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Concealed Carry Holsters - Which Ones Are The Best?

Believe it or not, you can judge which concealed carry guns are the best (or at least the most popular) by what the most popular concealed carry holsters. Ever wonder what Alien Gear's are? Well, we're about to show you.

The following is a list of our top ten best-selling gun holsters from 2017, which should give you an idea of what most of our other customers carry. If you're considering a new carry gun, these should be on your shortlist. Then, if you need a concealed carry holster for it, you know where to go. We've also got open carry holsters available if that suits your fancy.

So, without further ado…


GLOCK 17 PADDLE HOLSTER

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10. Glock 17 ShapeShift OWB Paddle Holster

Okay, so this one isn't a concealed carry holster...but it's one of our most popular models nonetheless. A good open carry rig starts with a durable, dependable OWB holster that offers a quality fit and good retention. It would be hard to get any better than the Glock 17 ShapeShift OWB Paddle Holster.

The ShapeShift's OWB configuration is molded from a durable polymer blend that's the same as some gun makers use to make polymer frames for their handguns - like the Glock 17. You'll never have to worry about warping, fraying or cracking. Since it's custom molded, you get a perfect fit right out of the box.

You can carry with the comfortable, durable paddle or switch to a belt slide at your convenience. You also get the benefit of customizable retention, as the passive retention can be dialed in to your desired setting. The holster even comes with a thumb release, should you want active retention to go along with it.



XDS OWB HOLSTER

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9. Springfield XDs 3.3 ShapeShift OWB Slide Holster

Some people don't like an IWB, but still want to conceal and carry. Doing so often means having to choose a compact or subcompact pistol and a high-riding belt slide holster. A Springfield XDs 3.3 ShapeShift OWB Slide Holster with an XDs to go in it is perfect for such an application.

Many users have found as little as an untucked shirt is all that's needed for concealing in this fashion, and at most all that's required is a light outer layer. For the person wearing business attire or who wears flannel a whole lot - and since we're located in PNW, we love it - this is the concealed carry set up to have.



SIG P938 IWB HOLSTER

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8. Sig Sauer P938 ShapeShift 4.0 IWB Holster

The ShapeShift Modular Holster system and the individual component holsters have rapidly become Alien Gear's best sellers. Number 10 on this list is the Sig Sauer P938 4.0 IWB holster, which is perfect for concealing and carrying a Sig P938 on the daily.

The 4.0 is an improvement on our Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB design, with the addition of our proprietary Cool Vent neoprene and closed-edge binding. However, the ShapeShift shell design allows for the overall footprint of the holster to be reduced by about 25 percent.

Therefore, you have a classic IWB that doesn't take up much real estate with a pistol that doesn't either. The compact nature of the P938 and firepower of the 9x19mm round makes it a



GLOCK 26 HOLSTER KIT

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7. Glock 26 ShapeShift Core Carry Pack

The beauty of the Glock 26 is that it can accept larger magazines and - with a grip sleeve - be easily converted to a full-size pistol. However, it can also accept shorter magazines and function as a subcompact, perfect for concealed carry. That's a lot of versatility, which is also why a Glock 26 ShapeShift Core Carry Pack fits perfectly.

The Core Carry Pack gives the user the ability to conceal via multiple methods, and open carry as well. It's a perfect fit. The kit lets the user concealed carry with a traditional IWB or appendix carry holster, OWB concealment with the belt slide holster or open carry with the paddle holster.

Since the Glock 26 can likewise be used in different ways, it's no wonder this holster has become a best-seller.



GLOCK 23 HOLSTER KIT

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6. Glock 23 ShapeShift Core Carry Pack

Take everything that's great about the Glock 19, and then add the powerful .40 S&W round. The Glock 23 has become an incredibly popular pistol for exactly that reason, and the Glock 23 ShapeShift Core Carry Pack allows the user to take advantage of the 23's versatility.

It's small enough to concealed carry, which you can do with the 4.0 IWB and Appendix Carry Holster configurations. For OWB concealment, the Belt Slide can conceal easily under light layering or for some users, even an untucked shirt. For open carry, you can't beat the ShapeShift paddle OWB holster.

Having options for your Glock 23 certainly makes sense, and nothing gives as many to you as the ShapeShift.



TAURUS PT111 G2 IWB HOLSTER

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5. Taurus PT111 G2 ShapeShift 4.0 IWB Holster

The same comfort as the Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB, but with a smaller overall footprint. It makes sense for other subcompact pistols, and it makes perfect sense for the Taurus PT111 Millennium G2. As a result, it's one of the best concealed carry holsters for this model of pistol out there.

The Taurus PT111 G2 is already one of the most popular carry pistols out there due to it's easy-carrying design, solid shooting characteristics and also incredible value. The ShapeShift is an incredible carry holster at a great value itself, making these two a natural pairing.



XD MOD.2 HOLSTER KIT

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4. Springfield XD Mod.2 Subcompact ShapeShift Core Carry Pack

Just like many other subcompact pistols, the XD Mod.2 Subcompact is perfect for concealed carry, but can accept a full-size magazine and take on the capacity - and the accuracy - of a compact service pistol. Whether in 9mm or .40 S&W guise, it's a gun that has a number of different uses.

So does the ShapeShift, which is why the XD Mod.2 Subcompact ShapeShift Core Carry Pack is a perfect companion for this pistol. You get an IWB, an appendix holster, and two OWBs - one for easy OWB concealment and one for the best open carry you'll ever experience.



GLOCK 43 AIWB HOLSTER

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3. Glock 43 ShapeShift Appendix Carry Holster

For easy concealment, there aren't too many ways easier to do it than with a Glock 43 appendix carry holster. The 43, a slim single-stack subcompact, is easily concealed in almost any position, but positively disappears if appendix carried.

The Glock 43 ShapeShift appendix carry holster...is a slam dunk. No need to appendix carry if you don't want to; this holster will work anywhere on the waistline, and many users carry elsewhere with this holster.

If you want easy concealed carry, it doesn't get any easier.



SHIELD 9MM IWB HOLSTER

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2. M&P Shield 9mm 4.0 IWB Holster

A lot of people reckon the M&P Shield 9mm is the ultimate concealed carry pistol. It has better ergonomics - to many shooters - than Glock pistols. It shoots so much more easily than such a small gun should, and more accurately as well. With the extended magazine, it fits far more shooter's hands than you'd think.

The M&P Shield ShapeShift 4.0 IWB holster may well be the perfect companion piece. Smaller than many other IWB holsters for this pistol, but also far more comfortable with the Cool Vent neoprene. Better retention than most other holster designs and a full wrap of the trigger guard.

The perfect carry holster for what a lot of people think is the perfect carry pistol. No wonder this holster is one of our best-sellers.


best glock holsters
GLOCK 19 HOLSTER KIT

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1. Glock 19 ShapeShift Core Carry Pack

If there is such thing as a "Goldilocks" pistol, one that's big enough for use as a duty gun but compact enough for concealed carry, the Glock 19 is surely the best-known example. It's no surprise that the Glock 19 ShapeShift Core Carry Pack should have become our best-selling holster and in a matter of weeks.

This holster package gives you almost everything you could need for carrying. The 4.0 IWB and Appendix Carry Holster configurations allow for an impossibly comfortable carry. The Belt Slide OWB is perfect for easy OWB concealment and you just won't find as versatile, durable, or customizable an OWB as our OWB Paddle Holster.

The diversity of carry options is perfect for the Glock 19, as you get to carry the G19 - arguably the most versatile pistol on the market - in any fashion you want. Why wouldn't you want that capability?


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About The Author

Writer sam hoober