Best Kydex IWB Holsters

If you want to keep your pistol truly secure, with a good balance between retention and release, you’re going to have to ditch nylon holsters for something a little bit more sturdy. We’re talking about kydex holsters, which are molded specifically for your pistol, instead of being one-size-fits-all pouches.

So we set out to find the best IWB holsters on the market. When making our considerations, we looked at concealment, durability, reliability, and value for the money.

Since kydex holsters are designed to be used with specific pistols, this list will be a bit different from some of our reviews. We’ve sorted it by pistol type, to make it easier to find the best IWB holster for your particular gun.

The downside of this approach is that we’ve made one or two choices for even the most popular pistols. We’re afraid that’s just the nature of the business. If a holster is going to be the best, it needs to be the right fit.

Now let’s get our hands on some holsters!

Best Kydex IWB Holsters

1. Concealment Express

The Concealment Express features a full-length sweat guard to keep your pistol dry.

Key Features

• Full-length sweat guard
• Available left and right-handed
• Adjustable retention and cant

The Concealment Express IWB Kydex Holster is built to fit the Glock 17, as well as the Glock 19, 22, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32, and 33, including the latest Gen 5 versions.

In order to support the 17’s longer barrel, this holster features an open end. It will cover all the other pistols completely, but be careful holstering your 17 after a busy day at the range. It will protrude through the bottom of the holster, which is not fun if your barrel is hot.

The Concealment Express features a full-length sweat guard to protect your gun from sweat on a hot day. It features easy-to-use Phillips head screws for retention and cant adjustment, allowing you to tilt your pistol a full 15 degrees. This makes it useful for carrying against your abdomen, hip or lower back.

This holster is available in both left and right-handed versions and secures your pistol snugly. You’ll feel and hear a click when you’ve holstered your gun.

Pros

• Keeps your gun dry
• Useful for multiple carry positions
• Clicks when your gun is holstered
• Highly adjustable

Cons

• Glock 17 barrel protrudes

This is one of the few kydex IWB holsters that’s big enough for a Glock 17.

2. CYA Supply Co.

The CYA Supply offers adjustable retention and tough, stainless steel hardware.

Key Features

• Powder-coated stainless steel hardware
• Full-length sweat guard
• Adjustable retention and cant

The CYA Supply IWB Holster is built to securely hold a Glock 19, 19X, 23, 32, or 45. The manufacturer advertises that it will hold Gen 3 through Gen 5. However, if your Gen 5 has an ambidextrous slide release, the holster won’t accommodate the left release. Check your pistol before ordering.

Provided your gun fits, this is a high-quality holster. It features a full-length slide guard to keep your sweat off your gun, and a heavy-duty steel belt clip that won’t bend when you’re drawing. CYA Supply offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, so you can return your holster at any time, for any reason.

This holster features cant and retention adjustment screws. You can adjust retention to fit the different models of Glock, as well as to find a comfortable release strength. The cant is adjustable by 15 degrees. Both adjustments require an Allen key, which is not included with the holster.

Pros

• Durable
• Excellent retention
• 100 percent satisfaction guarantee

Cons

• Not suitable for Gen 5s with ambidextrous slide releases

This holster is built for maximum durability and concealment.

3. DTOM Ultimate Tuck

The DTOM Ultimate Tuck has a wide leather waist guard, for sweat protection and reduced printing.

Key Features

• Kydex shell and leather waist guard
• Right-handed design
• Adjustable, steel belt clips

The DTOM Ultimate Tuck IWB is another good choice for the Glock 17. It also fits the Glock 19, 22, 23, 26, and 27. The reason it holds fewer models than the Concealment Express is that it doesn’t feature any type of retention adjustment. As a result, you aren’t able to widen it enough for the very largest Glocks.

This holster lacks retention adjustment because of its design. It’s screwed directly into a wide leather waist guard, which also means you won’t get any cant adjustment. However, the sturdy steel belt hooks are height adjustable.

The waist guard is the Ultimate Tuck’s most important feature. Not only does it protect your pistol from sweat, but it also protects you from the muzzle of your Glock 17 when it gets hot. DTOM offers a lifetime replacement guarantee for all materials and workmanship.

Pros

• Wide, flat profile
• Very durable
• Secure fit
• Lifetime replacement guarantee

Cons

• Doesn’t fully cover the trigger guard
• No retention or cant adjustment

This holster is far more comfortable than most standard kydex holsters.

4. Fierce Defender Paladin

The Fierce Defender Paladin Series is designed for tight retention and minimal printing.

Key Features

• “Claw” attachment reduces printing
• Full-length sweat guard
• Right-handed design

The Fierce Defender Paladin Series is an adjustable IWB holster for your Glock 19, Glock 23, or Glock 32. It fits all versions of these pistols, including the Gen 5. The reason it doesn’t fit more of the pistols on this frame is the relatively open design, which provides a full-length sweat guard as well as full trigger guard protection, all while maintaining a wide opening for easy holstering.

The retention on this holster is adjustable, and it holds your pistol firmly when properly fitted. However, you’ll want to use some Loctite on the adjustment screws. Otherwise, they’ll slowly loosen up on their own in the course of normal use.

The Paladin Series features a thick, “claw” extension that fills out space under the barrel and makes the outline look like a phone or wallet instead of a gun. The claw is great for minimizing printing, but you can remove it easily if you find it uncomfortable.

Pros

• Easy to holster
• Good retention
• Minimal printing

Cons

• Sloppy retention adjustment

This holster offers the best concealment available for a Glock 19.

5. Fierce Defender +1

The Fierce Defender +1 Series has a built-in magazine pouch and is designed for abdominal carry.

Key Features

• Built-in magazine pouch
• Full-length sweat guard
• Adjustable retention
• Designed for abdominal carry

The Fierce Defender +1 Series is your best option if you want to bring an extra magazine with your Glock. It fits all generations of the Glock 19, 23, and 32, including the Gen 5, and is designed to be carried against your abdomen.

This is more or less a necessity given the +1 Series’ wide profile. It holds your pistol on the right side for a right-handed draw and your magazine on the left side for quick reloading. The magazine holster is the only thing we disliked about this holster. While it’s tight enough to hold when you’re standing or sitting, it’s not secure enough for running or frequent bending over.

This holster has a wide profile that produces a very un-gun-like print, but it can dig into your stomach unless you wear your pants fairly high. That said, it offers excellent retention, which can be easily adjusted with a standard screwdriver.

Pros

• Good concealment
• Easy retention adjustment
• Ability to carry extra ammo

Cons

• Loose magazine retention
• Not very comfortable

This is a solid choice if you want to carry an extra magazine.

6. Concealment Express Glock 43

This Concealment Express Glock 43 is a smaller version of their Glock 17 holster.

Key Features

• Full-length sweat guard
• Available left and right-handed
• Adjustable retention and cant

The Concealment Express IWB Kydex Holster is basically a smaller clone of the Concealment Express holster we already reviewed for the Glock 19. This one is sized for the subcompact Glock 43. It also fits the Glock 43X, since the 43X has the same slide and trigger, and the wider grip sits outside the holster.

Retention on the Concealment Express is top of the line. Your pistol clicks into place when you holster it and isn’t going anywhere until you pull it out. How hard you want to pull is up to you. Retention adjustment is easy, with two Phillips screws.

The only thing we disliked about this version of the Concealment Express is the sharp corner on the front of the muzzle. It can dig into your skin — ouch! — and it’s totally unnecessary.

Pros

• Useful for multiple carry positions
• Excellent retention
• Highly adjustable

Cons

• Sharp corner on muzzle

This holster provides top-notch retention on your subcompact Glock.

7. Tulster M&P Shield

The Tulster M&P Shield Holster offers excellent retention and a reliable draw.

Key Features

• Full-length sweat guard
• Right-handed design
• Adjustable retention and cant

Now that we’ve finally finished with the Wonderful World of GlocksTM, let’s talk about the Tulster M&P Shield Holster. The Tulster is molded to snugly fit an M&P Shield in 9mm or .40 caliber. It presses the grip close against your body for minimal printing.

This holster features adjustable retention, as well as a cant that’s adjustable to an impressive 30 degrees, allowing you to carry it comfortably anywhere on your waistband. It clicks when you lock the gun into your place and has a cutout under the trigger guard for quick holstering.

The only downside to the Tulster is its steep price tag. It’s a nice holster, but there’s nothing that makes it twice as good as the other holsters we reviewed.

Pros

• Good retention
• Minimal printing
• Can be worn in any position

Cons

• Fairly pricey

This M&P Shield holster provides minimal printing in almost any carry position.

8. B.B.F Make Taurus G2C

The BBF Make Taurus is versatile enough to be carried in almost any position.

Key Features

• Full-length sweat guard
• Stainless steel belt clip
• Adjustable retention and cant

The BBF Make IWB Kydex Holster will carry any pistol built on the Taurus G2C frame. This includes not just the G2C, but the Millennium G2, the PT111, and the PT140. You can adjust the cant up to 15 degrees with a Phillips screwdriver, allowing you to carry your Taurus anywhere on your belt.

This holster does a good job of angling the grip towards your body, which leads to minimal printing. It does this with a tough, powder-coated stainless steel belt clip that’s almost as fat as it is long.

Retention is as easy to adjust as the cant, with another large, Phillips screw. While we didn’t have any trouble with a pistol actually popping out, they do wobble a little, which is concerning. That said, this holster is built like a rock. If it’s holding on out of the box, it should stay held on.

Pros

• Durable hardware
• Easy adjustment
• Minimal printing
• Can be worn in multiple positions

Cons

• Loose retention

This is a durable holster that barely prints at all.

9. Fobus

The Fobus leaves as small a print as possible for the 1911.

Key Features

• Includes double magazine pouch
• Built-in leather hip guard
• Right-handed design

The Fobus Concealed Carry Paddle Holster is designed to carry all .45 caliber 1911 pistols. It manages to fit such a wide range of pistols by utilizing a trigger guard lock. On the one hand, this makes it versatile and secure. On the other hand, it means there’s no way to adjust the retention, so what you get is what you get.

This holster has a paddle style design, with a leather guard inside the pistol to reduce printing and protect your hip from a hot muzzle. It comes with a matching double magazine holster. Be careful. This holster is secure, but it only holds single stack magazines. Double stacks will not fit.

We chose the Fobus first and foremost because it’s well-engineered, with heavy leather paddles and well-molded construction. At the price it’s going for, it’s a steal.

Pros

• Plenty of ammo capacity
• Minimal printing
• Quality construction

Cons

• Not adjustable
• Holds single-stack magazines only

This holster will let you carry plenty of ammo for your 1911.

10. B.B.F Make Sig Sauer P938

The BBF Make Sig Sauer can be carried in virtually any position, and barely prints at all.

Key Features

• Full-length sweat guard
• Available left and right-handed
• Stainless steel belt clip
• Adjustable retention and cant

The Sig Sauer P938 is a relatively new pistol. It’s only been around since 2011, but it’s taken the shooting world by storm. As our choice for the best IWB Kydex holster for the P938, we chose the BBF Make IWB Kydex Holster.

This holster has a beefy powder-coated steel belt clip, which presses the grip firmly against your body, reducing printing to a minimum. The cant is adjustable up to 15 degrees, allowing you to customize your holster to carry anywhere on your body. The BBF comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on parts and material.

While the retention is adjustable, it was the only thing we didn’t like about this holster. It secures your pistol just fine, but when the retention is set to a reasonable level your gun will rattle around a bit inside. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s irritating.

Pros

• Durable hardware
• Minimal printing
• Can be worn in multiple positions
• Lifetime manufacturer’s warranty

Cons

• Loose retention

This is a secure way to carry your subcompact Sig.

11. FoxX Holsters

The FoxX Holsters Deluxe Trapp is built for comfort and minimal printing.

Key Features

• Built-in sweat shield
• Right-handed design
• Kydex belt clip
• Adjustable retention and cant

The FoxX is molded to fit the Ruger SR9C and SR40C. It’s molded completely from Kydex, including the belt clip, which leaves it with no hard edges to dig into your sides or stomach. The cant is adjustable to 15 degrees, allowing for an easy draw from a variety of positions. The retention is also adjustable, with large Phillips screws.

The only thing that underwhelmed us about this holster is the sweat shield, which doesn’t quite come all the way to the back of the slide. This makes the holster a tad more comfortable but leaves your pistol partially vulnerable to sweat.

Pros

• Good retention
• Minimal printing
• Comfortable

Cons

• Short sweat shield

This holster is a secure choice if you’re carrying a single stack Ruger.

Bottom Line

As you may have noticed, a lot of these holsters are built to hold an entire family of pistols. This is particularly true for the Glock holsters, which often fit several series of pistols which are all built on the same frame.

This has some advantages and some drawbacks. The main advantage is that you can have one holster for the Glock 19, 19X, 23, 32, and 45 instead of being further limited to, say, the Glock 32.

However, while all these pistols share the same frame, there are subtle variations in the design. They are, after all, different pistols. Since adjustable holsters allow you to customize the strength of retention, you’ll be able to easily get the exact balance of retention and release that you need.

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