Review: Zentauron – Hip Bag Modular

Introduction

Zentauron is among the first companies to offer their gear not only in Phantomleaf WASP II Z3a but also WASP II Z1b. Reason enough for me to get curious. First because I do not get a chance to look at Zentauron closely that often and second, because I wanted to see the Phantomleaf colorations on a different material other than NyCo.

That being said, I had the opportunity to look at several items, one of which is the Hip Bag Modular by Zentauron.

So let’s have a quick overview and a look at the specs and jump right in.

Overview

The Hip Bag Modular by Zentauron is a fanny bag with 1,8l volume that can be worn either as a regular hip bag in an EDC capacity, or in combination with a plate carrier, using the waist bag modular velcro adapter. It is made in Germany of 500D Cordura and measures 24cm x 17cm x 8 cm. The main compartment features a slip pocket and key lanyard, as well as elastic loops. Another zippered compartment can be found on the back, as well as several attachment points around the bag itself.

Specs

Material: 500D Cordura
WxHxD: 24cm x 17cm x 8cm
Weight: 150g
Volumen: 1,8l

The Zentauron Hip Bag Modular

Starting from the outside, the Zentauron Hip Bag Modular features one row with four PALS/MOLLE straps on top of the bag’s lid. They are placed closely to each other without any spacing so in effect you have two counterparts to weave MOLLE accessories through. On the outer MOLLE straps there are additional loops to lace shock cord through, in order to mount TQs or other items you need quick access to – a SOCP for example.

The front features a velcro panel with Zentaurons name engraved to it and on the back you will find a large zippered compartment that covers the whole back area. It is large enough to fit a ballistic insert, to provide added protection in combination with a plate carrier.

Adding to that you will find two webbing loops to the upper backside, to mount the waist bag modular velcro adapter by Zentauron – an optional accessory to use the Zentauron Hip Bag Modular in combination with a plate carrier.

Backside with zippered compartment and attachment loops

Two additional webbing loops on the sides make for attachment points for a two piece detachable strap. This carrying strap features a long part with a glider buckle for length adjustment, as well as a short part that connects to the longer one with an ITW SR25 buckle.

Webbing loops on the side for carrying strap

Attaching the carrying strap to the Zentauron Hip Bag Modular is done with a very sturdy clip-on buckle by 2M on each side, using the webbing loops.

In the main compartment one will find approximately 1,8l volume of room to carry essentials. There are a few, but effective means for organisation inside. A divider, made of a velvet type velcro material, provides a slip pocket to the back. As a result of the construction of the bag, some of the velcro will also line the bottom of the bag.

Main compartment with divider, elastic loops and lanyard

On the inside you will also find a lanyard with a small carabiner for keys and smaller lights. Last but not least, there are elastic webbing loops on the inside of the lid: two straps with 2 small and one large loop.

All the zippers come with reinforced zipper pulls that guarantee a quick grip and opening of the bag.

Level of Manufacture

The materials used are top notch and the manufacture is as sturdy as one might expect from a company that builds for the military and law enforcement sector. That being said, in comparison to other brands on the market, the overall look and feel is a bit rough around the edges. Small things, like the finish of the seam tape or stitching on the MOLLE.

Having said that, we are speaking of cosmetics that won’t impact the performance of the bag, which brings us to the next point of order.

The Zentauron Hip Bag Modular in use

I will start by saying that I did not use the Zentauron Hip Bag Modular in combination with a plate carrier, so I cannot speak for its performance in that context, or how it attaches to said set-up.

However I had the bag with me on a regular basis for EDC purposes, either stuffed with a few essentials, or fully loaded as an IFAK. For both scenarios it performed very well, offering plenty of room to let me bring everything with me that I needed. The velcro divider on the inside provides options to put more organisation into the bag, either for pens, lights and knives, or some additional loops to organize medical items.

The elastic loops on the inside of the lid are perfect for chemlights and pens. Smaller flat items can easily be stored either in the zippered pocket on the backside or the slip pocket in the main compartment.

Being able to completely remove the carrying strap is quite comfortable and easy to do. The 2m clip-on buckles are sturdier than the one I know from WooJin. So these will survive regular on/off cycles.

The MOLLE on top of the lid makes it extremely easy to add either a tourniquet or a self defence tool like an SOCP dagger.

Conclusion

The Zentauron Hip Bag Modular is a wonderful example of excellent gear being built in Germany and the EU. The set-up provides several options to use the bag either as a dangler on your plate carrier, or as a regular hip bag for EDC or medical use. The large volume allows for plenty of room to carry your essentials.

What makes this pouch also interesting is the wide variety of camouflage patterns it comes in, including Phantomleaf WASP II Z3a and in this case Z1b. There are not that many companies offering Phantomleaf gear, so this is a huge plus as well as relevant info for those looking for Phantomleaf gear.

So in case you are looking for a hip bag/dangler pouch in a particular camouflage or solid color, with a good balance of modularity, the Zentauron Hip Bag Modular is definitely worth a look.

With that being said, I want to thank Zentauron for giving me the chance to take a closer look at the bag!

Thank you guys for reading!

Take care