REVIEW: Helikon-Tex VIS Holster and Magazine Inserts

Our mothers have always reminded us to keep things in order. This is not bad advice, especially when it comes to quickly finding things under stress. Magazines are very popular for this. To ensure this order in the backpack or bag, Helikon-Tex has introduced very specific inserts to the market, which we want to introduce to you today.

There they are on the ground, not in the bag as they should be. From left to right: Pistol Holder Insert, Double Rifle Magazine Insert, Double Pistol Magazine Insert, and in grey, the Triple Elastic Insert. All are mostly made of elastic rubber bands and webbing. The sewing quality is very good, as expected from Helikon-Tex.

The back of the inserts is covered with hook and loop so that you can attach the inserts to all fuzzy surfaces inside and outside of bags.

Let's start with the details of the Double Pistol Magazine Insert. Webbing, rubber, and Velcro, those are the basic ingredients. The insert does what it should, it accommodates all common magazines on a base of 7.5 x 11 cm.

The slightly stiffened webbing on the front keeps the opening where the magazine should go nicely open. The magazines can therefore be easily loaded with one hand. Very well thought out and practical.

Same principle applies to the Double Rifle Magazine Insert. It is designed more for straight 5.56 NATO magazines, but an AK47 magazine also fits. With this insert, you need both hands to insert the magazines.

A very practical application for the two inserts are multipurpose bags. They become full-fledged magazine pockets, where everything has its place. The Pistol Magazine Insert is much better suited here, as mentioned before, for replenishing the magazines. In the Rifle Magazine Insert you will find a PMAG for AUG and a USGI M4 metal magazine, all in a Helikon-Tex E&E Pouch.

Now the Pistol Holder Insert. It offers the possibility to accommodate most pistols and a spare magazine. Thanks to the stiffening, the compartment for the pistol remains nicely open. The compartment is also slightly slanted to the base, which facilitates the drawing process.

The Pistol Holder Insert also serves as a concealed holster to some extent, but the trigger guard can sometimes get caught during reholstering. The weapon still holds well, but not optimally. Unfortunately, the Pistol Holder is not available in a mirrored variant, which would make it interesting for both right- and left-handed shooters for concealed carry. We mean especially in messenger bags with a concealed pocket on the body side.

Thanks to the rubber, a large SigPi can also be accommodated very well in the insert. The pistol should not be much larger than that. Before asking, Gunskins is the answer.

Lastly, a quick look at the Triple Elastic Insert. Three large rubber loops side by side, simple and yet ingenious. The insert offers you a very flexible way to store magazines, knives, flashlights, and similar items organized in your backpack. Next to it, you see the small Organizer Insert – Here in the SPARTANAT Review.

CONCLUSION: The magazine inserts are extremely practical to ensure order in the gun bag or backpack. The holster insert should definitely be produced in a mirrored variant to fully exploit its potential.

Available directly from Helikon-Tex. The Double Rifle Magazine Insert for €6.90, the Double Pistol Magazine Insert for €4.50, the Elastic Insert for €4.40, and the Pistol Holder Insert for €9.30 excluding shipping in Coyote and at all dealers carrying Helikon-Tex products such as Camostore or TacOpsGear.

HELICON-TEX on the Internet www.helikon-tex.com