A Guide To Magazine Holsters and Mag Carriers

Aside from a gun, holster and gun belt, one of the most popular accessories for concealed carry are magazine carriers. Being able to carry additional magazines can be invaluable, should the need arise for more bullets.

Some choose not to carry spare ammunition, some carry every round that they possibly can.

In this guide, we'll go over just about everything you'll need to know about , magazine holsters, magazine pouches and any other implement of carrying more rounds upon your person, how it's done and the reasons why you want to.

Why Use A Mag Carrier?

Carrying spare ammunition is a critical component of everyday carry (EDC), duty gear, or tactical loadouts — and doing so securely and accessibly starts with using a magazine holster, also known as a mag carrier or mag pouch.

1. Secure Retention for Spare Magazines

One of the top reasons to use a magazine holster instead of stuffing a spare magazine into your pocket is security and magazine retention.

Loose magazines in a pocket can shift, fall out, or even orient themselves awkwardly — especially if you kneel, sit, or move dynamically. Unless your pants are unusually tight (and that’s not ideal for EDC), you’re risking the loss or misplacement of a critical reload. A purpose-built mag holster keeps your magazine locked in place and oriented correctly for rapid access.

This is especially relevant in law enforcement or defensive situations, where the last thing you want is to discover your spare mag is no longer where you left it. A Kydex mag carrier, for example, offers both passive and active retention systems, ensuring the mag stays put until you need it.

2. Faster, More Reliable Access

Just as a concealed carry holster places your firearm in a consistent, known position, a mag carrier does the same for your reloads.

The ability to build muscle memory is critical in defensive shooting. Drawing from the same location every time — whether during training or in a real-world encounter — ensures a faster, more confident response. Whether you're running AIWB (Appendix Inside the Waistband) or OWB (Outside the Waistband), a mag holster gives you repeatable access under pressure.

This is why mag carriers are essential not only for competitive shooters and law enforcement but also for responsibly armed civilians. They reduce reload times, support tactical efficiency, and ultimately enhance your readiness.

3. Improved Training and Real-World Reliability

In firearms training, consistency is key. A mag holster allows you to rehearse and refine your reloads with precision. That same consistency translates into real-world reliability — because in high-stress situations, you fall back on your training.

With a properly placed magazine pouch, you don’t waste time fumbling. You know where your reload is, how to grip it, and how to execute the draw efficiently. This is especially crucial in situations where seconds matter.

How Many Magazines Should You Carry?

If you're going to carry any spare ammunition, it's a good idea to carry at least one if not two spare magazines.

The idea is that you can double the amount of ammunition that you keep on you, or - in case of a malfunction - can keep your gun at full capacity in case you have to use it.

Granted, the needs of the armed civilian - if you read up on defensive shootings involving civilians as opposed to officer-involved shootings - are different than those of a police officer or a soldier, as the nature of conflicts are very different.

Bear in mind, carrying two double-stack magazines for a typical service or compact pistol adds a lot of extra stuff to your everyday carry, so many people who carry a Glock 19 or similar pistol will only carry one extra but will carry two with a single-stack pistol.

And then some people only use their mag carrier at the range, and stick with whatever's in their gun on the street.

So ultimately, it's all up to you; you decide for yourself what your needs are. But if you're going to carry a spare, make sure to have at least one.

Types Of Magazine Carriers

Magazine carriers tend to come in several formats, just as holsters do. Each has their own features, benefits and drawbacks. It's up to the individual to decide which is to their liking.

Just like with holsters, some people have dedicated mag carriers for certain purposes - some are for the range only and some are for daily carry.

OWB and IWB Magazine Holster Designs

There are OWB and IWB magazine holster models out there, not dissimilar to gun holsters and share many things in common regarding the design.

A number of holster companies also make magazine carriers a part or optional component of a holster. These can range from custom-molded holsters that precisely fit the firearm and magazine to simply an extra compartment sewn on a generic pouch holster. These are available on IWB and OWB holsters alike.

Many magazine holsters are designed for wear on or about the waist, and are designed to be worn inside or outside the waistband.

Common materials include leather as well as modern materials like Kydex or injection-molded polymers, and even some hybrid designs with a hard-molded magazine holster shell and a soft backer for more comfortable IWB carry. There are also pancake-style magazine holsters made of alternate materials such as hard neoprene fabric.

Quality magazine carriers are made to fit a specific , rather than being a general "mag carrier" that purports to be one-size-fits-all. Just as with pistol holsters, the more precise the fit, the better the retention and function.

There are also a number of magazine pouches that are made from a "sticky" fabric, which adhere to clothing via a high friction surface. Essentially, one sticks the magazine into the holder and tuck it into the waistband.

Tension from one's body, waistband and gun belt help hold it in place. A number of gun holsters use a similar design, though they don't provide the best retention, nor the best fit and re-holstering is basically impossible. The same will be true for such magazine carriers.

Some are better suited to open carry than concealment.

Soft-Sided Vs Hard-Sided Magazine Carriers

You might wonder if you should get a hard-sided or soft-sided magazine carrier. Both have their uses and purposes, of course, and like choosing between any products that perform a similar function - albeit differently - there are pros and cons to each.

A hard-sided mag carrier, like our Cloak Mag Carriers, is durable and secure, so there's no question about retention. However, it's also the case that they are less comfortable to carry inside the waistband, even if a protective pad is added to the magazine bucket. While you can carry them everyday, and plenty of people do, they're perfect for range use and competition and that's how some people prefer to use them.

A soft-sided mag carrier, like our Grip Tuck Mag Carriers, are certainly more comfortable for daily carry. The Grip Tuck Mag Carrier slips inside the waistband, and can be used with or without the included IWB clip to secure it on the belt. Some people use belt tension alone to hold the magazine and carrier in place, and some people use one Grip Tuck carrier on the belt and put another one in a pocket.

If you don't want to have your spare magazine riding outside the belt, and prefer the utmost in comfort, they're perfect.

Again, it really depends on you and your intended use. Plenty of our customers have purchased both, using the Grip Tuck for daily carry and keeping their Cloak Mag Carrier for range days and competition.

Right or Left-Handed, Vertical, Horizontal, or Customizable

As the materials used and overall designs vary for magazine carriers, so does their orientation. Just as with holsters, one can select right-handed or left-handed orientation for the preferred draw.

Most magazine holsters, pouches or carriers are vertically oriented, though there are also a number of horizontally-oriented magazine carriers. Horizontal orientation can be useful in deep concealment, as it barely prints and can be undetectable under an untucked shirt.

Some magazine holsters can be had with adjustable cant, for those who prefer a spare magazine to sit at a forward or rearward leading angle. Some magazine holsters are adjustable for multiple carrying configurations.

Which Type Of Mag Carrier Should You Use?

But which type should you get for a concealed carry magazine?

An IWB magazine carrier is easier to conceal and easier on the person wearing it in other regards, but most people find them to be less comfortable than OWB carriers.

OWB magazine carriers can be more comfortable to wear for obvious reasons, but present some difficulties in terms of concealment as well as practical issues of just going about your day. They're also a little more versatile in that you can use the same mag carriers when carrying normally or in training sessions or competition.

So here's what that means.

When you're carrying an IWB magazine carrier, the magazine is in the carrier bucket, inside the waistband and sticking up a certain amount. The magazine will press into your side to a degree, though how much depends on you and where you wear it.

Concealment is usually simple as you just drape over it with your shirt, but you might notice the mag carrier prints in some areas. You many need to adjust the carry position or ride height to get rid of any imprinting.

Additionally, hard-sided magazine buckets - those made of a high-impact polymer, for instance - are going to be felt. Just as with a hard-sided holster in your waistband, you're compressing a hard material against you with a belt.

You can mitigate the discomfort one of two ways. Get a soft-sided magazine carrier, one of durable cloth construction, or you can carry the magazine outside the waistband.

However, OWB magazine carry comes with its own challenges.

First, you have a Thing where once there was No Thing.

Concealment is easy; you just drape your shirt over it like normal, whether covering with a loose button-up or an untucked shirt.

However, that's not what you have to worry about.

This is an aspect of concealed carry that doesn't usually get discussed much, but it becomes a lot more relevant when it comes to magazine carriers.

As you walk around with that additional dongle on your waist, you're going to come close to some solid objects. Doorways. Your car. Desk chairs. Kitchen counters. And so on and so forth.

What that means, of course, is that you might hit your magazine carrier on said surface.

An OWB magazine carrier can be easier to bonk into things and if you hit it hard enough, you can damage the magazine or possibly break the mag carrier.

So, with that in mind, what's the best way to wear a concealed carry magazine?

How To Adjust A Mag Carrier For Concealed Carry

If you're going to carry a magazine holster as part of your concealed carry gear, and it's a good idea to do so, you need to dial it in by experimentation first and at the training range second.

In other words, figure out how it's most comfortable to wear and easiest to conceal for you. Then, hit the range and run some reloading drills with your concealed carry pistol, concealed carry holster, and mag carrier.

First you need to figure out placement on the body. You need to find a spot on your waistband where the magazine carrier is comfortable to wear, easy to conceal and also - and this is key - doesn't impede access.

If the magazine is carried too far back, you'll impinge the shoulder when you go to draw, which will make access difficult under stress.

Similarly, the magazine carrier has to be at a ride height that likewise doesn't impede access and enables a clean draw of the magazine.

Just as with your carry gun, you need to be able to get a good grasp of the magazine and draw it out of the carrier without having to readjust your grip.

Here's what to look for:

The proper technique for a reload is to use the index finger to guide the magazine into the pistol grip. The index finger should be on the front face of the magazine, with the nose of the top cartridge facing the tip of the index finger.

You should be able to grasp the magazine and draw it from the magazine holster with the proper grip as described without adjusting your grip on the magazine. If you can't, then you're more likely to fumble the reload under stress.

Therefore, it's better to err on the side of a taller ride height.

As far as the cant angle of your magazine carrier, you want the minimal amount of contortion in the wrist. The less you have to flex and bend, the better.

Remember, with a concealed carry magazine carrier, you need to clear your cover garment and THEN draw the spare magazine out. It's a more complex task than pulling one from a range rig.

Just like with carrying a pistol with a holster, carrying a magazine holster concealed requires the balancing of comfort, concealability, and functionality. You can bend a little in one direction or another, but you can't neglect any of them or else you'll get into trouble.

So, once you get that sorted out, it's time to start training with your magazine carrier. How to do that?

Magazine Pouches

There are also , which aren't necessarily the best suited to concealment...though there are some improvised magazine pouches that conceal the contents quite well.

Many magazine pouches are pouches made of some sort of cloth. This can range from canvas web, leather and other cloth materials, which are often enough equipped with a flap and snap enclosure, so it can be closed.

Unlike magazine holsters that are designed to carry a specific make and model of magazine, magazine pouches aren't designed for that custom fit. Basically, you put a magazine or two in, close it up and carry on.

They can be worn on a belt, sling or .

Some are suited for concealment but some aren't, though an untucked shirt easily covers anything worn on the beltline. A good number of magazine pouches are more suited to open carry and in truth are really more for tactical use by law enforcement or military personnel - though that isn't to say that civvies can't make use of them!

A number of clever persons have also come up with some improvised magazine carriers. One very popular method of carrying a backup magazine is to obtain a belt pouch for a knife or multitool (such as a Leatherman) and conceal a magazine inside. These can be leather, nylon or some other type of cloth, but so long as the the pouch can be sealed - many have a snap closure - no one will be the wiser.

Why Carry A Spare Magazine?

Why carry a spare magazine? Many people reckon that most defensive encounters are going to be over very quickly and with very few shots fired, and there's a lot of evidence to suggest that has an element of truth to it. Thus, many feel the magazine in their gun is likely going to be all they'll need.

However, there is also a lot of evidence to suggest otherwise. Many shooting incidents over the years, including both gun battles between criminals and police and private citizens defending themselves, have resulted in entire magazines emptied into assailants with little discernible effect. What happens if for some reason one's magazine drops? Some holsters have been known to trigger the magazine release. That leaves a person with a single shot, and potentially no time to reload.

Granted, the odds that a person will ever have to draw a gun in self-defense is very low, much less that a person will have to fire it in self-defense. FBI data indicates only a few hundred justifiable homicides per year, contrasted with the number of annual defensive gun uses, estimated to number in the mid-tens of the thousands to several million per year.

It isn't known what figures are accurate - and in truth may be impossible to know to a certainty. After all, many studies are based on results from surveys and the fact is that people lie.

It's also difficult to know how many rounds is likely to fire if a mortal contest is necessary. Many defensive shootings have been over with only a few rounds expended, but plenty have not.

As for police, some data exists.

The Police Policy Studies Council (PDF) reports the NYPD, between 1990 and 2000, averaged 5.2 shots per officer in actual gun fights (where someone shot at them) with a low of 3.6 shots and high of 6.9 shots, and average hit rate of 15 percent. Shooting incidents - where an officer discharged a weapon, which includes officer suicides, shooting dangerous animals and accidental discharges - between 1988 and 2001 showed an average of 2.86 shots per officer. This includes incidents where multiple police fired during the incident;

The Miami-Dade Police Department (formerly Metro-Dade PD) averaged a mean of 2.5 shots fired from revolvers and 3.2 shots fired with semi-automatics during the period of 1988 to 1994. During that time, they fired 1300 rounds - without differentiating between the type of shootings - of which around 1100 missed, for a hit rate of 15.4 percent.

Los Angeles County police reported an average of 3.59 shots fired in officer-involved shootings involving one officer, 4.98 shots in incidents involving 2 officers and 6.48 shots per incident involving more than 2 officers. Their hit rates were 51%, 23% and 9%, respectively.

Granted, the NYPD appears to have improved. According to the New York Times, the hit ratio has gone up from an average of 15 percent for 1990 to 2000 to 36 percent for 1996 to 2006.

As you can see, these examples show that on average, a gunfight involving police is resolved in fairly few shots. However, that doesn't mean that it will necessarily happen that way. For every incident resolved with one or two shots, there are outliers that required many more shots to be fired to conclude the encounter. For instance, agents involved in the FBI Miami shootout of 1986 fired more than 80 rounds. The North Hollywood shootout of 1997 resulted in officers firing 650 or more rounds.

Granted, these are some of the worst criminal incidents in American history, and the likelihood the average citizen will be anywhere close to such an incident...is so remote that it's pointless to try to quantify it. Also, police HAVE to brave the line of fire - it's their duty. We have the option to seek egress or otherwise flee.

One can safely assume that while the odds are that a few shots is likely to resolve the matter...that might not be enough. . An entire gun store might not be enough. You might not be enough; the North Hollywood and Miami perpetrators engaged dozens of officers - including a SWAT team - in the former instance and almost ten officers in the latter. In this case it may not be a bad idea to carry a .

How To Carry A Magazine Holster

Carrying a magazine holster properly is essential for ensuring quick access, consistent training, and effective concealment. Whether you're running appendix IWB, strong-side OWB, or a tactical duty rig, the method of carrying your spare magazine should align with your training and ergonomics.

Weak-Side Carry: The Most Efficient Placement

The most common and efficient way to carry a magazine holster is on the support side (weak side) of the body. This placement allows the shooter to retrieve a spare magazine with the non-dominant hand, while maintaining control of the firearm with the dominant hand during a reload. This technique supports a smooth reload under stress and is the foundation of most defensive and tactical reload drills.

Combination Holsters with Built-In Mag Pouches

Some gun holsters feature an integrated magazine carrier, allowing both the firearm and spare magazine to be carried on the same side. While compact and convenient for concealment, this setup often requires a cross-draw technique or temporary firearm hand-switching to access the magazine — a method that may be slower and less intuitive under stress.

For most users, especially in defensive scenarios, a dedicated weak-side mag holster is preferred for faster reloads and improved retention of technique.

Concealed Carry Options for Magazine Holsters

Concealing a spare magazine is relatively simple, especially when using an IWB (Inside the Waistband) mag carrier. Covering the magazine holster with an untucked shirt, light jacket, or hoodie is typically sufficient for concealment. Many OWB (Outside the Waistband) mag holsters are also designed to ride close to the body, making them easy to hide under minimal layers.

Minimalist mag pouches with low-profile clips — similar to those used on pocket knives — offer slim concealment with fast access. Some users repurpose multi-tool pouches or other utility cases to carry spare magazines discreetly, blending into everyday clothing without signaling a tactical loadout.

Why You Should Avoid Pocket Carrying Spare Magazines

While some individuals carry spare magazines in a pocket, this method is not recommended unless the magazine is properly enclosed in a dedicated pocket holster or retention sleeve. Without protection, the top round may snag on pocket material and partially eject, rendering the magazine unreliable.

Similarly, carrying a firearm loosely in a pocket without a proper holster can lead to accidental discharges due to trigger snagging — a serious safety hazard. For both pistols and magazines, proper holsters not only improve retention and access but also preserve safety.

Best practice: Avoid pocket carry unless no other method is viable, and always use a holster or carrier that protects critical components from snags or debris.

Alternate Approaches: Magazine Carriers and Backup Guns

Some individuals prefer carrying a backup gun (BUG) instead of a spare magazine. While this approach provides a fully loaded firearm as a secondary option, it comes with its own considerations for concealment, comfort, and training consistency.

Start Training: Reload Drills To Run With Your Magazine Holster

Once you get your gear dialed in, you'll want to wear your magazine holster to the range and practice some reload drills, specifically shooting drills that require a reload. There are many, of course, but we're going to go over a couple of excellent examples.

As with any shooting drill, be safe on the range. You want to develop efficiency, as efficiency is what eventually results in speed. Use a timer to set a baseline, and then work on beating it.

A good starter is often just called "The Reload Drill." There are a number of iterations of it, but the gist is you fire one or two shots, reload, then fire one or two more. This can also be used to train clearing malfunctions, but reloading is what we'll concentrate on for now.

For this drill, you don't need a silhouette target; any old paper target will do. Why not print a few for free instead of paying for them? Get some FREE from us!

You shoot it from any distance you want, just as long as you can score a clean hit. The drill is shot from the ready position, starting with a magazine with only one round in the gun, and a full magazine in your mag carrier.

Using a timer, present and fire one shot from the beep, putting the gun at slide lock. Drop the empty magazine, and draw the full magazine from the holster. Insert it into the pistol, chamber a round and fire one shot.

After the second shot, drop the full magazine and insert the empty. You'll have only one shot until slide lock.

Another excellent example is the original reload drill, the El Presidente.

"El Prez" was designed by Col. Jeff Cooper, the founder of the Modern Technique of pistol shooting and of the Gunsite training school. He designed the drill as a comprehensive exercise for a Central American secret service detail, and it is in many ways an excellent exercise.

The drill is shot at 10 yards, with three silhouette targets spaced three yards (or meters) apart, with your back to the target and 6 rounds in the magazine. At the beep, turn and fire controlled pairs in each target going left to right or right to left.

After the last controlled pair, your slide will lock. Change the magazine, and then fire three more controlled pairs in the same order.

The drill was designed for revolvers, as the people Cooper made it for carried .38 Special service guns. It's a bit out of date today; most carry guns hold more than 6 rounds in the modern era.

The genius of El Prez lies in its comprehensivity. It covers almost every shooting skill, including the draw, presentation, recoil control, target transition and the reload. Good shooters can run the drill in 10 to 12 seconds with A zone hits, under 10 seconds is really cooking.

If you want to make it even more challenging, change to the Vice Presidente drill, which replaces the second round of controlled pairs with head shots.

These drills cover both the sheer act of reloading, and then a (somewhat) more practical reloading drill. There are more out there, but these are excellent places to start when it comes to training to use your magazine carrier.

What You Should Look For In A Magazine Carrier

The most important quality in a magazine carrier is purpose-built fitment. Just as with a holster, your mag carrier needs to be molded or sized specifically for the make, model, and caliber of the magazine you're carrying. Loose fitment leads to poor retention and inconsistent draws, while overly tight carriers can slow reloads or require exaggerated, unreliable motions.

A carrier that properly retains the mag while still allowing a firm, clean extraction grip — whether through friction fit, tension screws, or modular inserts — is foundational. You’re not just carrying a reload; you’re indexing a critical motor skill that must be repeatable under stress.

When assessing a mag holster, start with the basics:

• Retention: Does it hold the magazine firmly under movement, including running, kneeling, or going prone?

• Access: Can you establish a secure index and draw without shifting your grip or fishing for the mag?

• Orientation: Is the mag facing forward, rounds down, with the correct cant for a thumb-index draw under pressure?

Then ask what role it needs to fill. Range use and live-fire training allow for more flexibility in design — OWB carriers with open tops or paddle-style clips are common. But for EDC or professional duty, priorities shift to low profile, concealability, and reliability over time.

IWB mag carriers must be wearable for long hours against the body, ideally with edge finishing or minimal hotspots. Adjustable cant and ride height aren’t nice-to-haves — they’re mandatory for dialing in both comfort and concealment across different body types and clothing styles. A mag carrier that rides too low under the beltline, for example, makes establishing a firing grip nearly impossible without awkward movement.

For OWB mag carriers, the footprint matters. A slimline design that hugs the body reduces printing under a jacket or shirt and minimizes snags when entering or exiting vehicles. Professionals wearing outer vests or duty belts typically prefer injection-molded carriers that integrate with MOLLE or belt-mount systems, but for concealed users, a discrete belt-clip OWB pouch can be just as effective — provided it maintains tension and resists lateral shift.

Some advanced carriers support multiple orientations — vertical, horizontal, even inverted — or allow for IWB/OWB conversion. This sounds like a great feature set on paper, but only a handful of those options execute well in both configurations. If a single carrier tries to do too much, it often fails to do any one role exceptionally well. Look for systems that lock into one configuration securely, not just ones that happen to allow it.

And finally, assess the real-world durability. Field use — especially in training environments — quickly reveals poor construction. Kydex that flexes under pressure, clips that walk after repeated drawstroke reps, or pouches that deform under body heat don’t belong in your kit. Test carriers the same way you test your holster: dry reps, range work, pressure drills.

If the mag isn’t where you need it — every time — it’s the wrong carrier.