Kydex/Fobus/Plasticky Holsters?

[Lycanthrope]

And I got a Bladetech and UM you can check out. Along with a Kimber that has never seen leather......

[Emptymag]

Guys,
Thanks for the offers to check out your gear!

I'll have to sit and sort thru this post again and if I decide if I'd like to see something in person, I'll let you know! I may stop by Anthony Arms and Gander Mtn. this week to see what they have in stock before ordering anything.

I was checking out the Fobus site, particularly the Roto holster https://secure.fobusholster.com/cata...3f2f7549ab74cf and the Evolution https://secure.fobusholster.com/cata...3f2f7549ab74cf

It's a starting point. Nothing decided just yet.

[Lycanthrope]

OK here's a thought. You said you may try USPSA and that would be fine, but in IDPA a holster adjustable for cant isn't legal (who knows, you may branch out). For USPSA a vertical holster is fine, as is the FBI cant (slight rearward cant).

So...I recommend the Evo 2.

[countryboy172]

Seeing as everyone is talking about a holster, I am trying to find a good holster besides a leather one for my belt for a smith and wesson m&p compact so far the only one i have found was the holster that smith and wesson sells. i really like the paddle holsters but so far no one seems to have it any ideas?

[Suburban]

IWB carry in general
With a good holster [for you] IWB carry is quite comfortable with a size larger pants, or maybe with the button undone, and just the belt holding your pants on. With any significant pistol, a belt is pretty much necessary for comfort, and to keep both sides of your waistline at the same height. Without a belt, a pistol with any heft to it will sag the waistband.

Uncle Mike's Nylon clip-on IWB
Little to no retention. I stopped carrying with it before any of my pistols hit the floor/ground, but it would have happened eventually. I also caught the clip bent out beyond where it would catch the belt. If the gun doesn't come out of the holster, the holster+pistol will squirt out of your pants. There are variations on these holsters, some from other companies.
I would steer clear of this type of holster. Some people carry with clip-on holsters all the time, but I'm using belt loops from now on.

Fobus roto-paddle
It held onto my Glock real tight, to the point that I could rip the holster out with the gun, despite a tight belt. I found the holster to be uncomfortable, and nearly impossible to conceal with because it sticks out quite far. I haven't used it in years. I can see how it the rivets might fail to hold it together.

Sidearmor IWB
I think mine is a Generation II. It's a very fast holster, but quite uncomfortable. It seems to pinch me if I don't have a shirt tucked in behind it. The shirt tucker adapter adds two thicknesses of kydex between the pistol and belt. I tried sticking felt to the holster, but it's still uncomfortable. Someday I will get around to selling it.

Fist leather IWB #19A
More comfortable than the Sidearmor, but it's thicker, so it's still not very comfortable. Really holds onto the gun tight, but would likely loosen up if I really worked at it. It really rides too high to conceal even the small Kahr I bought it for. It wasn't cheap.

Gould and Goodrich leather belt holster
It looks very nice, but it resembles a duty holster, and doesn't conceal well. Like the Fobus, I'm constantly hitting it with my forearm, and smacking it into things. Might make a decent range/IPSC holster, but an open-front Kydex holster would be faster.

Glock "Sport/Combat" holster
Basically it's like a pancake holster made of a plastic that feels a bit like vinyl. Conceals well, but the material is rubbery and holds onto the gun a bit too much to be fast. I like the holster, but have not used it since I bought the next one on the list. I still use the matching Glock-made mag pouches all the time.

Crossbreed Super-Tuck IWB
Man, I love this thing! Comfort is similar to the Glock-made "Sport/Combat" holster, and it's a bit faster. I only carry it during the winter, and spring/fall when I can wear a jacket or sweatshirt over top. I've had one of the belt loops break, but didn't notice until I went to take it off. The holster is pretty ugly, expecially if you trim the leather away from the grip. I can reholster with one hand, but like I said, sweating on it isn't really an issue with me. If I had bought the regular Crossbreed IWB, I would probably have not broken the belt loop, and I've never tucked it in anyway.
I'll carry a G26 in it in summer occasionally with an untucked button-down shirt, but do not otherwise use it during hot weather.

Uncle Mike's Nylon pocket holster
I carry my Kahr PM9 in this most of the summer, and occasionally for family outings. It was pretty floppy, so I epoxied a plastic card to the bottom. Like the Crossbreed, it ain't pretty, but it works. It's the only thing I feel really comfortable carrying during the summer... all the time.

YMMV. I carry whenever I'm not at work. The needs of someone who carries only occasionally may vary.

[Emptymag]

This is almost as bad as deciding what HANDGUN to buy! (And I'm not even LOOKING at leather)
Maybe I should just hang it from a lanyard and wear it around my neck like jewelry. Another form of "Black Gold" if you will.


Suburban,
Nice review.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

Maybe I should just hang it from a lanyard and wear it around my neck like jewelry. Another form of "Black Gold" if you will.

Comp-tac makes exactly that kind of holster (the "Centerline") -- seems to be a good option for a Keltec size gun.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by Suburban

Uncle Mike's Nylon clip-on IWB
Little to no retention. I stopped carrying with it before any of my pistols hit the floor/ground, but it would have happened eventually. I also caught the clip bent out beyond where it would catch the belt. If the gun doesn't come out of the holster, the holster+pistol will squirt out of your pants. There are variations on these holsters, some from other companies.
I would steer clear of this type of holster. Some people carry with clip-on holsters all the time, but I'm using belt loops from now on.

i gotta jump in to defend the good ol' uncle mike's nylon IWB holsters.

it's my favorite CCW holster. (and i have a drawer full of them). it is far and away the most comfortable and concealable holster i've used. (my second choice is a comp-tac IWB kydex.)

as suburban said, the holster itself does not provide any retention. however, the retention comes from your belt. i can do handstands and the gun does not fall out. (no matter what holster you use, you need to keep your belt fairly tight.)

i've also never had any problems with the clip not staying clipped to the belt.

for me, the only downside to this holster is that it takes two hands to reholster.

on the plus side, as i said above, it is very concealable. it is the only IWB holster i have tried where i can actually bend over at the waist and not have the bottom of the grip of the gun print.

it is also very comfortable. i can stand up, sit down, etc. all day long without even noticing the gun is there. it adds very little size to the gun. other holsters, that have two clips (or loops)--one in front of the gun and one in back--take up considerably more space from front to back and are, thus, for me much less comfortable. also the nylon is, well, soft.

another plus is that they cost about $15. (that's not why i use it though...i have a drawer full of $75+ holsters i don't use.)

what holster is best for you is a personal choice, of course.

[Lycanthrope]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

This is almost as bad as deciding what HANDGUN to buy! (And I'm not even LOOKING at leather)
Maybe I should just hang it from a lanyard and wear it around my neck like jewelry. Another form of "Black Gold" if you will.


Suburban,
Nice review.

Then you'd need to go hard chrome. Tennifer lacks "bling".

[Emptymag]

My IWB holsters for my Colt Pony and Kel-Tec P32 are GunMate nylon holsters. I have a nice IWB Mitch Rosen leather holster for the Pony that I do not use. To me, it defeats the purpose of having a small gun by adding to the width with all that leather. (at least for IWB carry)

The GunMate closely resembles the Uncle Mike's but has a thin metal clip instead of the plastic clip. For me, it's PERFECT. It's comfortable, soft, thin and with that metal clip, it's NOT coming off my pants without some effort.
I'm going to pick up another 2 or 3 in case they stop making them. At about $8 bucks each, I can afford to do so. The one I use now has been in use for about 5 years and still not showing signs of wear. I never expected such an inexpensive holster to last this long.
Re-holstering isn't an issue to me. It's more important to be able to DRAW the weapon than re-holster it. Sure, at the range or in training, you would want to be able to re-holster, but for carry, I'm not concerned with it.

I don't know how well a larger handgun would work in one of these nylon holsters.

The main reason I started this thread was because I could never carry my Glock IWB. No way. That's why I'm looking into a paddle holster to carry on my side. A friend had a Safariland paddle for his 1911 and when I tried it, I found it to be fairly comfortable. Can't afford leather, so I'm looking at Kydex and I've gotten some decent input here.