Let's begin with the elephant in the room. Magpul is the undistputed owner of this subsection of the industry. Magpul mags work well. They're reasonably priced. But they have real competition now and in order to compete with the behemouth Mgpul has become, you have to do something truly unique.
Hexmag came on the scene a few years ago during the height of the magazine shortage. After Sandy Hook, there were very few AR-15 magazines on the shelves in stores. Some of the big-box retailers began importing some magazines of dubious quality. Makers like Tapco and Thermold which had, to to that point, made what most considered entry level magazines, quickly found willing buyers. And a host of new companies jumped on the band wagon.
1. The Hexmag Hex
One of those was Hexmag. Their product launch was simple. Their polymer magazine was easy to hold, thanks to the honeycomb shape hex pattern that gives the comany its name. It is both tactle and good branding. The name was easy to remember, and the mags worked well.
2. The Hexmag Hex Provides Strength
That hex pattern forms a matrix of sorts that allows for thinner walls. When I first felt an empty Hexmag, I was pleased to find that it was strong and light. Yet the plastic didn't feel brittle. And the mold lines on the magazine were sharp, and well placed, to provide a good grip and a solid housing for the ammunition.
3. The Hexmag Hex Holds Stickers
I'd originally hoped that the texture would be like old-school grip-tape on a skateboard, but it is more rubbery. These little jokers can be put all over the magazine and they come in sheets that are precut. You peel and stick. It is easy, and provides even more of a tacticle grip for pulling a mag out of a holster or out of the gun. And they come in matching or contrasting colors.
4. Speaking of Colors
The Hexmag mags come in the most common AR colors. Green, black, tan, and grey are all readily available. This is handy for those who like to accesorize their AR-15s like Barbie dolls. I am morally opposed to accesorising, though I will admit that I once color coordinated a holster for a gun. If that's your thing, you can get pretty colors.
5. The More Important Colors
The best part, in my book is the way that the mags have color coded followers and tabs in the floor-plates. This is a great way to know what's what. Heading out to the range with a bunch of steel-cased 5.56? keep it color coordinated. Have a couple of mags of nice hollow-point .223 you don't want to waste on that cardboard badguy? One glance at your mag will tell you, assuming you are organzed enough to stick to a system.
I've been running Hexmags for three years. I'm a fan. They work great, and are readily available. That may be why some of us picked them up in the beginning, but I wouldn't use them at all if I'd ever found one that failed me. And I haven't.
A six pack will run you less than $50. That's a steal.