An Intro to MOLLE, PALS, and Your
Everyday Carry
You've seen it everywhere—a nylon grid on the exterior of tactical packs and equipment. Most
people use it to attach extra carabiners, keychains, or suspend additional gear on. Maybe you're
wondering: where did this design come from, and what is it really used for? Read on to learn
more about how this military system was created and how it can help you improve your everyday
carry.
MOLLE and PALS Defined
You may have heard of the term “MOLLE-compatible” when talking about the grid system, but
it's actually only half of the equation. MOLLE is an acronym which stands for Modular
Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. It's a military specification that defines the load-
bearing design in equipment used by NATO armed forces. This universal spec lets smaller packs
and pouches swap in and out as needed by the user anywhere there's a grid on their gear.
The nylon grid itself is actually called PALS, or the Pouch Attachment Ladder System. The
system is a patented design by the United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development
and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) that allows smaller equipment to be attached onto load-
bearing platforms like bags or vests securely by “snaking” the straps of MOLLE-compatible gear
through the grid. In scenarios where there might be crucial items in those pouches, the last thing
you want is for them to become detached from your pack when you need them the most.
The Benefits of MOLLE Compatibility for Everyday Carry
Say you just got back running a day's worth of errands in the city, stocking up on supplies for a
weekend road trip. Your bag is full of gear you know you'd need when you're in town, like your
laptop, pens, and notebooks, but now it's time to pack your outdoors gear. You don't want to
have to keep repacking your entire kit, especially since you'll be reusing a lot of the same stuff.
Here's where MOLLE really shines—going from urban daypack to outdoor essentials is as easy
as adding or removing pre-packed pouches. You can take off that heavy multitool sheath and
pouch full of driver bits and swap in a first aid kit, for example. You don't have to commit to
buying large, individual backpacks anymore; thanks to the system you can make existing pieces
of your kit work together, whatever the situation calls for.
In addition to the convenient space to hang extra gear, it also means that every piece of MOLLE-
compatible equipment you buy will work with each other. This gives you peace of mind when
making your purchases, since you know that it will be immediately compatible with the rest of
your carry. This allows for a future-proofed and consistent layer of customization and
modularity that lets you optimize the way you carry by letting you plan ahead when building
your loadout.
MOLLE in Action
Check out how some of our readers get creative and put MOLLE/PALS to good use:
1. Leatherman Wave with Extra Bits + Holder
2. Bic Lighter
3. Leatherman Raptor Trauma Shears
4. Altoids Tin with Livestrong Band
5. Gerber Edict
6. Casio Solar Watch
7. Streamlight Penlight, Ti Pen, Sharpie
8. Slim Fossil Wallet
9. Condor Utility Pouch
10. and 31 others
EMTs need lots of specialized gear when on the job, but not necessarily when out in town.
1. Preon Foursevens
2. Spyderco Delica4
3. Exotac Nanostriker xl
4. Rhoto V
5. ESEE Izula
This EDCer made his own backpack, making it a point to include a PALS-like grid for attaching
his gear.
PALS also works inside bags for customizable organization—here’s an example using the UC30
backpack and pouches from Propper.
Is MOLLE-Compatible Gear Right for You?
Pros:
Increase storage and organization easily
Removing modules reduces weight for a lighter carry
Future additions to your EDC are guaranteed to be compatible
Grid system is designed to be extremely secure
PALS lays flat, adding no additional bulk to your gear when not used for attachments
Cons:
Design may be too “tactical” for some
The security of PALS may be a liability if you need a quick way to attach or detach
modules
Can make it easy to carry more than you need to, which can be a strain on your body
By now, you should have a better idea if using a MOLLE/PALS system in your everyday carry is
right for you. If so, you can start with options from our sponsor Propper at the link below. If you
already use MOLLE or PALS in your carry, let us know in the comments how it's helped you
solve your everyday packing problems!
An Intro to MOLLE, PALS, and Your
Everyday Carry
Sponsored Advertising Content
Carry Smarter Featured 4 days ago 2 61
Everyday Carry
Staff Writer
You've seen it everywhere—a nylon grid on the exterior of tactical packs and equipment. Most
people use it to attach extra carabiners, keychains, or suspend additional gear on. Maybe you're
wondering: where did this design come from, and what is it really used for? Read on to learn
more about how this military system was created and how it can help you improve your everyday
carry.
MOLLE and PALS Defined
You may have heard of the term “MOLLE-compatible” when talking about the grid system, but
it's actually only half of the equation. MOLLE is an acronym which stands for Modular
Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. It's a military specification that defines the load-
bearing design in equipment used by NATO armed forces. This universal spec lets smaller packs
and pouches swap in and out as needed by the user anywhere there's a grid on their gear.
The nylon grid itself is actually called PALS, or the Pouch Attachment Ladder System. The
system is a patented design by the United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development
and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) that allows smaller equipment to be attached onto load-
bearing platforms like bags or vests securely by “snaking” the straps of MOLLE-compatible gear
through the grid. In scenarios where there might be crucial items in those pouches, the last thing
you want is for them to become detached from your pack when you need them the most.
The Benefits of MOLLE Compatibility for Everyday Carry
Say you just got back running a day's worth of errands in the city, stocking up on supplies for a
weekend road trip. Your bag is full of gear you know you'd need when you're in town, like your
laptop, pens, and notebooks, but now it's time to pack your outdoors gear. You don't want to
have to keep repacking your entire kit, especially since you'll be reusing a lot of the same stuff.
Here's where MOLLE really shines—going from urban daypack to outdoor essentials is as easy
as adding or removing pre-packed pouches. You can take off that heavy multitool sheath and
pouch full of driver bits and swap in a first aid kit, for example. You don't have to commit to
buying large, individual backpacks anymore; thanks to the system you can make existing pieces
of your kit work together, whatever the situation calls for.
In addition to the convenient space to hang extra gear, it also means that every piece of MOLLE-
compatible equipment you buy will work with each other. This gives you peace of mind when
making your purchases, since you know that it will be immediately compatible with the rest of
your carry. This allows for a future-proofed and consistent layer of customization and
modularity that lets you optimize the way you carry by letting you plan ahead when building
your loadout.
MOLLE in Action
Check out how some of our readers get creative and put MOLLE/PALS to good use:
1. Leatherman Wave with Extra Bits + Holder
2. Bic Lighter
3. Leatherman Raptor Trauma Shears
4. Altoids Tin with Livestrong Band
5. Gerber Edict
6. Casio Solar Watch
7. Streamlight Penlight, Ti Pen, Sharpie
8. Slim Fossil Wallet
9. Condor Utility Pouch
10. and 31 others
EMTs need lots of specialized gear when on the job, but not necessarily when out in town.
1. Preon Foursevens
2. Spyderco Delica4
3. Exotac Nanostriker xl
4. Rhoto V
5. ESEE Izula
This EDCer made his own backpack, making it a point to include a PALS-like grid for attaching
his gear.
PALS also works inside bags for customizable organization—here’s an example using the UC30
backpack and pouches from Propper.
Is MOLLE-Compatible Gear Right for You?
Pros:
Increase storage and organization easily
Removing modules reduces weight for a lighter carry
Future additions to your EDC are guaranteed to be compatible
Grid system is designed to be extremely secure
PALS lays flat, adding no additional bulk to your gear when not used for attachments
Cons:
Design may be too “tactical” for some
The security of PALS may be a liability if you need a quick way to attach or detach
modules
Can make it easy to carry more than you need to, which can be a strain on your body
By now, you should have a better idea if using a MOLLE/PALS system in your everyday carry is
right for you. If so, you can start with options from our sponsor Propper at the link below. If you
already use MOLLE or PALS in your carry, let us know in the comments how it's helped you
solve your everyday packing problems!
