Cloak Slide vs Cloak Belt Holster: What's The Difference?

Eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed we have a new OWB, the Cloak Belt Holster. You might have also noticed it isn't the only one we offer, as the Cloak Slide OWB has been around for some time.

However, the Cloak Belt Holster is a bit more modern, with Alien Gear Holsters' design touches like our neoprene backing layer, spring steel core and so on. The Cloak Slide is more a leather hybrid OWB, with a leather base, a retention shell...and that's about it.

Which is better? Well, "better" is kind of subjective. A better way to probably put that, if we're being honest, is "is the Cloak Belt Holster worth the extra $11?" In truth...in a lot of ways it is, but that kind of depends on you.

Our New Belt Holster

The Cloak Belt Holster is a new belt slide OWB, designed to carry high and tight to the body. This kind of OWB holster, which is a modern take on a classic holster design style, has always been popular as it gives you kind of the best of all worlds. You can wear it openly or, with a bit of smart dressing, conceal it easily.

We updated our OWB design by swapping out leather for a new version of the Cloak Tuck 3.5 and ShapeShift holster base, re-optimized for OWB carry.

The backing layer is CoolVent neoprene, our breathable and moisture-wicking neoprene padding material. We also fully bind the edges with a soft nylon cloth for additional comfort, and add our revised Alien Skin top layer to the holster base.

To stiffen the holster up a little, we changed the reinforcing layers. Usually, the spring steel core of a Cloak Tuck 3.5 IWB or ShapeShift 4.0 IWB holster sits just behind the gun, running from the top of the sweat shield to the bottom of the holster base. It's the same size as the AIWB and Belt Slide holster base in our ShapeShift line.

For the Cloak Belt Slide, the spring steel core is edge-to-edge. If you took it apart, it's the same shape as the holster base itself. This gives the holster a stiffer spine, but doesn't compromise flexibility or comfort.

We also created new belt loops for the Cloak Belt Holster, with 1.5-inch and 1.75-inch widths, so you can get the correct size for the size of belt you wear as those are most common in the concealed carry community.

So, we've taken the belt slide holster style and added improvements that we created after years of research and development, which have been noticed and appreciated by a number of publications and thousands of satisfied customers.

But Soft...What Leather Over Yonder Cloak Slide Holster Breaks...And Wears Comfortably

Does this mean the Cloak Slide is done? That we're getting rid of it? That it's time to send it to the Holster Drawer Of History?!

Far from it! The Cloak Slide actually remains a strong seller and one of our core products. Why do we continue to offer it, despite this new holster design?

Because it works, that's why! If it isn't broken…

The Cloak Slide is a take on the belt holster design that's been popular for decades; it's just that it uses a hybrid design. It's a leather hybrid holster with a custom-molded retention shell, giving the wearer the custom fit and adjustable retention necessary for a secure carry and full function, but with the qualities that leather holsters are known for. Tough enough to be used, but comfortable enough to be used all day.

The belt loops on the back of the holster base put the holster high on the belt and tight to the body. That means you can open carry with it without problems, or conceal it easily with an untucked shirt or light outer layer if you want as well, just like the ShapeShift Belt Slide and our new Cloak Belt Holster.

The Cloak Slide is a bit more streamlined in design, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work well.

Cloak Belt Holster vs Cloak Slide OWB: What Are The Key Differences, Though?

There are, of course, some key differences between the Cloak Belt Holster and the Cloak Slide OWB. Those differences can add up to whether one of them is better for you than the other.

The Cloak Slide holster base is made of 8-12oz leather in brown or black if you want. It has an almost rectangular shape (it's more like a rectangle that has a funny growth on one side) with adjustable leather belt loops on the back.

The base of the Cloak Belt Holster, however, is a bit different.

The Cloak Belt Holster has a full sweat shield, which the Cloak Slide lacks. This feature keeps you from feeling the slide of your gun and any controls. Granted, the done thing is to wear an undershirt with open-top holsters that lack a sweat shield, but with the new base design you don't have to.

Another feature of the holster base is that the Cloak Slide has exposed hardware. Look at the back, you see the holster mounting hardware along with that of the belt loops. The Cloak Belt Holster, however, buries the mounting hardware under the backing layer. The belt loops of the Cloak Belt Holster have the hardware countersunk, so you won't feel it.

The base of the Belt Holster, however, is wider than the Cloak Slide, which means it will take up more side-to-side room on the belt. While it does take up a bit more space, a wider holster base also means a bit more stable platform to draw from, which is important.

What do these differences add up to?

In short, both do the same job - carry high and tight, letting you conceal easily if you want or open carry if you want. The Cloak Belt Holster is designed to carry a little more comfortably, but the Cloak Slide has a smaller overall footprint.

Ultimately, you'll have to decide which is a higher priority.

But the good news is that Alien Gear Holsters includes a 30-Day Test Drive trial period as part of our Iron-Clad Guarantee. If you purchase one or the other, you can return it in that time for a full refund.

Either way, you'll carry in comfort!