LEATHER ? / SYNTHETIC ?

[chuck j]

Well I'm an old guy so I have always preferred leather holsters and other accessories in leather for anything having to do with a handgun . Realizing that this is probably a failing I wanted to solicit others opinions as to they personal choice concerning the advantages of either leather or synthetics. Thanks in advance for any input you may have . I carry a CZ 82 in a shoulder rig and a Ruger LCP in a pocket holster . I mostly carry the LCP 380 becauce it is so easy and requires no modification in the way I dress . Thanks !

[chuck j]

This must be an old topic , not much response but thanks anyway . I'll look back .

[Middle Age Russ]

I cannot speak for all situations or accessories, but for IWB holsters, I think the Kydex or hybrid leather/kydex holsters are a great idea. The stiffness of the kydex allows the holster mouth to remain open when the gun is drawn, allowing for easy reholstering.

[carlson1]

I have always used leather.

I did branch out several months back and bought a Comp Tac Infidel and I like it a lot, but not enough to give up the leather.

[cbunt1]

I'm not much help on the subject. I like both for different purposes. Lately I've been swapping between IWB and OWB for my EDC....and therein lies my switch between leather and kydex.

On a belt, OWB, it's leather all the way -- at least for daily carry. My competition rigs are all kydex, but that's a different story.

For IWB I want a stiff-topped holster. I use a CompTac MTAC for my 1911's and a Sparks Summer Special for my Glocks. I could be convinced to go to the SS for a 1911 as well, but I use the tuckable feature when I dress for the office, and I didn't have to wait a year to get it.

I love the stiffness of the kydex for IWB, but I've got a couple of "pure" kydex IWB rigs (like the Infidel), and they're not so comfortable against my side. I prefer leather against my body to kydex. Guess I'm old school too.

Kydex advantages: Doesn't "creak" when you move, doesn't require a break-in period, high-quality kydex is cheaper than high-quality leather, and to answer the "tactical" question, yes, it *is* faster on the draw--at least for me--proven on a timer...to the order of a couple of tenths of a second (not significant in the real world), and it doesn't wear out.
Kydex disadvantages: Doesn't "give" at all (actually, this is both advantage and disadvantage), noisy draw compared to leather, clips/attachments aren't as flexible as leather (but can be modified to fit your belt, etc. with a hair dryer).

Leather advantages: has some "give" to it as you move around. Generally more aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion), quieter draw.
Leather disadvantages: cost, wears out eventually (can get soft/floppy in some models), requires the same kind of maintenance as a good pair of shoes, must break in to the gun in many designs.

Another question I hear about Leather vs. kydex all the time is holster wear. Since I use both, I'll tell you my experience: Both wear the finish...they just do it differently. In the long term, a carried gun gets holster wear...consider it "character."

I've probably only clouded the question for you. I'm one of those guys with a box full of holsters, and I've come to the conclusion that there's no one "perfect" holster--just holsters that are "perfect" for a given purpose.

[Excaliber]

I'm not much help on the subject. I like both for different purposes. Lately I've been swapping between IWB and OWB for my EDC....and therein lies my switch between leather and kydex.

On a belt, OWB, it's leather all the way -- at least for daily carry. My competition rigs are all kydex, but that's a different story.

For IWB I want a stiff-topped holster. I use a CompTac MTAC for my 1911's and a Sparks Summer Special for my Glocks. I could be convinced to go to the SS for a 1911 as well, but I use the tuckable feature when I dress for the office, and I didn't have to wait a year to get it.

I love the stiffness of the kydex for IWB, but I've got a couple of "pure" kydex IWB rigs (like the Infidel), and they're not so comfortable against my side. I prefer leather against my body to kydex. Guess I'm old school too.

Kydex advantages: Doesn't "creak" when you move, doesn't require a break-in period, high-quality kydex is cheaper than high-quality leather, and to answer the "tactical" question, yes, it *is* faster on the draw--at least for me--proven on a timer...to the order of a couple of tenths of a second (not significant in the real world), and it doesn't wear out.
Kydex disadvantages: Doesn't "give" at all (actually, this is both advantage and disadvantage), noisy draw compared to leather, clips/attachments aren't as flexible as leather (but can be modified to fit your belt, etc. with a hair dryer).

Leather advantages: has some "give" to it as you move around. Generally more aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion), quieter draw.
Leather disadvantages: cost, wears out eventually (can get soft/floppy in some models), requires the same kind of maintenance as a good pair of shoes, must break in to the gun in many designs.

Another question I hear about Leather vs. kydex all the time is holster wear. Since I use both, I'll tell you my experience: Both wear the finish...they just do it differently. In the long term, a carried gun gets holster wear...consider it "character."

I've probably only clouded the question for you. I'm one of those guys with a box full of holsters, and I've come to the conclusion that there's no one "perfect" holster--just holsters that are "perfect" for a given purpose.

I started out in the '70's with all leather (there wasn't any choice back then), gradually went to a mix, and today I'm just about all kydex. Cbunt has done a great job of outlining the pros and cons of both, and they are consistent with my experience.

Although I give up a bit of comfort with the kydex, I like it because the draw is always fast and snag free, reholstering is always easy, it doesn't absorb sweat, and the high quality rigs are very low profile for concealment. A top quality kydex rig is also less expensive than a top quality leather one.

[papabear]

Agree w/ all above.
Also I have authritis & am 62. No holster drag in kydex.
I still have both though.

[chuck j]

I thank you for your help and thoughts . I think I will check on the synthetic options , again thanks !

[Excaliber]

I thank you for your help and thoughts . I think I will check on the synthetic options , again thanks !

In synthetic holsters, I've had good experiences with:

Raven
Comp-tac
Crossbreed (hybrid synthetic / leather)
Blade-tech
Sidearmor
Fist

There are many others and I haven't tried them all, but you will probably find something you like by checking out the products offered by the companies above.

[Jumping Frog]

In synthetic holsters, I've had good experiences with:

Raven
Comp-tac
Crossbreed (hybrid synthetic / leather)
Blade-tech
Sidearmor
Fist

I'll also add to steer clear of Serpa. That is a topic in itself.

[chuck j]

Did a little checking today , was inpressed .

[cbunt1]

I'll also add to steer clear of Serpa. That is a topic in itself.

The SERPA rig has its place, but IMO it isn't on the belt of most armed citizens...it's a special-purpose (read administrative bureaucracy) duty rig...

[Beiruty]

I would give 2 thumbs up to bradley custom holsters.

He did 2 for my PX4SC with TLR-4 and my P30 with TLR-2. Costly with long wait, but worth it.

http://shop.bradleycustomconcealment.com/main.sc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jumping Frog]

The SERPA rig has its place, but IMO it isn't on the belt of most armed citizens...it's a special-purpose (read administrative bureaucracy) duty rig...

I'd argue it isn't even very good at that. Just moderate effort created this safety/retention issue:



Also, read of sand, snow, ice, getting into the mechanism and suddenly the person simply CANNOT draw the weapon.

This ignores all the tactical training companies that have banned Serpa's for safety reasons.

[Abraham]

In the winter: OWB Hillsman super high quality plastic holster. My Glock 19 fits into it perfectly, draws beautifully and retains very well.

In the summer: OWB Leather rectangular zippered pack (not a fanny pack) in which I also carry an extra magazine.

For the longest time, I wore the necessary cover garment in order to utilize the Hillsman holster, but man, I can't stand the extra clothing in the summer anymore. So, I've gone the route of the pack for the hot months.

Yes, using an OWB zippered pack looks dorky, but I can wear one single lightweight shirt with it. No cover garment required. Wonderfully cool and uncomplicated.

While I'm out about, I've yet to see anyone notice, in any way stare or even glance at it. Because it doesn't look like a fanny pack per se, for all practical purposes it's invisible to the public.