First Look At FALCO’s REAL Carbon Fiber Holsters

When it comes to holsters, we have grown used to the debate on whether or not you should choose leather or Kydex for a daily carry holster. Ever since the release of Kydex holsters, there have been two main options for holster material. What if there were a viable third option? I heard Falco Holsters was coming out with a set of holsters that are either a hybrid or fully made of genuine carbon fiber. Unlike carbon fiber texture printed onto Kydex holsters, these Falco Holsters are fully made out of real carbon fiber, which made me immediately wonder how they performed in daily life. Let's take a closer look at Falco Holsters' carbon fiber options.

Why Carbon Fiber?

I'm sure some of you are sitting in your chairs, wondering why someone would want a holster made out of carbon fiber rather than traditional Kydex or leather. Carbon fiber is incredibly strong given its light weight. When most of us think of carbon fiber, we think of race cars or aerospace products. So the fact that Falco has brought that material into holster production is pretty intriguing as well as impressive. When it comes to concealment holsters, years of wear and tear can naturally wear the polymer down on Kydex holsters creating weak spots.

There's been more than one vehicle class in my life where I’m rolling on the ground under a vehicle and I hear my polymer holster pop, which is actually the sound of it splitting at the weak points. Kydex holsters are fantastic for offering great protection for their price, but there are natural drawbacks, with weak points being one. Leather, on the other hand, can lose its retention because of improper treatment or too-humid environment. The beauty of carbon fiber is the fact that it never degrades or is prone to weak points like other materials out there. The only downside is the cost of carbon fiber, but Falco has solved that issue as well. Now let's get into the actual holsters themselves.

The AX92 Hybrid Carbon Fiber

The hybrid design has been around for quite a while, but combining the comfort of leather holsters with the rigidity of carbon fiber, you really get the best of both worlds when it comes to comfort and security. I’ve been carrying this IWB hybrid holster on and off for the past few weeks. Unlike most hybrid holsters, the vent holes cut into the side allow for air to pass through, allowing for your skin to breathe a bit more than other hybrid holsters. I found myself not sweating as much or being as uncomfortable with this holster than other options I’ve tried in the past.

Falco also installed their sturdy belt loop clips onto their AX92 hybrid holster, which does not allow the holster or handgun to move at all when moving around throughout daily life. Falco also doubles up the leather around the rear of the handgun, so there's no chance of rubbing or discomfort over time, which really is a nice plus. This holster doesn't have adjustable retention, but with an optional cant of the holster and with the clips keeping tension, the gun really sits snugly in the holster with an audible click when exiting and entering back into the holster. The biggest downside to two-clip IWB holsters is the fact that the leather tends to break in too much when not treated correctly. In some cases, this might lead to a lack of retention. The idea of having rigid carbon fiber around the trigger guard allows for the holster to extend its life, ensuring years of use.

CXL91 Duty Options

The most interesting concept is creating an Outside the Waistband holster from carbon fiber rather than Kydex. Like I said earlier, I’ve had a few holsters in my lifetime crack or break due to rolling in training or just from extended use over time. The idea of having carbon fiber completely encapsulating the holster is where this concept truly starts to shine. I’ve been trying out their CXL91 Light Bearing holster at the range, testing the rigidity and lock-up of the holster. This model has adjustable retention, giving you the option to adjust depending on your preference for how resistant you prefer.

While testing the CXL91, I used my Glock 19 with a few upgrades and modifications, including a threaded barrel. I thought it was a nice touch to have a slight hood over the threaded barrel, allowing for full coverage on your Glock 19 despite having a weapon light attached to the holster. The pancake-style attachment allows for solid retention, with the extra durability being a huge plus from the upgraded material. There are some clever holster designs out there, but I think this OWB carbon fiber holster is truly a push the industry needs to look for new materials in order to make holsters lightweight and stronger. The price for the CXL91 holster is $299.99, which seems fairly steep, but for genuine carbon fiber as the material and the extra durability you get with this holster, I would say this is well worth the extra cost from a traditional Kydex-style holster.

Overall Thoughts

While carbon fiber holsters have been talked about in the past as a potential material, Falco Holsters made them a reality with improved durability, compatibility with over 2400+ handguns and over 100+ lights, as well as looking like a functional piece of art. These carbon fiber holsters may be priced slightly more than traditional holsters on the market, however, the benefits, especially when it comes to durability, really do outweigh the cost of these holsters. What do you guys think about using carbon fiber as a holster material? Let me know your thoughts down in the comment section below. If you have questions about the Falco Holsters or concealed carry in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next one.