Recently, Brandon and I had the opportunity to try out Alien Gear’s new Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 Inside the Waistband concealed carry holster. Brandon has, I think, every single holster ever made for the Glock 26/27. I don’t own a Glock so I’m already limited on holster selection. I was incredibly happy to find out Alien Gear supports all my firearm choices – Walther PPS, M&P Shield .40 S&W, Sig Sauer P229, and most importantly – my CZ-75D PCR.
Full disclosure: I’ve had an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 1.0 with a leather backpad for going on almost a year. Picture enclosed for reference. And up until a month ago, it had been my primary everyday carry inside the waistband holster for my Walther PPS. I am also the Contributing Editor for Alien Gear Holsters Blog.
As you can see with the Cloak Tuck 1.0 – it definitely contours well to the body but things like perspiration tend to warp the leather a bit.
With the Cloak Tuck 3.0, it features a neoprene backing that wicks sweat away. Additionally, between the outward facing layer and the neoprene is a spring-steel band that keeps the holster’s form much better than previous Cloak Tucks.
While I was trying it out, I used it to carry my CZ-75D PCR. The CZ-75D is compact but not at all as conceal-friendly as my M&P Shield .40 S&W or Walther PPS. Still, I really enjoy that pistol and I love getting to carry it. So I put the Cloak Tuck 3.0 to the test.
Cloak Tuck 3.0 Offers Great IWB Concealability
The CZ-75D PCR is not an easy pistol to hide along the waistband. I’ve enclosed pictures for reference with both my t-shirt tucked over and a button-up to demonstrate that even under ideal circumstances – it’s certainly not a warm weather concealed carry pistol. But that’s a matter for the CZ-75D PCR review, not Alien Gear.
What the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB holster did do was keep the pistol situated low enough in the waistline where its outline is obscured. Does it look like I have some sort of abscess growing out from the side of my gut? Yes. But most people aren’t staring at my gut – at least not out of admiration.
And where I really noticed it was when I was walking around town. I live in a city and so when I want to pick up a jug of milk or a dozen eggs, I walk down the street. Because it’s the tail end of August, it still gets pretty warm. And surprisingly, with a button-up shirt over the top, no one seemed any the wiser I was carrying my CZ-75D PCR. Bonus? Unlike the leather backpad in the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 1.0 that warped and lost some of its shape due to excessive wear and sweat, the neoprene backing on the Cloak Tuck 3.0 did just fine and the spring-steel band actually helped keep the form perfect.
Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB Is Very Customizable
Out of the box, the retention was set so tight that there was no way I could confidently draw or reholster my CZ-75D. It actually made me sort of nervous – until I saw they included a set of rubber gasket extensions. Because the CZ-75D PCR was not designed for an inside the waistband holster (or at least, I don’t think it was), it didn’t seem to fit right in the Kydex shell on default. With some adjustment and experimenting with different sizes of rubber gaskets – which came standard with the holster – I found the perfect mixture of retention.
I like the standard plastic clips that come with the Cloak Tuck 3.0. They fit well over my belt and secure it reasonably inside the waistband. I saw Alien Gear also has leather loops, metal clips, etc., and that may be good for another person’s style of carry – but standard works just fine for me.
Final Rating: Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 w/ Standard Plastic Clips
MSRP: $43.88 (+ S/H)
All rankings in each category are out of 5.0 possible points. A 3.0 is considered “industry standard”.
- Conceal: 4.9
- Comfort: 5.0
- Presentation: 5.0
- Durability: 4.7
- Value: 4.9
Grade: 4.9/5.0 (A++)
Has the Alien Gear Holster’s new Cloak Tuck 3.0 replaced my leather backpadded Cloak Tuck 1.0? I can safely say, “yes.” While I won’t be retiring the ole’ one because it’s configured for my Walther PPS, I can definitely say as jacket weather approaches that the CZ-75D PCR will be comfortably at home in this new Cloak Tuck 3.0.