As of late I’ve noticed this trend(at least on youtube)small pouches in various materials, configurations, amounts of hook and loop, interior and exterior organization, zipper placements etcetera etcetera.

Now, I’m not talking the maxped micro even though it may be included due to its size, these are slightly smaller and easier to fit in a pocket.

Are these pouches replacing the venerable altoid tin as a go to device for carrying edc gears?

Is one of the reasons they are gaining ground the ability of the pouch to flex to fit a bit more gear?

The addition of loop fields to add patches and “ranger eyes” seams to be a big draw.

I would think the fact that they are soft and won’t dig into ones leg might be a factor in they’re popularity as well.

Personally, most of my gear stays in my pockets for ease of deployment. My knife, keys and flashlight are ready and waiting, I use the trayvax notebook wallet and the antigear wallet so my pen is easy to get to at work or about town so what would I put in one of these pouches?

My first small pouch was the maxpedition micro, it held a micro ratchet and three bit holders, a few bit extentions, my leatherman wave with the bit kit and a few other tools, the pouch stayed in my work bag along with an electronic scredriver until I needed it at work(often)to assemble or disassemble furniture and bicycles.

I no longer work as a packer in an overseas moving company so that kit has been broken up, I never felt the need to carry that kit in my pocket while out and about.

So here I am looking at the videos and the pouches have piqued my interest, but I want to start with a cheaper and easily accessible pouch to try it out, my choice was the maxpedition small pouch with hook, it has no exterior organization, two loops and a devider inside.
I immediately put my minichamp, powerlitre, olight s1 mini, rite in the rain notebook, a bullet spacepen, a small pry bar and I’m all set, look at my cool edc kit!

And then I try it out in my pocket, fitting it to various pockets….hmmm, this thing is quite a bit of weight in one concentrated area….hmmm, it takes a longer time to dig out my pen when needed to sign the receipts from the company reps….I need a flashlight now, wait a minute, wait a minute……there it is.
What a bother! The thing is useless, I definitely prefer to have my gear ready to use without fishing, unzipping and then fishing again, and the weight is bothersome all in one place, wobbling around one leg.

so now the pouch contains the powerliter and an old bike tool and it stays in the front pocket of my work bag when I bike to work.

So who among you all are using this new breed of pouch?
Did any of you experience them in the same way?
Are any of you having a more satisfying experience?
If so, did you fill them with pocket junk, ranger eyes, glo beads?