About a year ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with David
Gindrup, one of the co-owners of The Armed Advantage. I had an unfortunate
experience with a very popular maker of hybrid (leather backing with kydex
shell) holsters, so I was apprehensive to try a new one. After going back and
forth choosing color, make model of the gun, etc. my order was in, and in a few
weeks I was holding what I consider now to be the best hybrid holster I’ve ever
used or handled.
Holster Construction
The first thing I noticed is the hardware on the back was
enclosed in a soft leather, so no metal touches the wearer’s skin at all. This
increased the comfort level an exponential amount for me! When wearing an IWB
holster for 12-16 hours a day, whether that is at work in plain clothes or just
carrying as an EDC holster, not having metal rubbing the skin is an appreciated
feature.
I ordered this holster for my M&P 9 full size with a
TLR1HL. The holster is wide enough that it evenly displaces the weight, and
with a quality belt, like a Bull Belt from Hank’s Belts, even a full size
weapon is almost unnoticeable. Holstering the weapon produces a nice snap into
the custom kydex shell, and the retention is tight enough to keep the weapon in
the holster during a cartwheel but not so tight that it can’t be drawn.
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| The front and back of the holster after one year of wear |
Wearing the Holster
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| Shown in Bull Belt with M&P 9 |
As a tuckable holster, the Armed Advantage IWB can be worn
under a loose shirt and concealed easily, or it can be worn with a tucked in
shirt whether that is a polo or even a dress shirt. I’ve worn this under an
untucked polo going about my day, and I’ve worn it on several plain clothes
personal protection assignments where we are required to conceal our weapon. In
both instances, there was no discomfort. On one job, I was required to sit for
12 hours per day pretending to be a customer in the waiting room, blending in, while providing protection for a
client. The holster held up great, and I had no discomfort with sitting for
long periods of time, even with a shirt tucked in. The ride height of the
holster is adjustable, and it lends to great access to the firearm. Getting a
full grip isn’t an issue, and it can be either raised or lowered to your
preference.
After a year of everyday use, the holster is simply more
pliable. There has been no breakdown of the material, and it’s even more
comfortable than ever.
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| Shown upside down to demonstrate retention |
Final Thoughts
While The Armed Advantage doesn’t make cheapest holster on
the market, it definitely makes one of the highest quality IWB holsters out there.
With a price of $85, the quality is worth it. We’ve all heard the saying “Buy Once,
Cry Once”, and that definitely applies here. My suggestion is, anyone looking
for an IWB holster should stop searching and just purchase an American (Texan)
made holster from a company that knows how to build a quality product.
Visit our Facebook to see how to win an IWB holster of your own from The Armed Advantage!
Or go with The Armed Advantage's website and enter code "G2" for 20% off your order until 08/22/2016
