Survey: Leather or Kydex?

Kydex or Leather?

  • Kydex: Poser Plastic for l337 t@cT8XX!!! w00t

    Votes: 45 37.5%

  • Leather: Dead fish and cows all the way!

    Votes: 75 62.5%
  • Total voters
    120
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I really like the Kydex IWB holsters, like the Blade Tech for my Colt LWOM. comfortable, secure, amd sweat proof.

I don't see carrying a Vaquero in plastic though:)
 
I like Kydex covered with fine leather. The leather on the outside of the holster is much more comfortable and takes that noise out, which is important if i am out in the woods with brush hitting the holster. The leather also looks great. I pick the holster that works best for the situation, then cover it myself with the leather. This way i get the best of both worlds.
 
Well, having a bunch of AGrip adhesive around does have it's advantages... :D The advantage of using the AGrip adhesive over any other adhesive is that the AGrip adhesive allows the leather to be repeatedly repositioned for a perfect fit. Also, with AGrip adhesive there is no mess to clean up. You just wrap the leather around, stretching only where you need to, then trim it off it looks good and so there are no edges to hang up on anything. There are a few tricks to it that are kind of hard to explain, and it does take a little time and planning, but for the most part, it is pretty darn easy. One of the reasons i don't like to stretch the leather is because i like to have the "character" that comes with having all the wrinkley texture and everything. If you stretch the leather it makes the leather look like cheap vinyl or fake leather. The leather is expensive, even wholesale, so why waste it by stretching it? We used to make a lot of aircraft steering controls around here and finish them by wrapping them with this awesomely fine black leather, until the this one main aircraft manufacturer tanked and went bankrupt. We used to buy full hides of this stuff... best leather i could find anywhere in the world to make these with... all hand laced with a baseball type stitch, but better. We got out just in time, but ended up with fair amount of this leather left over, and the scraps that we couldn't use on the yokes were perfect for use on holsters and knife sheaths and such. Of course we also fancy up our cars with it too... GREAT steering wheel covers! :D Oh, btw, this is also the same leather that we call our "Black Tactical Leather" that we've been selling for people who typically use it as "stick on cheek pieces" and such.
 
I must admit I am a Kydex kind of guy. I use my handguns as tools, and don't really care about the finish wear issue.

I currently own a BladeTec holster for my Glock 35, and a Uncle Mikes Kydex paddle for my 1911.

I own several other leather holsters, but am not really happy with them. I haven't spent BIG money on my leather though, so I may be missing out on the quality.

My next purchase will likely be a nice leather IWB from Sparks or Brommeland.

I do wonder though does anyone make a really comfortable IWB kydex...without using a leather backer?
 
I do wonder though does anyone make a really comfortable IWB kydex...without using a leather backer?
Click to expand...

Seriously I don't notice any comfort difference between my Blade-Tech UCH and my (now sold) Milt Sparks EX.. :uhoh:

And I'm spoiled by good leather.
 
I don't have any experience with holsters, because it is pointless to buy them in a state where it is nearly impossible to get a CCW permit. However, I have experience with leather and kydex knife sheaths, and I like kydex much better.
 
I have and like leather. Bulman Gunleather is what I use for carry. As for IDPA and Production all day sweating into good leather at gun matchs I am thinking of getting some cheaper plastic for that.

And with the kydex holsters I would look more the part of the poser:D

After dropping $$$ on my Milt Sparks sharky rig
Click to expand...
Skunk I would not wear that holster set up, I'd just leave it posed around the house like a center piece. And call it art:D
 
leather

Bought a kydex for my ppk,put the pistol in could not get it out! played with it Read the instructions played some more, thru it in the garbage!!! worst 25bucks i ever spent. git a desantis belt high ride GREAT!!
 
kydex

Im pretty sure the holster was blade tek, had blue instruction sheet , thats in the garbage too!
 
It seems that kydex would be harder on the finish. I had a kydex holster for my P-99s. After my last class I noticed a little chink in the finish. It was not that big, but very noticable. That being said, I was going to trade the gun anyway and they will NEVER remain pristine. I have a leather holster for it now, but I might still use the kydex. I guess I'm undecided thus far. I've heard that kydex is actually better on the finish, but it seems leather would be less abrasive.
 
Oops. Voted Kydex, by mistake. Don't you know leather should come first, then those "other" materials? Silly Skunk. :eek:
 
I'm a leather fan as well. I tried kydex, and just didn't care for it for concealed carry use. Maybe for OWB or competitions I'd like it, but for me leather is the way to go.

commcarry.JPG
 
high-riding leather

Summer: high riding Desantis snugging a J-frame up against my side.

And my father's El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons holster for a 625-2 is a sight to behold, almost a throwback to when things were made by hand.

That being said, in the winter it's a Glock 23 in a Fobus easy on/easy off paddle.

I like and own both!
 
I have a Milt Sparks Versa Max-2 quality leather holster and I barely notice it when I have it on. I think leather is the way to go. But then, I don't own any plastic guns. If I did I suppose I could just take an old tupperware bowl and heat it up, bend it into shape, cut some holes in it and slide a rope through the holes and VIOLA! A holster and belt all in one! :neener:
 
Almost forgot...

Leather is better if you have 2 or more similar guns of the same style i.e. a S&W j-frame and a Rossi j-frame copy. In kydex, the Rossi's more robust underlug/crane area will not fit in a kydex holster molded down to last MILLIMETER for the Smith, at least in Uncle Mike's form.

Any leather holster I've tried for the Smith J-Frame fits the originals and the clones just fine. Not so with kydex. Nice to know if your holster will work with different makes & models because there are so many unwanted snubbies at 'steal' prices begging for a home!
 
Prefer leather.

Even tho I housed a Kydex holster plant for a while.

I do put a kydex strip in the sight channel of some of my leather. Makes even Patridge sighted guns come out slick n quick.

I like the idea of leather covering on Kydex, have oft thought of it but never got around to doin it..

Sam
 
I'll officially be an Old F--t in Nov when I turn 50. I like leather better than plastic for CCW. Milt Sparks and Aker are first class in the 3 F's.
 
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