Understanding Holster Terminology

This is going to be a brief article that covers a lot of the holster gear lingo that is being tossed around today. If you think that I missed any please comment below!

OWB: Out side the Waist Band 

IWB: Inside the Waist Band

AIWB: Appendix carry Inside the Waistband.

Soft Loop: Attachment hardware that uses a strengthened button snap to "loop" around the belt. Primarily IWB.

Tek-Lok: Robust injection molded attachment hardware that features a dual locking closure and is adjustable to fit 1-2 inch belts.

Kydex: USA made plastic sheeting that extremely durable and offered in various colors and textures. We use a thinner Kydex sheating for our B3™ IWB holsters and a thicker more robust Kydex for our B7™. Kydex unlike some injection molded holsters, is free of glass particles and other harsh compounds that damage firearm finishes. 

Adjustable Retention: Customizable strength that the holster holds your pistol. More retention is harder to draw but also more secure for dynamic movements while holstered. I generally run my IWB holsters with looser retention and my OWB holsters with more retention; especially when running a carbine as a primary weapon and a pistol as a secondary. 

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