One of the most frustrating parts of gun ownership is trying to find the accessories you need to confidently carry everything that's part of your EDC (everyday carry) gear. Choosing a holster that fits is fairly easy compared to everything else. After all, in many cases, holsters tell you what they are for, including the make and model of the gun. This simplicity is especially true in Kydex holsters molded for specific guns. The same is not true, however, for most other accessories, including magazine carriers.
Every experienced concealed carrier knows the two-pronged value of carrying a spare magazine. First is the possibility, no matter how remote, that you’ll end up needing more rounds than your gun carries when stopping a threat or threats. It’s unlikely to happen, but it might. The second, more common reason to carry a spare magazine is that something could be wrong with your primary magazine, or the gun could malfunction in a way that necessitates ejecting the magazine, clearing the malfunction, and reloading—all while incredible pressure in a struggle. If you drop the primary magazine, will you have the time or mental wherewithal to fetch it off the floor? Probably not. Grab the spare magazine off your belt and return the gun to the fight.
Which magazine pouch should you carry? In the past, it all depended on what gun you were carrying. Single stack or double stack was the main consideration. Magazine pouches designed for one don’t work for the other.
But, what if you could have a single magazine pouch that carried everything? That’s the idea behind the Confidant Multi-Fit Mag Carrier from Crossbreed. According to Crossbreed, the Confidant works with pretty much every popular magazine (and perhaps some less popular ones) out there, whether double or single stack, with zero adjustments for maximum retention. Just stick the magazine into the carrier, and it adjusts on its own to the magazine’s thickness.
When my sample arrived, I was both excited and skeptical. After all these years, why is a company finally designing such a thing? Surely other holster companies had tried this before, right? The industry is full of smart people. However, Crossbreed appears to be the first.
How does the Confidant work? It starts with two molded polymer panels that are wide enough to accommodate a variety of magazine styles. That part isn’t surprising. But here comes the interesting part. Rather than a traditional screw- or hex-key-adjustable retention system, the Confidant relies on tiny rubber bands that run up the sides in four notches. These bands stretch as the magazine is inserted, adjusting the panel spacing through simple tension. But does it work?
I grabbed a variety of magazines out of my safe and tried them all, from the skinny single-stack Shield to fat Glock double-stacks and a couple of Springfield and Walthers. Each one slid in easily as the Confidant automatically adjusted and help them all tightly. I even added it to my EDC rotation for a few days to get in some real-world testing. It worked perfectly.
My only concern about the Confidant is the longevity of the rubber bands. Will they last through everyday use? Only time will tell. They seem very solid. And for $29.95 MSRP, replacing it or keeping a few extras as backups won't be too expensive. One magazine carrier to rule them all? Time will tell.
