The holster you choose to house your firearm is an important (and hopefully informed) decision with many different factors. It’s just as an important part of your rig as your firearm, belt or ammo are. Instead of listing some holsters that I hate and some that I love, I’ll provide you with 5 important things to look for when choosing the perfect holster.
When I pick a holster to use personally, I have a very strict set of guidelines that I follow. Here they are, in no particular order.
1. Retention
Retention is the ability of your holster to keep the firearm where it should be. If you jump up and down, is your firearm going to fall to the ground? Let’s hope not. If it could, you’re going to want better retention. Too little could allow for this to happen, while too much retention could make it difficult to draw. A holster that allows for adjustable retention is helpful, but just make sure — at the very least — that the holster you choose as adequate retention for what you’re doing. Or could do.
2. Ride Height and Cant Adjustment
Generally for IWB holsters, the ride height can be an important part of getting things just right. While most factory settings will work for the majority, I’ve found myself adjusting the ride height of a few holsters to better fit my needs. This goes for the cant as well. While ride height adjusts up and down, the cant adjusts the angle at which your firearm will sit inside the holster.
3. Molded
You don’t want this to happen (scroll down on linked page), do you? A holster that is molded specifically for your firearm is such an important piece of the puzzle. If you’re using a ‘one size fits all’ type of holster, you’re doing it wrong. Moreover, those companies should stop making those types of holsters altogether.
4. Comfort
If it’s not comfortable, you’re less likely to carry on a regular basis. It’s one of the top items that comes up when finding out the reasons a person decides not to carry often. “Well, my holster isn’t that comfortable.” If that’s the case, it’s time to do some shopping. Contrary to what people may tell you, there are such things as comfortable holsters out there. They exist, I promise!
What’s comfortable for person A might be horrible for person B, and it’s a part of the process of finding that perfect holster to call your own. If you continue to end up with uncomfortable holsters, don’t give up the search. Keep pressing on, and you’ll find it. You can start here.
5. Quality
Just as with any other product you buy, you’ll want it to last. That’s where quality and craftsmanship come into play. Just as you spent good money on a solid and reliable firearm for concealed carry, don’t be afraid to invest in a solid and reliable holster to match.
What do you look for when choosing a holster for your firearm? Share your criteria in the comments below.
