Craft Holsters IWB

 One of the challenges of a new carry piece is playing the game of finding the right holster. Sadly my old go-to option is no longer in production, so when I switched to the P365xl, I had to start from scratch. Serendipitously, at this same time I was contacted by Craft Holsters with an offer to review a holster of my choosing*. So with nothing to lose, I opted for their lt.92 Open-Muzzle IWB offering in black, for my little Sig. Not long after sending of my info, I received a box from Slovakia containing the holster and a small break-in kit.

The holster was nicely finished, with even double-row stitching all around. The holster is finished off with a tension adjustment screw and branded pull-the-dot snaps. The leather is evenly dyed and formed well to the shape of the gun. My pistol actually fit nicely in the holster and did not require any real breaking in other than fine tuning the tension screw.

Ride height is exactly where it should be, and the holster keeps the pistol snug to the body and holds it securely. The holster rides very comfortably, exactly what I expect from leather. At the range the draw was smooth, and the mouth reinforcement worked as expected for reholstering. Concealablity is also  good with this style of holster and the small dimensions of the P365.

These photos here were taken after wearing the holster daily for over three months. While it was the milder part of the year, I work in a fairly physical job and I tend to sweat more than the average guy. This is one of the primary reasons I lean towards Kydex. That said, this holster is holding up fairly well considering how some leather items I've daily carried in the past have quickly broken down with similar use. I can't say how the holster would hold up to my sweat in humid late summer, but I never had any issues with the leather falling apart or encountered any rust forming on my gun.

I do have a couple gripes about the holster. Though I don't have a red dot mounted on this gun yet, that is something I plan on having sooner than later, and this holster is not compatible. The cut for the opening reinforcement also leaves the front loop a bit unsupported, and it is sometimes difficult to unsnap because of this. Typically this would just be an annoyance, but if you're the sort that likes to be able to remove the entire holster without removing the gun, this can get to be downright aggravating. 

Overall, I'm definitely pleased with this holster. Fit and finish are fantastic, hitting above what I would expect at the price point; and one of the negative points isn't really the fault of the holster's. It carries comfortably like leather should, and holds up well to daily use. If you're in the market for an affordable everyday leather holster, I'd certainly say it's worth considering.

*The holster reviewed here was provided by Craft Holsters to me for review at no cost

"You'll shoot yer dick off!"

I don't carry appendix myself (haven't found a gun/holster combo that feels right for it to me,) but it comes up just about every time somebody mentions it.  So, science!

DeSantis Ammo Nemesis

If you pocket carry, this might be worth looking at.  The Nemesis is easily my favorite pocket holster, and this just makes it better.

UBG Holsters Canute Review

A few months back Nate from UBG Holsters asked if I was interested in reviewing some of his work.  With Concealed Carry right around the corner here in Wisconsin, I was definitely in the market for some IWB holster options and jumped at the chance to try out some good leather while I was at it.

I settled on the Canute model for my M&P9, and Nate sent one out to me a couple weeks later.  As a note here, I stressed that I was in no rush, as it would still be at a few months or so until I could actually carry it outside of the house.  Despite this, he still had it put together and in my hands a couple weeks later.  Having sat through a half-year wait for a Raven Concealment Systems rig a couple times, getting a hand built leather holster in a fraction of the time was a welcome treat.

The Canute is a typical IWB holster, featuring a full body shield and widely spaced belt loops with “pull the dot” style snaps, allowing the user to put the holster on or take it off without removing their belt; a welcome feature for those of us that must enter “posted property” on a daily basis.   The Canute also has a 22-25 degree forward cant, something I’ve come to appreciate for added concealment and a smoother draw when wearing the holster in the 4-5 o’clock position.

The model I chose is a plain, no frills black leather holster (other colors and even exotic skins are available) with no reinforcement around the mouth.  The leather is nicely finished and thick, and overall construction is top-notch.  The holster is molded to your specific gun, and my M&P9 fit well right out of the box (a little tight at first, as is expected with leather, but it loosened up quickly.  Instructions for break-in are also on their website.) Retention is still positive after a month of use, never has it felt like my gun was moving or about to fall out of the holster. 

As mentioned, the back features a full sweat guard/body shield to protect both the gun’s finish and your body from any pokey bits or sharp edges on your gun.

The only issue I’ve found so far with the full size body shield is that my thumb-safety occasionally snags on the top edge.  The safety does remain engaged, but it is something to be mindful of when reholstering.

As you can see, the holster is holding up well after a month of almost daily use, including snapping and unsnapping the loops a couple times a day on average.  Granted early winter in Wisconsin isn’t going to be severely torturous compared to summer on a big sweaty guy like me, it’s still reassuring to see practically no finish wear on the outside of the leather, and only a small amount of wear inside where a reference spot of grip-tape on the frame of my gun rubs during the draw (eventually I’ll most likely pull the grip-tape and stipple that spot though, and I think that will reduce the amount of wear it has on holsters.)

The belt loops are probably my favorite feature of the Canute, both due to their spacing, and the ability to remove the holster without undoing my belt.  Even with a full size duty pistol with 17 rounds of ammo in the mag, the loops spread the weight out well, and help spread the bulk of the rig out along the beltline, aiding in concealment.

Obviously, how well the holster conceals is very important with an IWB holster, and the Canute does so wonderfully.  I don’t know of many other holsters I’d be confident in trusting to hide a large gun under as little as a t-shirt, but the Canute excels in that department.

I wore a similar outfit at my family’s Thanksgiving day gathering (button-up cotton shirt instead of the T) and either no one noticed, or if they did they didn’t say.  A few days later I was talking to my dad about good concealment clothing, and asked if he remembered the shirt I was wearing that day;

“No, but I don’t regularly check out your wardrobe…”

“Well did you notice the gun I was wearing all day either?”

“…No.”

I figure if a house full of people familiar with you don’t notice it after a full day, it’s got to be good to go.

If you like what you see, UBG Holsters is offering free shipping with coupon code "gunsncoffee"

Fine print! UBG did provide the holster in this review for a reduced price.  Does that change my opinion? Hell no. This holster's good shit.

Shelley on Holsters

More importantly, what she looks for.

I've got to agree, a quality holster is a great thing.

Use a Holster!

Not only will it save your neck, it's also what separates us responsible gun owners from the common hood rat that simply shove their Gat down the front of their pants and blast their junk off.
(Also, thanks to blogger for canning all my post's content when I try to edit a typo.)

Need a New Belt

Alrighty Gun Bloggers and Bloggees, with the advent of CCW in Wisconsin, I find my self in need of a new belt. My long time standby of the free kydex lined 5.11 had said kydex liner crack right at the holes behind the buckle, so it looks bad and is a pain to buckle.

I have a strong preference for something black and leathery, as my current holsters for the M&P9 are black.

Any suggestions/preferences for places to check out?  My wheelbarrow of cash is still in the mail, so that's always a consideration.

Raven Concealment, Take 2

So I've had enough time to get the feel for the new Raven Phantom I got for the M&P9, a and a couple range trips to give it a good shake down.  The giddy, childlike "new toy" excitement has worn off, but it has been replaced with plenty of contentment.

Originally I thought the extra controls and lumpy bits on the side of the M&P were what gave this holster a much more secure feeling, however upon further inspection, I found Raven has added a small dimple to the light area of the holster.

This little dimple creates a small catch right behind the light's bezel, and makes this holster feel about 3,000 times more secure than the old one for the SigPro.  I guess I wasn't the only one who wished for more retention on the light models.

Also, there had been reports of older Raven products cracking, and to help Raven switched to a thicker Kydex for their holsters.

I have a feeling this additional stiffness is also a bit responsible for the more secure feeling.  I hear that they can still make them with the thinner Kydex if you're worried about concealment issues with the thicker material, however I don't think the difference is enough to matter.

As I mentioned in the past, the old style "paddle clips" were not the most comfortable option, and I also had one break on me.  The old style clips are a thing of the past now, and Raven has switched to an OWB Soft Loop snap system.

I much prefer these to the old "paddle clips" and to any other actual paddles I've used in the past.  The gun sticks out much less, and while concealment isn't a worry for me yet, it's nice to not have it sticking out and catching on things.  They may take a couple seconds longer to put on or take off the belt, but they feel quite secure and keep the whole thing from flopping around nicely with the right belt.  In this case, a 5.11 re-enforced model that came free with some pants. It's a little big (I wear it on the smallest hole...) but looks good and is holding up well, and the price was right.

The loops themselves are made of a tough rubberized material and Military-grade snaps, and is adjustable for belt width.  I expect these to hold up for quite a while.

Raven has also changed the material of their standard belt loops from formed Kydex to an injection molded plastic.

Less prone to breakage, and also universal.  The old ones had distinct left and right loops.  The little Raven logos are a nice touch.  (Also, the new mag pouch is the same thickness Kydex as the old.  While it makes a great range pouch, it's not what I've been running for daily carry however.  I have a much more comfortable option I'll mention in a couple days.)

As some of you may know, I live in Wisconsin, so concealment has never been high on the list of things I look for with a holster.  The biggest reason I went with RCS was that they make a holster that holds my gun with my light attached.  I've done enough low light/no light training to greatly appreciate a white light on my gun if I have that option (and yes, I think one day of it was enough to appreciate it.  However more is needed to affectively use it.)

I know that plenty of the people looking at these are worried about concealing, so I tossed on a good cover garment and snapped a few pictures.  In this case, a button up cotton shirt with a textured weave.  ($15 at Khol's and the girlfriend says it looks good too!)

Not bad for a full size gun with an attached light.  Granted, if I lift my hands above my head the bottom of the holster is exposed, but I could adjust the soft loops to make the holster ride higher.

So, are there any downsides to RCS's stuff?  Well, I ordered this one the first week of November 2010, and it finally was in my hands mid-March 2011.  It also wasn't cheap, holster, mag pouch, and soft loops plus shipping came out to around $130.  Compare that to Comp-Tac, who I ordered a new holster for a gun I should be getting next week on Tuesday, and the package was dropped off at the post office yesterday(and it's red!)  Too bad they don't make light holsters...

Bottom line - if you're looking for a quality Kydex holster, with great modularity and carry options, especially if you carry with a light, and are willing to wait a few months; Raven Concealment Systems is worth taking a look at.

Shiny!*

Apparently Raven Concealment Systems have made some improvements since my last order.

First impressions - the profile of the M&P makes for a much more secure feel to the holster than the Sig (more bits on the left side of the gun to provide texture) and the soft loops are a massive improvement over the "paddle clips" of old.

I'll get some more pictures and more words in the next couple weeks at some time, but to sum it up, at first impression, the wait was well worth it.

*Been watching a bit of Firefly as of late...

Warp Speed 5 Captain!

Is not the speed to reholster in.  Caleb talks about the importance of holsters, and most importantly, why "speed reholstering" is bad.

He also touches on the concept of the "hard stop" after shooting.  It's a good idea, and I think including a "search and assess" in with that is a good habit to get into.

Hooray!!!

"Your Raven Concealment order  shipped today."

Only ordered it in November...

Galco Solo Options

The site tracker says a lot of people have ended up here looking for info on the new Kimber Solo, so I thought I'd mention Galco Gunleather has announced they'll be offering 5 different holster options for the gun.

Holsters?

We don't need no stinkin' holsters!

Holster Suggestions

So here's the challenge:

I need a holster for the Smith & Wesson M&P9 (full size) with a Streamlight TLR-1s, with some sort of retention (thumb break preferred) and preferably with a paddle-type attachment, or some other way to remove the holster without dropping my pants.  As I live in Wisconsin, concealment is not a concern at this point.  Material and color is secondary at this point, but brown or tan leather or kydex would be great.

I was looking at Blade-Tech's options, but it looks like the only light bearing holster they have for the M&P is with the no longer made Surefire X200 (which cost more than I want to spend on a white light anyway...) They do make one for my gun/light combo, but no retention.

Any suggestions?

Holster updates

I did some holster reviews a while back, the Raven Concealment Phantom being one of them, and I just thought I'd mention that one of the "paddle" clips snapped yesterday as I was heading out for the day.  I haven't notified RC yet, so we'll see what comes of it.

I do have to say, that after using this holster for a while now, the "paddle" (not a true paddle, but two clips that hook inside the waistband) option is far from the best, and I only continued to use them due to the stupidity of Wisconsin laws and the convenience of being able to take the holster off without removing my belt.  They tend to dig into my hip and never felt completely secure.

Oh wells, looking at the Blade-Tech offerings for the new Smith, so we'll see how that goes.  The only downside is that they don't seem to have the single mag pouches in Dark Earth, but the holsters I'm looking at are... le'sigh.  Anybody have any experience with the thumb break models from them? I like the idea of retention for OC, and they're not as "cop" looking as the WRS option.

Kydex Part V

Comparisons and Thoughts

(Final installment of the plasticy-holster reviews)

This part should kinda wrap things up for the most part.  I've kind of alluded to some comparisons throughout, but I wanted to sum them all up into one post.
Retention:
The Serpa Level 2 is by far the most secure feeling of the three.  Of course it is expected, being the only holster with an active retention system.  The Raven Concealment Systems Phantom is probably the least secure, but it is arguably intended for concealed carry (it is right there in the name after all) and holds the gun plenty well enough for that task.  However if I were going to OC in a more crowded environment, I would use the Serpa.  The Fobus lands right in the middle, securing the gun more than well enough for movement and generally carry purposes, but I'd be leery of trusting it in the event of a gun grab.
Coverage:
The Raven rig definitely covers the most amount of gun, yet still allows for a good hold when drawing.  Between the sweat shield and custom molded fit, this one will keep your gun from getting banged up the most, and the bottom is pretty well closed, with a drain opening directly under the light, which should help keep crud from getting into the muzzle.  The Fobus covers the least, depending on the gun, but I would prefer a bit of protection for the front sight, no matter how tough they are.  The Serpa gets the middle spot here, good coverage down to the muzzle, however it is wide open at the bottom.  It does have the "speed cut," exposing the chamber area, but still covers the ejection port.  I could do without, but it's not a deal breaker.
Comfort:
The Serpa takes the top in this one, with the Fobus a close second.  While I do appreciate the minimalist approach to the paddle concept from the guys at Raven Concealment, the hooks could be a bit more rounded on the wearer's side.  The Blackhawk setup is nicely rounded, customizable for belt width, solid yet flexible enough to keep from poking you.  It also spreads the weight of the gun out across your belt more.

The Serpa's paddle is nearly twice the width of the Fobus.

The Phantom spreads the weight out even more, there is definitely no feeling of the gun pulling your pants off, even with a full 15 round mag and attached light.

The Phantom is also the highest riding of the three, the Serpa holding the gun the lowest.

All three of them hold the gun in nice and tight to the wearer's body, although I'd like to see how a Raven made holster would feel with the 1911 for comparison (eventually...)

Summary:
All three of the holsters are great rigs, especially considering the prices.  The Fobus beats the snot out of comparably priced cloth holsters, and looks 5,843 times better.  The Blackhawk! Serpa is a steal for a durable, all around, secure holster, and is a king of versatility with both paddle and belt attachments included in the package.  The Raven Concealment Systems Phantom's quality is fantastic, and the "custom" fit and feel makes the little extra price and current wait well worth it, especially for some of the harder to find models, and is pretty much the only choice worth even considering if you run a light.
All three have their strengths (Fobus = value; Serpa = security; Phantom = light compatibility & custom feel); and all have some weaknesses (Fobus = extra finish wear; Serpa = potential mechanical failure; Phantom = low retention).
What I can say is buy any of the three with confidence.  You won't be let down.

Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems Phantom Holster and Mag Holder

Kydex Part IV

Raven Concealment Systems
(yet another installment of my kydex reviews)
One of the deciding factors when I decided to buy my Sig was the fact that it came with night sights and an accessory rail, so a white light was easy to add.  This here's a fightin' gun! (I've done some low/no light force on force without these, and needless to say, I'm convinced you need them on a carry gun, but that's another post for another time.)

Of course the sights are always there, but when you need the light, there's probably not going to be time to clip it on the rail and tighten up the screw.  It's a huge benefit to have the light already attached to the gun as soon as you clear leather, er, plastic. So the search ensued to locate a holster maker that had a system that would accept my particular light/pistol combo.  As I mentioned in the Blackhawk! review, there's not too many makers out there offering SigPro holsters, let alone a SP2022 with a Streamlight TLR-1 attached.
Then I picked up the Magpul Dynamics "Art of the Tactical Carbine" series of DVDs, which feature a few of the offerings (primarily Kydex AR mag holders) from Raven Concealment Systems, available through The Malabar Front.  I went over to their online shop, poked around a little, and found that they do in fact offer a SP2022 option for their Phantom Light Compatible Holster line, and they're customizable for a pretty good number of light options.
I ordered up a Tan one for my particular combo, plus their "paddle attachment," and sat back and waited.  And waited.  Apparently after "The Art of the Dynamic Handgun" everybody and their dog was ordering Raven holsters.  While I waited, I also inquired as to getting a mag pouch, since I didn't see the SP2022 as an option, and they responded with an address to send in a mag to get a holder molded up and sent out with my holster.
After about 50 days or so, my stuff finally came in.  Not bad really for a currently heavily overworked custom kydex maker.

Both items consist of nicely molded Kydex halves either chemically glued or welded together, and reenforced with rivets.  The rivets also work as attachment points for the various belt options(and boy are there plenty of options!) Their tan is a little darker than Blackhawk's tan, closer to "coyote."
The back of the holster is cut with a nice high sweat shield, and there is a rough pebbled texture over the entire outside of both, and a nice smooth interior.  The exterior finish should keep most scuffs and scratches from showing, although I haven't managed to cause any on mine yet, although there is a smudge of blue paint on the holster(right by the light switch area) that I need to take a brush to... sometimes I'm clumsy and bounce into the wall carrying my laundry back upstairs.

Both came standard with belt loops, and I ordered the "paddle" hooks for the holster.  Completely blanked on the hooks for the mag holder though, so now I'm doing the waiting thing again.  While not a true paddle, the hooks attach at the top and have a nub(for lack of a better term) that catches the bottom of your belt.  Overall the holster is nice and wide, and the hooks stick out from the side even more, spreading the weight out quite well.  Occasionally they do dig into my side a little though, something a more traditional rounded paddle seldom does.  They do accomplish the mission of keep the holster on your body when you draw, yet being easily removable without taking off your belt.  The hooks also make this the highest riding of the three examples, which I guess could help in concealment, and it does snuggle in nice and tight.

The downside however is that it is easily the least secure feeling of any of the holsters, as far as retention goes.  There is no real form of retention for the gun aside from the fit of the holster and gravity, and there is no tension adjustment.  It hasn't been a problem for me yet, and the Magpul guys are quite often running around doing quite "dynamic" movements and don't have their guns falling out that I've seen, so for now it's just a "would be nice" but not necessary change I guess, but I wouldn't mind an unobtrusive screw on there somewhere to tighten things up a little.
Conversely, the mag holder is the most secure I've had other than a full flap pouch.  There's a little dimple pressed into the kydex on the back side that catches in the mag catch hole.  Oddly enough the first time I reloaded from this pouch on the range it was possibly the smoothest and quickest reload I have done on a pistol. No doubt that "custom" mojo rubbing off.  I guess what I'm getting at is that while being very secure, this setup does not hinder your mag draw, so long as you use a sharp and deliberate pull.

Overall, it's a decent rig, and the number of attachment options definitely make it worth looking into.  I'd also highly suggest it if you're running a light (and if you're gun has a rail and you're not, you should really think about it).  Of course there's also the added cool points of having what is currently the hottest holster in the market and making people jealous at the range.
Their custom services are also fantastic, if you want a kydex holder for just about anything, they can do it (guns, mags, knives, flashlights, batteries, etc...)

Next up will be some more in-depth comparisons between the setups.

Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part V - Conclussions

Kydex Part III

Blackhawk! Serpa



(Another installment of Fred's wonderful Kydex reviews)

So when I bought my SigPro 2022, I found that Fobus didn't make a holster for it.  So instead of feeling sad, I used that as an excuse to get one of those high speed Serpa active retention holsters.  I had to get it straight from Blackhawk! since the SP2022 apparently isn't too common.
The SP2022 holster was only available in black (what is this? 1998??) although some of the more common gun options are also available in tan, like the 1911:

The Serpa line of holsters are actually made out of a carbon fiber composite, not kydex, so the material is a bit thicker, but holds it's shape pretty well, and is quite tough.
The holster comes with both belt and paddle attachments that screw on to the back and are adjustable for cant:

As I mentioned with the Fobus review, I'm a fan of the slight butt forward cant, so it's adjusted accordingly.  It can be rotated even further forward, which would be beneficial if you spend a lot of time in the car.  (Again, Wisconsin, so that's not really a worry for me...)  The paddle has three claws to grab onto your belt, two on the holster side that are adjustable for belt width, and one on the inside as a backup in the even that the outside ones pop off or something (hasn't happened to me yet.)  It's also nice and wide along the belt, spreading out the weight of the gun nicely.  I'd say is the most comfortable paddle I've used to date, and with the thinness of the 1911 it's almost easy to forget it's there.

As noted, the Serpa is an active retention holster, there's a little claw deally that grabs onto the front of the trigger guard, and a button that needs to be depressed in order to draw.

The button is right where your index finger rests when you grab the holstered gun in a good firing grip, and aids in indexing it along the frame as you draw.  It takes a little getting used to, but as with all things gun, practice plenty and it becomes a non-issue.  There is no need to push the button when you reholster either.
The holster also extends the full length of the gun, protecting the front sight, and has a "speed cutout" around the chamber area, allowing you to begin to rotate the muzzle forward just a little sooner (at least in theory) but the only real benefit I've found with that is that I can see and feel the loaded chamber indicator on my Sig without drawing the gun.  The holster also has a nice wide sight track, so there's some room for fancy big dot sights or whatever.
After a bit of range time my draw is just as fast from this one as it is from the Fobus, with the added benefit of  a retention system.
There is a screw just forward of the trigger area allowing for some adjustment of the passive retention, however a chief complaint of the Serpa is that they do tend to "loosen up" over time, letting the gun kind of rattle around in the holster.  It hasn't been too much of an issue with the 1911, but I did add some chunks of the fuzzy side of some stick on Velcro to the Sig's holster to tighten things up a little.  It hasn't effected the draw, and has stopped most, if not all, of the rattling I was experiencing.

The mag pouch, on the other hand, is by far one of the most mediocre of products I've used.  Like the holster it can be either belt mounted, or there is a clip you can screw on to give it paddle-like abilities.

The problem is that the clip snuggles down between the belt loops, so when on your belt it feels kind of wobbly and prone to rotation.  Although it does feature a tension adjustment screw between the mags, something the Fobus lacks.  It does hold the mags inside well, and I'm sure would be fine if purely belt mounted, but I don't like standing in the parking lot before class taking my belt off so I can leave the mags in the car, or worse, be seen putting the holder back on afterwards and have to talk to the campus police because of some stupid freshman's panic. (stranger things have happened on this very campus)  I think it would benefit from a similar belt/paddle system as the holster rather than an integrated belt mount with belt clip seemingly added as an afterthought.  For that reason alone I still just use the Fobus mag holder when I'm rocking the 1911.

So to sum things up, I've easily got more "miles" on the Serpa system than any other kydex, and have suggested it to anyone who's asked my opinion about it (and quite a few have.)  For a bit more you get adjustable cant, active retention, and possibly even color options, what's not to like?


Part II - Fobus
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems
Part V - Conclussions

Kydex Part II

Fobus Holster and Mag Holder

(part of my Kydex-type review series)
My first foray into kydex, er plastic, just like many out there I'd expect.  Fobus pretty much defined the plastic gun holder genre.  Made of injection molded plastic, their stuff is affordable ($20 neighborhood) and is very durable.  The standard setup comes in either paddle or belt loop variety, and uses simple passive retention.  The holster is molded to the contours of the gun, and has primarily grips the front of the trigger guard.  It has a slight forward cant, which I like (some may not).  There is an adjustable roto version available for a bit more.  Overall it has an even matte finish, and only comes in black as far as I know.

The paddle is pretty comfortable, and is secure, although it could be a little shorter.  It's textured on the front, and has a thin rubber coating on the inside to keep it from moving around.

The holster snuggles up to your body pretty well, and carries the gun pretty well.

The draw is smooth, the inside is mostly slick(more on that in a second) and has a nice wide sight track, and reholstering is not much of a problem, the inside half of the holster is slightly flared at the top helping to funnel the gun into the holster.  The holster grips the gun pretty well when it's inside, it's difficult to actually pull the gun out if the holster's not on your belt, and it tends to bind up if the gun is not pulled straight out, aiding in retention.  The mag holder could be a little tighter for my tastes for the single stacks though (no experience with their double stack holders.)

The downsides of it are of course the lack of any active retention (may or may not be a big deal for you) and, at least on the 1911 holster, due to the "one size fits as much as possible" way they're made, the front end of the gun, including the front sight, is exposed on a full size 5" barreled 1911 since the holster's made for 4" or 5" guns.  Fobus holsters are also known to mar the finish on some guns, like my Kimber for example:

It turns out the model number is molded on the inside of both halves of the holster.  I don't know if Fobus has gotten around to doing anything about it, seeing as it's a pretty well known problem in the gun community, but I picked mine up three or four years ago.  I also have one for my Walther P22, but the finish on that gun is holding up just fine.

Overall, I'm not disappointed with the Fobus goods.  They're fantastic for their price, and make great range holsters if nothing else, let alone as a spare just incase your primary holster goes down for whatever reason.


Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems
Part V - Conclussions

Kydex Comparisons and Reviews!

Part I
Well, Kydex like... equal parts plastic, carbon fiber, and kydex to be specific.  Anyway, They are just around the corner.  I just shot a bunch of picks, and will be shortly putting up some reviews and comparisons of the three big name kydex holsters and pouches I've used over the last few years.

I'm gonna cover the standard Fobus, Blackhawk! Serpa, and Raven Concealment options, as well as mag holders from the same.

I'm not going to get much into the concealment aspects of them however, since I live in the great state of Wisconsin and that sort of thing is forbidden and I don't have any experience dealing with it.  However I have used all three for open carry as well as range time.

You'll possibly notice that all the options are sporting the paddle option available for each maker, something also due to my location, since I am frequently removing the holster to go to class or other places I can't carry. I'll be going over the ups and downs of each makers paddle design.

Kydex vs. Leather
Of course one of the biggest thing that comes up when looking at a kydex rig is why should I go with kydex and not leather?
It's a pretty good question.  Leather has traditionally been the top holster material, being very rugged, yet good looking.  A properly fitted leather holster will snuggly support and protect your gun wonderfully.  Plus they look great.
What's the downside? Well made leather holsters are expensive.  There's a lot of work involved in making a nice leather rig, soaking and forming, shaping and tooling, gluing and sewing... a good leather holster that fits your gun nicely is going to be essentially a custom job.
Leather also needs to be cared for.  It can get dried out and crack, or being an organic material, can start to rot.  It needs to be moisturized and cleaned, and it's not suggested you leave anything steel in it for any extended period of time, as that moisture can lead to rust.

Kydex(and it's similar synthetic brethren), on the other hand, is much easier to work with, and generally cheaper in it's raw form than leather.
Kydex is also incredibly durable.  I've scrapped mine along stuff that would have put quite an  ugly scratch in some leather, and only lead to some paint transfer on the plastic.  It also holds it's form, regardless of weather there's a gun in it.  His can aid in reholstering, especially in an inside the waistband setup.
Kydex is also much more stable than leather.  It's not going to dry out and crack, or get too wet and start to rot and degrade.  If you leave it out in the sun too long the UV radiation can start to break it down, but same goes for leather (see earlier mention of cracking...)
The downside of course, is that leather just looks so much better, and some kydex has a tendency to mar the finish on some guns, something leather is much less likely to do.
I kind of think of Kydex as the working man of the holster world, it's tough, and great at it's job, but lacking in the style department.

I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other, they both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems Phantom Holster and Mag Holder
Part V - Conclussions