You should always be weaving back and forth between the pouch and the item you are attaching to the pouch. (With the exception of One-Wrap, that's pretty much the easiest and fastest method by far.)
Take your time and use a pair of needle nose pliers, if needed, to grab the edge of the WTF Strap and get it pulled through the next row of MOLLE webbing. If you're attaching the pouch to a battle belt, you're ready to pull everything tight and weave the WTFix Strap into itself to lock everything in place. If you're using a WTFix Strap on a larger Esstac pouch and a plate carrier, just repeat the previous step and weave the strap through every other row of webbing on both the carrier and the pouch. Once you have both ends of the WTF Strap at the bottom of the pouch properly woven through the webbing, you're ready for the next and final step.
To "lock" the WTFix Strap in place, we are going to pull the rounded end through the lower hole on the squared-off end so that the second set of openings is in the notch. Once that's done, pull the rounded end back through the first opening in the opposite direction. If this doesn't make any sense, just watch the video, and it will be much easier to understand. WTF Straps are held in place by weaving back into themselves through the two holes in the square end. You may have to use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull everything tight and get it in place correctly. Don't worry about breaking or ripping the WTF Strap - they are very strong and can handle quite a bit of force from pulling on them.
How To Mount Esstac Pouches With MALICE Clips | Step By Step
The MALICE Clip system is great because it’s super fast to use, and the pouches don’t move around much once installed. This makes them ideal for plate carriers or chest rigs, where you want a secure connection but not necessarily a permanent one.
MALICE Clips are one of the most popular methods for mounting pouches onto plate carriers and other items with MOLLE webbing. The large locking section at the bottom of each clip can be somewhat bulky, so it’s important to keep this in mind when selecting which mounting method to use, based on where you’re mounting the pouch.
Start by figuring out where you ultimately want the pouch to live on your gear. As with the other methods, it's best to do this while wearing all of your kit, so you can get an accurate idea of how everything will feel when it's in place.
Once you've determined where you're mounting the pouch, slip the MALICE Clip under the webbing of your pouch, so the square locking end is at the bottom of the pouch. Make sure you are using the proper size clip for the pouch you're mounting. MALICE clips come in two different sizes, 3" for pouches with three rows of webbing and 5" for larger pouches with 5 rows of webbing.
We are going to start at the highest row of PALs webbing, where you want the top edge of your pouch to end up. In the case of battle belts with micro MOLLE webbing, the top of the pouch will be roughly 1/2" higher than the top of the belt. Slide all of the MALICE clips under the top row of webbing on the belt or plate carrier.
The next step is to feed the ends of the MALICE Clips BACK THROUGH the second row of PALs webbing on the pouch. This is extremely important because if you skip this step, the pouch will be too loose and won't work as well for you. This is true for basically all the different methods of mounting MOLLE pouches. You should always be weaving back and forth between the pouch and the item you are attaching to the pouch.
Once you get the ends of each MALICE clip through the last row of webbing, pull all the slack out of the clips to make sure everything is nice and tight like it should be. MALICE clips are designed to lock into the large square end, and all you have to do is push the loose end into the slot until you hear it click into place. If you're using older clips, or used clips, you may not hear the audible click, but everything should still lock into place as usual. Make sure the clip is locked, so your pouch will stay in place.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
Now you know how to install Esstac pouches on your gear using One-Wrap Velcro, WTFix Straps, or MALICE Clips. Whichever method you choose, make sure everything is secured before it really matters.
This content was written to help the reader attach Esstac KYWI pouches, using One-Wrap Velcro, WTFix Straps, or MALICE Clips. If you found this information helpful, let us know and share it with your friends. Our team is available to address any additional questions you may have.
