Holster Showdown! Leather vs. Kydex (Which is BEST?) 

Going to have to consider a holster. Getting harder and harder to walk around with it in my hand. Everybody is so sensitive.

Those alien gear holsters are huge. I might as well try concealing my pistol in a tuba case.

I feel like leather forms better to my body over time, making it just as concealable as a kydex holster. Plus it’s quieter.

I use a crown royal bag tied around my belt. Works and looks great👍

I own a couple kydex holsters but I seem to always use my leather ones due to comfort.

Nothing beats a well made old school leather holster

I agreed with your points. I like my leather holsters the best because of the comfort and that they're "quiet". I have a favorite leather holster that I've been using for close to 13 or 14 years and it feels great, has a smooth-as-butter draw, and doesn't scrape against my car seat or console when I'm driving. I used a Kydex model for a month or two and noticed that it was scuffing up the leather seats in my wife's car... I went back to the leather holster and tossed the Kydex.

~I own and use two 1791 Holsters for my 1911 and each Holster works great for me. I love its Leather and how it is well formed, well boned and well stitched. ~I like it when my Girlfriend wears Leather, so why would I not like it when my 1911 also wears Leather since I Love them both very much. ~I have two of my Grandfathers leather carry holsters from the early 1900s that are still in good working condition.

I started out carrying a full sized S&W M&P .40 in a galco IWB leather holster. It was either comfortable or I simply did not know any better. As far as training shooting from the draw kydex or a kydex/leather hybrid was far superior in my opinion.

this video mainly covers OWB carry, and while you did briefly discuss a hybrid carry for IWB, i think leather is the clear winner for IWB comfort - generally speaking.

I am super proud of the wear marks on my gun from the various holsters it has been in.

I've tried various IWB holsters and I cant get comfortable with them so I carry my 1911's in a 1791 leather combo witch is the pistol and extra clip. I love this thing. The quality is incredible and with the brown on black it's a really beautiful looking piece, too bad I have to hide it.

Another advantage to leather holsters is when you remove your gun but leave the holster on. For example, if you remove your gun while sitting in your car. The sharpness and rigidity of the Kydex is very uncomfortable.

Holster wear is a badge of honor.

For IWB, I haven't found anything that beats a good hybrid holster - leather for a comfortable backing, kydex to keep the opening open. For OWB open carry, nothing looks better than nice tooled leather - you can make kydex look flashy, but not classy.

Awesome and very unbiased video. Just received my new 1791 holster for my Ruger SP101 .357, and you weren't lying, they are made very well.

1791 leather holsters are quality. You won't be disappointed.

Relentless tactical bullhide leather. Best holster ever. I bought 3 😁

I would have added one more environmental category - where do you live and carry? South Florida here - hot, sweaty, humid, rain - did I mention sweat. 4 to 5 tee shirt days working. Leather turns into a sponge that will not even dry out overnight - losing its shape, losing its retention, and pretty quickly getting a pretty bad case of salt intrusion. I've had 3 Glocks that the factory slides and barrels rust even w/ factory refinishing. Hard chrome refinishing on the slide turned black in less than 7 days. Even the relatively NP3 Plus finish wears off w/ my Kydex. So, bottom line, leather does not work for me.

Most carry iwb... leather doesn’t hold up to sweat. Light bearing holsters all the wear is on the light. Undershirt solves all issues of comfort with holster or grip texture. Most Kydex will fit multiple guns of similar design. Since the pressure point is a certain spot. For example on my light bearing I can place damn near any compact double stack polymer gun with that same light into the holster even though it’s specifically for a g19. My others kydex work much the same. Since pressure point it the trigger long as the shape of the gun is similar I can place most in and still get identical fitment. These are gun specific holsters. I do love leather but being in Florida I can’t see spending $160 per holster every few months cause my sweat has dry rotted them. For $80 I can buy one kydex that lasts for several years and fits multiple guns. If you have a tension adjustment for the kydex you can get even more guns to work with same holster although you may have extra gun and holster wear from undersigned contact points.

I just ordered a leather/kydex cross bread that is amazing. Garrett Holster is wear I ordered it from. My buddy had on for his kimber and I custom ordered one for my Glock 19.

Dear Yankee Marshall : I unsubscribed and stopped watching your videos some 3 years ago. I am very glad to watch this one, and I liked this format and the way you express your opinions. So, I am re subscribing again . Cheers!

I am with you I am an old dog and I would prefer to carry leather

I usually wear a S&W M2.0 every day in my work (biologist in bear country). I gotta vote for leather. Much more comfortable over many hours per day of hiking. Kydex is great for shorter time periods.

Polymer I use kydex Revolvers and 1911's I use leather. Don't know why.

Im really liking that marvin holster. Very cool

Yup, great video. Completely agree. I like leather better, but...kydex has its place also. In the end, whichever is most comfortable , and you carry!

I prefer leather holsters because they smell good! :o)

I like both. Sometimes it's easier to find a kydex for a specific gun or Visa versa sometimes it's easier to find leather depending on your gun

I carry IWB Foxx hybrid. Leather backed kydex. Very comfortable.

Clear, concise and precise information. Thank you TYM

I used to carry my 1911 in a blade tech iwb then I switched to the 1791 owb I never went back

Hi. I'm new here. The Homosexuals at work told me about this channel. Just subscribed!

Great video btw, I wish I had this video to watch when I first started carrying

I get an alien gear holster for every pistol I own . I love them; comfortable all day .

Yankee, I agree with you on durability. I've lost many screws on kydex holsters that compromised them. A good leather holster will last a lifetime.

I was thinking of getting 1 of those dumb-ass GIANT wallets on a friggin chain .. and use it for a holster keep a tiny 32 auto in there

I still use the same old off duty leather. Basket weave black leather holster from back in the 70s when I was carrying a badge I guess old habits are hard to break.

How many rashes has TYM gotten from exposure to exotic wood?

All Good points Yank... I've gone back and forth and have even purchased equipment and have made Kydex Holsters for myself, son and friends! Currently back to leather but appreciate the value of both and tote daily! My (PP) tag line for my "Top Gun Kydex" holsters is "Comfortable and Comforting for all day Concealed Carry"

Love my crossbreed leather kydex mix

Got a box full of holsters, like leather best( j.m.)

Great video, incredibly thorough and well thought out! Another win, good sir!

Great points. Never ask a holster manufacturer about what would be better for your gun. They will get all high and mighty and say it is a tool. You don't worry about your tools in your tool box do you? If you want it looking new, keep it in a safe as a safe queen and don't use it!

I wear a Black Arch in the pant. It’s a kydex,suede, and leather hybrid holster. Think it’s called the Protos, one clip and it’s in. I like Black Arch as they enclose the trigger guard more than most on the market making I think somewhat safer to reholster

Whatever the weather, better in leather. I am so old school, leather is the only thing I will ever own

I use both kydex and leather for my 1911, my leather holster is by winthrop holsters (20 mins from my house :) ) and my kydex/leather hybrid is by galco, i love them both

Recently got two P320's and wanted to find the best way to IWB carry. Got a crossbreed holster and it sucks! Way to bulky, and when modified with the plastic clips to be an OWB it is even worse. Feels like a brick on my side. Very stiff, thick, and all of the necessary flex comes from the clips. I feel they will break in short order. Been playing with it for a couple of days, finally gave up and put my mitch rosen ARG on with my fullsize kimber 1911. It was/is a little bit of heaven. Extremely slim and comfortable. Decided to get an OWB full leather with open bottom so, I can run my compact and M17 in it. And going to buy a custom leather IWB for the compact for CC, probably Mitch Rosen ARG.

My leather holsters by far last longer and wear better for me. I have kydex and do carry those. It just depends on which gun or weather too. The world of holsters is so good now.

Thanks a bunch for putting this video together - you make a lot of good points, TheYankeeMarshal! =)

N82Tactical hybrid holsters are my favorite.

Glock 26 gen 3 in 4 way 1791...also smith and wesson 10-5 outside the waistband 1791 holster...great holsters

I've been watching Yankee's vids for years. Is it just me or is this one THICC and super PACKED with innuendo?

I watched this video because I was thinking a lot about leather-versus-plastic sheaths for knives and axes. Your conclusion pretty much echoed my uncertainty. As an example, "technically" a plastic sheath is better for wet environments because it wont rot or absorb water, but a leather sheath can be dosed with wax-based oils so that its waterproof and wipes the blade whenever you put it into the sheath. I personally think your take on leather versus kydex is correct. Soldiers served through the whole of WWII and came home with their leather-sheathed, leather-handled ka-bars intact, and now a generations of soldiers are returning from tours of modern theatres with their plastic-sheathed, synthetic-handled ka-bars intact. I think the main take-away is that good quality leather OR kydex trumps poor quality anything.

The hybrid holsters don't hold up for 'full figured' customers because the leather portion folds over and blocks the pistol from being inserted

Try a CROSS BREED holster!!! The holster part is kydex, and the part that touches your side is leather. It's got the best of both worlds!! Never had a problem, even in SE Texas summer heat!! Mine is totally comfortable to wear.

I have both, Leather is more comfortable. For me. OWB. Kydex for IWB may be less a foot print. Kydex cracks break, sitting while driving.

If you want, you can sell those extra holsters on eBay. That's how i keep my drawer from running over. I wish you had covered drawing ease. I discovered my leather belt holster that has no cant is difficult to draw from if worn at the 4 or 5 o'clock position due to the weather gripping the gun more because of the angle. No problem with my kydex hybrid holsters.

I like crossbreed holsters. The supertuck one is half leather, half kydex. Super freaking comfortable too.

Prefer kydex myself, especially for IWB. But, is holster wear on the gun a big deal for a lot of people?

The Safariland ALS is awesome for versatility. The set screw adjusts and securely holds and retains very well. The main disadvantage is that some guns don't release as easily as others but it's still a good choice for one holster many guns. I have several friends who are using the Blackhawk Omnivore and although it is okay, I just haven't liked it as much whether the Surefire model or the non light bearing model. That one also requires a dust rail so it cannot be used with many guns.

I have been carrying a sig p250/p320 subcompact in a stealthgear onyx iwb for 3 years now. Its the only holster ive concealed carried, and I carry daily. This is limited wear on the holster, and almost none on the guns. I live in central texas, and during summer, I don’t feel a heat sink on my hip like my friends complain about with leather (crossbreed, aliengear, etc). They are worth the money in my opinion.

Alien gear makes the shape shift now it's like 3 different holsters in one package for about $100. If you are just starting out and dont even know how you want to carry this is a great option . It does iwb owb small 1 clip , larger 2 clip hybrid backers

...prefer leather, and have a couple of 1791 Gunleather holsters for my Sigs...excellent....

Daaaaamn bro! That was a nasty burn!?!

You're lucky! If we can even get a CCW in Ca,we HAVE to decide which gun we want to carry. They want make,model and serial number of you carry gun. If you ever need it,it better be the one you registered!

I love aliengear holster for my shield.

I believe it’s completely as subjective as your choice of firearm. I prefer my Alien Gear cloak tuck 3.0. It’s very comfortable, has plenty of retention, has a lifetime warranty and free shell trades. Holster wear is not an issue to me because my carry gun is just a tool.

We all have a drawer full of holsters. Try this one tri that one etc etc etc etc

If open carrying kydex would be great but for my concealed carry leather all the way...

I usually end up with the hybrid holsters since all my carry is concealed. If I wore outside, I'd definitely go with an all leather. I like the thickness of them and just feel like it protects the pistol from those nasty bumps and bruises they can get when you carry on your hip......

Went to the area gun show today and saw a company there that made kydex holsters with a leather lining and leather back! Hell of a good looking holster! Tucker and Byrd holsters I think. Located in Texas.

for my larger carry rig, I use a Crossbreed, which is leather backing with kydex outer - small carry rig is a pocket holster, which is neither :x

I like hybrid holsters. BlackArch Holsters or StealthGear USA holsters. Both made in my home state as well, UTAH.

I dig the Marvin holster but that thing looks like the definition of a gun bucket.

This is why, as a holster maker, I designed a Kydex leather hybrid where there's a full Kydex liner with leather wet formed all over. I also make the sweat guards and belt loops out of leather. Although I still make all leather holsters too. But I have customers who wanted the functionality of Kydex as well as the style and comfort of leather. I personally will never make a straight up Kydex holster. Mainly because there's so many quality Kydex holster makers I don't see the point. But my hybrids fill a niche that other holsters don't. I can also make it thinner than most rigid leather holsters or so thick it'll never wear out by varying both the Kydex and leather thicknesses.

What about retension?

Shaped nylon is also not a bad choice in my opinion. Affordable comfortable durable and light

Maybe if you tried blade-tech. Klipt appendix carry holster. Have them for several guns. Always extremely comfortable.

I go Kydex for wade fishing, cause I don’t like getting my good leather holsters submerged, but for the Kydex (and the Glock) they’ll be fine.

i would much rather have wear on the trigger guard than the slide.

Get a holster from Garret Industries, Kydex lined with leather and they are awesome.

Does anyone have any input on sweat affecting leather? If so was rust a problem?

Leather Knife sheaths tend to fall apart in the field. Now when it happened to me. It was a sharp finger. The knife was cheap. So the leather sheath was cheaper.

Cordura holsters all the way, the perfect blend and plenty adjustable.

I think the choice is mainly dependent upon the individual and how they choose to carry. But thanks for the info.. my rigidity is a little lacking 😂🤣

High dollar gun---leather holster. Low dollar EDC in hot. humid, or wet conditions---kydex. My most frequent EDC is a SD40VE in a Fobus GL4 paddleback. I am often at my wife's school and with the paddleback I can take it off easily and put it in the center console.

Both the leather and kydex holsters hold their shape so they both take up space so if the kydex itself is thinner that thinness makes almost no difference to the size of the holster with the gun in it and therefore makes little difference in how in will print. Just get what you like best

I've got a tote full of Kydex and plastic holsters but my leather holsters are always in rotation. Yes, you have to buy leather holsters for specific firearms and there is some mantance involved with leather. You've got to clean and condition it based on how much you wear it, the time of year, humidity, and other environmental factors. I learned how to stitch and form leather many years ago working on saddles and tack for horses so I'm a bit biased for leather. I buy a new gun, make a card stock pattern, set the angle and cant of the firearm, cut the two sides, do a layup, lock stitch and wet form the new gun to the holster, cure it, dye it, give it a hot wax treatment to waterproof it, buff it till it shines, then break it in a couple weeks wearing it. If I like it I end up making a single mag or double mag pouch to match.. Then a belt.. Before I know it I have an all matched carry rig setup for that gun. And that makes me happy.. 😀

I love leather holsters, always have, always will. But I recently switched to kydex for the first few reasons mentioned. It's hard to beat that pop, knowing it's there and will stay there. And with so many manufacturers, availability for certain guns with certain accessories is unbelievable.

Well kydex is cheap, can crack, doesn’t hug your gun it just is modeled for a snap fit, it WAS something new and that’s why it’s still around, after another 10 years they won’t be anywhere but the dumps.....👍

I'm my experience the hybrid leather kydex shell holsters have horrible retention for EDC

Aren't OWB holsters pretty useless for concealed-carry?

Don’t know much about kydex but leather is brutal on a pistol for Holster wear plus leather holds moisture

The real question is what does Gary like best?

rigid and firm. got it.

I sure hope 1791 has a holster to fit the S&W 627 PC snub nose.

I have to agree with your assessment on the holsters. I have alien gear holster for all of my handguns and I dont mind the small amount of wear because they are so comfortable. I know people have issues with them but I have never experienced any issues with mine.

clipdraw (IWB clip) with Kydex trigger cover if you feel the need. Not always completely concealed, but not making a statement. just sayin, Some no holster solutions can be great.

I have an alien gear and the only comfortable place to carry it is at 4 to 6 o'clock. I don't like having my gun behind my back, so I got a WeThePeople kydex appendix iwb holster but i carry at 3 o'clock with it and its pretty comfy all day.