Best Kydex Holster | Top Rated Kydex Holster Reviews For 2022

The right Kydex holster for you won’t necessarily be the best for everyone. Choosing Kydex is a good first step, however. You don’t want just any Kydex carry holster for your gun; you want the best Kydex holster you can get for your money. There are a lot of reasons that Kydex just makes good sense for a modern concealed carry pistol. 

You have probably heard of Kydex already. If not, then you’ll want to learn about it. Kydex, in other words, is the modern holster material of the future. It is arguably the best choice for concealed carry and for a variety of other applications.

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Best Kydex Holsters Reviewed

Alien Gear holsters Cloak Tuck 3.5 IWB Holster

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Our first choice is the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5 inside the waistband model. This holster features adjustable retention, adjustable cant, and even adjustable ride height. The neoprene backing helps wick away perspiration. Finally, the outer shell itself is custom molded (as are all Alien Gear Kydex holsters). The holster has a 30-day trial period and comes with a lifetime warranty. It is made in the United States of America. Most importantly, adjustments to the holster can be made without tools. 

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry the Alien Gear holster have many good things to say about it. Firstly, they love the neoprene backing for wicking perspiration. At the same time, they are very pleased with the 30-day trial and lifetime warranty. Secondly, shooters who carry Alien Gear are very happy with how adjustable the holster is. They like knowing that they can adjust the ride height, adjust the retention, and adjust the cant. This means, in other words, that they can tailor their Alien Gear holsters to whatever scenario they choose. This makes Alien Gear a good choice.

We The People Holsters – Compatible with Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9MM/.40 IWB Kydex Holster for Concealed Carry

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Our second pick is the We the People IWB Kydex model. This holster is for the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield. It works for both the nine-millimeter and .40 caliber. The holster features a lifetime warranty. It is made in the United States. The holster can be adjusted for cant and ride height. Additionally, the clip can be unscrewed and repositioned. It can be secured again with a screwdriver. The best part is that Kydex is waterproof and will not mildew or rot. You can even wash the Kydex holster without harming it. This holster is made from .08 inch Kydex. This is industry standard for this type of holster.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry this holster love how light and durable it is. They are very pleased with the waterproof Kydex. Most importantly, they like that the holster is fully adjustable. In other words, they like that the retention pressure and angle of carry can be altered to suit them. The holster also gets high marks for ease of reholstering.

Ruger LCR 38/357/22 Inside The Waistband Holster

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Our third choice is this Ruger LCR IWB holster. This holster has a lot going for it. Firstly, it is made in the United States by hand. Secondly, it is made from .06-inch Kydex. In other words, the material is durable, but very light and very thin. This particular model, however, is suitable only for right hand draw. Thirdly, the retention is adjustable. The company markets it as the best holster on the market for the popular Ruger LCR revolver. It is custom made for that specific pistol and weighs just 3 ounces.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry the Ruger LCR really do have a lot of good things to say about this holster. They are pleased that is made in the USA, of course. Most importantly, they also like that it is handmade just for the Ruger LCR. The adjustable retention gets high marks. In the final analysis, it is the holster’s light weight that really scores highest with shooters. It is extremely comfortable as a result. You can carry this holster all day and barely know it is there.

Vedder Holsters LightTuck IWB Kydex Gun Holster Compatible with Sig Sauer Models

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Our fourth pick is the Vedder LightTuck. This holster offers many different options. Firstly, the cant angle is adjustable. At the same time, the ride height and retention are adjustable. The holster is made from industry standard .08-inch Kydex. It is strong and durable, but also light and thin. Vedder incorporates sight channels to accommodate your pistol’s optics. The holster also has a sweat shield to protect the gun from your body’s perspiration. Vedder hand-makes these holsters in the United States, molding the holster to the gun in question.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters love the Vedder holsters. The LightTuck gets high marks for its well-thought-out design and sleek execution. Shooters also praise the holster’s thin profile, both OWB and IWB. The company promises that you’ll hear the holster click into place positively when it is holstered. Shooters give the three ride height settings high marks, too. They appreciate the adjustability and the options this provides. Finally, users who carry this holster like how little it prints and how comfortable it is to carry.

Badger Concealment Sig Sauer Kydex Holster

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Our fifth choice is the Badger Concealment model. This model has a lot of great features. Firstly, it has adjustable retention. Secondly, it is incredibly light at just three ounces. At the same time, it is extremely comfortable. Finally, it can accommodate belts up to 1.5 inches wide. It also has a full sweat guard. The sweat guard doesn’t just protect your gun from your perspiration. It also helps guide the gun when you holster it. Most importantly, Badger Concealment is owned and run by US military veterans. This is a good holster. Most people like its design and shooters love its construction.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry this holster like the adjustable retention screws. They’re also pleased with the easy on-off belt clip. The sweat guard gets high marks for protecting the gun while helping with holstering. Finally, the fact that the company is veteran owned is a real consideration. Shooters who carry this holster are proud of the fact that they are supporting a veteran-owned business. The light weight and minimal printing of this holster make it a great choice for carrying concealed.

MIE Productions Kydex Pocket Holster

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Our sixth pick is the MIE Productions pocket holster model. The company markets this holster as providing “maximum concealment and comfort.” It is made from industry standard .08-inch Kydex. It is handmade, in fact, right in the United States. Most importantly, this is a pocket model. That means that instead of carrying the holster in your waistband or on your belt, you can carry it in your pocket. The holster helps keep the gun in the same position. This yields a more consistent draw stroke and also protects the gun. Furthermore, a pocket holster helps prevent negligent discharges with pocket-carried guns.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry the MIE love the fact that it is handmade. The holster is very slim. It is also very light. The holster does not print excessively, most importantly. This is thanks to its design and construction. In other words, this holster is a good choice for concealing a daily carry pistol. Most importantly, MIE cuts the trigger guard to prevent “holster bite” when drawing the gun or holstering the gun.

We The People Holsters – Compatible with Ruger LC9/LC9S/LC380/EC9S Kydex Holster for Concealed Carry

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Our seventh pick is We the People’s Ruger LC9 series holster. This holster has a lot going for it. Firstly, it is fully adjustable. This means that the ride height and cant (the draw angle) can be changed with a screwdriver. This promotes the smoothest possible draw. Most importantly, it means you can tailor the holster to your specific needs and your specific training. The holster is made of industry-standard .08-inch Kydex, which is rigid enough to retain its shape for the lifetime of the gun. That is to say, it will do this as long as you don’t expose it to an extreme heat source. This is because Kydex is a thermoplastic with a relatively low melting point.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry We The People holsters love how strong and light they are. They also praise the holster because it is waterproof and can be washed. Furthermore, the fit of the Kydex can be customized. The goal, of course, is to make your draw fast and consistent while tailoring it to your needs.

Badger Concealment Kahr Arms IWB Holster

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Our eighth choice is the Badger Concealment IWB model for Kahr Arms. This is an extremely light holster that weighs only three ounces. It has many good features. Firstly, it is extremely thin. It is easy to conceal, in other words. It has a very light “footprint.” It is custom made to fit the Kahr Arms pistol. The company is veteran-owned, too. Consider that when shopping. Finally, the holster incorporates a full sweat guard. This helps with holstering the gun while protecting it from your perspiration. The result is a holster that works well for CCW and will hold up to daily use.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters have a lot of good things to say about this holster. They are particularly fond of the light weight. This makes the holster easier to carry and conceal for long periods of time. Shooters who carry this holster also like the fact that it is fully adjustable.

Boraii Carbon Fiber Black & Grey KYDEX IWB/Appendix Carry Holster

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Our ninth choice is the Boraii Carbon Fiber IWB model. The Boraii features adjustable cant that ranges from zero to twenty-two degrees. Retention is also adjustable. This means that your draw can be as fast and easy as you want it. On the other hand, the draw can also be slower if you want maximum retention for security.  The holster also has a sweat guard, but Boraii has opted for “medium” coverage. In other words, the gun is protected from sweat, but your comfort is preserved.

What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry this holster praise its handmade attention to detail. They love how durable and rugged the holster and its accessories are. The holster also gets high marks for being comfortable. If you want a comfortable and functional holster, then this one might be the right Kydex holster for you.

Fierce Defender IWB Kydex Holster Glock 19 23 32″The Paladin Series -Made in USA- GEN 5 Compatible

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Our tenth and final pick is the Fierce Defender Paladin series. The manufacturer molds this holster to the gun. Experienced CCW holders appreciate this holster. The attention is adjustable. In other words, you can get just the right draw depending on your preferences. Most importantly, the holster features a “claw” for reduced printing and increased concealment. Construction is of .08 Kydex, which is industry standard for holsters of this type. It is waterproof, will not rot, and will not mildew. Kydex truly is a modern choice for contemporary shooters.

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What shooters like about this holster

Shooters who carry this holster praise the “claw’ feature. It is a particularly effective way to keep the holster in place. They also give the holster high marks for its adjustability. No matter what your preferences are, you can adjust this holster for the type of carry you prefer. This promotes a consistent draw. That, in turn, makes you a more consistent, better shooter.

Finding the Best Kydex Holster Means Understanding Thermoplastic

Kydex is a thermoplastic material with a relatively low melting point. It is sold in sheets. The industry standard for Kydex holsters is .08-inch black sheets. This is not, however, the only type available. Thicker sheets are available. Thinner sheets are also available. You may purchase just about any color or pattern you can imagine. Accomplished creators and established holster manufacturers make the top Kydex carry holsters. There are many options, and many independent single-person Kydex makers, because the material is so easy to work with.

Making Kydex Holsters

Kydex is rigid at room temperature. When you heat it with a heat gun, in a toaster oven, or even on a griddle, it becomes flexible. In other words, Kydex can become malleable with just a little bit of heat. Most makers then press the Kydex over the pistol or revolver using a foam press, a frame that drapes and pulls the plastic, or some other means. The goal is to let the hot Kydex conform to the contours of the pistol. Some pistol molds incorporate channels and blocks to clear certain parts of the gun. This includes the sights. The process of producing a holster is then fairly simple.

Here are the steps: 

• Pry apart the cooled Kydex. 
• Remove the mold gun. 
• Pry open any spots where the Kydex has stuck together from the heat. 
• Grind and sand the Kydex into the desired shape. 
• Cut away large sections of Kydex with tin sips. 
• Sand the edges with a belt sander, Dremel, or sand paper. 
• Drill and rivet the holster to provide attachment points. This allows you to add accessories and mounting gear. 

The whole process is really very simple. There are many Kydex makers. Their work gives us plenty of choices for holsters.

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Benefits of Kydex Holsters

Kydex holsters have many good features for modern shooters. They are a good choice. If you carry concealed, then Kydex will serve you well. This is true for many reasons. Kydex, firstly, is very durable. It will hold up to abuse and to daily use and wear much better than Nylon and leather. Kydex, secondly, cannot be damaged by moisture. It will not mildew or rot the way Nylon or leather can. Kydex is molded directly to the gun model in question. This means it can retain a gun positively without additional retaining straps. All of these features together make Kydex the right choice for the modern CCW holder.

Drawbacks of Kydex Holsters

With all that said, Kydex holsters do have some liabilities. They are vulnerable to heat. This is because Kydex has a low melting point. The very thing that makes Kydex easy to mold and to work with makes it vulnerable to deforming. If you leave your Kydex holster on your dashboard in a locked car on a hot summer day, then you will come back to a deformed holster. Do not let it get too hot. It will lose its shape.

Kydex is meant for “working” pistols. The thermoplastic has no “give.” In other words, if grit or minute debris get into the holster, it will scratch the surface of the pistol. The Kydex itself may scratch the gun as it is holstered and drawn. This is not a problem for “user” pistols and for guns carried daily for CCW. Most daily carriers know their finish will wear. Kydex is the wrong material for “safe queens.” It is the wrong choice for prized pistols. If your pistol’s finish must be preserved at all costs, Kydex is the wrong option.

Given the liabilities and the benefits, Kydex is a great choice for daily CCW. It’s also great for competition and for casual carry. 

Finding the Best Kydex Holster Doesn’t Have to be Difficult

Any one of the Kydex holsters listed here might be the right one for you. Furthermore, you may have preferences and budget constraints that will guide your choice. Evaluate the options available to you, consider what you’ll use your holster for, and choose the holster that best suits your needs. Kydex is a durable, modern material that offers great positive retention. It is also inexpensive and easy to work with. Consider Kydex when buying your next CCW pistol.