[Lupinus]

So what's your general opinion of them? When I got my Sig P239 I wanted something to try out so I got a sidekick OWB and a IWB. Simple, basic, and while a few friends have let me try theirs on that felt better, they also cost that much more.

I'm wearing it in the IWB right now and while yeah you know it is there, it is plenty tolerable and not even unpleasant to be wearing.

So what's your general opinion? Better low cost options? It's not that I have anything against the more expensive brands, I plan on getting a few later on. But as a low cost option the things seem pretty decent so far. Feels not unpleasant, holds the gun well, conceals it well, and so on. I can't say much for position as I have just basically walked around the house with one and not done a whole lot while carrying it.

Other more experienced opinions?

[scurtis_34471]

I have an Uncle Mike's belt slide for my .380. Its basically vinyl on the outside and nylon on the inside. I paid about $40 for it and it does the job with that small, lightweight gun. By way of contrast, I paid $60 for a quality hand-boned leather holster from FIST for my .40. There is no comparision between the two. The FIST is so vastly superior that its downright ridiculous and was only $20 more. The downside? I had to wait a month to get it.

[plexreticle]

I'm sure uncle mike has some good holsters but I've found shopping around and spending a lil extra will get you something much better.

[glocktoberfest]

the only uncle mikes I use are for pocket carry . 85UL , 5 shot taurus .

[Fun2Shoot]

I basically use the same approach & reasoning as the OP when it comes to Uncle Mike holsters.

When I aquire a new or new-to-me handgun, I always tell myself it's a long term gun, but I'm just kidding myself. :rolleyes:

With that in mind, I get a low cost (read cheap) holster for my new purchase and I use the cheapies to get a fix on the exact configuration for a later purchase of a permanent & more costly holster if the gun really is a keeper.

Why put $75-$100 into a great holster for a new gun only to find that maybe an IWB would have been better than an OWB or maybe the cant is too severe or better synthetic that leather and so on.

Yeah, Uncle Mike's holsters are just fine with me for their price and purpose.

[Lonestar49]

...

Own 4 of them

The IWB #15 works great for both my Beretta Px4 and my Sig P229 Carry 9mm.

I use a IWB # 17 for my P220

And I use IWB a #16 for my Beretta Px4 if I have the Rail mounted Laser on it.

All are clip-on, easy to put on, take off, or to move around, such as for driving, or just a better comfort mode, or safer mode, such as in a crowd, I put any in the front 11 o'clock position, FBI cant, cross draw, and know that no pickpocket will see it, lift it from the rear, if there, and my motto in a crowd is, my eyes see what my gun sees, at all times.


No break-in needed, no itching, or sweating from them and, all have closed muzzle ends, which I like both, for no moisture to enter barrel, and no bugs, dirt, dust, etc., to enter barrel as well.

K.I.S.S. works IMO


LS

[cloudcroft]

Uncle mikes = Very Good Stuff.

I really like their Ankle Holster (#10 size) for my Betetta 21A and 3032 autos, and Chief's Special M60 snubby revolver.

So comfortable I sometimes forget I have it on...or maybe I'm just used to it.

-- John D.

[CajunBass]

I like my Uncle Mikes Holsters (and belt). They both #16 belt slides, and they do a good job for me. One of these days I may buy something "better" bur for now, they'll do.

I also got some pretty good service from them once when I damaged one of my holsters in a minor motorcycle accident. The retaining strap got torn, so I sent UM's an e-mail asking about buying another. They wrote back, requested my address and sent me a new strap, no charge. Not a lot of money involved, but I was still pretty impressed.

[thebaldguy]

I have used several of their holsters; they are not the best but they are cheap and work well.

[Mortech]

Good values since one size will fit several pistols , the OWB pancake ones are my favorites .

[DWARREN123]

Good for cheap/easy carry but with the right higher end holster they just do not compare.

[Soybomb]

You get what you pay for. The gun won't fall out of your pants. A nice custom holster made for your exact model of gun is likely to be more comfortable, more concealing, and more likely to give you a full firing grip.

[Vonderek]

The first holster I ever bought was an UM IWB for my SP101. Yes it was cheap and it held the gun but I soon bought an Andrews IWB w/reinforced mouth. The UM IWB you can't re-holster and pretty much have to undo your pants to get the gun back in the holster....precludes practicing your draw, especially on a public range! A couple years later I looked in the ubiquitous box of holsters that everyone acquires and noticed the UM holster was deteriorating and flaking away, leaving a black powdery residue on everything it came in contact with. I do continue to use the UM pocket holster which is a cheap and dandy solution and can accommodate a variety of compact guns including J-frames, Taurus 85s, Kahrs, Astra A75s, etc.

IMO, for the cost of a couple boxes or so of ammo, you can have a quality leather (for some reason I don't like Kydex or other plastic) holster from the likes of Galco or Hume.

[johnny blaze]

I have several of them. Good for the price.
I bought one that I feel did not fit the revolver properly. Contacted the company and was sent a form which stated "include 10.00 for shipping and handling and we will inspect the item and either repair or replace."
To return it and pay the shipping, it would cost me more than it was new,
I only paid 13.00 for it. Oh well.

[geekWithA.45]

I've seen too many slick sided metal guns clean fall out of uncle mike's holsters to trust them for that. A friend once dropped his bug, a snubby on the floor at a dinner party when he leaned over, and my little TPH squeezed itself out onto my car seat when I got to the grocery store.


Polymer guns with rough surfaces seem to do OK, my wife's kel-tec .380 is snug as a bug in a rug in one.

[Black Majik]

Cheap.

Cheap in quality
Cheap in price
Cheap overall.

And yes, I did own one for a pellet gun when I was a kid. Wore the finish off real quick, so I do have some experience with them. ;)

I won't ever put any of my firearms in a Uncle Mike's holster. Nor will I buy one. Good thing I was dumb as a kid and learned from my mistakes.

[StrikeEagle]

I like 'em fine. :)

I have one for my Combat Commander, IWB. They work fine from my experience.

[jeepmor]

They are what they are. I have a couple of the soft side kind and am glad I spent the money on a IWB leather holster. That said, it was comfortable, but it is difficult to take on and off covertly like when you want to plop your gun into the console when you run into the post office type of thing.

They are not as secure as my leather holsters, but they were cheap and fit many different handguns. I'd rate them as a good value for their price point, but I never bought one of their kydex style or stiff nylon models because for a few bucks more, I was into quality leather.

Their range bags are the best I've encountered. Heavy duty nylon (maybe cordura) with big zippers. Anyone that's owned any sort of duffle bag or backpack, which is about eveyone, knows that the life of the article is almost entirely dependent on the life of the zipper. Just love their range bags, best ever IMO.

jeepmor

[Jkwas]

I like the IWB's. They're the only ones I find comfortable.

[Wedge]

Awful.

I have a OWB and a shoulder holster for my Blackhawk. The worse part is that they collapse after drawing so reholstering is not easy. They work well enough to carry the gun, but I am now sold on leather...

[roo_ster]

The vast majority of their fabric/vinyl holsters are sub-standard goods. Good for only determining if a particular mode of carry is even remotely practical. Their IWB stuff is especially insecure. Worse than worthless in hot & humid environments. They then become moisture sponges that trap your weapon next to sweat all day long.

Their Kydex is really a terrific value, meaning good function/quality for the $$$.

Neither their kydex nor their fabric/vinyl is good at concealment, however. Too stinkin' bulky.

Their pocket holsters are as good a value as their kydex.

[tmajors]

I have 4 Uncle Mike's holsters:

IWB for my .380 that works fine. Never had my pistol slide out of it or anything.

Belt holster that I purchased till I could find a good holster for my CZ75 P01. It works, but it's a little floppy due to the spacing on the belt loops. It also rides pretty low so have to wear a longer overshirt or vest for concealment. Don't like that one at all.

Shoulder rig that the holster itself is fine and never had any problems, but the design on the shoulder straps is poor. I had to fix the straps in place with some safety pins. Once that was done it works great and never had any problems.

Ankle holster for the .380 that I have the IWB holster for. Never had any problems except that my skinny legs (I'm a runner and biker not a weight lifter) don't have enough muscle mass on them so the upper strap on the holster just slides down my leg if I run or anything. Works fine if I don't do anything high impact.

Overall hit and miss. Never had any of them fall apart or lose my gun. Only problems have really been fitting.

Haven't tried their new kydex holsters yet, but don't plan on it really as they stick out too far so don't think they conceal well or qualify for IDPA.

[jwr_747]

like most of " us " I own several holsters,hi $$$ ones.and some cheaper ones.have found that for my " full figure " Uncle Mikes" belt slide holsters hold my carry weapons closer to my body,less print.and in my 20 + years of CCW,on and off with Uncle Mikes,I can't think of one problem with the "belt slide" jwr

[fletcher]

I've found them to be inexpensive and simple.

Plastic paddle/OWB one for my 1911 - Adjustment screws are finicky, but it will retain and not resist too greatly for draw.

Neoprene IWB for GP-100 - This is about as simple as an IWB can get, just a pouch. Works well, but the bottom of the lining will sometimes bunch up and catch the front sight when reholstering.

[P97]

I used them and wore out several before I decided what kind of carry I wanted to do. They are great if you are switching around trying to find what works best for you. After I decided how I wanted to carry, I ordered a Milt Sparks Holster. If you have the gun you think is best for CCW, you might as well get the best holster you can to carry it in since it probably will be a lifetime commitment. If you have a gun and holster that is comfortable to carry, you will more likely carry it full time, than if you have trouble carrying it.

[trueblue1776]

I've used a full set of the duty gear from Uncle Mike's. I like it, I'll recommend it to anybody who will listen to me. I prefer it to Bianchi gear for sure. For CCW I use Galco holsters, and I don't plan on switching.

[MD_Willington]

I find mine to be so/so... not great but it works for me.