Ways to Use A Magazine Holster: Best Positions, Comfort Tips, and Training Insights

If you carry a firearm for self-defense, carrying a spare magazine should be part of your daily routine—not a backup plan you “might” need. But just throwing a mag into your pocket or clipping on any random mag holster isn’t going to cut it. The right placement, the right orientation, and the right carrier matter—because when your primary mag runs dry, your reload needs to be instinctive, fast, and fail-proof.

If you're carrying a spare mag, it should:

  • Be positioned where your support hand can reach it without shifting your posture

  • Stay concealed without printing

  • Remain secure during movement—but draw smoothly when needed

  • Feel comfortable enough for all-day carry, even in a car seat

There’s more than one “correct” way to do it. But there is a wrong way: a setup that slows you down, prints constantly, or digs into your gut until you stop carrying it altogether.

Let’s break down how to actually carry a magazine holster—what works, what doesn’t, and how to make it part of a setup you trust with your life.

IWB Magazine Holster: Tucked In, Tactically Ready

Carrying a magazine inside the waistband keeps it close and hidden—but it's not forgiving gear. You’ll know within a day if your setup is right—or if it's junk.

Why IWB Works:

  • Tight concealment under untucked shirts or jackets

  • Minimal movement during everyday activity

  • Consistent indexing for support-hand reloads

Common carry spots:

  • Appendix (11–1 o’clock): Fast access, easy concealment for smaller mags, though tight against the body

  • Just forward of the hip (2–3 or 9–10): Great for comfort while walking or sitting

  • Behind the hip (4–5 or 7–8): More concealment, but slower draw under pressure

What you need to figure out fast:

  • Can you reach it with your support hand without twisting your body?

  • Does it collapse or shift after sitting, crouching, or walking a flight of stairs?

  • Is it a fight to draw the mag, or does it come out clean?

If it’s uncomfortable or awkward, you won’t carry it. If you don’t carry it, it’s useless. IWB mag holsters must be dialed in exactly for your body and draw mechanics.

OWB Magazine Holster: Easier Draw, More to Hide

Outside-the-waistband carriers give you better access and comfort—but now you have to work harder on concealment and retention.

Why OWB Might Be Better:

  • Easier support-hand draw stroke

  • More mag capacity options

  • Less pressure on your body throughout the day

Challenges:

  • Cover garments must fully conceal the mag and holster—no exceptions

  • May snag on seatbelts, chairs, gear, or car doors

  • More exposed to printing or accidental contact in tight spaces

Placement matters more than anything:

  • Support-side hip (9 or 3 o'clock) is standard, but will likely print under a T-shirt

  • Slightly behind the hip (7–8 or 4–5) balances concealment with access

  • Horizontal cant carriers help disguise printing under a long shirt tail or jacket

Real talk: if you're not wearing a jacket or untucked button-up, OWB is a harder concealment game to win. But when paired with the right clothing, it’s fast, stable, and comfortable—especially for extended carry.

Gear Selection: Structure, Comfort, and Retention

Most shooters start with the wrong question: “Do I need a spare mag?” The right question is, “How will I carry a spare mag in a way that works when it counts?”

Soft vs. Hard-Sided Mag Holsters

  • Kydex or hard polymer: Solid retention, defined indexing, fast draw. Less comfortable. Doesn’t collapse. Better for OWB or dedicated IWB positions.

  • Soft-sided (nylon, elastic): More comfortable. Can shift under pressure. May collapse after draw. Best for deep concealment and lighter magazines.

There’s no right answer—only the one that stays on your body 12 hours a day, moves with you, and lets you reload without thinking.

The Overlooked Step: Training With What You Carry

Carrying a spare mag is a good decision. But if you haven’t trained with it—under stress, with real gear—you’re just carrying extra metal.

What good reload training looks like:

  • Done with the exact gear you carry, in normal clothes, under a cover garment

  • Includes movement, time pressure, and follow-up shots

  • Repeats until reloads become instinct, not decisions

You’ll learn fast that reloading from concealment is nothing like reloading on a clean range with gear bolted to a belt.

Try this:

  • Run an El Presidente drill with your EDC rig

  • Time your reloads from IWB vs. OWB placement

  • Add a malfunction drill mid-string to force problem-solving

If you can’t reload under pressure with your mag holster, it’s not ready for real-world use. Period.

Bottom Line: Carry It or Don’t—But Make It Count

A magazine holster is a tool. And like any tool, it either supports your goal or becomes dead weight.

Don’t pick gear because it looked good on someone’s Instagram. Pick gear that disappears on your belt until you need it—and delivers a clean, fast reload when you do.

Make sure:

  • You’ve found a position that conceals, stays put, and feels natural

  • You can access the mag without shifting or fumbling

  • You’ve trained with that exact setup until it's automatic

Because if you ever need that reload, it won’t be during a calm moment.

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