About the same maybe longer.
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So the red one is the CAT and black is the ETQ?
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Thx @Scoutbob .
Next time Iāll be looking for a TQ replacement I will go for ETQ.
Looks solid and more convenient.
Next step is to check how it really worksā¦ 
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Iād hope to never actually need to see how it worksā¦.
Just saying.
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Yeahā¦ What I meant was to test them on yourself:
- can you apply it to yourself in less then 30 seconds
- can you apply it to each of your limbs one handed
- does ETQ holds applied pressure for at least 2 - 3 minutes
Iāve tested few of āAmazon type ofā TQs and all of them failed test #3.
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I get what youāre saying,
Apply until you feel the negative pressure, then releaseā¦.
Not sure Iād hold a test for 2-3 minutes though,ā¦.. maybe a few seconds?
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To follow up on that, if youāve tested various tourniquets on yourself,ā¦
How did they fail after any length of time?
Please describe.
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Yes, got the orange ones cheaper and I like bright colors in case of stressful situation. Doesnāt blend in with the black bag and stuff.
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From handling the CAT and ETQ Side by side, I still prefer the CAT. BUT, ETQ is small and I have it on my person as I am typing this now. Iāve carried CAT in cargo shorts, but Iāve simplified my edc a lot to be more comfortable. I know many people will say itās not about being comfortableā¦ but I disagree. Everyoneās tolerance and norm is different.
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I did lightly put it on. Didnāt want to tighten it anymore. It is harder to turn than the cat. I did notice you really want to make sure you pull it tight before pulling the windless, which is typical of all tourniquetsā¦. But the Velcro can get kind of caught in the plastic housing. Nothing egregious but if itās not pulled really tight I could see the windless not be tightening as far as it should. Just little nuances with the equipment. just make sure itās as tight as possible before turning the windless and I donāt see any issues.
The bigger question or concern is will it be effective on large thighs. I watched the gen 1 prep medic videos and came to the conclusion it would probably be best not to put this one over thick clothing. I still think it will be more than likely work for most people and is better to have than nothing at all.
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In 48 years of life Iāve only seen one bleed that I felt required a tourniquetā¦.
And it was myself who was bleeding, and we didnāt have a tourniquet availableā¦..
Yes, having something like this is ideal, but not as necessary as the simple knowledge of what a tourniquet is and how and where to apply the pressure.
The makeshift tourniquet I helped my supervisor apply may well have saved my life? At least according to the triage doctor at the hospital anywayā¦
(Vertical scar was the original injury, horizontal was surgical to retrieve severed tendons)
Iāll keep carrying a sharp folding knife to cut any nearby fabrics and possibly even use it as a tool to twist the wrapping tight if needed.
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Agreed, if youāre not comfortable youāre not going to carry it.
Thats why I carry RATs.
Iām going to invest in some ETQ. Thanks for the tip. 
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Apply on self and then test for a pulse. Thats how I was taught.
Iāll be taking stop the bleed again in a couple weeks.
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I only learned the basic pressure points and the use of a āwindlessā I guess itās called to tighten the wrapping and cut off the blood flow.
It was in some random martial art class I took, and just stuck with meā¦.
Same with basic emergency splints for broken bones that are just wood or pipe (anything rigid) and a shirt to wrap it tight just to get to a hospital.
Are either of those as effective as proper medical care? Not a chance!
Am I a professional EMT? Nope!
But if Iām first on scene, I will do what I can with what I have.
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Usually the velcro is the problem.
Since the most of TQ rely on velcro this is the most important part of device.
I like āratchetingā (RMT) or ābuckleā (SAM XT) TQs.. but these are pretty expensive.
So depending on how good the velcro is - the time of keeping the pressure varies..
Once you tight TQ enough, so there is no space between TQ and body tissue - this must stay intact for some time. Iāve observed that if it stays for 2 - 3 minutes, it will stay for next hour or so.
Sometimes velcro used on cheap TQ cannot even stay stuck after 2 twists of the windlass. 
These TQs are completely useless
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When I have taken stop the bleed they do two things that seem to conflict. They tout the statistics of how many lives were saved by tourniquets during the Boston marathon bombing. Then they say use only TCCC approved tourniquets (SOFT-T wife and CAT). But something tells me the Boston bombing used a lot of improvised tourniquets. No one was carrying TCCC stuff back then.
Iāll take knowledge of principles over specific tools.
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Good for you. They are so small, light weight, and even come in affordable versions, making it easier for us to EDC/carry nor matter our activity, bicycle, car, walking, hunting etc.
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Prep medic has a stop the bleeding video. He claimed all of the improvised tourniquets were ineffective for the Boston bombing. I donāt know the details of that stat though.
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Thereās a lot of Velcro on this ETQ. So even though itās thin, thereās a lot of Velcro contact.
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