AIWB Holsters Trial Results

Late last year I acquired seven AIWB (Appendix Inside Waist Band) holsters for testing and review. There are many, many such holsters on the market now, some good, and some not so good. I could have asked for and received more holsters but to have been even-handed in my testing, it would have taken me far too long to use each one long enough to provide a fair evaluation. So, I chose these as my guinea pigs: Cook's IWB Holster with Adjustable Belt Clip, their #1 best seller currently; G-Code Holster's Incog Eclipse; Blade-Tech's Klipt. I also tested four Remora holsters: the standard no-clip holster, the Micro,  the Carbon Carry Hybrid holster, and the Clip IWB holster.

I carried my S&W M&P Shield in these holsters over a period of half a year, alternating them, getting each experience in my daily carry activities, winter, spring and summer. This is important since, like most of you, my activities vary from day to day and week to week. As the seasons change, so do my clothing needs and preferences. A good holster should be adaptable to all of these varying conditions and requirements. As you will see, some were, and some were not. I will discuss each holster in turn, then my conclusions at the end of this article.


Cook's IWB Holster with Adjustable Belt Clip

Cook's with the Shield
body side

Cook's with the Shield
belt side

This is a kydex holster with carbon fiber imprint. It has an ABS 1 1/2" belt clip that is adjustable for cant. The holster was shipped with an extra 1.75" clip.

As you can tell from the photos, the quality of this holster is right up there with the best. Fine attention to detail. Smooth edges and corners. The carbon imprint (an option) is flawless. The Shield fits perfectly. The tension was as I like it originally and I never had to adjust it, although a screw is placed correctly if that is needed.

The sweat guard works as it should and is no bigger than it needs to be. Note that the magazine release is also covered. For AWIB carry I settled on the 1.5" clip, slightly canted as you see. Gave it the best concealment under a T-shirt, which are the mainstays of my summer wardrobe.

The Cook's holster is easy on and easy off yet holds to the belt firmly and won't come off unless you open the clip and deliberately take it off. I carried this one many times and it was always comfortable, didn't pinch or poke and holstered easily and unholstered just as nicely. I found that it conceals your weapon very well. I have worn the Shield in this holster to many public events, all day, under a basic T-shirt and no one has ever been the wiser. After one all-day outing my wife asked me after we returned home if I carried a gun that day. Silly question, but still it spoke volumes about this holster.

G-Code Holster's Incog Eclipse

G-Code Incog Eclipse

G-Code Incog Eclipse

G-Code says that their INCOG series holsters are "joint development projects between Haley Strategic Partners and G-Code Holsters."
As with the Cook's holster, this is a single-clip, kydex (I think. More on this later on...) holster that has what G-Code refers to as "tactical fuzz" bonded to the outer surface. This "fuzz" is what G-Code calls a suede-like synthetic outer laminate which is supposed to dampen noise during movement and reduce the "reflective signature in the IR spectrum and blend with the surrounding environment." All this may be true in certain situations, but for an AIWB holster the fuzz's main advantage is comfort and friction. I'm not overly worried about reflective IR signatures or blending in with AIWB carry.

Of all of the holsters I tested for this writeup, I found the Eclipse to be the best. It wasn't far and away more comfortable than Cook's, but I think the "fuzz" is a bit softer, tends to grab a bit more on my clothing and doesn't move around much at all. For me, I'd say I prefer it. Not by a lot, but still I tended to reach for the Eclipse instead of the Cook's more often.

I haven't found the need to change the position of the clip but it is easily done. The aluminum stand-off looks kind of funky at first, but it is solid and puts the clip out even with the holster body. Note that the clip is sprung outward and is plastic, not metal. I hate metal clips. Thin, springy, sharp and tend to catch on things and are pretty obvious. Not this one. It flexes open easily, grabs the belt, even my thin nylon one, tenaciously and somehow almost disappears. How do they do that?

And, it's a 'tuckable'. I hardly ever tuck my shirt over my weapon. I've done it, and it works, but typically I don't bother.

Blade-Tech's Klipt

Blade-Tech Klipt

This holster is a less expensive and basic version of the Cook's and Eclipse holsters, and many other similarly designed kydex holsters on the market. Its main virtue is the cost: $29 msrp. This is likely due to the fact that these holsters are moulded from injected thermoplastic, not kydex. Can't tell you much more than that except I would venture that because they are moulded on an assembly line, Blade-Tech can produce in volume and bring the costs down.

Injection moulding can produce as fine a holster as kydex, so don't let that stand in the way of regarding the holster for what it is and what it can do. I'd say that this holster performs all of the functions as the previous two almost as well at far less. The Klipt concealed and secured the Shield as well as the Cook's or Eclipse, stayed where I put it, is lightweight and offers an easy draw and re-holster. It certainly came in third in the comfort department, but not by much. There were times, when wearing it all day, that I would have been hard pressed to quickly declare which of the three holsters I had on.

There is not much more to say other than if you want an inexpensive yet quality AIWB holster, this one is definitely worth consideration.

Remora

Remora holsters have been a conundrum for me since I got my first one almost five years ago. I have used pretty much all of their holsters except for their new shoulder holster rig. Sometimes I love them. Sometimes I don't. When the pistol comes out of the carry holster for the day, it goes into a Remora and into the drawer or safe. If I keep a pistol close by in the house, it will be in a Remora. If I zip out to the yard or maybe just down to the store, I may slide the pistol in a Remora under my waistband and take off.

Other times when I'm moving about a lot, like sitting, kneeling and bending, the Remora will work up from it's AIWB position and I can feel it riding too high under my belt and have to take the time to reposition it. I was doing yard work one day and my Remora-clad LCP fell out onto the lawn.

I strongly suspect that if I carried in the strong-side position, I would not have this issue. But, I don't.

So, I have this odd relationship with the Remora. I have some. I use them often, but not for extended out-in-the-world concealed carry. I reviewed the newer ones below.

Standard no-clip holster

Remora standard clipless holster

This is the one that sometimes gives me fits. It is a high-friction, clipless holster with a smooth interior for an easy draw, and high-friction outer material to adhere between your waistband and body, or undershirt. It's biggest drawbacks are, using it in the AIWB position, it's tendency to work up and out of the waistband position, and the inability to re-holster with one hand. (I don't buy the notion that this isn't necessary. One may have one hand occupied with supporting or helping another person, or that hand or arm may be injured so that two hands are necessary to put the gun safely away.)


Micro

Remora Micro

The Micro is essentially a standard Remora holster, open at the bottom as well as the top, with a swiveling metal clip attached. These modification perform two functions: the open bottom allows similarly shaped guns with varying barrel lengths to fit. It is much like the 'belt slide' design, but for IWB carry. The swiveling clip – why they put the clip on a swivel is beyond me – keeps the small surface area holster in place. And makes it tuckable.

This is a surprisingly comfortable holster and pretty much disappears under a light shirt. Two handed holstering is a must. But, I don't like steel clips and the bottom of the clip-swivel sometimes hangs up trying to don the holster.

It is inexpensive. It works. Of bells and whistles, there are none.

Carbon Carry Hybrid holster

Remora Carbon Carry with Shield

The Carbon Copy is Remora's foray into the world of standard type hybrid holsters. I think the main difference is Remora's "no-slip" material on the back side of the leather backing which enhances it's IWB capability. Otherwise, it is very similar to other hybrid design holsters with leather backing and kydex shells. Better made than some, especially the Crossbreed brand.

I have tried this holster for AIWB and although it works, it is better used for strong side carry in my opinion. The Remora folks also advertise this as an optional OWB carry holster and it probably will work that way too, but I didn't try it.

Clip IWB holster

Remora IWB Clip (Remora's photo)

I have used Remora's photo of this holster because I found the holster to be unsatisfactory and took none with my gun inserted. The basic idea is good, and one I had implemented before on a Remora holster, although in a different fashion. Turing the "clipless" holster into a "clip" holster is a means to overcome the tendency of the clipless design to work up and out of the waistband when carried in the appendix or cross draw positions. I earlier took a Remora clipless with mag pouch attached, drilled a hole between the holster and mag pouch, on the sewn seam there, and attached a kydex clip to it. This worked perfectly in the AIWB position, being comfortable (the wide surface area of the holster plus mag pouch contributing to that) and the clip kept it in place.

This design, from Remora, on the other hand has a big problem. It is very difficult to put on and even harder to take off. The metal clip is fitted over a loop sewn onto the holster. The clip stays there because there is a short lip bent into the end of the clip so that it can't slide back off the loop. The end of the clip that goes over the belt is also bent down into a channel and back up forming a lip. Getting the clip over your belt and waistband is hard due to the bend of the clip at the bottom of the loop – it catches something, pants, belt, and snags up. After you do manage to get your belt over that lip and under the clip proper, it holds tight. Trying to remove the clip is a struggle. You have to seriously pull the clip apart, no easy task for some of us with old and or weaker hands, then struggle to get that lip at the end of the loop to release the belt.

I tried this a number of times and finally gave up.

Remora, use a good plastic clip and attach it securely to the holster in such a way that it doesn't interfere with getting the holster on and off. And, forget the swivel thing.

Conclusion

After months of use and testing, it has come down to a toss-up between the Cook's holster and the Eclipse. I am leaning more toward the Eclipse for two reasons: 1. the holster is a bit smaller and the tactical fuzz makes it a bit, but not a lot, more comfortable, and 2. the clip is better.

After extensive use of holsters for mid-sized semi-autos like the Shield and the Ruger SR9c I have come to favor the minimal designs. Less is more in the sense of, with the right design, an AIWB holster should be as small and unobtrusive as possible while meeting the requirements of security, accessibility, concealment and comfort. Personally, I find a small, conforming excellently designed synthetic holster to be much more useable, comfortable and secure than a slab of leather, clips and kydex or plastic stuck inside my pants.

For the ones I tested for this article I am declaring the G-Code Eclipse as the one that meets my requirements the best.

Cook’s Holsters – The Chef’s Surprise

Cook's IWB adjustable clip holster with the S&W M&P Shield

Cook's IWB adjustable clip holster

Cook's IWB adjustable clip holster, body side

Cook's IWB adjustable clip holster with the Shield, body side.

Last year I embarked on a project to find excellent IWB holsters for we civilians who carry concealed in everyday life. There are, of course, literally hundreds of holster makers out there vying for our money. Some of them are established, large businesses that also make other gear for law enforcement and military use. Some are medium to small businesses making gear of their own design to their own specifications and quality requirements. Some are people working out of their garages and basements making gear they believe in, and a few others are turing out cheap knock-offs to make some quick money.

Although one has perhaps too many choices in holsters, and most of us accumulate a box full of rejects while looking for the right one, holsters are a most important part of a person’s every day carry gear. You will see some people who have expensive handguns of which they are inordinately proud, but carry them in inexpensive holsters that may confer potential liability for the shooter. I have also seen some people who have inexpensive but well cared for handguns holstered in quality holsters that will always be ready to do their job effectively, every time. If you carry a handgun, you need, absolutely need, a quality holster.

A quality holster will do a number of things very well. It will keep your gun securely contained while protecting the trigger at all times. It will be constructed so that your handgun is easily accessed when needed, but will not come out unless you draw it. It will be designed to ride in the position you choose for carry, and not wobble, twist, or deform. It will be acceptably comfortable. I

t will be constructed so that it is ready for one-hand re-holstering without taking one's eyes off of the scene to search for the holster’s opening. Although some firearms pundits and internet ‘experts’ claim this is not necessary, they are wrong. There may be occasions when one needs absolutely to quickly and securely re-holster one’s firearm: if one is helping an injured person or shielding a child, or if one’s weak-side arm or hand is injured, or if the fight is probably over and the police are arriving. You do not want to be waving a gun around when the police are trying to sort out who they bad guys are.

After much trial and error, and as I’ve become more and more comfortable with concealed carry over the years, I have settled on appendix carry for 90% of my carry time. It just makes sense considering my life style and where I go and how I dress. Appendix carry makes getting to your gun easier and quicker while walking, standing or sitting, in the car or on the street. And, it is easily concealable even under a simple shirt. There are some who will not consider appendix carry because they have a fear of shooting themselves in the stomach, groin or leg when drawing or re-holstering their gun. It should be noted that many people and professionals choose this type of carry especially when concealment and quick access is primary. Given the fact that a modern semi auto handgun, even those without a manual safety like the enormously popular Glock, do not just go off by themselves, but require a positive, trigger pull, it only makes sense that keeping one's finger off of the trigger until ready to fire is a cardinal rule not to be broken. Allied with this is the necessity to keep any other object away from the trigger during holstering or re-holstering. That's where a plastic or kydex holster comes into it's own. They don't (or shouldn't, if the right holster is chosen) deform or collapse like fabric or leather holsters may do, especially after they are older. Keeping one's clothing out of the way when drawing or re-holstering is the shooter's responsibility regardless of the holster.

As I've mentioned before, there lives in our little town a retired law enforcement officer who often goes armed around town with his Glock stuck into the waistband of his jeans. No holster. No trigger shroud. He likes to call this "Mexican carry" and thinks he knows what he is doing. A few of us have reflected on how long it will be before he creates a negligent discharge. Speaking with him about the dangers of this to him and possibly others hasn't done much good. Maybe we should just take up a collection and buy him a holster?

Most of the various holsters I have used over the years are languishing in a box or have been sold. I’ve used leather, hybrid, synthetic, plastic and kydex holsters. For IWB appendix carry holster for my M&P Shield I reach for my Cook’s Holster’s IWB with the adjustable belt clip. Mine is made of 0.080” Kydex. Cook’s offers other thicknesses, but his one is light, strong and will not change shape. I could probably stand on it without damaging it. It has an ABS injection molded plastic belt clip that is strong, flexible and easy to slip on and off over the belt. Once it clicks into place, it stays put. The clip is wide enough to keep the holster and gun from rotating, and shaped on the end so that it’s easy to manipulate, but doesn’t stick out like those awful metal clips which are just waiting to sang on your shirt or sweater.

The other fine points worth mentioning are the sight channel built into the holster. No chance of your gun’s sight being snagged during the draw. The holster has a built-in sweat shield and sports a retention adjustment screw.

I have worn this holster in the appendix, cross draw and strong side positions to test its flexibility in placement. It rides extremely well in any of those positions and with the adjustable cant from the belt clip screws is readily adaptable when you wish to carry in different positions.

I have carried my Shield in many different places and situations riding in this holster. It is comfortable as a hybrid leather and kydex holster, and to my mind better, because it is easier to re-holster into, doesn’t move and I don’t have a large swath of leather and two clips to deal with. This is important when I need to quickly remove the gun and holster, then just as quickly and easily slip it back into place and secure it to my belt. Try that with a hybrid two-clip leather/kydex holster.

I’ve been using this Cook’s holster for the better part of a year, summer, fall and winter and I’ve yet to find something to complain about.

If you are serious about an everyday carry holster that offers quality, durability and is just plain outstanding at what it does, consider a Cook’s holster. They are plain outstanding kick-ass holsters. I call them “Chef’s” holsters, they are that good.

Another future candidate: G-Code's INCOG holster system.

I am looking for other candidates for my personal favorite IWBA (In Waist Band Appendix) carry holster for the S&W M&P Shield. I have been reading and seeing video reviews on G-Code's offering in this area. It's an injection moulded holster that can be part of a modular system, can be adjusted for different carry positions (not just appendix), has the ability to attach a magazine carrier, and has a unique coating called 'tactical fuzz'. It is getting very positive reviews. I hope to have one for testing and to report back here soon.

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.