High Speed Gear

The HSGI TACO Pouch: Why It Became the Industry Standard

The TACO pouch solves a problem that plagued tactical shooters for decades: magazine pouches were platform-specific, meaning an AR magazine pouch wouldn’t hold an AK magazine, and neither would hold a pistol magazine. The TACO uses a dual-elastic retention system that expands to accept any magazine and collapses to hold it securely through the full range of movement without a retention strap or cover. A single TACO holds AR, AK, pistol, and shotgun magazines interchangeably, making it the default choice for military units running mixed weapons, law enforcement officers carrying both pistol and rifle, and 3-Gun competitors who need one pouch type across all their magazine sizes. The TACO is available in MOLLE-mount, belt-mount (belt TACO), and pistol-specific (pistol TACO) configurations.

HSGI Duty Belts and Inner/Outer Belt Systems

HSGI produces a complete belt system built around their Laser TACO and Slim Grip padded duty belts. Their inner/outer belt system uses hook-and-loop attachment between an inner belt worn through trouser loops and an outer belt that carries all gear, keeping the duty belt stable without a separate keeper system. The Slim Grip outer belt features a laser-cut MOLLE field for direct attachment of TACO pouches, holsters, and other accessories. This belt system is used by law enforcement officers as a duty rig and by competition shooters as a stage belt for USPSA, 3-Gun, and similar sports where belt-mounted gear needs to stay in position during aggressive movement.

HSGI Chest Rigs and Plate Carrier Accessories

HSGI produces chest rigs and plate carrier front panels built around TACO pouches as the primary magazine storage, allowing the same universal fit advantage that makes the pouch popular to extend to a chest-worn configuration. Their Chest Rig HPC and similar products are used in military and law enforcement training environments and by competition shooters running stage gear that doesn’t require a full plate carrier. HSGI MOLLE accessories including admin pouches, dump pouches, and utility pouches round out a complete modular gear ecosystem that can be mixed and matched across belts, plate carriers, and chest rigs.

HSGI for Competition Shooters

High Speed Gear has a strong following in 3-Gun and USPSA competition because the TACO’s universal magazine retention solves real competition problems. A 3-Gun stage may require rifle, pistol, and shotgun reloads; running TACO pouches for rifle and pistol and a shotgun shell caddy for shells covers every magazine need with one pouch type. HSGI belt systems are popular as stage belts for their stability, MOLLE coverage, and compatibility with kydex holster systems from other manufacturers.

Frequently Asked Questions: High Speed Gear

What does TACO stand for?
TACO stands for Tactical Adjustable Catch-All. It refers to HSGI’s universal magazine pouch design that uses elastic retention to hold any magazine regardless of platform.

Will a TACO pouch hold any magazine?
Yes. The HSGI TACO is designed to hold any rifle or pistol magazine through elastic retention — AR, AK, pistol, and others — without adjustment or platform-specific configuration.

Where is High Speed Gear made?
High Speed Gear is manufactured in Hope Mills, North Carolina, USA.

Is HSGI good for competition?
Yes. HSGI TACO pouches and belt systems are widely used in 3-Gun and USPSA competition for their universal magazine compatibility, stable belt platforms, and modular MOLLE attachment.

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See Also: Blue Force Gear • Magazine Pouches • Holsters • 3-Gun Competition