I’m about to pick a fight. There is a school of thought in the firearms industry that hybrid holsters suck, aren’t good at holding pistols securely, and are a bad choice for concealed carry. While some arguments against hybrids seem to make some sense at face value, they start falling apart once you dig deeper. So, let’s take a look.
What’s a Hybrid?
First things first, let’s establish what we’re talking about. What’s a hybrid holster? A typical hybrid holster, like those made by Alien Gear, Crossbreed and DeSantis, is a mix of materials, usually a Kydex shell in the front and a leather or synthetic material in the back, where the holster touches the body. It’s not a Kydex or a leather holster, but the best of both worlds unless you’re a naysayer and contend that hybrids are no good, in which case you’d argue it’s the worst of both worlds. Either way, a hybrid holster is a mix of materials.
Several reputable holster manufacturers make an assortment of hybrid holsters. The first argument is that many top holster makers have invested a lot of time and money, not to mention staking their reputations, and they have been for years.
But let’s go deeper into the arguments often posed by the anti-hybrid folks.
Argument #1: They don’t hold the gun securely
One selling point of a full Kydex holster is the ability to adjust the retention with the simple turn of a screw. This is a valid point in favor of Kydex and away from an all-leather holster because most leather-based holsters don’t have adjustable retention. Many leather holsters open wider as they age, loosening their grip on the gun.
But a hybrid holster is not guilty as charged because the leather backer is pressed against the wearer’s body, thus adding intrinsic tension to the holster and squeezing the gun tightly -- how tightly depends entirely on how tight the belt is pulled. And for the record, some hybrid holsters include screw-adjustable retention that presses against the underside of the trigger guard to lock the gun in place until drawn. So a gun can be held securely in a hybrid, regardless of whether it has adjustable retention.
Argument #2: The leather gets too soft and bendy
The retort for this argument falls after Argument #1 because of the reason people buy hybrid holsters in the first place: Comfort. They want the leather to be soft and bendy. So, it feels better than a stiff Kydex shell digging into your waist.
Does a hybrid wear out faster because it has a leather backer? Of all the arguments against hybrids, this one might hold the most water, partly because leather holds water. Continuous sweat applied to leather can make it fall apart sooner. How long it lasts depends on the quality. Cheap leather might only last a few years, whereas high-quality, properly treated leather might last a lifetime.
Argument #3: The clips are too far apart
From a “put the holster on, take the holster off” perspective, two clips are more difficult than one. In fact, it’s twice as hard, so let’s award half a point to Team Anti-Hybrid. However, we’ll have to take back that half point once you get the holster on, as the clips being so far apart helps distribute the gun's weight across a wider area, thus reducing stress on your belt and your hip. But, again, hybrids are all about comfort, which is improved by spreading out the weight, especially if you carry all day, which you should.
As for taking the holster off at the end of the day, it’s super simple and might take you an entire five seconds longer than with a single-clip holster. Most hybrid holster belt clips are no different from other holster clips. There are just two instead of one.
Hybrids aren’t for everybody
The beauty of competition among holster makers is that you, the consumer, can choose how you want to carry your concealed firearm. Love leather? Carry it in leather. Prefer Kydex? Grab Kydex. Want the benefits of both? Try a hybrid. It’s up to you. It’s called freedom and is to be celebrated.
