Maxpedition Tear Away Modular Panel

I admit to being oddly fascinated with the modular possiblities of a lot of bags these days.  Just like I love roll-top desks, I'm enthralled with pockets, and lots of them.  The military-style MOLLE/PALS webbing on a lot of bags gives a ton of options for adding pockets, panels, extensions, and more to your bags.  The problem is that, if the add-on is securely attached it can be a real time-consuming pain to remove it and attach it (especially if you want to move it between multiple larger bags), but if it's loosely attached for quick removal, it's often not very secure on your bag, and can flop around a bunch.  So you've either got a choice between sticking with a configuration or "messy" functionality (not to mention the risk of loosing your add-on).  Maxpedition's Tear Away Modular Panel is a solution to almost all of these issues.

The idea behind the Panel is simple: two heavy-duty panels, each with MOLLE/PALS webbing on one side and either "hook" or "loop" (Velcro) material on the joining faces.  Attach one side to your big bag, attach the other side to your add-on module, and you've got a relatively firm way to attach a module while still allowing for quick removal.  If you use the included removeable retention strap you can increase the security of the attachment, but you don't have to.  Maxpedition first implemented this kind of system in their F.I.G.H.T. Medical Pouch (see my article on it here), and have now brought it to this free-form system.

Here the Panel at its basic, with some rulers for size comparisons:

 Now, here's what gives the Panel it's utility:

Because of the Velcro, you can use the Panel to mount an add-on at an angle, something you can't do with the MOLLE/PALS webbing alone (at least not without special attachment systems).  Angling the add-on, though, may make it hard for the retention strap to snug down firmly.

Here's the Panel in action, in this case used to mount a Mil-spec Monkey Stealth Utility/Admin Pouch (review) on a Maxpedition Kodiak Gearslinger (review):

Here's the same rigging from the front:

Here's the Stealth mounted at a 45 degree angle--as you can see, this would make it awkward to lock down the retention stap, but it really depends on the shape of the add-on you are mounting (for example, a radio or flashlight holster would be less of a problem):

And finally here's a shot of the Stealth being pulled off the Kodiak:

I've been using the Tear Away Modular Panel for several months now, and it works as advertised.  Despite the large patch of Velcro, I do find I need to use the retention strap to keep the Stealth from being pulled off the bag if I catch it on something, but that doesn't seem to be much problem (it may be if you need to access your add-on frequently--the strap would need to be held out of the way).  The Panel does add noticeably to the "thickness' of the mounted Stealth, but that's only to be expected, especially given it's rugged construction.  I keep various knives and other pointy things in the Stealth, so if I needed to go on a plane I could just pull off the Stealth and stick it in a checked bag--no unloading for security and reloading at the destination. 

I wouldn't mind doing something similar for my various electronic gadgets: I sometimes go into places that don't allow such items, so it would be nice to have something housing all the gadgets that I could just pull off and leave at my desk or in my car.  With that in mind, I at first had the idea that it would be nice if Maxpedition offered just the "hook" portion (or alternatively, the "loop" portion, depending on which half you put on your main bag) so I could swap add-ons in and out.  Then I realized I might as well just get one or two more of the full set so I could equip several larger bags and several smaller add-ons with the Panel right and have the flexibility to move panels amongst bags/packs at need.  I haven't done that yet, but I probably will someday soon.

Update #1, 10-11-2009:  As per these new FTC rules, the Tear Away Modular panel was a sample provided by the manufacturer.