End-user driven pouch design is one of my specialties, after having worked with electro-optics, NODs, radios, etc. for so many years and never being satisfied with any of the issue or after-market options out there, although some of the radio pouches are good. One of the main things that forced me to start making gear was when I designed a pouch for the old MELIOS LRF so I could carry it on my vest in my 2nd Scout Sniper Platoon.
The biggest missing thing from most pouches is 1. sizing them correctly, 2. not padding them, 3. not user-friendly for the protection of the device, 3. interface with the soldier’s kit and how he reaches into it, stows the contents, and 4. what Basic Inventory Items are needed vs those not. I’ve seen some beautiful pouches made for certain equipment that you just would never attach to your kit, so they stay in the hard case.
Here are some examples of SAW/Utility and Small Utility/NODs pouches I have made:
Small Utility Left, SAW on the Right:
The outside is Cordura, either 1000D or 500D depending on external abrasion frequency. There is a layer of closed-cell foam in between the outer Cordura and the internal 400D pack cloth. These ones have dividers that are removable with multiple location options inside.
For something like the Vektronix, I think it’s essential to have the thick protective padding, no metallic drain hole, with corner drains instead that don’t invite unnecessary dust/sand. I would inventory the actual accessories carried and design specific stowage solutions for them that are intuitive to the user rather than convenient for the pattern-maker sitting at a table. That’s really one thing that separates my work from most of what’s out there.
What I’ve found is that most electronics, optics, and especially magazine feed lip damage comes from getting in and out of vehicles, smashing into things when the gear is not being worn. That’s why I also pad all my mag pouches the same way. It takes 3x as long to make pouches the way I do, so it isn’t profitable for most gear companies business models.
You can see from my approach that I find ways to tuck and stow as many Basic Inventory Items into the pouch while also keeping the pouch as practical as possible for mounting to kit, assault packs, or rucks. Biggest problem is that I’m backed-up, to the extent that I don’t even advertise any of my gear. That’s about to change once my new shop is finished. I’m currently filling orders for my ear muff compatible boonies.
LRF pouch:
