Ahhhh..the old debate; Leather vs. Kydex for a gun holster. It is much akin to 9mm vs. .45 or AR vs AK debates of old. You have loyal disciples on both sides who are quick to tell you how they feel. As with all subjects, we here at HCS like to give you the facts and let you decide, BUT in the end, of course we have to choose one. When it comes to IWB/AIWB holsters and mag carriers pertaining to the CCL, comfort is the dictating factor. If it is not comfortable, you will leave it at home..trust me on this. If your holster feels like a block of wood in your pants, you will most likely pass. The same criteria goes for mag carriers, even though they are typically worn on the belt horizontally or vertically, the ability to conceal is huge, and yes, some do it better than others. Another issue is how the holster connects to your belt: Options include: j-hooks, clips, loops & tek-lok just to name a few. The best option are slots through the holster or carrier itself, that way you have no weak point to snap or break at the wrong time and the holster will conform to your body better. It also limits what parts you will have to eventually replace over time, being that most snaps and j-hooks have some type of allen or phillips screw that attaches it. Fewer moving parts=less maintenance.
Leather Pro’s
- Comfort
- Contour to body (IWB)
- Less “Gun rub” on weapon
Leather Con’s
- Some models require a “break in” period, depending on the QUALITY of leather used
- Not Weatherproof unless treated properly
Kydex Pro’s
- Weather resistant
- Durable
- Re-Holstering somewhat easier
- Tension is Adjustable
Kydex Con’s
- Can be Bulky
- Uncomfortable edges
- “Gun Rub” is more pronounced on weapon
The bottom line here is (surprise, surprise!!) you will get what you pay for in a holster and mag carrier. Spend the money for something that is comfortable and functional. The best test to determine which type you want to go with is to wear the holster for an entire day, checking fit and concealability regularly. (Concealability will also depend on your cover garment and that is not really the scope of this article; we will have an extensive piece on that later this month.) Pay attention to how it feels; riding in a car and sitting down especially, as that is the position where people run into problems. Also with a leather holster, pay attention to the mouth of the holster and how it is built. You want a well formed “lip” around the mouth so re-holstering can be done by feel. On well built holsters, often there is extra material in this area for this reason. Lastly, with both types, you can have a sweat guard installed to keep your weapon from getting rusty. You will notice I never mentioned nylon…Simply put, nylon is trash..stay away from it for serious social use.
