How to Choose Magazine Pouches

Research should always precede purchasing anything, and magazine pouches are no exception. Although you might think that purchasing any magazine pouch would do, there's more involved and you could end up disappointed if you don't do your due diligence beforehand.

In this guide, we'll help you ask some targeted questions to determine which magazine pouches will best meet your needs. We will discuss considerations common among most shooters, pros and cons of various materials used, and ways to narrow down your choices according to what kind of shooting activity is involved.

Most of the factors to keep in mind when purchasing magazine pouches fall under one of three broad categories.

Retention

How securely are magazines held in place? While more and tighter retention are often preferable, this may not always be the case. A number of factors impact magazine retention including material (hard plastics generally provide tighter fits), open/closed design choice and orientation.

Ease of Access

Though you might initially wish for easily accessible magazines, other factors and tradeoffs must also be taken into account. Ease of access has an inverse relationship to both concealability and retention; so carefully consider which aspect you find more essential to you.

Speed of Access

Ease and speed of access are closely intertwined but do not equal one another. For instance, an open-top hard plastic insert may be quickly accessible due to being open but may require strong pulling to free your magazine from its confines. Some shooters measure speed of access numerically in seconds - usually defined as how quickly it takes you to acquire and fully reload your weapon after starting from a normal shooting position - however this varies with individual shooters as their skill level changes and some may find certain magazine pouches faster than others.

No matter the purpose for which your next set of mag pouches, it is important to give careful thought to all these factors.

Single, Double, or Triple Pouches

Are You Needing One, Two, Three or More Spare Magazines? While additional magazines require additional space and weight on your belt or in your bag, double and triple mag pouches have different designs which have different impacts on retention, ease of access and speed of access - such as aligned laterally next to each other or stacked on top of one another - compared to single mag pouches.

Carry Location

Most shooters carry their spare magazines in one of four places.

• Inside the waistband (good retention and concealability, reduced ease and speed of access)
• Outside the waistband (reduced retention and concealability, improved ease and speed of access)
• On a vest (good ease and speed of access, usually no concealability, retention varies)
• In a bag (maximum concealability, retention varies, worst ease and speed of access)

Open vs. Closed Design

As its name implies, open-top mag pouches don't completely enclose a magazine - instead it protrudes partially, providing easy and fast access at the expense of reduced retention (all else being roughly equal). Conversely, closed pouches typically feature flaps, snaps, or buckles to provide greater retention (depending on their purpose).

Retention Systems

There are various retention system designs available; seven models in particular are particularly prevalent among open-top mag pouches:

Kydex inserts, custom shaped to the exact specifications of your magazine for maximum retention (you will require firm and strong pulls in order to remove).

Side panels under spring tension that automatically expand to accommodate magazines offer an ideal combination of retention and speed; making these pouches suitable for carrying multiple guns at different times without constantly switching out mag pouches. They may be your best option if carrying different firearms at different times requires you to switch mag pouches between uses.

Hard plastic panels with screws act like molded inserts but can be adjusted to fit different types of magazines, providing tight retention without quite as tight of an effect as inserts do.

Elastic bands designed to fit any magazine should work fine in theory. We don't usually advise using them; although inexpensive, their elastic wears out quickly.

Closed mag pouches can have:

Flaps or Velcro covers, which prioritize speed over retention.

Button snaps provide the optimal combination of speed and retention, but be wary - these snaps wear out over time and must be periodically replaced to stay effective.

Buckles offer maximum retention but require slower access times for easy use.

Universal or Molded Fit?

As with holsters, universal mag pouches may offer more compromises. There's a good chance they may not provide adequate retention for your specific magazines - something to bear in mind before purchasing universal mag pouches. On the plus side, however, such options tend to be less costly, especially if multiple firearms will use the same set.

MOLLE Compatibility

Modular, Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment is one of several popular gear customization platforms; other examples are TekLok and ELS (Equipment Locking System). When considering magazine pouches designed specifically for one platform - whether that be MOLLE, TekLok or ELS (Equipment Locking System), make sure they will work on the belt, vest or bag you plan to use them with.

Comfort

Comfort might seem like an insignificant consideration - and indeed it might be, if you are only planning on wearing your mag pouches for brief periods - but when worn for 8+ hours at a time or longer it becomes even more paramount. Be sure to also consider ergonomics and movement impedance: can you easily reach all positions of mag pouches, run, jump, climb and crawl without them becoming an impediment?

Water Retention

Magazines and bullets can withstand brief exposure to water without suffering serious effects; however, prolonged submersion could prove hazardous. Some magazine pouches may become watertight over time without their owners knowing; this could happen accidentally or intentionally - so make sure any liquid that finds its way into your mag pouches has an easy exit plan so any accumulated moisture or dirt can drain out easily.

Noise Level

Consider situations in which you might need your spare magazines in life-or-death situations and whether or not they can be accessed silently if necessary - for instance, some magazine pouches make this difficult to achieve.

Most magazine pouches are constructed out of nylon, Kydex or leather - each material offers distinct advantages and disadvantages:

Nylon is an effective all-round material choice that doesn't excel or falter in any particular regard. It is relatively tough and rigid, often found in closed top designs with or without plastic inserts. Unfortunately, nylon doesn't fare too well when exposed to dirt and moisture - thus making it hard to keep clean.

Kydex pouches offer optimal retention and durability, but may become uncomfortable depending on where and how you wear them; their loud re-indexing process often makes this uncomfortable wear unpleasant. Furthermore, you can purchase Kydex inserts for nylon pouches for additional retention options.

Leather can make for the ideal option when carrying concealed or on duty - situations in which wetness or dirt are unlikely. Leather is easy to keep clean provided wetness does not remain for extended periods; nylon and Kydex may prove more comfortable and concealable, however retention may suffer and cost can become an issue.