Best Concealed Carry Holster: Leather vs. Kydex vs. Nylon Holsters

  • by Casy Smith
Best Concealed Carry Holster: Leather vs. Kydex vs. Nylon Holsters

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When it comes to concealed carry advice, we stress the importance of practicing the fundamentals of drawing and firing your daily concealed carry weapon. Practice is essential to success in a self-defense situation. After training, crafting a self-defense plan for home, work and other daily activities is a critical step to conscious concealed carry. 

However, you need the right tools for the job. When you're poorly equipped, you end up looking like a surgeon preparing for a procedure with a butter knife: clumsy and dangerous. 

Nailing the basics of your CCW gear can be the difference between efficient self-defense or a fumbling mess in a serious situation. Outside of your firearm, your holster is the most critical component of your concealed carry practice. A low-quality holster will lead to low-quality results. 

In our work to manufacture excellent concealment furniture and decor, we understand that there isn't a one-size-fits-all standard for firearms. We want to develop options that work in different situations. It is the same in your search for the best concealed carry holster: you need to ensure you have the best equipment for you.

When looking online, you will find several holster formats and material types. To learn more about the pros and cons of different holster placements, check out our article covering shoulder and belt holsters. Today, we want to explore a few holster materials and see which will work best for you. 

Why Does a Good Holster Matter?

As discussed earlier, having the right equipment can help you better prepare for self-defense. A slower draw speed equals less space between you and an assailant. Your holster should keep your pistol concealed and secure to your body to avoid any unwanted reveals. 

How do you find a "good" holster? It needs to fit three criteria:

  • It secures and conceals the firearm to your designated draw point. You should feel good about your firearm staying put when walking, sitting and taking care of other daily chores.
  • It is comfortable enough to keep on you for long periods. You shouldn't have to shift your firearm around or remove it from your side to feel comfortable.
  • It blends with your normal attire, allowing you to conceal your sidearm in an inconspicuous spot. 

You will find that many holster manufacturers choose one of the following three materials to meet those criteria: leather, kydex and nylon. Which one will work best for you?

Handgun Holster Types: Leather 

Leather holsters have a long history of use and are known for their iconic look. While our forefathers' leather holsters didn't exist exactly as we saw them in the movies, variations of this gun case go back to the 1800s and earlier being popularized in the Civil War. Travelers and farmers used them to transport and protect their firearms. 

Today, you still see many leather holsters in the concealed carry space. How do they retain their popularity? 

Pros of Using a Leather Concealed Carry Holster

  • Comfort: Leather's natural flexibility and soft finish can make it desirable for carrying in the waistband. Much like a high-quality leather belt, a leather holster will naturally shape around the gun and your body, making it a natural extension of your attire. 
  • Low profile: Leather's slim profile is perfect for keeping your firearm's footprint as minimal as possible on your attire. Leather minimizes "printing" through your pants or shirt, as it bends with the waistband.
  • Durability (if properly maintained): If you take time to look through the history of leather handgun holsters, you may find leather holsters that have endured more than 100 years and are still intact. When you properly maintain your leather holster, you may see similar results.

Cons of Using a Leather Concealed Carry Holster

  • Cost: Quality, custom leather holsters can get expensive in a hurry. Real leather holsters can cost anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars. While some pundits will say the cost is worth it regarding the best concealed carry experience, the price must be considered when comparing the three materials. 
  • Natural moisture retention: Moisture can wreak havoc on a leather holster if it can't air out properly. Sweat, humidity and precipitation can all reach a leather holster if exposed. This moisture can then dry out the leather or cause rot to the tanned hyde if not aired out properly. You should have a layer of clothing between you and your holster.
  • Break-in period: A leather holster may be stiff at first and cause discomfort to the carrier. A leather sidearm carrier can take a few days or weeks to conform to your firearm and body. 

Now that we've had a chance to visit the tannery and explore leather as a potential holster material, let's look at a polymer that’s become synonymous with high-quality holsters: Kydex.

Handgun Holster Types: Kydex 

Kydex is a high-impact, fire-rated and acrylic-modified PVC thermoplastic sheet developed in the 1960s for aircraft components and mass transit interiors. Its use as a holster material came in the next decade when a former FBI agent developed the Kydex holster in 1973. What made these premier polymer holsters commonplace in the concealed carry space?

Pros of Using a Kydex Concealed Carry Holster

  • High durability: These thermoplastic sheets are extremely strong and difficult to break or alter chemically. In normal conditions, you don't have to worry about a Kydex holster snapping or breaking when you're out and about. 
  • Excellent shape retention: Kydex holsters must be thermoformed around a firearm mold, meaning they are designed to fit your handgun exactly. The custom mold makes sure you know exactly where your firearm is when drawing and is always ready for the reholster.
  • Low maintenance: Kydex is easy to clean and maintain after a long day. You can simply wipe away moisture or debris from your holster and move on about your day. 

Cons of Using a Kydex Concealed Carry Holster

  • Rigidity can be uncomfortable: One of the best parts of Kydex can also be one of its biggest weaknesses in the comfort department. It was initially developed as an outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster for law enforcement, so the initial carriers didn't worry about the hard polymer digging into their skin as it rested on their belts. In civilian concealed carry, you may find the holster uncomfortable when sitting at an office job or running errands. 
  • Price: Like their leather counterparts, Kydex holsters can be expensive. Due to their specific molding, you have to find one that fits your firearm's dimensions. The customized nature of Kydex may lead to a higher cost than a generic holster.
  • Potential firearm wear: Some seasoned firearm owners have described seeing more wear on their handguns' finishes when using a Kydex holster due to the material's rough finish. 

After peeling back some of the layers of Kydex as your potential holster material, let's look at the last common textile you may be exploring for your next firearm holder: nylon. 

Handgun Holster Types: Nylon 

Nylon is a prominent synthetic that saw its debut in the late 1930s. It was marketed as a super textile that could provide the strength of steel in a small fiber. While it couldn't deliver on that lofty expectation, it offered a number of applications through the 20th century, including hosiery, fishing line and toothbrushes. 

It continues to be used as a synthetic in various tactical applications, especially firearm accessories like holsters. Is this storied synthetic the best material for your holster?

Pros of Using a Nylon Concealed Carry Holster

  • Cost: Nylon holsters are generally the least expensive of the three materials we looked at today. Many are mass-manufactured to fit a range of firearm sizes, reducing their cost. 
  • Comfort: Nylon holsters are flexible and softer than Kydex or a fresh leather holster. You may find nylon holsters with extra padding to make them more comfortable. 
  • Tactical accessory integration: If you need to carry your firearm off of your body, nylon holsters can easily integrate with fanny packs or small concealed carry bags. You may see concealed carry accessories that use hook and loop fasteners to secure the firearm.

Cons of Using a Nylon Concealed Carry Holster

  • Poor quality: Nylon is naturally less sturdy than leather or Kydex holsters. Since nylon holsters are made up of fibers, they tend to fray and wear with extended use. 
  • Lack of retention: Nylon holsters are soft and are usually manufactured to fit a range of guns, so they don't hold their shape well. 
  • Not secure: The lack of retention and poor quality may result in an inaccessible or dropped firearm, which is the last thing you want when concealed carrying. 

Regardless of the material you choose, testing your holster is essential. Don't be afraid to try a few out. You want to be comfortable with your concealed carry setup's second most important part. Ask the gun shop owner if they have a recommendation for your particular sidearm. 

Once you pick your holster, find pieces in your wardrobe to accommodate it. Take time to walk around with the holster to make sure it fits well. Sit and stand with it. Take time to get used to it. Once you feel comfortable with your new holster, remember to continue dry-fire training with it at home and live-fire practicing at the range (if allowed). 

Find the Right Place for Your Firearm at Home

Finding the right carrying method is crucial for daily self-defense, and so is finding the perfect concealment method at home. Explore concealment decor and furniture from Liberty Home Concealment to find excellent storage methods for your firearm to keep it discreet and secure.
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Hanging instructions for the Patriot Wall Shelf

Factors to consider befor you start

Installing a Patriot wall shelf can be a very simple project but there are several factors that you need to understand. our shelves have been designed to work with standard pine 2X4 construction that was 16" on center. Because they were designed around the 16" on center pine 2X4 framed walls that is the process for our instructions. Installing the shelves on amy other type of wall is done at your risk. Liberty Home Concealment does not advise you to attempt installing your shelf onto amy other type of wall.

Understanding what is beneath your walls

Anytime you are doing work or attaching something to a wall it is wise to have a solid grasp of what lies beneath the surface of your walls. If you are not comfortable with the task of hanging a shelf on your wall perhaps it would be wise to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor to install the shelf on the wall for you. There are many factors that you should consider prior to beginning yur shelf installation. SAFETY is the first and top priority.

Safety First

As a consurmer of Liberty Home Concealment, it is a safe assumption that you are a gun owner. Liberty Home Concealment sincerely hopes that you have a great grasp of the concept of SAFETY FIRST. The installation of our shelves requires several steps and we highly recommend that you have a friend help you with the installation. This is very important as the size and moving parts of the shelves can make the installation very cumbersome and potentially dangerous for a single person to accomplish by themselves. So please, we urge you to get some help. Secondly, proper tools that are in good serviceable condition are a must. Please use your tools in a manner consistent with the manufacturers intended use. Using proper tools can make the installation quick, simple and enjoyable. But most importantly, SAFE. So, save yourself the trouble and use the proper tools.

CAUTION!!

Failure to follow and comply with these instructions could result in INJURY and even DEATH!

Tools that should be considered for a safe proper installation

Stud finder, Tape measure, Pencil, Level, Electric screw driver, and Safety glasses.

Step 1

Confirm your desired wall has adequate support by finding the studs with the stud finder. Also, remove the foam insert until later instruction. Mark your stud locations and transfer those measurement onto your shelf. Drill pilot holes through shelf in marked locations. We recommend using a 1/8" or 3/16" bit for the pilot hole. A hole too big will allow the screw to pull right through the back of the shelf. That would be bad. And unnecessary. Please use the proper drill bit. Depending on your wall you should be able to locate at least two studs to anchor your shelf into for maximum strength. Some walls may even allow for three studs to be anchored into. The shelf MUST use at LEAST (2) pine 2X4 studs and the shelf bracket's to fully support the finished loaded weight.

Step 2

With the help of a friend, and using a level and your original measurements hold the shelf in its desired location and transfer the pilot hole locations to the wall. You should be using a minimum of two studs for this step. Each stud receiving (3) screw locations. Two internally, and the other two in the brackets on top. For now, only focus on marking the internal locations. Mark the four internal screw holes. Make sure to hold your shelf nice and level for this step or yur final installation will be crooked.

Step 3

With the help of a friend, hold the shelf into its' mounting location. Line up the holes in the shelf with the marks in your wall and your wall anchors, and install the six long wood screws into the wall. Four into two different studs, and two into the wall anchors.

Step 4

Installing the shelf brackets to the TOP of your shelf. At this point your shelf is attatched to the wall but it is not ready for any weight. Please DO NOT ADD ANY WEIGHT until you have firmly mounted and anchored your brackets into the top. Have your friend help you support the weight of the shelf until you can get the brackets tightly mounted to the desired location on your wall studs. Again, use two studs. Do not add weight to your shelf either inside, or on top, until both brackets are fully installed. Using the supplied 3/4" screws attach brackets to the top of the shelf and 2 of the longer screws for the stud attachment.

Step 5

Unlocking your shelf. Use your magnetic key to locate and unlock the bottom of the shelf. Do this while the shelf is open so you can see what is going on. You may even want ot make two small marks on the bottom of the shelf if it helps you to locate the pickup. It will take a little practice to find the location of the magnetic pick up but you will find it. Make sure you aren't inadvertently trying to unlock the gas damper. Once the location of the lock pickup is located, the magnet will hold itself in place. However, the shelf will not fully disengage the locks until you release the pressure on the locks by lifting the shelf slightly upward with a simple squeeze of your hands. Once you hear the audible clicks of the locks disengaging you can slowly open the shelf allowing the gas damper to lower the shelf to its resting stop.

Concealment Picture Frame Installation Instructions

Consider What is Beneath Your Walls

Anytime you are doing work or attaching something to a wall it is wise to have a solid grasp of what lies beneath the surface of your walls. If you are not comfortable with the task of cutting a hole in a wall perhaps it would be wise to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor to install this item in the wall for you. There are many factors that you should consider prior to beginning your shelf installation. SAFETY is the first and top priority. CAUTION!! Failure to follow and comply with these instructions could result in INJURY or even DEATH!!

Recommended Tools

These tools are not required to install your Liberty Home Concealment picture freame however they will help with the installation process. Stud Finder, tape measure, level, pencil, jigsaw, circular saw, keyhole saw, Sawzall, drill/driver, inspection mirror, flashlight and a second set of hands to help with marking your wall before cutting. These products were designed to work with "standard" 2X4 construction that was framed on 16" centers.

Step 1

Acquire all the tools to complete the job. Do not forget about proper personal protective gear.

Step 2

Confirm that your wall space is empty!! Failure to do so could result in serious injury or even death!

Step 3

Clean your work area around your desired install location. Cover any furniture with a tarp, drop cloth, or painter's plastic to aid in quick easy cleanup.

Step 4

Use a stud finder to locate the space between two studs. Confirm that you have 14.5" between the two stud edges before marking and cutting your walls.

Step 5

The back box of your picture frame is the size you need to make your hole. Hold picture frame tight against the wall and use your level to ensure frame is sitting level against the wall. On smaller sized picture frames such as 5"X7" and 8"X10" you will fasten to both studs. While holding the picture frame tight against the wall while checking for level and trace around the outside perimeter of the picture frames back box.

Step 6

Before cutting the entire wall opening Liberty Home Concealment recommends that you cut a small hole within the area that wil become the full-size hole. This is done to check and confirm your wall is truly clear of obstructions inside the wall such as electrical wiring plumbing. It's much easier to patch a small hole vs repairing a large hole because you got ahead of yourself. Do not skip this step!!

Step 7

Once you are sure that there are no obstacles inside your cut area, cut the full rectangle that you have marked previously. Remove drywall cutout away from the wall.

Step 8

Slide your new insert/picture frame into the hole you just cut.

Step 9

Use the supplied screws to fasten to the stud or studs that run up the sides of the rear of the box. On smaller frames box will only fasten to the stud you biased your hole towards.

Picture Installation

1. Lay frame face down on soft surface such as a towel or blanket. 2. Hold firmly and slide picture frame in to the open position. 3. Remove four metal picture retainer clips, if clips are tight use a flat bladed screw driver to wiggle free. 4. Remove wood backer noard and lay picture onto glass. Making sure of proper orientation. 5. Reinstall backer board and 4 retaining clips. 6. Slide picture frame closed and enjoy!

Wall maunting instructions for Freedom Series Coat Rack

Recommendation

Liberty Home Concealmemt does not recommend the use of hollow wall anchors to mount larger items on your walls. While anchors may provide sufficient holding capability, Liberty Home Concealment recommends attaching directly to the studs located inside your wall to ensure the most secure level of attachment.

Step 1

Choose the desired location of the item you are wanting to mount your coat rack.

Step 2

Once you have your ideal location use a stud finder to locate 2 studs in your wall that will support your coat rack. Mark the location of each stud's center with a pencil. Use a nail to confirm stud has been located.

Step 3

Hold product against wall and use level to make sure it is even. Use a friend to help hold level while transferring stud location marks to inside of product to be mounted. Tip: Remember the adage "Measure twice cut once." That same rule applies when making holes in your walls.

Step 4

Check that product is plumb and level before securing. Once proper placement is achieve fasten first screw through product and into stud. Re check for level and attach second screw into next stud.

Step 5

Step back and admire your handy work. Now get started filling your piece of concealment furniture with all the items you are wanting to keep stored securely out of sight. ENJOY!!

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