What I Look for in a Holster

     Here is a diagram of the Tuckable IWB Holster from Dara Holsters. To me, this holster has everything you could ever need or think of for an inside the waistband holster. If you are new to concealed carry, or simply want to start shopping around for a new holster consider what's important to you before you buy. There are so many different materials and styles, but not every holster has everything you're looking for.

     For those that have called in to the shop, there's a 95% chance that I have answered your phone call. My name's Dana, I'm in charge of sales and administration and I spend a nice chunk of the day talking with customers, answering questions and listening to stories. These are the times when I learn a lot about other products and my confidence in Dara Holsters grows.
     The other day a customer had called in complaining of his former holster that- wait for it- broke in half because of constant bending of the belt attachment when putting on his holster. How does that even happen? I once ran my holster over with an F150, and that bad boy is still kickin'. I can't believe some of the stories I hear.

Retention

   Anyways, back to what I look for in a holster. The first thing that I look for is the retention. After all, that's what a holster is for right? To hold onto your firearm? So why do some holsters only rely on the retention of the holster being inside of your pants? I have watched a few holster reviews on youtube where the reviewer raves about the comfort and craftsmanship, then he turns his unloaded, holstered firearm upside down and BAM! it hits the ground. I can no longer take the product seriously. The best holster will have adjustable retention, period. You should be able to torque it so that when you turn your holstered weapon upside down, your guns stays exactly where it's supposed to be.  

     The material of the holster also plays a big factor in the retention. The holster that I spoke of earlier that snapped in half, was made from .060" Kydex. There is no reason a holster should ever be made from material this thin. I'm guessing the material cost less than the more popular thickness of .080" or .093" or maybe the company thought they could use the "less bulky than our competition" schtick. Either way, pay close attention to the thickness of the material used. At Dara Holsters, we use .093" Boltaron/Kydex, which is more expensive by far, but definitely worth it in the end. The only "downside" if you could even call it that, is the lack of cool colors. But how flashy do you want your holster to be anyways, especially when it's supposed to be concealed? My ideal holster is a no nonsense black holster that'll do the job right. Save your cut outs that add to the wait time, and give me something that'll last a lifetime.
      Another important thing I look for in a holster that also has to do with retention, is the variety of different firearm makes/models it accommodates. If the thing fits 10 different firearms, it's not molded properly and shouldn't be trusted. This mainly goes for Kydex, as nylon and leather are obviously more pliable of a material. But any Kydex holster that will fit more than one or two models (depending on the make and excluding Glocks) is probably not going to be reliable if sh*t hits the fan.

Details

     Some other great things to look for is the attention to detail and user-friendliness of the holster. I love the fact that some holsters have the combat cut around the trigger guard. Not only does this help you get a good purchase on the grip, but it allows for a comfortable grip and secure draw, which is important should you ever need to draw. Something else to look for is the sweat guard. You don't want a long skinny sweat guard that only covers the slide. I have heard horror stories from customers who have seen triggers snag on long skinny sweat guards and cause an accidental discharge. You want to be as safe as possible, so avoid anything that sticks out.

     Belt attachments are of huge importance for not only stability, but structure of the holster. Many prefer a holster that has two points of attachment to the belt, because they believe that this is the only way that the holster will stay stable enough. But what they don't realize, is that your belt is 50% of the equation. You cannot expect to keep a 2 lb firearm upright on a single layer of nylon tied to your waist. Buy a proper belt and you won't have to buy a hideous holster that measures a foot in diameter.
    Another issue that constantly comes up in the forums is printing. If you are going to carry a firearm daily, you have to anticipate the effect it will have on your silhouette. Unless you're pocket carrying, there is no magical holster that makes your gun disappear. I personally do not mind if I'm printing a little bit, but to avoid it I don't wear extremely tight clothing. You can wear a longer shirt, a jacket, or buy a tuckable holster to make it a bit easier. 

     Custom options are very important in making a holster decision. This is something that you will be carrying daily and your life could possibly depend on it at some point, so you want to make sure it's something that you feel comfortable with. Find out which position you like to carry at. Then determine the ride height and cant angle that best suits this position. For example, I like to appendix carry my Taurus TCP. My holster rides high with a 15 degree reverse cant. The reverse cant angles the barrel down along my groin, with the grip sticking up to my right hip bone. The high ride height allows me to get a good purchase on the grip. When it comes to AIWB, the greater the cant angle the higher the ride should be. For small of back palm in carry, I recommend a high ride with a 15 or 20 degree forward cant.

Company Quality

     When choosing what company to purchase from, pay close attention to reviews and lead times. Do not be afraid to call and ask questions about products. Too short of a lead time means the company is new, has no business for whatever reason, or they are rushing to get products out and may mess up your order. If a lead time is extremely long, the company either has a lot of business, or they aren't very good at time management and will probably mess up your order too. The sweet spot is sitting at 3-5 weeks. If you don't believe me, go see NutnFancy on youtube.

      With so many kydex holster companies out there, it can be really tough to try and find what's best for you. You have to spend a lot of time digging to get to the gold. Ask around in the forums, go to your local gun shops and browse, but most importantly go with your gut and don't be cheap. Expect to spend atleast $45 on a quality holster, even up to $100 depending on your aftermarket add ons. If you spend time researching, you can avoid that drawer full of holsters that everyone talks about.



Author: Dana Vogel