Magazine Ankle Holster: Things To Consider When Selecting

If you’re packing using an ankle holster, where will you carry the extra magazines? If you are dressed up for the night, a side or shoulder holster carry may not be practical and a bulge in your pants pocket may not work to well. One solution is to carry the extra magazines on your ankle.

The idea when wearing an ankle holster is to carry the firearm on the inside of the leg that is out in front of you when you kneel down. Wearing it inside makes it more secure than wearing it on the outside of your leg where you can hit a door jamb or another obstacle. If this is the case, it makes sense to carry the backup magazines on the inside of your other leg.

From my experience, most individuals who use an ankle holster carry a J-Frame revolver or a compact to sub-compact semi-automatic with a barrel no larger than three inches. These smaller handguns make it easier to conceal the smaller magazines on the other ankle.

When shopping for a magazine ankle holster, look for features found with many of the ankle gun holsters.

Weight: Most of the magazine ankle holsters I have come across are made of nylon which reduces their weight and use elastic/expandable magazine pouches. This allows them to be more multipurpose and carry single and double stack magazines.

Ankle Size: Unless you are the center for an NFL team, ankle magazine holsters will fit securely around your ankle with room to spare.

Retention Straps:  It’s a good idea to use retention straps. Look for magazine holsters that include straps with an easy pull tab or skirt. This allows you faster access to the magazines.

Padding: Padding against your ankle provides additional comfort. Some folks may say it increases the chance for printing but from personal experience, having a little padding was not an issue and it sure makes for a more comfortable carry.

Care of the Holster: Leather holsters, including ankle magazine holsters, and water are not the best of friends and the holster can shrink if it becomes wet for a period of time. Holsters with sheepskin can get hot in the summer and tend to collect perspiration. Nylon holsters can be lightly washed and after air drying, they are ready to go.