Best Concealed Mag Carriers for a Spare Carry Magazine

Why carry a spare at all?

The most common reason to reach for a spare magazine in a defensive setting isn't running dry. It's fixing a malfunction caused by the magazine itself: a bent feed lip, a weak spring, a magazine that came partly unseated. Swapping magazines clears a whole category of problems. Our extended magazines piece makes the same argument from the reload side.

That framing matters when you choose a carrier. You want something that holds the magazine in the same orientation every day, hides on your body, and lets you get a clean grip with your support hand. You don't need a competition pouch for speed; you need one you'll wear.

How we chose: These picks come from retailer listings and manufacturer descriptions. We haven't tested these carriers ourselves. We favored designs sized for specific magazines, because a carrier made for your mag holds it more securely and prints less.

Quick picks

Descriptions and fit from Ammunition Depot's product listings. Confirm fit for your exact magazine before buying.

1. 1791 SnagMag for Glock 43X and 48: best for slimline Glocks

The SnagMag is a leather carrier with a belt clip. Ammunition Depot's listing for the SnagMag for the Glock 43X and 48 says it can be worn inside the waistband or in a front, back or support-side pocket, and that the magazine's floor plate sits just below the top edge for concealment. The listing is right-hand oriented.

Size context: Glock lists the 43X MOS with a standard 10-round magazine and 1.10-inch overall width, while the original single-stack G43 ships with a 6-round magazine. The 43X/48 magazine is the longer, higher-capacity one, so a carrier sized for it won't suit a G43 spare.

Best for: 43X and 48 carriers who want one carrier that works on the belt or in a pocket. Skip if: you carry a different magazine; get the version made for yours. Our Glock 48 vs 19 and Shield Plus buyer's guide pieces cover the guns themselves.

2. 1791 SnagMag for Sig P365 12-round: best matched fit for P365s

The same idea, sized for the P365's 12-round magazine. Ammunition Depot lists the SnagMag for the P365 12-round mag as a single-compartment black leather carrier that clips onto your belt.

Best for: P365 owners whose spare is a 12-rounder, the most common choice for the original P365 and P365X. Skip if: your spare is a flush 10-round or a 15- or 17-round magazine; they're different lengths. Ammunition Depot's P365 magazine section lists the sizes. For the P365 family, see our P365 upgrade path.

3. C&G Holsters Universal Single Mag Holder: best for single-stack metal mags

For guns with true single-stack magazines, a kydex IWB carrier holds the mag firmly and wipes clean. Ammunition Depot lists the C&G Holsters Universal Single Mag Holder as an IWB carrier for 1911-pattern single-stack magazines.

Best for: 1911 and similar single-stack carriers. Skip if: you carry a double-stack or stack-and-a-half micro 9; a universal single-stack pouch may not hold a wider mag securely.

4. 1791 MAG1.2 belt slide: best when you wear a cover garment

A belt slide sits outside the waistband, which makes it the most comfortable and stable option, and the hardest to hide under a T-shirt. Ammunition Depot lists the 1791 MAG1.2 single mag holster as a leather belt-slide carrier for double-stack polymer magazines, with an ambidextrous design.

Best for: people who wear an open shirt, vest or jacket most of the year. Skip if: you dress in a single untucked layer; it will print.

5. Safariland Model 123: best low-profile option under a jacket

Safariland's Model 123 carries the magazine horizontally, which keeps it below the belt line and very flat. Ammunition Depot's listing for the Safariland 123 horizontal mag pouch says it's designed for magazines such as the Glock 17, 19, 22, 23, 34 and 35, uses hook-and-loop to attach to the belt, and closes with a hook-and-loop flap.

Best for: carriers of G19-size guns who want a flat pouch under a jacket. Skip if: you want a fast, flap-free grab, or you carry a micro 9 whose mag it isn't listed for.

Where to wear it

The convention most instructors teach:

• Support side. If your gun is on your right, the spare goes on your left, so your support hand reaches it while your strong hand holds the gun.
• Bullets facing forward, toward the front of your body, so the magazine comes out already oriented to go into the grip.
• Appendix carriers often put the spare just to the support side of the belt buckle, mirroring the gun. Wikipedia's holster article notes that some appendix rigs combine the holster with an attached magazine carrier, sometimes called a sidecar.
• Same place, every day. A spare that moves around is a spare you'll fumble for.

For overall layouts, see our holster position guide.

What to look for in any concealed mag carrier

1. Made for your magazine. Fit is retention. A loose carrier lets the mag fall out when you sit or bend.
2. Secure attachment. A clip that grabs under the belt, or loops for the belt, so the carrier doesn't come out with the magazine.
3. Low ride. The less magazine above the belt, the less there is to print.
4. Covered, or at least protected, top. Debris in the top round's feed area is a malfunction waiting to happen. Inspect the spare regularly.
5. A belt that can carry it. A stiff gun belt keeps both the holster and the carrier tight.

Practice the reload you'll actually do

A carrier only helps if you can use it. With a verified-empty gun, empty training magazines and no live ammunition in the room, practice reaching your spare from your normal clothing: sweep the shirt, grip the magazine with your index finger along the front, draw it and seat it. Do it standing and seated. If the carrier comes out with the magazine, or your grip lands in a different place each time, adjust the carrier position or try a different design. Our ten-minute dry-fire plan has room for a few reload reps each session.

Pocket carry for a spare

If you don't want anything else on your belt, a spare in the support-side front pocket is common. Just don't let it float loose with keys and coins, which can push the top round out of position or pick up lint. A pocket carrier, or a belt-clip carrier like the SnagMag that the listing says works in a pocket, keeps it upright and in the same orientation.

Spare magazines worth having

Buy factory or well-regarded magazines for carry, and test each one with your carry ammunition before trusting it. For the guns in this guide, Ammunition Depot lists the Springfield OEM Hellcat 11-round magazine and the S&W OEM Shield Plus 13-round magazine. Some states and cities limit magazine capacity, so check the rules where you live before buying; our carry laws hub is a starting point, not legal advice.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.