Kydex vs. Leather? What are the benefits of each?

[mosttoyswins]

Need a IWB tuckable holster for my G26. Looking seriously at the Milt Sparks VMII and the C-TAC COMP TEC (sp?).

I have always used leather holsters but I am curious about what the benefits of kydex vs. leather are.

I live in South Texas so I deal with heat and humidity for 10 months out of the year.

Thoughts?

 

[distra]

You need a hybrid catagory, best of both worlds.
http://www.crossbreedholsters.com

 

[BullfrogKen]

IWB in a sweaty environment means wet holsters if you wear it longer enough. When I still used IWB holsters I used a Milt Sparks HR-LTD (new products page). Just like the VM-II but with a waterproof liner.

Kydex is slick, makes nose on the draw (hampering a surrepticious draw), and has less retention properties once the gun clears the molding.

Leather can creak when moving around, retains moisture, and generally costs a little more.


Each's advantages are subjective. . .

 

[gdvan01]

Thanks for the link, distra.

 

[tdperry30]

i bought both have a tucker answer and the comp-tac slide and end up wearing the comp-tac more because of the leather creaks and groans . besides the leather tends to soak up sweat and the creaks and groans sound too much like my old body.

 

[Skpotamus]

Not a fan of leather holsters myself. I noticed that in summer, when they get hot and sweaty, they tend to grip my gun a little bit tighter. If you have a blued gun, the leather holds moisture against the steel, which can up your maintanence req's a bit.

My draws are a LOT faster with a kydex than they were with leather.

I prefer my comptac CTAC (has leather strips connecting to the clips) or shirttucker.

 

[bulbboy]

Have you ever seen a woman wearing Kydex? Enough said...