Kinesis — How-to Attach Pouch

Pouch Attachment Methods

Click on any photo to enlarge it & see captions.

Aka attaching pouches or cases to a belt, or piggy-backing smaller pouches onto larger cases. We have two methods as shown below.

The above photo explains the difference between
single-, double- and triple-wide pouches and other belt features.

1. KATS = Kinesis Attachment Tab System (newer method)
	1. First insert the heavy Velcro “top” strap through the webbing on the belt or case (shown in the photo below). 2. Stick the heavy Velcro strap to the back panel of the pouch. 2. Then, be sure to double back the other thinner Velcro strap onto the first one. KATS shown is on an E340 lens pouch. The spacing on this pouch is one “single-wide” or 40mm apart (measured center-to-center).
	The hook and loop tabs simply slip over the belt’s 25mm (1") webbing (F169 shown on a B107 belt). It can be placed anywhere on the belt. You can place pouches so they straddle the rectangular “uniloops” as needed. The KATS will also enable you to attach Kinesis pouches onto other brands of backpacks with a thin belt up to 40mm wide (1-1/2").
	Most of the time the KATS tabs slip over webbing as in the above photo of a belt, but occasionally, we design it so the Velcro tab slips into a 25mm (1") Uniloop as shown in the photo to the left. This example is an eoGEAR bike bag which uses the same system.
Type in “KATS” in the search field to learn which products use it. The old Kinesis TwinBuckle system is strong, but for some people, it is difficult to use, particularly those with arthritic hands. In 2010, after going through a prototype testing phase with several photographers, we started to implement a new attachment method into our product line. As we sell out of current inventory, newer products will utilize the KATS. The KATS works with existing belts sold by Kinesis, but newer belts have an additional row of stitching between each pair of Uniloops, providing a slightly tighter, wobble-free connection. We can upgrade older belts at no charge. E-mail us for details. Note that the KATS also snugs up the pouches tighter to the belt — there is less slop than with the old TwinBuckle system. A few products have both attachment systems, like the A257 Body Pouch and M330 Multi-Pouch. An advantage of the KATS is that it enables more pouches to fit on one belt — some newer pouches are now “1.5 units wide” instead of the old Twin-buckle “2.0 or double-wide” spacing. The slots on the belt are spaced out in 40mm (1-1/2") increments so this system is compatible with the U.S. Military MOLLE or ALICE system, however other pouches from other photo brands (Lowepro, Think Tank etc.) will not fit onto our belts unless a B590 adapter is utilized. Pouches from other manufacturers can be attached to a Kinesis belt or piggy-backed to the outside of a long lens case with a B590 accessory strap.

2. TwinBuckle Attachment System (this method has been phased out on nearly every product, though some have both KATS and TwinBuckle)
This method uses a unique attachment system to connect components to the belt or piggy-back smaller pouches to larger cases. A metal “figure 8” (also called a “slider or butterfly buckle”) functions like a shirt button. A pair of these buckles or figure 8s is sewn into some Kinesis belt pouches or cases (some have both the TwinBuckle and KATS). The slider is sewn to mil-spec 900-pound test nylon webbing. This method is very compact but over the years we received numerous complaints as customers simply couldn’t insert the it easily — especially those with arthritic fingers. Consequently, we have been phasing it out, replacing it with the easier-to-use KATS method. UPDATE: Starting in the summer of 2022 we started to manufacture our belts without the vertical “Uniloops” on them, since all current products do not require it, except the E190 (that pouch requires a pair of free Siamese SlikClip adapters). See this page for photos. Click on the above photo to enlarge and to see captions.
	a. Empty the pouches and remove the belt from your waist. Orient the belt so the Kinesis label is right-reading (the belt is curved and fits better this way). This system is similar in use to inserting a button through a button hole.
	b. Line up one slider with one of the rectangular plastic-looking “uniloops” (actually made from very tough nylon) on the belt.
	c. Insert the metal slider or “button” so the slider is on the bottom and webbing is on top through ONE of the plastic-looking uniloops. Keeping the webbing flat with no folds is essential. Be sure the slider completely pops out the other side.
How to attach a TwinBuckle-style pouch to a newer case that has no Uniloops
On the side of this case has a pair of Siamese SlikClips attached.	As we transition away from the metal slider attachment method, we are doing away with the rectangular Uniloops found on the outside of many products, which served as “piggy back” points. Instead, we now provide a horizontal webbing strip of webbing which, either a .50, 1.0 or 1.5-wide KATS pouch, can attach. With holster cases we are providing one pair of Siamese SlikClips for attaching TwinBuckle style (metal) pouches to ONE side of the case. If you need additional Siamese SlikClips, they are available at cost, upon request.