USMC1911
Elite
I have always preferred a OWB Leather holster with matching mag holders. Which do you prefer and how do you wear it?
Leather or Kydex
- Thread starter USMC1911
- Start date
wolfpack076
Professional
Have both kydex and leather. Depends on what weapon I'm carrying if I wear outside or in. 4 or 5 o'clock positioning... Just my two cents...
Net Engineer
Master Class
Personally I prefer Kydex for the durability and retention, have both OWB and IWB holsters with my favorites being
1. Aliengear IWB Cloak Tuck 3.5 (Hybrid Kydex-Neoprene back/sweatguard) , very comfortable with the neoprene inner and conceals & retains very well
2. Tier 1 OWB Mora (Kydex), very comfortable and sturdy, great retention
3. Blade Tech Eclipse 2 (Kydex) both OWB and IWB, converts from OWB to IWB easily, comfortable, good retention, good concealment
4. Aliengear OWB Cloak Mod (Kydex) use this one with the Aliengear OWB Holster Mount for under car dash mount, easy to remove and retains very well.
5. Crossbreed Supertuck IWB (Hybrid) comfortable and conceals well
1. Aliengear IWB Cloak Tuck 3.5 (Hybrid Kydex-Neoprene back/sweatguard) , very comfortable with the neoprene inner and conceals & retains very well
2. Tier 1 OWB Mora (Kydex), very comfortable and sturdy, great retention
3. Blade Tech Eclipse 2 (Kydex) both OWB and IWB, converts from OWB to IWB easily, comfortable, good retention, good concealment
4. Aliengear OWB Cloak Mod (Kydex) use this one with the Aliengear OWB Holster Mount for under car dash mount, easy to remove and retains very well.
5. Crossbreed Supertuck IWB (Hybrid) comfortable and conceals well
Onewolf426
Professional
For most of my firearms, I prefer the hybrids. I have both IWB and OWB, mainly Crossbreed with a White Hat Hoslters, and Bullseye Holsters thrown in there, including a couple for the Belly Band. Although I do have a leather Versacarry OWB for my MC2C. My 1911 is leather IWB. I will probably get an OWB later on. Mainly concerned with Concealed Carry. Being a small guy, it is difficult to carry a large firearm OWB without printing, and forget about something with a 5" barrel.
Same for me whether IWB or OWB on the 1911s
Hybrid/Kydex on the plastics
kenpomaniac1958
Master Class
I like both(kydex and leather). I have some hybrid holster(leather back, kydex shell). I ordered a leather inside the pants holster for my S&W EZ 9 mm and a kydex outside the pants holster for my Beretta APX. Both holsters were shipped on Friday and should arrive next week, God willing.
I have a Kel Tec PF9 that fits perfectly in a kydex holster that was orginally made for a single stack XD. It's a very handy holster and firearm. I can wear it inside the pants or outside the pants between the belt and pants. I've even used this holster while wearing shorts in the hot weather of South Texas. That's a great thing about kydex only holsters. If they have a good clip you can use them inside the pants and outside the pants depending on the firearm.
When I carried 1911s I only carried the nicer ones in a leather holster made by Bob Mernickle. I didn't mind carrying less expensive 1911s(Taurus PT 1911) in a kydex holster. But for the Springfield Milspec and Ruger SR1911 Commander, I only carried them in leather inside the pants holsters. I still have a lefty Bob Mernickle 1911 inside the pants holster that I'll gift to someone some day. My days of carrying a 1911 are over because of my neck issues.
One of my favorite holsters was a Bob Mernickle outside the pants leather holster for a Single Action only revolver. I believe it was model PS-6A. I carried different Colt single action clones in that holster and it sure was comfortable...
I had a few buddies give me a hard time about carrying a single action with 5 rounds of 45 Colt until we'd go to the range and they saw how smooth and accurate some single actions could be...
I have a Kel Tec PF9 that fits perfectly in a kydex holster that was orginally made for a single stack XD. It's a very handy holster and firearm. I can wear it inside the pants or outside the pants between the belt and pants. I've even used this holster while wearing shorts in the hot weather of South Texas. That's a great thing about kydex only holsters. If they have a good clip you can use them inside the pants and outside the pants depending on the firearm.
When I carried 1911s I only carried the nicer ones in a leather holster made by Bob Mernickle. I didn't mind carrying less expensive 1911s(Taurus PT 1911) in a kydex holster. But for the Springfield Milspec and Ruger SR1911 Commander, I only carried them in leather inside the pants holsters. I still have a lefty Bob Mernickle 1911 inside the pants holster that I'll gift to someone some day. My days of carrying a 1911 are over because of my neck issues.
One of my favorite holsters was a Bob Mernickle outside the pants leather holster for a Single Action only revolver. I believe it was model PS-6A. I carried different Colt single action clones in that holster and it sure was comfortable...
I had a few buddies give me a hard time about carrying a single action with 5 rounds of 45 Colt until we'd go to the range and they saw how smooth and accurate some single actions could be...
Keystone19250
SAINT
I have both Kydex and leather OWB and prefer leather, Kydex has benefits especially with retention as with my SafariLand for my XDM 4.5 45ACP
I do have two fabric holsters, one for my Taurus Revolver and one that is a chest rig for my XDM 4.5 45 made to be incorporated with the tactical vest I have.
Kydex is for me a great holster for colder weather carry and even though it does hold the firearm out from the hip it can be covered with a heavy coat.
I do have two fabric holsters, one for my Taurus Revolver and one that is a chest rig for my XDM 4.5 45 made to be incorporated with the tactical vest I have.
Kydex is for me a great holster for colder weather carry and even though it does hold the firearm out from the hip it can be covered with a heavy coat.
Sld1959
Hellcat
I saw what happened to a pistol and a knife when a few grains of sand got in a kydex holster. Caused some wicked scratches. Never seen it with leather. Would it make a difference who knows, I have heard the theory that with leather the sand tends to get pushed into the hide and cause less damage, true? Don't know never seen it one way or other.
Domar1291
Master Class
Interesting I've never heard that ... I'm not around sand ... but if that's true, I'm going to look into that
Net Engineer
Master Class
Lesson: keep your holsters clean.
Simple Green works great on Kydex (and polymer gun frames). Weiman Leather Cleaner Wipes for leather.
KillerFord1977
SAINT
I use Aliengear Kydex mod system that allows me to swap from Paddle, OWB and IWB
Sld1959
Hellcat
Lesson: keep your holsters clean.
Simple Green works great on Kydex (and polymer gun frames). Weiman Leather Cleaner Wipes for leather.
If I remember right it really was a case of the guy falling and not taking the time to clean things well after for a few days on a hunting trip.
Keystone19250
SAINT
It’s all in how you maintain your equipment.
Sld1959
Hellcat
Yep I agree, just one more possible reason I tend to prefer leather.
TidalWave
Professional
1791 is my fav, which I found out about via this forum and a positive rec from member @ddeuce22 , iirc !
It has the same loops on both sides of the holster, so works for lefties, too. Canted forward on hip, front crossdraw, horizontal - about anything i personally would want. No larger than it needs to be (ballpoint pen for perspective). Mine are dark classic brown and distressed. Mine have a buddy named Ed; his last name is Brown, I believe?
It has the same loops on both sides of the holster, so works for lefties, too. Canted forward on hip, front crossdraw, horizontal - about anything i personally would want. No larger than it needs to be (ballpoint pen for perspective). Mine are dark classic brown and distressed. Mine have a buddy named Ed; his last name is Brown, I believe?
Attachments
Annihilator
Emissary
Leather here, mostly Versa Carry lately