Leather holsters are what holsters looked like for a century, and there are people who will carry nothing else. Kydex is what replaced them for most concealed carry, and there are reasons. This is the comparison without the tribalism: what each material does better, where leather still wins, and why we build in kydex.
Where kydex wins
- Retention. Kydex holds the gun by molded shape and clicks. Leather holds by friction, which is tight when new and loose in a year.
- Trigger protection. A kydex trigger guard cannot be pushed in. Leather softens with wear and sweat, and a soft holster mouth folding into the trigger guard on reholster is how leather-holster accidents happen.
- Moisture. Leather absorbs sweat and holds it against the gun. Kydex absorbs nothing.
- Reholstering. A kydex mouth stays open. A leather mouth collapses once the holster breaks in.
- Thickness. An .08-inch kydex shell is thinner than any leather that is stiff enough to work.
- Price and lifespan. Kydex costs less and does not wear out.
Where leather wins
- Feel. Leather is softer against the body and quieter. A well-made leather OWB holster under a jacket is comfortable in a way kydex is not.
- Looks. Nobody has ever admired a kydex holster.
- Revolvers and classic guns. A leather holster suits a 1911 or a J-Frame the way a nylon one never will, though we make kydex for both.
The hybrid
Leather-backed holsters with a kydex shell try to get both. They get a wider, thicker holster with a leather backer that still absorbs sweat and eventually softens. For IWB concealed carry, an all-kydex holster with a full sweat shield and folded edges does the comfort job without the compromise.
What we make
Every Clip & Carry sheath and holster is molded from .08-inch kydex, handmade in the U.S.A. by military veterans, with adjustable retention and a lifetime guarantee. IWB holsters for more than fifty pistols and revolvers, from the Glock 19 to the S&W J-Frame, in the holster collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is kydex or leather better for concealed carry?
Kydex, for retention, trigger safety, moisture and lifespan.
Is leather more comfortable?
Against bare skin, slightly. A kydex holster with a full sweat shield and folded edges closes most of the gap.
Does leather wear out?
Yes. It softens, loosens and the mouth collapses over one to three years of daily carry.
Does kydex damage the gun's finish?
Holster wear happens with any holster. Clean kydex does not scratch; grit does.
Can I get a kydex holster for a revolver?
Yes. The J-Frame, LCR and K6s holsters are all molded kydex.
The bottom line
For a gun you carry concealed every day, kydex. For a holster you want to look at, leather. We build the first kind, molded to your gun.
