[VolGrad]

Here's a list of all the holsters I've tried over the years. There are probably more but these are the ones I can remember. The list is pretty extensive and many of you reading this post will likely ask, "Why so many?"

Many of these were purchased because I wanted to see what the buzz surrounding a particular maker was all about. Once I satisfied my curiosity the holster was sold/traded off for something else I wanted to try. Some were purchased for the sole purpose of doing a head-to-head comparison of one holster maker vs. another.

Simply put, I like to try new products to find what works best for me. What's best for one purpose might not be the best for another. Therefore, having multiple carry options even for the same gun is a good thing.

Maker; specific model(s) I've tried
5Shot Leather; Snap Attachment Pancake (SAP) OWB
aHolster; snap loop OWB, tuckable IWB, Pwii IWB, pocket
Alabama Holster Company; Hooker IWB, Slider OWB, Raven clone OWB, dbl mag pouch
Andrews; McDaniel II IWB, Palmer Practical OWB, dbl mag pouch
Atomic Dog; OWB, OWB light carrier
Blade-Tech; Evolution OWB, dbl mag pouch
Brigade; M-11 Ultimate CCH IWB
Bulman; mag pouch
Cane & Derby; Pardus AIWB
Comp-Tac; if they make it (or used to make it) I've tried it
Custom Carry Concepts; Shaggy AIWB
Dale Fricke; Joab horizontal mag pouch
Dark Star Gear; OWB, OWB light carrier, AIWB (notable; I prefer the new OWB soft loops)
DeSantis; OWB, pocket
FIN Designs; Speed Scabbard Paddle OWB
Fobus; Evolution paddle OWB, ankle, dbl mag pouch
Galco; OWBs of various makes/models
GLOCK; OWB, mag pouch
JM Custom Kydex; AIWB
Kaluban Cloak; OWB, mag pouch
Kytex Shooting Gear; mag pouch, flashlight pouch
Mika's Pocket Holsters; pocket
Milt Sparks; SSII IWB, EC IWB, Heritage IWB, VMII IWB, 55BN OWB, TK OWB, Axiom OWB, mag pouch
Mitch Rosen; Premier OWB, Express OWB
Personal Security Systems; OWB, OWB light carrier, IWB, mag pouch (notable; I like to use a regular kydex OWB loop on the front & a pancake wing on the rear)
Peters Custom Holsters; Spada OWB light carrier
Pocket Concealment Systems; Blackbird pocket
Raven Concealment Systems; OWB, OWB light carrier, VanGuard2, IWB, ACR, dbl mag pouch, flashlight pouch
Renegade; Cozy Partner ankle
RGrizzle; Southern Sidekick IWB, Georgia Snap OWB
Safariland; ALS OWB, ALS OWB light carrier
Secret City Weaponeers; K-25 IWB, Y-12 IWB light carrier
Southern Holsters; Memphis IWB
The Shotist; AIWB
Trojan Tactical; Bandito
TT Gunleather; Elite DDOE Snap OWB, Elite DDOS Snap OWB, AIWB, Mike's Special IWB, pocket (both Tim's design and my own design made by Tim), dbl mag pouch
VersaCarry; IWB clip

I'm frequently asked which of these holsters I recommend. Many of those listed above are fantastic but the ones below are my first choices in each category. I listed them in alphabetic order so as to minimize favoritism.

Disclaimer; I've collaborated with several makers on holster & magazine pouch designs. My part in the collaboration ranged from Beta testing & providing feedback to actually sketching out design features which were put into the final version. The makers I've worked with include; Dark Star Gear, Personal Security Systems, and TT Gunleather. Although I have received free & discounted gear from each I receive no royalties or kickbacks.

Recommendations;

Kydex
IWB; Comp-Tac CTAC, Personal Security Systems
AIWB; Dark Star Gear, JM Custom Kydex
OWB; Comp-Tac, Dark Star Gear, FIN Designs, Personal Security Systems, Raven Concealment Systems, Safariland ALS (if retention is required)
Light Carriers; Dark Star Gear, Personal Security Systems, Raven Concealment Systems, Safariland ALS (if retention is required)

Leather
IWB; Milt Sparks VMII, TT Gunleather Mike's Special with reinforced top
OWB; Milt Sparks Axiom, TT Gunleather Elite DDOS Snap

Pocket
I designed my own pocket holster for the Ruger LCP. I spec'd it out and made sketches. I scanned them and sent them to Tim Thurner of TT Gunleather to produce. It's not listed on his website but you can ask for it and he will make it.
Runner-up pocket recommendation would be Pocket Concealment Systems.

Mag pouches
Comp-Tac, Kytex Shooting Gear

Belts
If my shirt is tucked (work or casual); TT Gunleather
If my shirt is tucked (range, training, or competition); Volund Gearworks Atlas G-Hook, Wilderness Tactical
If my shirt isn't tucked (regardless of activity); Volund Gearworks Atlas G-Hook, Wilderness Tactical

It's probably best I give you some idea of my size & body type. I'm 5'6" and currently weigh 165 lbs. At 145 lbs I was in good shape. At 165 lbs I'm wearing a spare tire better suited for a Honda. I wear 32-34" waist pants depending on the clothing maker/style. I'm hoping to update this section soon as I have lost approximately 5 lbs in the past month and am still working hard to keep that trend going. I would call my "style" casual. In warm months I generally wear some type of cargo shorts with a t-shirt, polo, or short-sleeved button down shirt or camp style shirt, all un-tucked. In cooler months I wear jeans, casual khakis, or cargo pants with the same type shirts.

Here are a couple of pics of me. The first was staged to show how well the Dark Star Gear AIWB conceals. The second is me and my wife at the Hop Harvest Festival at Terrapin Brewery last October.

Here are some pics of my current holster line-up.

Raven Concealment Systems (left) & Dark Star Gear (right) light carriers
Kytex Shooting Gear mag pouches

Dark Star Gear (left) & Personal Security Systems (right) OWB holsters

Personal Security Systems OWB holster & mag pouch

FIN Design OWB paddle holster
Kytex Shooting Gear mag pouch

Comp-Tac OWB paddle holster & dbl mag pouch (my primary IDPA setup, have same for other platforms as well)

Personal Security Systems with old style overclips (left) & Comp-Tac CTAC (right) IWB holsters

JM Custom Kydex (left) & Cane & Derby Pardus (discontinued) (right) AIWB

Dark Star Gear AIWB, this is protoype #2 of 3 but very similar to final version

TT Gunleather pocket holster

 

[VolGrad]

Now ..... your turn.

Post what all you've tried ... followed by what you actually recommend.

 

[Don Glock]

if you're looking for OTW carry, you can't beat the glock brand holster/mag pouch. you can spend 4 times as much, with no increase in performance.

 

[VolGrad]

if you're looking for OTW carry, you can't beat the glock brand holster/mag pouch. you can spend 4 times as much, with no increase in performance.

See ... I forgot that one. I tried the GLOCK brand stuff.

 

[Don Glock]

See ... I forgot that one. I tried the GLOCK brand stuff.

yeah they work great. same poymer as the frame. keeps the gun close to your side.

 

[Glocky]

I love my MTAC... Ive got an OWB comptac for the G34 coming as well.

 

[VolGrad]

I love my MTAC... Ive got an OWB comptac for the G34 coming as well.

MTAC is another excellent holster from Comp-Tac. I just prefer the all kydex CTAC. The leather backing on the MTAC makes me sweat even worse than normal and sometimes the backing bends in when the pistol is removed making a bit more difficult to re-holster. The solution to both issues might be to lose weight. That's too hard. I'll just change holsters. lol.

 

[Glocky]

MTAC is another excellent holster from Comp-Tac. I just prefer the all kydex CTAC. The leather backing on the MTAC makes me sweat even worse than normal and sometimes the backing bends in when the pistol is removed making a bit more difficult to re-holster. The solution to both issues might be to lose weight. That's too hard. I'll just change holsters. lol.

LOL... I used to weight 240... Im down to 180 and all it took was one year of not eating desert. I didnt change anything else.

 

[NWGlocker]

bookmarked this thread. my serpa's starting to feel jealous

 

[jlw]

Safariland SSIII/070 and ALS holsters
Comp-tac
Galco Matrix series

The above are my preferences.

 

[dirtys0uthfl1]

I have a Blackhawk Serpa for my G20, it seems like it'll do the job just for weekends of shooting. For my 19 I have a Galco belt OWB, not sure which model, but I love it, I also have a Blade-tech Phantom, it does it's job and for 20.00 who can complain, then there's the Fobus Roto paddle, never use it, too bulky for me, then there's a Blackhawk thigh rig that I use for shooting out in the boonies. For my 26 I always use a Galco Walkabout IWB holster, I love the fact it has a spare mag pouch on the front, and it's leather.

 

[coop]

I don't have one yet, but I thought a few of the people here like the SuperTuck

 

[dirtys0uthfl1]

If I decide to purchase another holster, I believe it will be the Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe.

 

[Joeywho?]

I've used a few cheap Galcos, a couple Supertucks, and some real cheap Uncle Mike's nylon holsters.

The only ones I have now are Raven. I don't bother with anything else...they work for me, and have excellent customer service.

I would not recommend the supertuck. WAY too expensive for what you get...I prefer the clone I got from a local guy...at least then half the price.

 

[TheLaw]

Milt Sparks IWB Leather
Comp-Tac IWB Kydex
Comp-Tac OWB Kydex

Runners Up - RGrizzle Leather (leather)

I hope to be able to add to that list soon.

 

[Bulldawg]

After spending a ridiculous amount of time & money trying out holsters, I've ended the process with the following three:

IWB - Milt Sparks "Summer Special 2"
OWB - Mitch Rosen "Premier"
Ankle - Renegade "Cozy Partner"

 

[VolGrad]

that reminds me ... I forgot the Renegade ankle.

 

[TheLaw]

Thanks Bulldawg. I can't believe I forgot Mitch Rosen.

Add OWB Leather - Mitch Rosen Premier to my list.

 

[VolGrad]

Thanks Bulldawg. I can't believe I forgot Mitch Rosen.

Add OWB Leather - Mitch Rosen Premier to my list.

... which you bought from me.

 

[TheLaw]

... which you bought from me.

That should go without saying. At least half my gear came from you. LOL