The Importance of Quality When Choosing a Holster

If you carry a handgun for self-defense, you understand the importance of a quality firearm. Your weapon must be reliable, durable, reasonably accurate, and sufficiently powerful to stop the threat. You shouldn’t settle for a low-quality firearm holster.

Carrying a gun should be comfortable and not a distraction. If you find your holster uncomfortable to wear for a prolonged period, you will be less inclined to wear it consistently. That defeats the purpose of carrying a handgun for self-defense.

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Budget is a Consideration

You shouldn’t pick the least expensive option on the rack or shelf in the search for reasonably priced firearm accessories. Invest in quality, but that doesn’t mean opting for the highest price tag.

What Does Quality Mean?

A quality holster needs to provide secure retention, allow for a smooth draw stroke, and ensure your safety. It also needs to retain its shape and not fall apart under heavy use. If you practice your draw stroke repeatedly, presenting and reholstering, your holster should continue to function. It should be relatively easy to maintain/clean, and it should be comfortable.

Retention

Unless you want to carry your handgun loosely in your pocket, which is ill-advised, the priority should be retention — a holster holds the gun, keeping it secure and in one place. This also increases accessibility.

Some holsters incorporate retention devices, such as thumb breaks and locking mechanisms. Whether you think this is necessary depends on your preferred method of carry. A retention device can be useful if you wear an  OWB belt holster and carry openly — that’s why they’re popular among law enforcement.

Unfortunately, active-retention devices also introduce additional complexity to the holster and your access. Any button, lever, switch or snap closure requires training to master.

Other than the risk of user error, there’s also the risk of mechanical failure. If your holster employs a locking mechanism and that system malfunctions, it may fail to release your firearm when you need it most.

You’re also apt to see these devices on leather holsters. This is a kind of insurance against the holster fit becoming loose over time. However, in an  IWB holster design, the need for a separate retention device becomes less of a requirement.

IWB concealment holsters don’t need an extra mechanism. If you’re concealing it properly, no one should know it’s there. Kydex holsters usually retain the gun through custom molding. This is called passive retention and depends on friction to keep the gun in place.

Draw

You need to be able to draw your gun rapidly when faced with the threat of imminent death or serious bodily harm. Anything that slows you down or requires you to take action to free the gun has a direct impact on your draw stroke.

Several holster manufacturers offer adjustable retention so you can customize the way you retain and draw your gun.

Another factor that affects your ability to quickly and accurately draw and shoot is carry position. If you wear an ankle holster, you won’t be able to draw your weapon very fast. Waistband carry positions — e.g., appendix and strong side — remain the fastest and most practical.

Material, too, can affect the draw. Steel may drag against a leather holster but glide smoothly across Kydex.

Safety is Paramount

Safety is, first, a matter of training and discipline. Your priority should be to learn the  fundamental rules of firearms safety and condition yourself never to violate them. Once you’ve done that, you can focus on your equipment.

A high-quality holster should cover the trigger and trigger guard. When you place your hand on the gun and get ready to draw, your index finger should be unable to enter the trigger guard.

Protection

The holster should protect your firearm from you and the environment. It should also protect you against the gun.

A sweat guard or sweat shield is a necessary addition to a gun holster for this reason. It protects the gun from sweat which can cause rust or corrosion. It also protects you from the gun, which can heat up fast on a firing range or in the sun.

If you prefer pocket or purse carry, a pocket holster also protects your gun from lint, loose coins, and fabric. Any of these items can interfere with the reliable function of a firearm. A holster also ensures your weapon won’t snag on anything.

Durability

The holster shell should protect the gun from impact, abrasion, and other hazards. It should also retain its shape. Leather is stylish and elegant, but it tends to wear out over time, becoming looser. Leather can also absorb moisture.

Kydex is a relatively low-maintenance material. It doesn’t warp or swell when exposed to water, cleaning chemicals, or gun oil. It won’t deform due to wear and lose its retention. A Kydex shell remains open when you draw your gun so you can reholster it with only one hand.

Experiment With Different Holsters to Test Their Comfort

The more comfortable your holster, carry position, and carry method, the more likely you will wear your gun every day. You should spend some time experimenting with different holsters, pocket clips, and gun placement to see what works best for you.

In Conclusion

At Incognito Concealment, we take quality seriously. We manufacture all our holsters from durable Kydex, thermoforming them to your gun’s unique shape. Call us at  (586) 999-5820, and we’ll walk you through our Kydex holsters step-by-step.