Kydex Vs Leather Holsters: Which Is Best For You?

Trying to figure out the best holster to carry a concealed handgun in daily can become overwhelming with options and configurations. The age-old question when looking for a new holster is to choose between Kydex and leather holsters. Both materials have their strengths as well as their drawbacks. To add even more options to the market, I decided to check out a hybrid holster that is made out of both materials. I recently snagged all three styles from Falco Holsters and gave them a fair shakedown to see which style I prefer the best.

Kydex Holsters

The most popular choice when it comes to concealment holsters has to be the classic inside-the-waistband Kydex holster. Made from high-strength polymer, Kydex holsters offer a comfortable, affordable way of carrying your firearm without the risk of it coming unholstered accidentally. One of the biggest benefits of Kydex is the amount of retention you can have on your gun and the ability to adjust retention. Kydex holsters have that classic audible click where Leather holsters tend to have a snug fit that retains the pistol rather than an audible click like Kydex.

This particular IWB holster is the A903 2021 from Falco Holsters. This holster has a claw attachment to help push your waistband out which helps reduce any printing when carrying both appendix or strong side carry on your hip. Some prefer streamlined holsters, but personally, I love the claw attachment to give me that little push to hide my carry gun more effectively. When carrying something smaller like this P365 XL, having a lightweight holster allows the overall package to be concealed easily with no worries of fatigue throughout the day. Kydex is dependable and will usually hold up better over time than leather with better retention as well.

Leather Holsters

Leather holsters have been a great choice and tend to have that classic look while being semi-flexible which ultimately makes leather the more comfortable option. When it comes to the leather inside the waistband holster, I did find it to not be as aggressive on the waistline which made for a more comfortable carrying experience. Leather holsters tend to have a slight break-in period to fit a carry pistol correctly. The break-in period was relatively quick and the thick material used allows for a very snug fit. These types of holsters with thick sections of leather will help keep the rigidity and retention of my SIG P365.

Between the leather and Kydex holsters, I felt the leather holster was more comfortable while carrying for 8+ hours a day. Depending on how you carry and what you wear, there is a possibility of having hot spots where a Kydex holster rubs your body to the point where it becomes uncomfortable.

This particular holster is the A634 Langdon from Falco Holsters. Carrying with the leather holster did cut down on having hot spots and the leather was more forgiving on my body after a full day of carrying especially on hot days. Another huge plus on the leather holster is the ease of cleaning the holster compared to Kydex. A common misconception of Kydex holsters is the fact people think they can scratch the finish. While the holster itself cannot scratch the surface of your carry gun, the material and debris that accumulates inside the holster over time can start to scratch the finish of your carry gun.

Hybrid Holsters

The newest option on the market is a hybrid holster system that allows for the retention of Kydex with the comfort of leather. When I saw this option available, I really wanted to give it a shakedown since on paper, this is the best of both worlds. This particular holster is the A911 TalonGuard from Falco. Having the more comfortable aspects of leather holsters with the retention and security of Kydex is the best of both worlds. Once I got my hands on this Falco TalonGuard hybrid-style holster, I started carrying this option after carrying Falco’s leather and Kydex options.

Throughout my time with the hybrid system, it is more comfortable than the traditional Kydex holster but has an audible click which gives me peace of mind that the traditional leather holster doesn’t. The leather section does make carrying for long periods of time more comfortable with fewer hot spots than Kydex holsters. I wasn’t sure what to expect when initially grabbing these holsters for testing but over time, I can confidently say Falco has hit the nail on the head with the TalonGuard hybrid holster. Each material has its pros and cons, but the hybrid system allows for the best of both worlds without having to deal with the negative aspects of each style.

Overall Thoughts 

If I had to keep just one of these holsters and not be able to use any other, I would ultimately have to pick the Falco A911 TalonGuard hybrid holster for the fact that it allows you to have the best of both worlds without dealing with the shortcomings of a traditional leather or Kydex holster. The ability to have a rigid lock-up and audible retention with the improved comfort of the leather wrapping makes the Falco TalonGuard genuinely one of my favorite holsters I have tried out.

If you guys are looking for a new holster, I would certainly encourage you to check out the TalonGuard hybrid holsters from Falco. What’s your favorite type of concealment holster that you like to carry? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. If you have questions about holsters or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next review.