ISO 13485
Quality System
FDA
Registered
50,000+*
Units / Month
30+*
Countries
4
Color Options
5-Year
Shelf Life
一 OVERVIEW
WHAT Is A COMBAT APPLICATION TOURNIQUET?
A windlass tourniquet that cannot be applied one-handed in under 15 seconds will not stop a femoral bleed in time. That single failure mode is why, when you are sourcing, the windlass rod and buckle matter more than the product photo.
A Combat Application Tourniquet—abbreviated CAT and searched as a CAT tourniquet, combat tourniquet, or tactical tourniquet, and also can be called a twist-on tourniquet—is a one-handed windlass tourniquet developed to control severe extremity hemorrhage. The original CAT is a registered product line of North American Rescue (NAR). “CAT-style” refers to the same windlass-and-strap design produced by other ISO-certified manufacturers (including Rusun TacMed) under non-trademarked specifications.
The mechanism is simple: a 1.5-inch nylon strap wraps the limb, a windlass rod is twisted to compress the artery, and a clip plus time strap holds it in place. This windlass approach is not the only way to occlude a limb—for how it stacks up against an elastic-wrap device, see our CAT vs SWAT-T tourniquet comparison. For the full application walkthrough, see our guide on how to apply a CAT-style tourniquet.
一 Anatomy
Parts of a CAT-style Tourniquet
A CAT-style tourniquet is built from six functional parts. Knowing them is the fastest way to read a spec sheet — and to spot a low-quality copy.
| Part | Function | What the spec sheet should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Nylon strap (webbing) | Wraps the limb and transmits compression | 1.5 in (38 mm) width, double-row reinforced stitching |
| Self-locking buckle | Single-routing thread; holds the strap under load | No slip under pull test |
| Windlass rod | Twisted to generate arterial compression | Rigid — no flex/shear at full turn (metal or composite) |
| Windlass clip | Locks the rod once bleeding is controlled | Audible engagement, no creep under pressure |
| Time strap | Secures the clip and records application time | Sewn-on, marker-compatible surface |
| Routing / retention band | Keeps the strap staged for one-handed use | Holds the staged loop without slack |
Windlass rod: choose the metal (aluminum) rod for maximum durability and high-cycle training stock; choose the reinforced composite rod for a lower landed cost.
一 Choose Your Configuration
Find the Right Configuration: Gen 6 and Gen 7 Wide
Each CAT-style generation iterates on the windlass mechanism. The differences buyers test against come down to buckle routing, windlass retention, and strap weave.
06
Generation 6
Still in older agency and IFAK stocks. Introduced the single-routing buckle, but strap retention and clip engagement are looser than Gen 7. Most programs phase Gen 6 out as units reach end of shelf life.
07
Generation 7 — Wide Strap
The current operational standard: 1.5-inch single-routing buckle, reinforced clip with audible engagement, windlass rod in aluminum (metal) or reinforced composite, and a time-stamp area for documentation.
// Myth Check
Is There a “Gen 8” CAT Tourniquet?
You may see searches for a “Gen 8” CAT tourniquet. As of 2026 there is no official Gen 8 release — the Gen 7 Wide Strap remains the current operational standard. Anyone marketing a “Gen 8” is using an unofficial label, so judge a unit by its actual windlass and buckle spec, not by a generation number.
Decision Guide — Which Fits Your Program?
| Choose the metal (aluminum) windlass if… | Choose the reinforced composite windlass if… |
|---|---|
| High-cycle training stock — the rod is twisted and released hundreds of times per session | Cost-driven bulk orders where landed price per unit decides the bid |
| You want the longest durability margin and highest-cycle service life | You need the lowest unit cost without dropping below pull-tested spec |
| Cold-weather operational deployment where rod rigidity under load is critical | Single-use operational IFAK stock that is retired after one application |
Windlass rod: choose the metal (aluminum) rod for maximum durability and high-cycle training stock; choose the reinforced composite rod for a lower landed cost.
一 Technical Data
Key Specifications
Generic CAT-style construction. Final tolerances and material certifications release per batch on the COA.
| Total length (unfolded) | 37.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Strap width | 1.5 inches (38 mm) |
| Windlass rod | Aluminum (metal) or reinforced composite — specify per order |
| Single-routing buckle | Yes (Gen 7 Wide Strap) |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to +60°C |
| Storage shelf life | 5 years (per IFAK storage guidelines) |
| Unit weight | ~85 grams |
| Color options | Tactical Black, Coyote Tan, Orange (hi-vis), Blue (training) |
| Quality system | ISO 13485 |
| Regulatory status | FDA Registered* |
The 1.5-inch strap is effective on most adult and adolescent limbs but is not optimized for very small pediatric limbs — for small-limb coverage we quote adjusted strap-length OEM variants.
一 Quality Verification
How to Spot a Counterfeit or Low-Quality Copy
The market is full of unbranded copies, and they are not equal. A counterfeit CAT tourniquet usually fails at one of four points.
1. Windlass Rod
Flexes or shears under full torsional load — the most common failure point on cheap copies.
2. Buckle Stitching
Single-row or loose stitching that slips after repeated apply-and-release cycles.
3. Clip Engagement
No audible lock, or the clip creeps under sustained pressure once seated.
4. Documentation
No per-batch COA or material lot traceability accompanying the shipment.
一 Who Buys CAT-style
Industries & Applications
Each buyer segment tests against a different priority — shelf-life consistency, training durability, price, or documentation.
EMS · First Responders
Emergency Medical Services
The concern is shelf-life consistency across distributed stocks — units sit in ambulance bags and IFAKs for 4–5 years before deployment. This segment requests batch-specific shelf-life data and prefers tactical black or hi-vis orange.
Tactical · Training
Tactical & Training Programs
The concern is shelf-life consistency across distributed stocks — units sit in ambulance bags and IFAKs for 4–5 years before deployment. This segment requests batch-specific shelf-life data and prefers tactical black or hi-vis orange.
Outdoor · EDC
Civilian Preparedness
Expanded sharply since 2020 — hikers, climbers, and EDC users adding CAT-style units to personal trauma kits. The most price-sensitive segment, mostly buying via distributor or retail channels.
Distributors · Wholesale
Distributors & Wholesalers
The factors are documentation completeness, OEM/private-label flexibility, and consistent multi-container supply. Our bulk supply program covers MOQ tiers, FOB pricing, and OEM labeling.
一 Trust & Honesty
Certifications, Quality & Compliance
What we hold — and, just as important, what we deliberately do not claim.
ISO 13485:2016
Medical-device quality management system. Each batch: traceability tagging, finished-goods testing, documented release.
FDA Establishment Registration
Facility registered with the U.S. FDA; device categorized per FDA classification for non-pneumatic tourniquets.
Per-Batch COA
Dimensional verification, material lot traceability, finished-product test results — provided every shipment.
Manufacturing Capacity
50,000+ units/month at current configuration, scalable for OEM and high-volume accounts.
一 Procurement
Ordering, Documentation & After-Sales Support
Ordering & Risk Reversal
- MOQ tiers and FOB pricing on the bulk supply program — pricing detail kept there, not duplicated here.
- Sample evaluation before volume commitment; standard sample in 3–5 business days.
- 30-day post-arrival inspection window; documented defects verified against batch COA are covered by replacement.
- Export documentation: per-batch COA, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, HS 9018.90 reference.
After-Sales & Program Support
- Documentation support for your local medical-device registration (manufacturer-side technical file).
- Reorder consistency — same spec, same windlass and webbing grade across repeat container runs.
- Training / instruction materials and label proofs for OEM accounts.
- Technical contact for QC and spec questions before and after shipment.
一 Request A Quote Or Sample
CAT Touniquet Supply
For a program standardizing 500+ IFAKs, sourcing every CAT-style unit from one ISO 13485 line — with per-batch COA — removes the requalification cost of mixed-source tourniquets and the liability of unverifiable copies. That is the real saving, before unit price.
一 Request A Quote Or Sample
