Holsters: Leather vs. Kydex

[GunnyGene]

This is an argument for leather that y'all may not have thought of.

https://www.guns.com/news/2025/12/03/falco-holster-gun-survive-car-fire

Excerpt, more pics etc. at the link.

Onetime falconry glove maker turned high-quality holster manufacturer Falco has offered assistance to a customer whose vehicle, firearm, and holster were engulfed in a gasoline-fueled explosion recently.

Customer Brett G’s truck was the victim of the explosion, which also landed Brett in the hospital for an extended stay. The truck itself was a total loss. Yet, somehow, his Stoeger STR-9, equipped with a gun light stored inside a leather Falco A122 holster, survived the blaze largely intact.

More at BA:

https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton...fire-company-gives-gun-owner-new-one-n1230818

 

[blume357]

I'm trying to figure out which way to go with this....

I like leather but kydex (plastic) does have it place.... for me the question would be if I'm engulfed in flames and cooked to a crisp would I rather have the folks doing the autopsy find a still usable pistol stuck to my side or one wrapped in melted plastic?
So, I'll go with leather since I really like my carry pistol (it's not plastic either) and so it could live on with out me.

 

[Mobuck]

I can tell everyone that when plastic melts onto your skin, it leaves a very nasty burn. It just sort of sticks there and continues to burn.
It's been approximately 3 years + 33 days since I had the experience-- the memory doesn't fade.

 

[thinckley]

I go to leather because it gives more than plastic and it looks so much better than plastic.

I made this one for my P95 10 years ago.

 

[GunnyGene]

I'm trying to figure out which way to go with this....

I like leather but kydex (plastic) does have it place.... for me the question would be if I'm engulfed in flames and cooked to a crisp would I rather have the folks doing the autopsy find a still usable pistol stuck to my side or one wrapped in melted plastic?
So, I'll go with leather since I really like my carry pistol (it's not plastic either) and so it could live on with out me.

That's very considerate of you.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

All my holsters have always been leather.
I never cared for plastic. I don't even like the sound it makes when you put a gun in a plastic holster. It just sounds cheap.

 

[Jeepnik]

I just like leather better. It's softer and more pliable, it looks better, it smells better. That slight creak of a leather holster just seems more reassuring.
It's also, in my experience, quieter when drawing and holstering.

I wonder if anyone has compared and determined which is easier on a firearms finish.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Leather. Feels good, looks good, breaks in to a perfect fit for what it carries, quiet draw. Can't stand the cheap look, the sound, or the noise of Kydex. Kind like the Mattel of holsters.

 

[GunnyGene]

I just like leather better. It's softer and more pliable, it looks better, it smells better. That slight creak of a leather holster just seems more reassuring.
It's also, in my experience, quieter when drawing and holstering.

I wonder if anyone has compared and determined which is easier on a firearms finish.

That depends on the quality of the leather ( vegetable tanned only ), and whether it's lined with suede for example, and if it's kept clean. Suede and other soft linings are generally a no-no.

DiamondD addresses this on their website.

https://www.diamonddcustomleather.com/pages/faq

All of our leather comes from Hermann Oak Leather in St. Louis, MO. They are known to provide the only the absolute best leather available on the market. Our leather is shipped to our shop at least once a month where we inspect every hide to ensure the highest quality leather will be used on each piece me hand craft. Our cowhide holsters use vegetable tanned leather. The benefit of this technique is that it provides a leather that will not cause your weapon to rust or corrode the way chrome tanned leather can do when the gun is left in it for extended periods of time.

We find that any fabric such as Suede has a tendency to retain moisture, dirt, and sand. In the tough conditions we test our holsters this was not a desirable condition. This sand, dirt, and moisture that was retained had a tenancy to scratch the finish of guns, instead we double line the holsters with leather making the inside smooth, this is best for the finish of the gun.

Hermann Oaks Leather is used by premier holster makers, and it's considerably more expensive than cheaper chrome tanned.

 

[oldbbb]

I like leather for OWB but Kydex seems better for IWB because it does not bind near as much for me

 

[DGW1949]

I'm an old guy that's stuck in his ways, so no Kydex, Nylon or canvas for me, thank you anyway....As leather holsters go, a welted seem is mandatory, as-is an effective retention device, and I will admit to a lot of mine having a suede lining, although I really prefer one that's lined with pig skin. It's become so hard to find a maker that knows how to properly build a lined holster these days that I've just about had to give up on that though....Far as I know, Bianchi still uses a welt where the two edges of their holsters come together so I'm still mostly using their stuff, same as I have been for years.

DGW

 

[Mike J]

I own some of both. I prefer Kydex/plastic for striker fired guns because it keeps its shape. That can be important when reholstering a striker fired pistol that doesn't have a safety.

 

[kmoore]

I have and use both in 2 different handguns. Leather is heavier, should have a retention device. Good holsters about 100 bucks and up. Kydex is lighter weight, holds a gun really well without need of retention devices. Costs more than some leather holsters. It might hold up better than leather under normal use. (I said might) Because it's fairly new compared to leather.
I started with Kydex after trying plastic holsters carried under a binocular chest rig. Using them hunting and off roading. Leather in CCW outside the belt. Plastic, I just have not used any that were as good as Kydex or a top end leather holster.
I have 3 chest rigs, 2 Kydex and 1 Nylon. Kydex is a lot better/lighter and more money.

 

[Mobuck]

I've been using Kydex for years and haven't found much to complain about. At first, I was concerned about breaking but hasn't been any problem. Retention was also a concern but again, no problems.
The feature I really like is on the kydex for my little SR22 pistol with a laser on the forward rail. Drawing the pistol rapidly turns the laser on--and it really does work. I've carried the little SR22 during farm work and haven't had any problems with retention or loosening of the fit.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I have one carbon fiber and the rest are leather. I have owned one Kydex. I like the carbon fiber better but leather makes more sense to me. I only have two plastic pistols and one isn't carried in a holster.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

The holsters I like the most are made by Garrett. Their holsters are leather-lined Kydex. Light weight, form fitting without scratching the gun's finish.

Leather holsters are more attractive, but bulkier and heavier. I migrated to Kydex after admitting to myself that "attractive" and "concealed" are mutually exclusive attributes.

 

[balin]

The plastic guns I carry get plastic holsters . Steel guns get wrapped in leather. I carry my Kahr PM9 in a kydex pocket holster most days.

 

[Fox Mike]

I build my own leather holsters and own no plastic holsters. If I line a holster it will be smooth leather and never suede. Suede retains dampness as well as microscope grit.

 

[peachhead]

I have some of both, I prefer leather.
I know kydex is good but I just can't bring myself to use it. The only problem I have with leather is occasionally it leads to some finish wear.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Just an add-on. While I prefer leather, I don't mind nylon or whatever my smallest guns. Sometimes it actually improves the draw.

 

[dst525]

Kydex is more popular because it is objectively safer. Leather, when it gets wet, can warp because it becomes flexible. It is possible for the leather to warp into the trigger guard and potentially actuate the trigger.

 

[thinckley]

It is possible for the leather to warp into the trigger guard and potentially actuate the trigger.

Yeah.... no.

 

[GunnyGene]

Kydex is more popular because it is objectively safer. Leather, when it gets wet, can warp because it becomes flexible. It is possible for the leather to warp into the trigger guard and potentially actuate the trigger.

In over 60 years of shooting, I've never heard of that happening. Can you provide some evidence of that?

 

[thinckley]

In over 60 years of shooting, I've never heard of that happening. Can you provide some evidence of that?

Yeah, there is absolutely no way that wet leather is going to warp enough to pull any properly functioning trigger....

 

[GunnyGene]

Yeah, there is absolutely no way that wet leather is going to warp enough to pull any properly functioning trigger....

On the other hand, there are numerous reports of triggers being pulled in Kydex - especially those with various mechanical retention gadgets. Although, many are due to the shooter not paying attention when holstering.

 

[thinckley]

On the other hand, there are numerous reports of triggers being pulled in Kydex - especially those with various mechanical retention gadgets. Although, many are due to the shooter not paying attention when holstering.

That I could see.

 

[gnappi]

Leather.

Kydex is noisy when you want quiet and it's tougher on finish than leather.

 

[RC44Mag]

I have leather( Sparks) for my 1911 and my 686 (chest rig) Diamond D) a coupe nylon for other pieces but not one kydex. I need to get one for my 365

 

[blume357]

I have a simple question... what the heck is Kydex anyway,... other than just molded plastic.
by the way I once saw the funnest description of plastic on a cheap Chinese tarp:
"Corners now re-enforced with High Strength Space Age Polymer"

 

[dst525]

In over 60 years of shooting, I've never heard of that happening. Can you provide some evidence of that?

Every experience is personal. As for evidence I can't provide that.