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If the last 10 years or so, some significant changes have
occurred in the gun holster industry.
One of those changes includes the growing popularity of kydex as a
material for gun holsters. Today nearly every style of gun holster (IWB, OWB,
Tactical, etc.) is available in a kydex version. In light of that growing
popularity, a very common question that we regularly hear at Gunner’s Alley is
“What’s kydex and how is it different or better than leather?"
First, it’s important to answer
the "What exactly is kydex?"
question.
Kydex is an extremely durable acrylic/PVC thermoplastic
manufactured and marketed by the Kleerdex Company in Bloomberg, P.A.
Kydex is produced in a
wide range of colors, patterns, textures, thicknesses, and grades designed for
long-term performance, appearance, and a multitude of diverse end-use
applications. In addition to holsters, these applications include:
- Aircraft interiors
- Medical products
- Food processing equipment
- Electrical components
- Store fixture components
The kydex line of proprietary thermoplastic was first produced by a company
called Rohm and Haas in 1965. It was designed specifically for aircraft
interior applications. Its strength to weight ratio and durability made kydex
an excellent choice for commercial aviation applications. Shortly after its
inception, kydex was quickly adopted for use by United, American, Delta and
other major airlines.
In 1987 the Kleerdex
Company purchased the entire Kydex product line from the Rohm and Haas Company.
In 1990, Kleerdex began manufacturing kydex sheeting at its Bloomburg, P.A.
location. Kleerdex expanded the early kydex lines to include many different
grades and colors.
As with any material, Kydex
holsters have pros and cons compared to traditional leather holsters. Here are a few pros:
Durability – Overall kydex
is probably a more durable material than leather, and is much more
impact/damage resistant. Accidentally spill gas or some other solvent on your
favorite leather holster, or catch that holster on a sharp object, and you'll
see where kydex could be beneficial. In addition, leather will stretch out over
time, while kydex will retain its original form.
Water/moisture Resistant
- One potential downside of leather is that it isn't truly waterproof. Over
time, leather holsters can and will absorb moisture. That moisture can soak
into the holster and affect the weapon finish, as well as produce a foul odor.
Kydex is virtually waterproof, making it an excellent choice for holster use in
humid or tropical climates. As an added bonus, kydex holsters are also very
easy to clean with a wet cloth.
Speed - This is an
arguable benefit, but worth mentioning. In my humble opinion, a properly fitted
kydex holster draws faster than a comparable leather model. This is one of the
reasons that kydex holster have become so popular in competitive hand gunning
arenas like IDPA and IPSEC. We have a large number of customers who switch from
leather to kydex for IDPA hand gunning, and we routinely receive feedback
confirming the added speed of kydex.
Kydex holsters also have
a downside compared to leather. Here are a few:
Weapon finish wear -
Here's one that's a hot topic, and probably the most commonly asked question we
receive regarding kydex holsters. Before we get into addressing this issue,
it's important to understand some concepts. Finish wear on a weapon comes from
friction that occurs when the weapon is un-holstered and re-holstered. Over
time, that repeated friction causes wear on the weapon. Friction wear occurs on
weapons no matter what the holster is made of. Actually you could cause finish
wear on a weapon using your finger, if you rubbed in the same place over time.
Likewise, any poorly fitting holster, no matter what the material, can cause
wear on the weapon finish.
Now do kydex holsters
cause wear?
Yes, they will. However,
the level and degree of wear will depend on several factors such as the quality
of the holster, fit of the holster, and amount of use. Let me explain a bit
more: leather holster rely on tightness of fit for retention. Kydex holsters
typically provide retention through specific points within the holster that
"grab" onto the weapon itself. These specific retention points are
usually located around the trigger guard, and front of the muzzle (front slide
area for semi-automatics). Over time, repeated holstering and unholstering will
most likely cause some finish wear at these points. In a quality kydex holster,
the amount of wear is usually dependant on the frequency of draws and
re-holstering.
Flexibility - As leather
is somewhat supple is has a limited amount of flexibility. A leather holster,
depending on how it's worn, can almost mold itself around the wearer's hip.
Since kydex is a somewhat rigid thermoplastic, it lacks the flexibility that
leather offers.
Hopefully this
information will be helpful to you and answer some of the common questions that
you may face when deciding on a gun holster. Brad Justus is the co-founder of Gunner's Alley, LLC, which specializes in gun holsters and shooting supplies at discounted prices. Brad has in-depth concealed carry experience based on a lengthy and diverse law enforcement career.
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