A Case For Kydex: 11 Reasons Why Your Next Holster Should Be Kydex, Not Leather.

I know what you’re thinking: “Of course you’re advocating Kydex holsters, you sell them.”  Before you cast too much judgment, hear me out – We aren’t advocates of Kydex holsters because we manufacture them; we manufacture Kydex holsters because we are advocates of them.  We believe that Kydex holsters are superior to leather holsters in every aspect except one – beauty.

If you are looking for beauty in a holster, go with leather – Kydex is not pretty.

If you are looking for a concealable, durable, hard-use, high-speed, low-drag holster, that is impervious to even the most hostile environments, Kydex is your best option.

Here are 11 reasons that a Kydex holster should replace your old leather holster for your concealed-carry EDC:

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1. Kydex is impervious to the elements.
If you live in an area of the country where it rains/snows a lot, or there is high humidity, or you tend to sweat a lot, or you carry your pistol near water, Kydex holsters are essential.  Unlike leather, Kydex will not attract or retain moisture.  When leather gets soaked, it retains water.  When your holster retains water, your pistol stays wet.  When your pistol stays wet, it rusts – get the idea?  If your Kydex holster gets soaked, simply wipe it off with a towel to completely dry it.  Try doing that with leather and let me know how it works out for you.

2. Kydex is easy to clean.
If you are a camper, a hiker, a fisherman, a hunter, or generally just spend a lot of time outdoors, your holster can get very dirty.  Dirt and grime can begin to accumulate inside a leather holster, and it is very hard to clean out without causing damage to the holster.  Sand can also become embedded on the inside of a leather holster and can scratch the finish of your gun.  With Kydex, the solution to the dirt and grime problem is simple – clean it with soap and water.  In less than a minute, your Kydex holster will be as clean as the day you bought it.

3. Kydex is rigid.
Unlike leather holsters, Kydex holsters will never lose their shape.  Kydex holsters will allow the user to easily “re-holster” their pistol (with one hand if need be).  As mentioned earlier, water is the enemy of a leather holster and can cause it to lose its form – something you will never have to worry about with Kydex.

4. Kydex offers a superior level of retention.
Kydex offers a level of retention that you won’t find in a typical leather holster.  With a well-made Kydex holster, you could fall or roll without the fear of your pistol disengaging unintentionally. 

5. Kydex is easier to conceal.
Kydex is generally much thinner than leather allowing the holster to hug closer to your body for maximum concealment.  Concealment is the name of the game, isn’t it?

6. Kydex is lighter than leather.
Kydex is much lighter than leather.  When you are carrying a gun all day, you want to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible.  A huge contributor to your comfort, or lack there of, is the weight of your concealed-carry rig.  The heavier your pistol and holster combo, the less confortable you are going to be all day.  Kydex is significantly lighter, and therefore more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.  Remember, the more comfortable you are, the more likely you will be to have your gun when you need it the most.  Being uncomfortable is the number one reason people who have concealed weapon permits leave the house without their  gun.

7.  Kydex is high-speed, low drag.
The inside of a Kydex holster is shiny, smooth plastic.  The smoothness allows for the pistol to be drawn quicker and with less drag than from a leather holster.  Leather tends to grab the pistol as it is being drawn, therefore creating friction.  The difference may only be a fraction of a second, unfortunately that is the amount of time that may determine whether you are dead or alive.

8. Kydex doesn't "squeak" when you walk.
The purpose of concealed carry is for no one to know that you have a pistol with you.  Leather holsters have a tendency to squeak when you walk, and sometimes draw attention to the area where you are trying to conceal your pistol.  That problem is non-existent with Kydex holsters.

9. Kydex wears the finish of your gun less over the long term.
I have never been one to worry about the finish on my carry guns.  They are going to rub and wear over time – it’s a fact of life.  I firmly believe that a carry gun is a tool that could someday save your life, keeping the finish pristine should not be a top priority.  You should be proud of the wear marks that your gun shows – it’s a badge of honor of sorts.  It shows that you bought the gun to fill a specific role, and it’s doing its job.

With that being said, there are a lot of people who are anal retentive about the finish on their pistols.  Kydex and leather will both wear the finish of your gun down over time.  Because Kydex is rigid, the contact spots wear quicker than with a leather holster.  The good thing is that the contact spots remain the same over time; therefore the finish wear does not spread.  Leather holsters take longer to wear the finish of the gun, but lack the rigidity of Kydex, so the contact points change over time, therefore showing more overall wear as time passes.

10. You can perform one-handed pistol manipulations on your Kydex holster.
God forbid you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to use your pistol.  Even worse, what if you have to use your pistol and one of your arms has been incapacitated?  A Kydex holster will allow you to manipulate the slide, or clear jams/misfires using the rigid sides of the Kydex.

11. Kydex holsters off modularity that just isn't possible with leather.
Kydex holsters often offer you a level of modularity that you will not find with leather holsters.  When you buy a leather holster, you buy either an inside the waistband (IWB) holster, an outside the waistband (OWB).  With a Kydex holster, you can buy one holster and change it from IWB to OWB with a set of different clips and a screwdriver.  The Kydex can be adapted and changed to fit you comfort and carry preferences.

The benefits of Kydex holsters over leather holster are obvious.  Ultimately, it’s a personal decision:  Do you want a holster that looks pretty, or do you want a high-speed, durable, rigid, carry rig that you can use in the most hostile of environments?