FOG HORN Gear Review
ITW Military Products FASTmag® Gen III
By: Sal Palma
The FASTmag, developed and patented by
Down East Inc. of Bridgton, Main – land of corn
beef and cabbage by Jesus! - is now in its 3rd
generation. Since its inception, FASTmag has
garnered a number of accolades from the
media and professionals around the world.
It is sold and distributed by ITW1 through its
Military Products Division.
Down East describes FASTmag as a “Rapid
Change Magazine Pocket,” which in my view is
entirely too modest. I’ll elevate its name to
“Rapid Change Magazine System,” herein after
the system.
I call it a system, because in its Gen III
transformation, a progression made with input
1
ITW has been providing innovative products to the
US Military since 1853. Divisions such as Nexus,
Fastex, and Waterbury Buckle are known the world
over for their history of Quality and Innovation.
Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
04 May 2010
from ITW’s Military Products Team, provides
superb magazine retention, enormous
flexibility in mounting options that include
stacking, integration with other loads and
superb materials and construction.
The FASTmag uses a clamshell design. The two
halves function as hinged pressure plates that
capture an M4 / M16 30 round magazine with
adjustable tension. It performs this function so
well that magazines can be inverted without
anxiety of having them fall out.
Its designer’s did not intended to replace the
traditional magazine pouch; rather, their
objective was to provide a magazine system
that could be used for rapid magazine changes
in CQC/CQB; for that reason you’ll generally see
two FASTmag(s) integrated with traditional,
nylon magazine pouches on a vest or duty belt.
I am going to stray from the actual review to
talk about ammunition management and
magazine changes because it will help us gain a
better understanding of how valuable the
FASTmag is.
The problem of ammunition management
dates back to the Korean War but was
accentuated during the Vietnam conflict when
the M16 became the standard issue weapon
system.
Initially, the M16 was fed from a 20 round
magazine, which rapidly grew to 30 rounds.
Moving to a 30 round magazine really did
nothing more than aggravate the situation, and
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 FOG HORN
was probably responsible for magazine related
weapon failures.
Operators, engaged in CQC/CQB need to
approach a tactical situation methodically.
Dumping a magazine on a target is
counterproductive and it endangers you and
your team mates. No matter how fast your
magazine changes are, when you’re out you’re
out so pace your fire and manage your ammo;
having said that, there are two magazine
changes that require a smooth and efficient
process.
The first is an emergency magazine change,
which is a response to a weapon failure. Here
you need to drop your magazine and clear your
breech as quickly as possible; then reload.
The second is a tactical magazine change. Here,
you are engaged but take advantage of a lull in
the exchange to load a fresh magazine before
your other goes empty.
The risks associated with both of these
scenarios are mitigated by the FASTmag.
Because the FASTmag is a strapless and flapless
system, magazine changes are quick and easily
controlled. A simple twist and pull will release
the new magazine to get you back in the game.
Having a FASTmag system does not relieve you
from proper planning and execution; nor does
it relieve you from good ammo management
practices. Instead, it provides you with a robust,
well-engineered, rapid deployment system; in a
setting where fumbling around with a nylon
Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
Gear Review 04 May 2010
pouch and dropping your magazine could mean
a casualty2.
Earlier in the review, I mentioned that
magazine tension is adjustable. This is
accomplished by using a tensioning band
around both sides of the clam shell.
The tensioning band can be removed
altogether or, as shown in the previous picture,
its position can be changed to alter the tension
on the captive magazine.
By moving the tensioning band towards the
bottom of the FASTmag, the operator can
reduce tension; moving the tensioning band up,
as shown on the FASTmag to the right,
increases tension on the captive magazine.
In either the lower or upper positions, the
tensioning band provides sufficient resistance
to securely hold the magazine in the inverted
position. However, the difference in tension is
noticeable, and I would recommend that if you
choose to carry the magazine inverted, use the
highest tension available.
2
There is excellent video available on You Tube as
well as on sites like militarymorons.com and
milspecmonkey.com that show the FASTmag in use.
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 FOG HORN Gear Review 04 May 2010

Simply attach the second unit, using the straps

Next, I tested functionality with the Magpul provided, passing them through the slots in the
Industries’ P-Mag; once again the system housing of the first unit, and now you have a
worked flawlessly. two magazine system.
Although the FASTmag is designed for the 30 The picture below exposes the mounting slots.
round M16 magazine, I wanted to experiment
with the Mil-Spec 20 round magazines. I was
pleasantly surprised to see that there were no
issues. Nonetheless, due to the difference in
magazine lengths, I would suggest the use of
Ranger plates on the 20 round magazines; they
make extracting and handling the magazines
stress-free.
The Generation III FASTmag is also stackable.
You can easily stack two FASTmag systems
using one MOLLE compatible unit, i.e. with
tabs, and one belt version – without the tabs.
The slots provided for stacking, can also be
used to attach other MOLLE compatible
accessory pouches by using, Tactical Tailor’s,
MALICE clips- as shown in my next slide.

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved. Page 3
 FOG HORN Gear Review 04 May 2010

The wind meter is extremely light and does not

interfere with magazine extraction.
It’s this level of integration possibilities that
brands the FASTmag as exceptionally
functional.
My second FASTmag served as a mounting
platform for a baton pouch that I use for Light
Sticks.

The configuration that I finally decided on is a

single stack FASTmag with my Kestrel wind
meter mounted to the surface of the system, as
show below.

As you can see the possibilities are virtually

endless.
ITW’s polymers are infrared reduced making for
lower IR signatures.
The FASTmag also uses a special polymer that is
formulated to be anti-fragmentation. In other
words, the polymer does not become a
secondary fragmentation source; instead it

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved. Page 4
 FOG HORN Gear Review 04 May 2010

absorbs the primary detonation and The attachment mechanism went from three
corresponding shrapnel impacts. straps, in the large Gen I model, to two straps
in the Gen II release.
My review would not be complete without a
high level discussion of the generational Gen II product became available in 2008.
improvements, and I want to thank
Militarymorons.com for allowing me to use
some outstanding photos.
Probably the most significant change in the
transition from Gen I to Gen II is the reduction
of the footprint or size.

The picture above illustrates the Gen II product.

The form with the tabs is for MOLLE
attachment, and the model without the tabs is
the belt mount iteration. They are not a
stackable system.
The Gen III FASTmag –the subject of this
review- made its appearance mid-2009.
The newest version of the FASTmag did away
with the nylon MOLLE straps of the Gen II
Apparent, from the picture, is the transition to
design; replacing them with polymer straps.
a polymer tensioning band and cosmetic
changes to the housing and the shock cord Gen III also saw the introduction of the
loop. stackable system.
The tabs, designed to fit under MOLLE loops,
have a slight cant in the Gen II model that keep
the FASTmag from tucking into the body. This
alignment keeps the magazine away from the
body; making it easier to manipulate.
Gen II also introduced the belt mounted version
of the product.

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved. Page 5
 FOG HORN Gear Review 04 May 2010

Conclusion
The more I use the FASTmag, the more I appreciate its utility; I can’t think of a single negative.
I prefer using the FASTmag in a single stack configuration because I like gear as close to my body as
possible. It makes movement and going prone much easier- things don’t get in the way. It’s also
nice to be able to attach a small accessory pouch to the surface for things like a folding knife or
handheld tactical light, to name just a couple.
The FASTmag is a valuable accessory that will prove its worth under the most difficult conditions.
Simply stated, it could save your life.

-SP

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved. Page 6