Carry Holster Torture Report

Well, not 'torture' exactly, but significant. I want to report on my experience over the last five days in which I was traveling, working a convention with thousands of people, living in a hotel, up, down, walking around, unloading boxes, going out to dinner with groups of people, etc. All of those things you normally do in a normal month of life, but amplified and crammed into five days.

As my usual mode is to carry whenever legally permitted, I knew I would be packing for all of the time except crashing out in my hotel room, so I needed a good holster that was secure, comfortable and unobtrusive. I took three for the LC9 - a Bullard Belt Slide leather OWB, a pjholster IWB and a basic, plain-Jane Remora.

The short version is that except for one day, when I wore the Bullard with a loose, tropical short-sleeve shirt all day, I ended up with the Remora. The pjholster didn't work for me because I tend to carry appendix style IWB and all of the bending, stooping, carrying, sitting for ten and twelve hours is not comfortable with a kydex holster. At least for me. I do like pjholsters if I'm going with kydex, which I often do around the town, but for this intensive, active period, I found the kydex too uncomfortable.

It's an SR9c in the Remora, but the LC9 is basically the same. (I'll post a photo of the LC9 and the Remora when I get the chance later today.)

The Remora did shift, but really not to any large extent. I never had to re-adjust it or worry about it coming out or being loose.

So, what the week's torture test told me was that the basic Remora worked as advertised and became my almost constant companion. If I had taken a model with a sweat shield, it would have been almost perfect.

Cleveland IWB Holsters Review

Cleveland Comfort Cut for the Ruger SR9c/LaserMax Micro

Bobby Cleveland and company make IWB holsters that are a cut above most of the other holsters of this type - the hybrid (leather backing and kydex shell) double clip, in-the-waistband holsters for concealed carry. I may be wrong, but I believe the type was made popular, if not originated, by Crossbreed. The idea is basic: use a wide leather backing to provide comfort against the wearer's skin, attach two clips, also widely spaced to take up the weight and attach a kydex shell moulded to fit a particular handgun. Shazam! You have a very odd holster that works very well for its intended purpose. There are quite a few hybrid holster makers offering their designs and variations off this theme. I received a couple of Cleveland holsters made for the LaserMax Micro, rail mounted laser and the Ruger SR9c handgun, and for the LC9 equipped with the LaserMax CenterFire unit to test and report on here. My thanks to Cleveland holsters for the chance to evaluate and write about my findings and opinions

Cleveland holsters take the basic Crossbreed concept and move it into a higher level of design and execution. But before getting into the details, here is what you get when the holsters arrive in the mail.

For the LC9 with a custom cut.

Holster for the SR9c with comfort fit.

Reverse of the package.

 The packaging is good and contains an informative sheet on how the holsters are made and how to adjust the ride height and cant to your liking, and a warning to use the included thread locker material to ensure the screws, once adjusted to your preference, don't move.

The holsters are a quality product throughout. Where some makers use basic cowhide for their backing, Cleveland sports premium tanned leather, as you can see from the closeup below. Other makers' backings are not as smooth, flexible and well finished. In fact, Cleveland even hand bevels the edges for comfort and an excellent finish.

A close look at the leather quality and finish of the backing, and the type of round nuts used to hold the screws.

Another look at the leather finish, kydex and clip attachments.

Below is the custom cut on the LC9 holster. The rear of the slide is protected by the leather backing, but the grips are exposed permitting a good and rapid access to the pistol.

LC9/LaserMax in the custom cut holster.

The reverse side shows the adjustment holes for the two clips and the brass round head screws Cleveland uses to keep the clips and the kydex shell in place. Each of the screw and nut combinations trap a rubber O ring between them so that any slack that may develop between the kydex or clips and the backing can be taken up with a few turns of a screwdriver. This is a good feature, not possible with holsters that are bradded to the leather.

Reverse side of the holster.

The comfort cut, the one supplied for the bigger Ruger SR9c/LaserMax combo, is basically the same holster but with the leather left higher to shield the wearer completely from contact with the gun. It was obvious that the SR9c and 10 round magazine would be completely covered by the backing, but I wanted to see how it would work with the longer 17 round magazine installed.

Comfort cut for the SR9c/LaserMax combo.

The same holster showing how the pistol equipped with the longer magazine fits.

Reverse of the custom cut and Ruger with the longer magazine.

 As you can see, no problem with the long magazine.

Another feature that sets Cleveland holsters apart from the competition is the detail they mould into the ends of their holsters. Rather than simply cutting the kydex off at the muzzle, they wrap it around the end of the weapon, moulding it in place there as well. And the kydex is brought higher up on the slide. This offers more comfort and security to keep the gun in place.

Detail of the muzzle end.

Wearing and using the Cleveland holsters.

 A good design and several quality steps above the normal, these holsters are obviously quality built equipment. The big aspects are comfort, ease of use, adjustability and security of the weapon.

Quality: I would put Cleveland holsters in the top tier of quality hybrid IWB holsters. I had an opportunity to compare the Cleveland holsters with a Comp-Tac Minotaur hybrid. I discuss this in more detail below. In my experience, these two are at the top of the hybrid IWB game but have very different design and manufacturing philosophies.

Comfort: These holsters are certainly very comfortable. The two Cleveland holsters were comfortable right off, without a break-in period. As you wear them more and they mould and conform to your own body type and contours they will fit better and become even more easy to wear for extended periods.

Ease of Use: I had a set of the kydex clips to try out with these holsters. I generally like kydex over steel clips as I find they are most often easier to use. However, the kydex clips Cleveland supplies don't work for me. The steel clips worked as advertised, but I could not get the kydex clips to attach snugly to my 1 1/2" gun belt. I measured the clips inside area and found they were 1 5/8", which should have been big enough, but no. I could force one over the belt, but not the other. I think the issue was that the clips were not big enough on the inside to accommodate my belt and the thickness of the material in my Wranglers. Switching to the steel clips solved that problem. Even so, I have always found the twin clip hybrid holsters difficult to get on properly, and the Clevelands were no exceptions. I think this a personal idiosyncrasy. Your mileage may vary.

Security: The guns snap nicely into the kydex when properly adjusted and can be drawn with little effort. The pistol is not coming out of that holster accidentally. At first I expected the comfort cut holster to be more difficult on the draw, but with some practice to familiarize myself with getting a grip between the leather and the grips, I came to the conclusion that this is not really an issue, and I think as the holster breaks in, it will be even easier. I certainly appreciate the leather between me and that long grip. The custom cut is comfortable enough with the smaller LC9 and access is no problem at all. All in all, I think I prefer the custom cut, but, again, that's a purely personal decision. Like any other carry system, train well with what you use and you will be proficient with it.

The Cleveland and the Minotaur

I previously did a review of Comp-Tac's AIWB Minotaur for the SR9c here on this blog. See it for details. It is important to remember that the Minotaur I use here to compare with the Cleveland holsters is not an AIWB, but an IWB designed for strong side carry, as is the Cleveland. In this post I want to point out the differences between these two holsters that clearly show the design differences and philosophies between the two makers.

Right away you can see that the Minotaur is smaller overall and shaped nothing like the Cleveland. Perhaps the most striking difference is in the clips and their arrangement on the two holsters. The Cleveland has traditional metal clips adjusted by means of a series of holes in the leather backing. The Minotaur's clips are thinner kydex with multiple adjustment holes in the clips themselves. Depending on their positions, the ends of the Minotaur's clips may protrude below the bottom of the leather backing. I haven't found this to be an issue. Some users will trim the clips - easily done because they are kydex, not metal - once they have arrived at the positions they like. Unlike all twin clip hybrids, I found the Minotaur to be very easy to put on and remove.

Below you see the reverse (body side) of each holster. The Cleveland is wide and smooth providing a larger surface area to distribute the load. Cleveland uses round, smooth screw heads here which do not impact the holster's comfort. Some holsters of this type use a three-pronged star type of nut that digs into the leather instead of screw heads. This works, but moving these nuts to different positions is a trial, leaving puncture holes behind. The prongs usually are bent and have to be straightened which is difficult as they are thick metal points, and small. This is not an issue with Cleveland's holsters.

The Minotaur's mounting hardware is permanently fixed in place and covered by a thin, smooth leather lining. Even though smaller, the shape of the Minotaur's backing handles the load and delivers a surprising level of comfort. Even though they are radically different in shape, I would say the two are equally comfortable for me. If you have a different body shape, you might prefer one over the other. I am tall and relatively slim: 6' 3", 200 lbs.

The biggest difference between the Minotaur and the Cleveland holsters lies in the ability to attach different kydex shells to the Minotaur to fit different pistols. The kydex shells are available separately for the Minotaur to fit many popular carry guns. Remove four screws, slide in a different holster shell, reinstall the screws and you have a holster for a different gun, but with the same backing broken in to you.

A direct comparison of the two holsters:

Although both holsters offer a wide range of adjustments for ride height and cant, neither are suitable for appendix carry. This style is becoming more popular for CCW owners, and for good reason. There are a number of professional trainers who have debunked the "danger" of appendix carry, especially as compared to the more common strong-side carry method. Both have their risk points and with either the shooter must be aware of them and train to minimize the risks. But to say that appendix carry is inherently more dangerous than the other styles is not correct.

This style of Minotaur might be adjusted for a "straight drop" but the shape of the backing is not designed for appendix carry so I doubt it would be acceptable in that configuration. Comp-Tac does offer a Minotaur designed specifically for appendix carry. I reviewed it here earlier.

The Cleveland is really designed for carry with a cant. I tried to adjust the custom cut for the LC9 to the appendix carry configuration, but with the built-in cant of the kydex shell, it was not possible. So, with that in mind, the Cleveland and the Minotaur can be adjusted for your strong-side carry preferences.

Conclusion: Cleveland makes the best traditional design hybrid, leather backed, dual clip concealment holsters. They have taken the standard design and elevated it to a much higher level with attention to materials, details of construction and the better moulding and 'wrap around' of the kydex. Cleveland offers a thirty-day guarantee, as does Comp-Tac.

My opinion is that Cleveland and Comp-Tac, although following very different design philosophies, offer the best in hybrid, concealed carry holsters available today. The Minotaur is obviously different and has staked out it's own design path. The Cleveland is a more traditional design, but with deep attention paid to the details, comfort and differences between their product and the also-rans. You really can't go wrong with either.

Dueling Lasers: LaserMax & Crimson Trace

My first comparison and evaluation is of the LaserMax Centerfire and the Crimson Trace Defender, both solidly in a competing marketplace for the popular Ruger LCP .380 pistol. Crimson Trace has long offered one of their 'regular' grip-actuated LaserGuard units for the LCP, and have recently introduced their new Defender series. This product is priced and designed as a direct competitor to LaserMax's Centerfire sight. Both companies have kindly supplied one of each unit for the LCP for this evaluation and comparison.

LaserMax

Crimson Trace

You will notice that the form factors are similar, though different in important ways. The shooter actuates the laser with the index finger, which should be positioned over the switch on either laser unit if the draw is done properly and good gun handling is exercised.

LaserMax CenterFire actuation position

Defender actuation position

As the photos show, the switches on both laser units are designed to be used either right or left handed, which is good in general, and shows foresight by both companies to accommodate situations in which the shooter's normal gun hand is occupied or incapacitated. The difference between the two designs, LaserMax and Crimson Trace, is in the actuation - a two way push-switch that remains in it's position once placed there, and the spring-loaded push on/push off switch Crimson Trace uses.

Press the LaserMax activation button, which is the end of the switch that protrudes from either side of the sight, with either index finer (or any other you might need to use) and it switches the laser unit on. The switch remains in the closed position, powering the laser, until the shooter turns it off by pressing the switch rod from the other side. Easy enough to do with a two-hand grip. Simply use a finger on the other, supporting hand.

The Defender relies on a spring loaded push button, actuated from either side. One push and the laser is on. Another push, from either side, and it's off.

The only operational disadvantage I see at this point is that it is possible to inadvertently push the Defender's switch a second time, turning it off accidentally. I don't see this a high risk issue, the switch being rather small and tucked out of the way in a long indent in the casing, but the possibility is there and should be recognized.


The Innards

Below is a photograph of the LaserMax CenterFire units, the one on the left is sized for the Ruger LC9, the one on the right is for the Ruger LCP. They are identical, but one is slightly larger to fit the larger LC9, but the components and arrangements are the same. The LaserMax units are joined with larger self-tapping screws. The allen wrench is supplied to perform any sight adjustments necessary.

LaserMax for the LC9 and LCP

 Below is a comparison shot of the circuits and actuation mechanisms of the Defender, on top, and the LaserMax below. The Defender's case is more bulky and slightly larger than the CenterFire due to the way in which the push button and laser circuitry are enclosed in their own case which is, in turn, enclosed by the overall case for the unit as a whole. The Defender requires two batteries and the CenterFire only one, but in terms of the volume necessary for either, that space is pretty much the same.

Defender and CenterFire internal components

A comparison of the two units, shown below, reveals that the Defender is somewhat larger in the forward portion of the sight than the LaserMax CenterFire, due, undoubtedly to the decision to combine the push button switch mechanism with the laser and it's circuitry into an integrated package.

CenterFire and Defender comparison.

Defender on top of the CenterFire

CenterFire end view showing the actuation rod protruding from both sides. Enough to work well, not enough to cause problems.

 Below are photos of the two unit's casings for a side by side comparison.

Defender and CenterFire external left side comparison

Defender and CenterFire internal left side comparison

How do they mount and look once attached to the pistol?
I would say that the aesthetics of the two designs is pretty much in the mind of the beholder. The LaserMax CenterFire more closely follows the smooth and flowing lines of the LCP, providing, to my eye, a more integrated appearance than the Crimson Trace Defender. It just seems more a part of the gun than an add-on accessory. Now, some may like the more bold look of the Defender, but, again, that's a personal preference. I think the proof is in the using since they are supposed to be sighting aids, not fashion accessories.

CenterFire on the gun

Defender on the gun

Installing the two units.

The installation for both are virtually the same, except the LaserMax uses phillips head self-tapping screws, where the Crimson Trace uses small diameter machine screws tightened by an allen wrench.

Install the batteries, or battery, snap the right side of the unit containing all the working parts to the trigger guard. Interlock the back strap into it's mate already now attached to the trigger guard, swing the left side of the case into place, mate up the halves, pinch them together and torque down the screws.

After doing this a number of times, I can remove the LaserMax Centerfire in less than a minute. I can attach it somewhat quicker. The Crimson Trace Defender, however, exhibited an issue with this relatively simple procedure.

As you can see from the photographs below, I was unable to get the Defender's case to come completely together, even while forcing it by pinching it very hard while tightening the machine screws. I tightened the screws as much as I dared and still I could not get the gap to close. (See the photos below) I removed the Defender and checked for anything that might be keeping the sides from mating properly. The edges were both smooth and I could find nothing that might prevent the halves from closing. So, I tried another method.

The Defender gap

Defender gap, end view

Grabbing couple of strong, spring clamps I use for model ship building, and attaching them, as you see below, I was able to get the gap pretty much closed while I tightened the machine screws again.

The solution. Clamp the ends while installing and tightening the screws.

I was able to get most of the gap closed, but there still remained a small opening at the end of the sight casing. I suspect this is a molding problem resulting from not having exactly flat and true mating surfaces on the two parts. If I were to keep this particular unit on my gun, I would find some plastic filler and fill in that gap to keep it water tight. Of course, this would make it more difficult to remove and replace batteries, for example. You'd have to re-seal it each time.

After clamping

Below, showing the uneven mating surfaces on the Defender, and the position of the push-button activation switch. It is set into a small cavity cast into the sides of each casing to prevent accidental activation in a holster, for example.

Defender activation switch

As a comparison of the end mating surfaces, below is a photograph of the LaserMax CenterFire unit on the LCP showing a clean and precise mating surface.

LaserMax CenterFire end view

One of the biggest issues laser sight makers have in selling to people who are interested in trying them for their carry guns is that of holsters.

If a person buys a gun with a laser attached, or is getting an aftermarket laser for a new gun for which he or she has no, or few, holsters, this is not so much of a conundrum. However, most of us have a few carry guns already, and more than one holster for each. I have too many holsters for my guns, and from what I read, I am not unusual in this. Hickok45 even did an entire episode devoted to the holsters in his 'holster box'. I'm not that far gone, but I'm not that far behind either.

So, I think it is proper to include the holster question, briefly, in this comparison. I venture the opinion that if one already has a holster that will fit a LaserMax equipped handgun, getting a Defender equipped gun - the same gun, of course - to fit that holster depends on the holster. A holster made from heavy leather, like this Bear Creek pocket holster below, would not work. It would be almost impossible to re-mold this kind of holster to fit anything but what it was designed for. I've put the Defender-equipped LCP into this holster to illustrate the point.

Defender equipped LCP in a Bear Creek holster moulded for the Crimson Trace Laserguard

However, a holster, like this Remora with attached magazine pouch, will easily accommodate the LaserMax Centerfire, and the Crimson Trace Defender, and the LaserGuard for that matter.

Defender equipped LCP in a Remora holster. This holster will accommodate all three lasers, the LaserMax Centerfire, the Crimson Trace Laserguard and Defender.

I favor back pocket carry for the LCP, when I go that style, and the Uncle George is my choice for a great holster. It's 'heavy' enough to securely hold the pistol and prevent printing, but 'light' enough to easily draw from while it is in the pocket, and the leather can be somewhat re-molded to fit a slightly differently sized and shaped laser.  Following the directions on Uncle George' website, I used a hair dryer to heat and re-mould this holster to fit the LaserMax Centerfire even though it was originally made for the Crimson Trace LaserGuard. However, trying it with the Defender shows me that the Defender is just too bulky to re-mold for it.

Uncle George back pocket holster made for the Crimson Trace LaserGuard, which has been slightly re-moulded to fit the LaserMax CenterFire sight. The Defender, shown here,  is too large for the holster

Another view of the Defender in an Uncle George.

Last, I put the Defender equipped LCP in my Hay's cross draw holster. It's not in there all the way and it would probably work, but that would not be up to the standards I require in a self-defense holster.

A Hays cross draw holster, made for the LCP/CT LaserGuard combination. If the stitching were not in place at the bottom, this holster might be made to accommodate the Defender, but as is, it's slightly too small.

So, the conclusion is that if one has a holster made for a laser gun already, even a Crimson Trace unit, the Defender might, or might not fit, or be made to fit. In my experience, a LaserMax CenterFire has a better chance of fitting into a holster made for the Crimson Trace LaserGuard, or vice versa, than does the Defender.

If you are in the market for either one of these sights, plan on also getting a quality holster for it. Both LaserMax and Crimson Trace can point you in the direction of good holster makers who make quality products for each.

Function
Well, where the rubber meets the road, or the bullet meets the target, is the end result of this exercise in laser sight aids.

Both companies have essentially the same laser units in their offerings, functionally speaking. Laser power is constrained to be no more than 5mW in power with a wavelength of 650nm (nano meters). Their beam shapes are identical and both emit in the red spectrum.

Once switched on, there is not much to choose from between the two. In low light or darkness they are bright and easy to see. Also under most lighting conditions, especially at expected self-defense distances, seven to ten yards, they are readily visible even in sunlight.

In general, my opinion is that it is not a good thing to become heavily dependent on a laser sight on a self defense handgun. There are times when it can be very useful and provide a distinct advantage, but there are also times when it's something else to operate and for the eye to pick up that red dot. Getting a shot off as quickly as possible may be critical in certain instances, and there would be no time for dot acquisition. Given that laser sights are another option in one's self defense repertoire, acquiring and training with a laser sight is a good thing. I especially think they are most valuable when coupled with a small gun, like the LCP which is difficult enough to shoot accurately in the first place.

I think the biggest factors separating the LaserMax CenterFire and the Crimson Trace Defender come down to quality of construction, integration with your chosen firearm and personal preference between the two actuating mechanisms. In my opinion, after using both, I think the LaserMax Centerfire is the best choice.

The quality of construction is demonstrably better than Crimson Trace's current effort with the Defender.

I don't care for the bulky shape of the Defender, preferring the smoother integration of the CenterFire with the LCP, but this is, of course, solely a matter of personal taste.

 Lastly, having spent a number of years as an engineering technician I am inherently suspicious of mechanisms with too many moving parts. The Defender's spring-loaded push-push switch is more likely to fail than the CenterFire's simple push on, push off switch. It probably won't happen, but Murphy has taught me that things do happen and they mostly happen at the worst times. Simply put, in the CenterFire's simple, springless on/off switch, there is no spring to fail.

I want to express my profound thanks to LaserMax and Crimson Trace for stepping up and providing these laser sights for a comparison evaluation. It has taken a number of months to get everything in place and I hope the result is worthwhile and helpful to anyone considering a laser sight for their self defense handguns. Both Crimson Trace and LaserMax are small companies dedicated to designing and producing quality products and their customer service and relationship management staffs have been helpful to me in this project.

Please leave any comments and I will respond as best I can to them.

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