StingRayRay
Member
Got my second e-mail yesterday. Can't wait to get this holster.
Alien Gear IWB review
- Thread starter 1911 guy
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Hunter0924
Member
Solid review, very well put together.
I have no experience with Alien Gear personally though.
I have no experience with Alien Gear personally though.
StingRayRay
Member
Has anyone tried driving with their AG holster yet? Thanks in advance for any responses.
F-111 John
Member
I just received my third "we haven't forgotten you" email. I'm hoping for a Christmas present at this point.
F-111 John
Member
...And then this afternoon I received a shipment notice. Review to come!
StingRayRay
Member
Ordered on Sept. 16 and got my third e-mail today. I hate to wait 
F-111 John
Member
I have been carrying my Cloak Tuck 2.0 with a Glock 26 for close to two weeks now, so here are my initial impressions.
I have been using Old Faithful IWB Hybrids for over a year with my G26 and with my Smith and Wesson Model 60 J-Frame, and since Alien Gear has absorbed Old Faithful (or visa versa, I'm not sure which,) it was impossible not to compare the Cloak Tuck 2.0 with the Old Faithful leather and kydex IWB hybrid.
I ordered my Cloak Tuck 2.0 with the Kydex clips for my Glock 26. I had two sets of metal clips from the Old Faithful Holsters and hated them so I knew I didn't need a third set of metal clips. So far I really like the Kydex clips. They go on easily, stay put all day, and come off easily. My issue with the standard metal clips is the end of the metal clips stick out just enough that I was always gouging my wrist on the clip when accessing my front pocket. I had switched out both of my Old Faithful holsters to the leather loops which I found much more comfortable, but I think I like the new Kydex clips even more.
The good part of the Neoprene composite backer is that it is much more comfortable against the skin than the leather backer. This will be very nice in the warmer months, but not as much of an issue in winter months when you wear a tee shirt under a polo shirt, for example. The bad part of the Neoprene is that it is broken in from day one and that's as good as it's going to get. It is much more comfortable on day one than my leather IWB hybrids were on day one, but on day 365 the leather has conformed to my love handles perfectly, while the Neoprene still kind of pokes here and there. Long term, I think I'll be switching back and forth between the two depending on season and dress.
The Kydex of the Alien Gear was molded well and retention on my G26 is slightly better than the retention of my Old Faithful. However, the Old Faithful Kydex was better finished, with nicely polished and radiused edges, where the Alien Gear Kydex has sharp edges that I had to sand down myself. Given the high volume that Alien Gear is trying to fulfill, this is understandable, especially at their price point.
I also purchased the clip assortment with leather loops option, and I must say that of all of the included Kydex clip shapes, the original clips that came with the holster work best for me and my 1 1/2" gun belt. However, I was severely disappointed with the leather loops. The leather loops are constructed of a Kydex backing tab that screws into the holster T-clips, and a loop of leather with a directional snap. The loops I received for my Old Faithful holsters were of a very stiff leather, and worked nicely. The leather of the Alien Gear loops are of a thin and very floppy leather, and because of this are extremely difficult to snap off with the directional snaps.
Also, the leather loops suffer from the same design "flaw" that the Old Faithful leather loops had. The Kydex backing of the leather loops is about the same length as the loop of leather. If you put one of these loops side by side with any of the other clip options, it is obvious that this causes the holster to ride higher with the leather loops than with the other clip styles when using the same T-nut location. You end up having to use the next hole up on the holster with the leather loop than you do with the Kydex or steel clips to get the holster down in your waist. I wish that Alien Gear would lengthen this Kydex tab on the leather loops so both styles of clips are the same overall length.
Lastly, a small nit to pick. Both the Old Faithful and the Alien Gear backings have the now universal "combat cut" so that there is backing material that protects the slide of the gun from touching your skin, but the grip is open for an easier draw. On the Old Faithful, there is plenty of room to get your fingers around the frontstrap of the grip without interference, but with the Alien Gear the gap between the front strap and the backer at the trigger guard is only 3/8", so your middle finger knuckle has to push away the material of the backer to get a full grip before drawing. Not difficult, but just sligtly annoying. And since the backer material is a two piece sandwich that is stitched together, you can't trim the backer like you can with a full leather backer. (I did a lot of trimming on my Old Faithful J-Frame backer.)
The biggest advantage the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 has over my Old Faithful holsters is that the Old Faithfuls were semi-finished kits, where the Alien Gear is fully finished and ready to use. For the price point, I would strongly recommend the Alien Gear Holster to anyone looking for a nice IWB holster. I would also highly recommend the Kydex clips over the steel clips, but that is a personal preference.
My ideal holster would be to have a leather/Kydex hybrid like the Cloak Tuck 1.0, then have the thin Neoprene material from the Cloak Tuck 2.0 glued to the back of the leather after the T-nuts were pressed into place. This would be the best of both worlds, with a comfortable Neoprene surface against your bare skin (that also covered up the back of the metal T-nuts,) and the comfort of a leather backer that over time molds comfortably to your body.
If anyone would like pictures to clarify anything, just ask. Otherwise I'm too lazy to drag out the camera and post them.
I have been using Old Faithful IWB Hybrids for over a year with my G26 and with my Smith and Wesson Model 60 J-Frame, and since Alien Gear has absorbed Old Faithful (or visa versa, I'm not sure which,) it was impossible not to compare the Cloak Tuck 2.0 with the Old Faithful leather and kydex IWB hybrid.
I ordered my Cloak Tuck 2.0 with the Kydex clips for my Glock 26. I had two sets of metal clips from the Old Faithful Holsters and hated them so I knew I didn't need a third set of metal clips. So far I really like the Kydex clips. They go on easily, stay put all day, and come off easily. My issue with the standard metal clips is the end of the metal clips stick out just enough that I was always gouging my wrist on the clip when accessing my front pocket. I had switched out both of my Old Faithful holsters to the leather loops which I found much more comfortable, but I think I like the new Kydex clips even more.
The good part of the Neoprene composite backer is that it is much more comfortable against the skin than the leather backer. This will be very nice in the warmer months, but not as much of an issue in winter months when you wear a tee shirt under a polo shirt, for example. The bad part of the Neoprene is that it is broken in from day one and that's as good as it's going to get. It is much more comfortable on day one than my leather IWB hybrids were on day one, but on day 365 the leather has conformed to my love handles perfectly, while the Neoprene still kind of pokes here and there. Long term, I think I'll be switching back and forth between the two depending on season and dress.
The Kydex of the Alien Gear was molded well and retention on my G26 is slightly better than the retention of my Old Faithful. However, the Old Faithful Kydex was better finished, with nicely polished and radiused edges, where the Alien Gear Kydex has sharp edges that I had to sand down myself. Given the high volume that Alien Gear is trying to fulfill, this is understandable, especially at their price point.
I also purchased the clip assortment with leather loops option, and I must say that of all of the included Kydex clip shapes, the original clips that came with the holster work best for me and my 1 1/2" gun belt. However, I was severely disappointed with the leather loops. The leather loops are constructed of a Kydex backing tab that screws into the holster T-clips, and a loop of leather with a directional snap. The loops I received for my Old Faithful holsters were of a very stiff leather, and worked nicely. The leather of the Alien Gear loops are of a thin and very floppy leather, and because of this are extremely difficult to snap off with the directional snaps.
Also, the leather loops suffer from the same design "flaw" that the Old Faithful leather loops had. The Kydex backing of the leather loops is about the same length as the loop of leather. If you put one of these loops side by side with any of the other clip options, it is obvious that this causes the holster to ride higher with the leather loops than with the other clip styles when using the same T-nut location. You end up having to use the next hole up on the holster with the leather loop than you do with the Kydex or steel clips to get the holster down in your waist. I wish that Alien Gear would lengthen this Kydex tab on the leather loops so both styles of clips are the same overall length.
Lastly, a small nit to pick. Both the Old Faithful and the Alien Gear backings have the now universal "combat cut" so that there is backing material that protects the slide of the gun from touching your skin, but the grip is open for an easier draw. On the Old Faithful, there is plenty of room to get your fingers around the frontstrap of the grip without interference, but with the Alien Gear the gap between the front strap and the backer at the trigger guard is only 3/8", so your middle finger knuckle has to push away the material of the backer to get a full grip before drawing. Not difficult, but just sligtly annoying. And since the backer material is a two piece sandwich that is stitched together, you can't trim the backer like you can with a full leather backer. (I did a lot of trimming on my Old Faithful J-Frame backer.)
The biggest advantage the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 has over my Old Faithful holsters is that the Old Faithfuls were semi-finished kits, where the Alien Gear is fully finished and ready to use. For the price point, I would strongly recommend the Alien Gear Holster to anyone looking for a nice IWB holster. I would also highly recommend the Kydex clips over the steel clips, but that is a personal preference.
My ideal holster would be to have a leather/Kydex hybrid like the Cloak Tuck 1.0, then have the thin Neoprene material from the Cloak Tuck 2.0 glued to the back of the leather after the T-nuts were pressed into place. This would be the best of both worlds, with a comfortable Neoprene surface against your bare skin (that also covered up the back of the metal T-nuts,) and the comfort of a leather backer that over time molds comfortably to your body.
If anyone would like pictures to clarify anything, just ask. Otherwise I'm too lazy to drag out the camera and post them.
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