The TDSA Tip
Leather or Kydex?

I would be willing to bet a fair amount of money that nearly one hundred percent of the people reading this tip own more than one holster.  Why?  Because the intimate process of choosing a holster is a highly un-scientific and subjective process.  No single holster will serve every gun owner; no single holster will serve every purpose.
 
I have a large number of holsters which I have collected over the years.  Some of them I ask myself every time I see them, "What in the world was I thinking when I bought THAT?!"  I have the interesting but overly-complicated small-of-the-back holster; the soft-as-butter inside-the-waist-band holster that requires three hands to get the weapon back into.  I have shoulder holsters that could not, after hours of labor, be adjusted to fit my body.  Most of the holsters which I do not use any more are leather, but not all.  Some of them are made of a plastic more flexible than Kydex.
 
When choosing a holster, you should consider its durability, level of safety, and consistency of draw.  I have a few holsters which I wear quite a lot, and one or two which I wear nearly every day.  For myself, I have learned a few basic rules the hard way, after spending lots of money for nothing, but keep in mind that my opinions are geared towards concealed carry and competitive shooting, especially IDPA:
  1. Think about why you are buying the holster.  Do you want it for concealed carry only?  Do you want it for competition?  Both? 
  2. Buy quality.  Stay away from generics or cheap imitations that don't have a proven track record.  You get what you pay for. 
  3. Ascertain whether the holster can be used with more than one handgun.  Certain designs can accommodate several similar (but not identical) models of handguns.  Why buy more if one can do the job for several?

But then, of course, you come up against yet another issue; do I buy leather, or Kydex?  NOTE: I did NOT say plastic!  In my experience, the following generalities can be trusted:

  1. Leather holsters from quality makers are generally very good and will be quite durable.  They can also be very expensive.  And, there is often a fairly strenuous and lengthy break-in period.  They also are inconsistent in draw resistance based on many factors.  Leather smells wonderful and looks great if well maintained.  Leather will creak.  Leather is thicker and bulkier than Kydex.
  2. Kydex (NOT PLASTIC!!) holsters from quality makers are generally very good and will be even more durable.  They are usually somewhat less expensive than top quality leather holsters.  There should be no break-in period.  Kydex offers consistency of draw resistance.  It has no smell and is completely utilitarian.  It doesn't creak.  It is thinner and stiffer than leather.
  3. Neither will serve every purpose; both will abrade the finish of your handgun over time if you practice draws as much as you should. 
My personal conclusion is that Kydex is better for my purposes, both for concealed carry and competition.  I like the toughness of the material; I like its ease of maintenance.  I like the fact that it works the same way wet or dry.  It doesn't stretch, mold, soften or fray with use or neglect.  It won't discolor my skin, and it doesn't retain moisture.  It also offers a faster, more consistent draw.  Additionally, if you plan to use the holster a great deal and/or expose it to the abuse of competition, Kydex will hold up better over time.  Plastic holsters from some makers offer many of these advantages, but they will not hold up as well under heavy use.  Plastic is not as stiff, it is not as stable, and it is not as durable.  It may get you by, but it is not the best.
 
Your needs and prejudices are not the same as mine.  Again; why do you want the holster?  How much do you want to spend?  Is great smell more important than consistent performance?  Ultimately you will have to make your own decisions.  I hope that what I have learned at my own expense can help guide you through the selection process.

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