If you've been around here before, you know I'yard a big fan of lasers for abode defense and carry guns. I'm also a fanatical, raving, and kind of creepy bit of a holster geek. But, until recently, I've been hard-pressed to equip all my carry guns with lights and/or lasers.

[color-box]Finding holsters for light / light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation carry guns can make you equally frustrated as Mike Bloomberg at a Colorado recall rally.[/color-box]

Just a few holster options for light and laser equipped handguns.

Only a few holster options for lite and light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation equipped handguns.

Why? Finding holsters for laser-equipped guns has been quite the challenge. Of form I'm talking lights and lasers that are mounted up front end, ordinarily under the barrel. Lasergrip offerings from Ruddy Trace and guide rod lasers from LaserMax tin use standard holsters without modification.

There's no arraign in this. It's simply a math problem.

Holster makes already have to business relationship for 13,786,667.43 dissimilar models of handguns, with new shapes and sizes hitting the market place hourly.Add together a half dozen laser companies to the mix, each offering several different models, and then what?

[colour-box]There are more possible gun / laser / holster combinations than the number of White House excuses for the Obamacare  performance. (Tweet This)[/color-box]

Simply promise glimmers on the horizon. Recently, I have working with some most excellent holster options for laser-equipped guns. Each of the manufacturers below make different products for different guns, and so the examples here are merely that – examples.

[color-box]Oh, and if yous're a Cherry Trace user, check out their new holster guide. It's updated constantly with new products from Galco, DeSantis, CrossBreed, Fobus, Blackhawk!, Mitch Rosen, Bract-Tech and more than.[/colour-box]

CrossBreed SnapSlide

The SnapSlide is a great solution for this Springfield Armory XD-S with Crimson Trace Laserguard.

The SnapSlide is a bang-up solution for this Springfield Armory XD-S with Reddish Trace Laserguard.

I've been testing one for the Springfield Arsenal XD-Due south equipped with a Ruby-red Trace LG-469 Laserguard and I find information technology keen-o. The belt loops are spread apart enough to offer nifty stability. The Kydex holster crush keeps the whole affair slim, which aids concealment. The best function? The rig is designed to ride very loftier so it's much easier to conceal with a shirt or jacket that nigh other outside the waistband holsters.

Bank check the CrossBreed website for all bachelor light / laser options.

DeSantis Speed Scabbard

An open meridian design, The DeSantis Speed Scabbard is all-leather holster is made for a number of light / laser options similar the Crimson Trace Lightguard or Laserguard for Glocks.

I really like the holster. It's an outside the waistband model without a rigid mouth. I don't have problem re-holstering it as the leather is sturdy enough to keep the mouth open. It shapes well to the body and offers bully gun security – in fact y'all'll desire to break it in to polish out the draw.

I used 1 at the 2013 Crimson Trace Midnight 3 Gun Invitational with a Glock 17, Crimson Trace Lasergrips and a Ruby Trace Lightguard.

Galco Meridian Concealed Bear Purse (or most other models)

Ladies, this one is specifically for you. If you choose to carry in your purse, be sure to do it safely.

[color-box]Don't let your gun bomb effectually in a main bag compartment along with all sorts of other daily paraphernalia. (Tweet This)[/colour-box]

That'southward asking for trouble. Not only will it be difficult to notice your gun during an emergency, you run the gamble of something getting defenseless up in the trigger – with potentially disastrous consequences.

Got a laser on your Smith & Wesson Shield? No problem!

Got a laser on your Smith & Wesson Shield? No problem!

If you cull handbag behave, be sure to proceed your gun in a defended compartment. That's where a quality holster handbag like the Galco Acme shines.

The Meridian is a fine-looking and functional purse with a magnetically closing outside compartment, main interior compartment and split up interior compartment. Well-nigh importantly, it features a dedicated gun holster compartment attainable via a lockable vertical zipper on the exterior. Inside this compartment is a sewn-in holster pouch with a Velcro retentivity strap which can be removed if you prefer. We found that the memory strap is unnecessary with the medium size guns in this purse – it volition stay in the holster pocket only fine.

The Galco Meridian is available in black or chocolate-brown. Galco makes a variety of styles with similar concealed carry functionality.

Comp-Tac MERC

Comp-Tac makes an excellent and insanely adaptable hybrid holster. That means information technology has a big leather back for stability and comfort and a Kydex molded gun pocket.

Now, Comp-Tac offers their MERC holster – MERC stands for Most Economical, Reliable, Comfy by the way – in models ready to go for mounted lasers and lights. The list of supported models volition almost certainly change, but at time of publication, Comp-Tac offers Carmine Trace and LaserMax for guns including the Springfield Armory XD-Due south, Smith & Wesson Shield and Kahr P9. One of the neat-o things nigh the Comp-Tac offerings is the flexibility. Everything is adaptable including memory, depth, cant and even the color of the belt clips to assistance it alloy in to your existing wardrobe. Cheque out the Comp-Tac web site for more information.

Galco Stow-Due north-Go

The Galco Stow-N-Get is intended for simple, deep concealment. It features an open-top design for quick admission, a reinforced rima oris for one-handed reholstering and open up bottoms to allow dirt fall out. A vertical orientation allows for dissimilar deport options. Yous tin use it backside the hip bone or in an appendix position. The exterior of the leather is a bit rough to assistance keep the holster in place via friction with your clothes.

CrossBreed SuperTuck

I love the hybrid inside the waistband holster blueprint. The big leather backing provides comfort and stability, while the kydex gun pouch offers not bad security without calculation thickness to the holster. Now that CrossBreed is making models compatible with Reddish Trace Lightguard and Laserguards, you can easily carry a pistol equipped with both laser and light. Information technology's a great solution.

N82 Tactical

The N82 holsters take some interesting innovations.

[color-box]Spurred on to entrepreneurial enterprise by the belief that holsters should exist both comfortable and comforting, the dynamic Nate duo and a rental squad of Oompa Loompas created a basic blueprint that makes for an inherently vesture, yet solid and secure within the waistband holster.[/color-box]

N82 Tactical Original Models allow lots of inside the waistband options for laser and light equipped guns.

N82 Tactical Original Models let lots of inside the waistband options for laser and lite equipped guns.

The N82 is a multi-layer affair. A large backing console goes betwixt the gun and your tender midsection skin areas. The console is big enough to completely encompass the gun and all or most of the grip — depending on the specific model. This keeps abrupt and annoying metal and wood stuff abroad from your abdomen. A chugalug clip is affixed to the gun pocket so the whole mess is tucked inside the waistband with the clip securing to your belt. Pretty uncomplicated.

Here'southward where the layering comes in.

The body side of the panel is made from soft suede. N82 Tactical chose suede for several reasons. Information technology's a natural material, so information technology allows your pare to breathe and feel absurd — even in hot and humid climates. Some other reason for the suede lining is that information technology has a friction coefficient. Yeah, I told you lot we wouldn't get into breakthrough physics and cloth dynamics in this volume, simply hang in in that location for a second. Since the whole suede area has some "grip" it serves to spread the weight of the gun over a broader area. Not that nosotros're calling your area broad or anything. OK, enough of the fancy scientific discipline.

Sandwiched in the middle is a layer of neoprene. If you saw the movie Jaws, or have been to Sea Globe, you'll know that this is the stuff that diver's wetsuits are made of. Information technology's waterproof. While you lot probably won't be diving with your N82 Tactical holster, the neoprene barrier does in fact create a moisture barrier betwixt your sweaty broad area and your expensive gun. Even if you sweat, your gun stays dry out. Within reason of form. The other reason behind the neoprene wet bulwark is to prevent the leather portion of the holster from becoming mushier and mushier over time. Three out of iv Nate's believe that leather doesn't ever stop breaking in. It continues to go softer and softer over time, especially with exposure to moisture. Nosotros're non sure what doctors and dentists believe.

The outer layer is leather. This provides structure and stability and a safety backing for your gun whether information technology be steel or polymer.

The original model, or Standard Series, utilizes a stretchy material to secure the gun to the leather holster panel. N82 got a lot of feedback from police enforcement customers that they loved the comfort of the tuckable pattern with its stretch band holster pocket, but needed additional positive retention for more active situations. Like the ones you see on every episode of CSI Las Vegas.

N82 makes a the original series holster for a number of guns with trigger guard lasers. When yous get to order one for your specific gun, you'll see laser options if available for that model. I've used one with a Springfield Armory XD-South and Crimson Trace LG-469 Laserguard with great success.

Recluse

Hither'due south a new, and patented, design worth a expect. There are two basic models of the Recluse Holster. The Bone models are open-sided while the TS models, as y'all can probably approximate, are two-sided. The mutual element betwixt the designs is the forward-facing solid leather flap that entirely hides the outline of your pocket gun.

The OS models feature a concealment panel on the outside. This completely breaks up the outline of the gun. The inside half of the holster is technically, kinda-sorta open up. That'south where the patent comes in to play. Affixed to the leather holster is a molded plastic trigger block. This cake is shaped to friction match the within of the trigger guard of a specific gun. Molded into the block is a cutout that exactly matches the contour of the trigger.
To holster your gun, insert the muzzle into the bottom pouch, then shift the gun sideways and then that the trigger cake moves into position and the trigger is locked exactly in place per the trigger cutout. Once in place, the trigger is protected and secure.

To draw, you lot insert your fingers between your gun and the solid front panel to achieve a firing grip. The gun will come abroad from the trigger block sideways and tin be withdrawn from your pocket.

The TS model is a niggling different. Rather than relying on a trigger block, this model features an interior leather panel. The interior leather flap is only attached at the bottom of the holster. To draw your gun, you shove your fingers between the leather flap and the gun, thereby creating space for a solid grip.

When yous club direct from Recluse, yous'll come across laser options on the production page where available.

I'm just scratching the surface hither – and that's a good affair. The holster market is exploding with options for lights and lasers on concealed behave guns.