One of the most common questions I get as a firearms trainer is "what holster should I get?" I'm going to try to define most of the terms used, and answer any general questions people may have with this article. I'm trying to hit the bulk of the topics here and I'm not going to support or condone any one option I just want to get the basics out there. Understand that this topic is very opinionated and no one can give you the "right answer." You'll have to find what works best for you.

Type of holster-

Paddle Holster- this refers to the device that is used to attach the holster to the shooter. A paddle is a rounded attachment that fits onto the back of the holster that is stuffed under a belt or into the pants of the wearer. This means that it can be put on and taken off rather quickly and easily, it can be attached pretty much anywhere along the waistline and they're generally pretty comfortable.

Belt Holster- this refers to a holster that must be attached directly to a belt in some fashion. Most common is for the wearer to place the holster on the belt between the belt loops on the pants. The best part of these holsters is how secure they are, but the down side is in order to take them off or put them on you have to pull some portion of the belt out of the belt loops and then reattach when you're done. If you're going to be wearing a pistil belt separate from your normal clothing though then this is a great option as it allows you to load your pistol belt the way you want, then you can remove or don the belt as needed keeping your entire rig in one piece.

Concealed Holster- This refers to the fact that it's designed to remove the firearm from sight. There are so many considerations within this category alone that I'll be posting another article just for this.

Tactical Holster- I believe that this word has become overused in one sense and lost on another. When I think of the word "tactical" I think of something that will increase by options of overcoming obstacles. However, lately it is more commonly used in cunjunction with military style gear. For that reason a tactical holster has become one that is worn usually in conjunction with other equipment such as a vest, gun belt, drop leg rig or something similar used to transport a Pistol that will be combat effective, easily accessible, and very durable. Most of these will not be very concealable and aren't necessarily the best use for everyday wear of a normal civilian. However, they do make excellent holsters for people that have a profession which mandates that they wear a sidearm. As you'll read in just a bit this sounds a lot like another description which is why most of these type of holsters are made of Kydex.

Materials-

The two most common types of material used in making pistol holsters are Leather and Kydex. I'll discuss some more in just a minuet but let me address these two first.

Leather- Probably among the oldest material used for making holsters its still around for very good reason. A good leather holster will do wonders for protecting your pistol. Leather has a nice ability to sweat and breath with the wearer making prolonged wear a much more comfortable experience. They last a good while and are very reliable, but do eventually wear down. Leather requires a little bit of maintenance in and of itself and should not be neglected if you wish to ensure the full use of your holster. I tend to recommend these for people that carry concealed or have a firearm that the shooter really wants to keep protected form normal wear and tear that can happen just while wearing the firearm. A good rule of thumb is when the firearm has almost no friction with the leather (unless the holster is designed specifically for that) during a draw or re-holster then it's probably time to replace the holster.

Kydex- For durability, toughness, and ease of maintenance this is as good as it gets. Kydex really does a wonderful job securing the pistol within itself and usually has at least one adjustment control that allows you to set how secure the pistol is. This also helps because as time wears on and the holster slowly expands around the firearm you can just re-tighten the mechanism. Kydex can be made into universal holsters that hold many different types of firearms. Competition shooters often request "Injection Molded" holsters that are fitted precisely around the specific pistol and may include a number of attachments. This allows people with additional sights, flashlights, lasers, etc. to be able to get a holster designed for their pistol. I usually recommend this type of holster for people who carry a duty pistol or are a competitive type shooter.

Nylon/fabrics- These can make for some very good holsters in terms of protecting the pistol. Many of them can completely encase the pistol within them. They can also be incredibly comfortable as a concealed carry option. "Pancake" holsters for example will fit rather snugly around the pistol and are very easy to wear since they add very little bulk to the firearm while worn.

The big questions to consider when picking a holster are:

1. Could someone else get my weapon out of the holster before I can stop them?

2. Could I get my pistol out of the holster quickly and be effective with the first shot with the pistol's external safety disengaged?

3. Is the holster comfortable enough to carry for long periods of time?

4. Will the holster provide adequate protection to my firearm if something hit the holster directly, like a fall, or a hit from a foreign object?

After you do decide on a holster for your firearm, remember that the most important thing is to train with it. All the right gear in the world won't mean a thing if you aren't using it correctly the time comes to need it.