SOF-T® Tourniquet from TACMED Solutions

2018-10-22T17:31:11-04:00

Vendor: Tactical Medical Solutions
Type: Tourniquet
Price: 29.99

The SOF-T® Tourniquet by Tactical Medical Solutions (TacMed Solutions) is a CoTCCC-recommended windlass tourniquet built for military, law enforcement, and first responder use. Its aircraft-grade aluminum windlass, Tri-Ring Lock™, and patented Slack Indicator Wedge enable reliable one-handed or two-handed application in seconds. Available in Black, Coyote Tan, Orange, Red, and Training Blue. Made in the USA.

Key Specifications

Specification | Detail
Manufacturer | Tactical Medical Solutions (TacMed Solutions)
SKU | Black: MEDTAC0446 | Coyote Tan: MEDTAC0449 | Orange: MEDTAC0447 | Red: MEDTAC0448 | Training Blue: MEDTAC0450
NSN | 6515-01-696-4522
Weight | 3.7 oz (105 g)
Packaged Dimensions | 5.5" L × 2" W × 1.75" D
Open Length | 40" (can be flat-folded for more compact staging)
Band Width | 1.5" reinforced low-stretch polyester (Performance Compression Band™)
Windlass | 5.5" hard-anodized aircraft-grade aluminum, textured grip, conical ends
Colors Available | Black, Coyote Tan, Orange, Red, Training Blue
CoTCCC Status | Recommended — Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care
Patents | US-8,303,620 | D649,642 | 7,776,064
Compliance | ANSI Compliant | DoD Authorized | American Red Cross Preferred
Origin | Made in the USA

Product Overview

The SOF-T® Tourniquet was conceived by a U.S. Special Forces medic during a 2003 deployment to Afghanistan and has since evolved through five generations of refinement based on real-world field feedback. The current generation — often called the SOF-T Wide or SOF-T Gen 5 — retains the essential feature set that made it the preferred windlass tourniquet for SOCOM operators, NYPD, LAPD, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the American Red Cross: an aluminum windlass that cannot snap under load, no hook-and-loop closure that can jam in sand or mud, and a friction-lock composite buckle that functions smoothly even with bloody or gloved hands. The 1.5" true-width Performance Compression Band™ distributes occlusive pressure more evenly than narrower-band designs, reducing the number of windlass rotations required to reach arterial occlusion — a critical efficiency factor under stress.

The Gen 5 introduced three key engineering improvements over earlier versions. The windlass grew to 5.5" and is now machined from a single bar of hard-anodized aircraft-grade aluminum with conical ends and a textured grip for consistent torque delivery whether the operator is wearing nitrile exam gloves or cold-weather mittens. The Tourniquet Retention Assistance Clip™ (TRAC) acts as a temporary windlass holder, allowing one-handed stabilization while the operator simultaneously engages the Tri-Ring Lock™ — particularly valuable in self-aid scenarios where the casualty must also manage a weapon or maintain cover. The Slack Indicator Wedge — a contrasting-color wedge stitched beneath the windlass — provides immediate visual and tactile confirmation that all slack has been removed from the strap before winding begins, eliminating the single most common cause of tourniquet application failure (insufficient pre-tension).

The CoTCCC — the body that sets evidence-based guidelines for U.S. military trauma care — recommends the SOF-T® alongside the C-A-T® Gen 7 and SAM XT as primary extremity tourniquet options. A study published in JAMA Surgery (2011) using Ranger Battalion data found 94% survival in casualties who received early tourniquet application, with no documented limb loss attributable to tourniquet use in that cohort — data that supports the standard of aggressive, early application. The SOF-T's aluminum windlass design specifically addresses reported failures of plastic windlass rods in extreme cold environments and during high-torque applications on large-circumference thighs.

How to Apply (One-Handed)

1. Thread the limb through the loop or unhook the buckle and wrap around the limb; position 2–3 inches above the wound directly on skin.

2. Pull the free-running strap end tight through the friction-lock buckle, removing all slack — watch for the Slack Indicator Wedge to confirm full tension.

3. Twist the aluminum windlass rod in a consistent direction until bleeding stops and distal pulse is absent.

4. Engage the Tourniquet Retention Assistance Clip™ (TRAC) momentarily, then secure the windlass into the Tri-Ring Lock™ with one hand.

5. Document application time on the time tag immediately — this information is critical for receiving medical personnel.

Comparison Context

The SOF-T® and the C-A-T® Gen 7 are the two most widely validated CoTCCC-recommended windlass tourniquets. The SOF-T is heavier by roughly 1 oz (3.7 oz vs. 2.7 oz) but offers a longer windlass rod for improved leverage, a metal windlass impervious to cold-weather brittleness, and a buckle system that avoids hook-and-loop — a meaningful advantage in dusty, sandy, or wet environments where Velcro can clog. The C-A-T's free-moving internal band and Red Tip Technology® tab provide their own usability advantages. Both devices have accumulated peer-reviewed occlusion efficacy data; the choice between them often comes down to operator preference and environment. For elastic, multi-use hemorrhage control options, see the SWAT-T in this collection.

Browse the full tourniquets & pouches collection at MED-TAC International, or build a complete hemorrhage control kit through the massive hemorrhage control collection.