The best concealed carry holster
Quick answer: the Bianchi 100 Professional (around $75) is the best concealed carry holster for most people carrying a compact pistol inside the waistband. Bianchi builds it from full-grain cowhide with a suede-lined back, a high back between the slide and your body, and a spring-steel clip, and comfort is the most repeated praise in its 170 owner reviews. Its weakness is a soft mouth that closes after the draw. For a shell that stays open, the Comp-Tac Infidel Ultra Max hybrid adds adjustable retention and cant. For a pistol with a red dot, the Safariland Incog X is listed as optic compatible. On a budget, the Galco Tuck-N-Go 2.0 (around $60) tucks under a shirt. Carrying a Glock 19? See our best Glock 19 holster guide.
A concealed carry holster has three jobs: cover the trigger, hold the pistol where you put it, and disappear under your clothes for a full day. The choices that decide how well it does them are where it rides (inside or outside the waistband), what it is made of (leather, Kydex or a hybrid of both), and how it retains the gun. Every holster below is sold in a specific model for specific pistols, so each card names the exact model and fit we checked. Where we could read the maker's own page we used it; where a figure comes only from the retailer's listing, the card says so.
Concealed carry holsters compared
| Holster | Best for | Carry | Build | Retention | Adjustable | Red dot | Card fits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bianchi 100 Professional | All-day comfort | IWB | Leather | Friction | No | Not listed | Glock 19/23/29/30/45 | around $75 |
| Comp-Tac Infidel Ultra Max | Hybrid | IWB | Leather + Kydex | Level I passive | Retention, cant | No, per retailer expert | Glock 19/23/32 | around $90 |
| Safariland Incog X | Pistol with a red dot | IWB | Boltaron | Passive | Tension, clip shims | Yes, listed | Glock 19/17 | around $100 |
| Galco Tuck-N-Go 2.0 | Budget, tuckable | IWB | Steerhide | Friction | Listing conflicts | Not listed | Glock 19/23/32/36 | around $60 |
| Galco KingTuk IWB | SIG P320, S&W M&P | IWB | Kydex + steerhide | Passive | Height, angle | Conflicting answers | SIG P320 family | around $100 |
| BlackHawk SERPA CQC | OWB, active retention | OWB | Polymer | Level II lock | Paddle or belt loop | Not listed | Glock 42 | around $50 |
Bianchi figures are from Bianchi's own product page and fit table; the other holsters' specifications come from the retailer's listing. "Card fits" is the pistol list of the exact model each card links to; every listing sells other fits too. Prices are bands; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks
Best concealed carry holster overall: Bianchi 100 Professional
Leather IWB · full-grain cowhide, suede-lined back · high back · spring-steel clip for belts up to 1.75 in · card: Black, right hand, Glock 19/23/29/30/45 fit (Bianchi part 26822)
around $75exact price on OpticsPlanet
The holster to start with if you want to carry inside the waistband all day and forget it is there. Bianchi builds the Model 100 from full-grain cowhide with a non-slip suede lining on the side against your body, a high back that sits between the pistol and your skin, and a heavy-duty spring-steel clip for belts up to 1.75 inches. Owners come back to the same two words, comfort and concealment, and several single out the high back as the reason. It is also one of the least expensive holsters on this page. The rating belongs to the whole listing, which covers 61 models for revolvers, .380s and full-size pistols; the card is the black right-hand model Bianchi lists for the Glock 19, 23, 29, 30 and 45. What you give up: soft leather with no reinforced mouth, so the holster closes up once the gun is out.
Pros
- Full-grain cowhide with a suede-lined back and a high back that shields you from the slide, per Bianchi
- Comfort is the most repeated praise across 170 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet
- Closed bottom keeps lint and debris out of the muzzle, per Safariland's own review of the Model 100
- Two-year Bianchi warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
Cons
- The mouth collapses after the draw, so reholstering takes two hands; this is the most repeated owner complaint
- One mold covers many pistols, and owners of several models report a fit that is too tight or too loose
- Fixed angle with a single clip: no cant or ride-height adjustment
- Tight out of the box; it needs a break-in period before the draw is smooth
Best for: everyday inside-the-waistband carry of a compact pistol when comfort matters more than one-handed reholstering. If you train draws and reholsters often, a Kydex-shelled holster such as the Comp-Tac or the Incog X keeps its shape.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Bianchi (a Safariland brand) |
|---|---|
| Type | Inside the waistband (IWB) |
| Material | Full-grain cowhide leather, suede-lined exterior next to the body |
| Retention | Friction fit of the molded leather (no adjustment screw listed) |
| Attachment | Heavy-duty spring-steel clip, belts up to 1.75 in |
| Cant | Fixed ("rides at an optimum angle", per Bianchi) |
| Bottom | Closed |
| Warranty | Bianchi limited, two years (materials and workmanship) |
| Model on this card | Bianchi part 26822, Plain Black, right hand, Fit Group 11 (Glock 19, 23, 29, 30, 45); retailer MPN 1185127 |
“This flap helps shield my weapon from sweat and skin oils.”
jski54, owner (TX) via OpticsPlanet
Best hybrid IWB holster: Comp-Tac Infidel Ultra Max
Hybrid IWB · two-layer cowhide backing with a Kydex shell · adjustable retention and cant · single polymer clip, 1.5 in belt (retailer listing) · card: Glock 19/23/32, right hand
around $90exact price on OpticsPlanet
A hybrid puts a rigid Kydex shell on a wide leather back, and that fixes the Bianchi's one real weakness: the shell stays open after the draw. The retailer lists the Infidel Ultra Max with a two-layer cowhide backing, a Kydex shell, adjustable retention (an Allen wrench comes in the box), a cant-adjustable polymer clip and Level I passive retention, and the shell is interchangeable, so a new pistol means a new shell rather than a new holster. Owners write most about comfort, especially the leather against bare skin. The costs are a thin owner record (15 reviews across 72 models, none about the Glock 19 row we card) and a single clip.
Pros
- Kydex shell holds its shape, so the mouth stays open for reholstering
- Retention and cant are both adjustable, per the retailer listing
- Interchangeable Kydex shells: change pistols without changing the whole holster
- Owners single out the comfort of the leather backing against skin
Cons
- Only 15 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet, and none about the Glock 19 model on this card
- Two owners who describe themselves as heavier found it hard to reholster
- The retailer's product expert says it will not take a pistol with a slide-mounted optic; one owner was told a newer version for another pistol does
- One owner reports it wearing the slide finish within days
Best for: a compact 9mm carried inside the waistband by someone who wants to adjust ride angle and tension. Skip it if your slide carries a red dot; look at the Incog X.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Comp-Tac |
|---|---|
| Type | Inside the waistband (IWB), hybrid |
| Material | Two-layer cowhide backing, Kydex shell |
| Retention | Level I passive, adjustable |
| Attachment | Single polymer clip, 1.5 in belt |
| Cant | Adjustable |
| Included | Allen wrench |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | C538GL051R50N, Black, right hand, Glock 19/23/32 (a separate Glock 19 Gen 5 row is C538GL052R50N) |
“It lays snug to my body and the leather backing feels good against bare skin.”
taw1531, owner (AZ) via OpticsPlanet
Best holster for a pistol with a red dot: Safariland Incog X (Glock 19/17)
IWB · Boltaron shell, microfiber suede wrap · passive trigger guard and ejection port retention · red-dot compatible · over-the-belt polymer clips, 1.5 in (retailer listing) · card: Glock 19/17, Black, right hand, no light
around $100exact price on OpticsPlanet
The modern answer for a pistol that wears an optic. The retailer lists the Incog X for the Glock 19 and 17 as a Boltaron holster (a rigid thermoplastic, like Kydex) wrapped in microfiber suede, with passive retention at the trigger guard and ejection port, adjustable tension, clips that go over the belt, and shims that change how the clips sit for concealment. Two details set it apart from everything else here: the listing states micro and full-size red-dot compatibility and a sight channel height of 0.406 inches, and the same listing sells versions cut for a weapon light and with a magazine caddy. The catch is evidence: this listing has no owner reviews yet, so there is nothing to synthesize, and we do not borrow the reviews on Safariland's separate Glock 43X/48 listing.
Pros
- Listed as compatible with micro and full-size red dots, with a 0.406 in sight channel
- Rigid Boltaron shell keeps the mouth open for one-handed reholstering
- Light-bearing and magazine-caddy versions sold on the same listing
- Clip shims let you tune how the grip tucks in, per the retailer listing
Cons
- No owner reviews yet on this listing, so there is no owner record to weigh
- The most expensive holster on this page
- Passive retention only: no thumb break or lock
- The card is the plain version; a weapon light needs a different, light-bearing model
Best for: a Glock 19 or 17 with a slide-mounted red dot, carried inside the waistband. Our best Glock 19 holster guide compares it on fit.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Safariland |
|---|---|
| Type | Inside the waistband (IWB) |
| Material | Boltaron, microfiber suede-wrapped body |
| Retention | Passive, trigger guard and ejection port; adjustable tension |
| Attachment | Over-the-belt polymer clips, 1.5 in, with concealment shims |
| Optic | Micro and full-size red dot compatible; sight channel 0.406 in |
| Gun fit | Glock 17, Glock 19 |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table, features and description |
| Model on this card | INCOG-0-835-A-0-CX2-61, Black, right hand, standard (no light) |
Best budget tuckable holster: Galco Tuck-N-Go 2.0
Leather IWB · premium steerhide · metal-reinforced mouth · low ride · two clips in the box (retailer listing) · card: Glock 19/23/32/36, Tan, right hand
around $60exact price on OpticsPlanet
The lowest-priced inside-the-waistband holster on this page and the smallest: a single layer of steerhide that rides low and lets you tuck a shirt over the gun, with only the clip showing below the belt. The retailer lists a metal-reinforced mouth for easier holstering, a low ride, and two clips in the box (a UniClip for belts up to 1 3/4 inches and an Ultimate Stealth clip for any belt width), and says it converts for right or left hand. Read the listing with care, though: its description still describes the older J-Hook clip and a fixed, vertical carry while the feature list says the 2.0 is adjustable for cant, and most of its 61 reviews were written about the older version. The newest one likes the redesign.
Pros
- The lowest price among the inside-the-waistband holsters here
- Tuckable: only the clip shows below the belt line
- Metal-reinforced mouth for easier holstering, per the retailer listing
- Two clips in the box, one for any belt width
Cons
- Most owner reviews describe the earlier J-Hook version, not the 2.0 on this card
- Owners of the older version report the leather collapsing, making reholstering hard
- The retailer's description and feature list disagree on the clip and on cant adjustment
- For the Glock 19 it comes in tan only
Best for: deep concealment on a budget, under a tucked shirt, when you rarely reholster during the day.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Galco |
|---|---|
| Type | Inside the waistband (IWB), strong side or cross draw |
| Material | Premium steerhide |
| Retention | Friction fit; metal-reinforced mouth |
| Attachment | UniClip (belts up to 1 3/4 in) and Ultimate Stealth clip (any width), per the feature list |
| Ride | Low |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | TUC226, Tan, right hand, Glock 19/23/32/36 |
“this newer, lighter and thinner design works surprisingly great for me”
Carl, owner (MO) via OpticsPlanet
Best hybrid for SIG P320 and S&W M&P owners: Galco KingTuk IWB
Hybrid IWB · Kydex pocket on a steerhide back · tuckable · raised sweat guard · clip height and angle set by hole position (retailer listing) · card: SIG P320 family, right hand, Black
around $100exact price on OpticsPlanet
If you carry a SIG P320 or an S&W M&P, this is the hybrid with the deeper owner record: 145 reviews against the Comp-Tac's 15. The retailer lists a Kydex pocket on a steerhide back, a raised sweat guard, a tuckable design, and clips that move between holes in the leather to set carry height and angle; the spec table lists the USA as country of origin. The card is the P320 version (it also lists the SIG M17 and M18, Beretta APX, CZ P-07 and Taurus G3), and the same listing sells an M&P version. It is not on our Glock 19 page for a plain reason: the retailer's only Glock 19 KingTuk is a used demo unit that cannot be ordered.
Pros
- Deep owner record: 145 reviews on OpticsPlanet
- Tuckable, with clip holes that change ride height and angle
- Kydex pocket keeps the mouth open; raised sweat guard, per the retailer listing
- Country of origin listed as USA
Cons
- No orderable Glock 19 version at the retailer; the card fits the SIG P320 family
- Retention is not adjustable; one owner notes "there is no way to adjust tension"
- The newest owner review is from 2020, so the record says little about current production
- Owners describe a break-in period and a bulk that needs a larger waist size
Best for: SIG P320 or S&W M&P owners who want a tuckable hybrid with a long owner record. Glock 19 owners should read our Glock 19 holster picks instead.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Galco |
|---|---|
| Type | Inside the waistband (IWB), hybrid, tuckable |
| Material | Kydex pocket, steerhide back (retailer lists leather and Kydex) |
| Retention | Passive, Kydex pocket (no tension adjustment reported by owners) |
| Attachment | Two clips; height and angle set by hole position |
| Country of origin | USA (retailer spec table) |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table, features and description |
| Model on this card | KT820B, Black, right hand: SIG P320 (full, compact, subcompact, X-Compact), M17, M18, Beretta APX, CZ P-07, Taurus G3/TH9 |
“The break-in time is just a couple days of wearing, maybe 6 - 8 total.”
Jimmy Jeep, owner (MI) via OpticsPlanet
Best OWB holster with active retention: BlackHawk SERPA CQC Concealment
Outside the waistband (OWB) · injection-molded polymer · Level II SERPA Auto Lock · paddle and belt loop · card: Glock 42, right hand, Matte Black
around $50exact price on OpticsPlanet
The only outside-the-waistband holster on this page, and the only one with active retention. The retailer lists it as injection-molded polymer with a Level II SERPA Auto Lock that holds the pistol until a button is pressed during the draw, and a paddle and belt loop attachment. It has the highest owner rating and the largest owner record on this page, and owners trust the lock: one says you can nearly do a pull-up on it. It ranks last here for two reasons. It is an OWB holster listed for concealment but specified by the retailer for duty, and its own most helpful critical review calls it bulky to hide. And the SERPA release is the subject of a long-running debate, covered below. The card is the Glock 42 model; the retailer sells no Glock 19 version on this listing.
Pros
- Level II active retention: the SERPA lock holds the pistol until you press the release
- Paddle or belt loop, for on-and-off carry or a tighter ride on a belt
- The largest owner record here: 4.7/5 from 232 reviews on OpticsPlanet
- The lowest price on this page
Cons
- Bulky to conceal under a T-shirt, per its most helpful critical review
- The SERPA release is pressed with the trigger finger during the draw; see the debate below
- An owner warns that snow or dirt under the release tab can lock the gun in place
- No Glock 19 version on this listing; the card fits the Glock 42
Best for: open or cover-garment carry of a pistol you want locked in, on the range or outdoors. For concealment under a T-shirt, any IWB holster above hides better.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | BlackHawk |
|---|---|
| Type | Outside the waistband (OWB), paddle and belt holster |
| Material | Injection-molded polymer, matte finish |
| Retention | Level II, SERPA Auto Lock (releases during the draw) |
| Attachment | Paddle, belt loop |
| Application | Listed by the retailer as Duty |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | 410567BK-R, Matte Black, right hand, Glock 42 |
“you can nearly do a pullup on this thing when it is locked in”
jknow, owner (VA) via OpticsPlanet
The SERPA debate, in owners' words
The SERPA lock is released by a button your index finger presses as you grip the pistol, and that finger then has to stay straight along the frame as the gun comes out. Owners of the SERPA CQC on OpticsPlanet describe the same mechanism from both sides. We do not add claims from outside the reviews and the retailer listing.
“Some people hook their finger into the trigger after releasing the lock and shoot themselves.”
Most helpful positive review, owner via OpticsPlanet
“Following the instructions to keep the index finger straight while drawing the pistol will make the retention system nearly imperceptible, yield a smooth draw, and will keep the index finger away from the trigger.”
venB, owner (GA) via OpticsPlanet
If you choose it, practice the draw with an unloaded pistol until the straight finger on the release is automatic.
How to choose a concealed carry holster
- Buy for your exact pistol. Every holster here is molded for a list of pistols, and one listing can hold dozens of models. Check the model you order names your gun; a Glock 19 holster is not a Glock 43X holster.
- Inside or outside the waistband. IWB hides the pistol inside your pants and conceals best; OWB is easier to wear and draw from but needs a cover garment. IWB also takes room at the waist: three reviewers of the 5.11 Stryke pant say its stretch suits IWB carry.
- Leather, Kydex or hybrid. Leather is comfortable and quiet but closes after the draw; Kydex and Boltaron stay open for one-handed reholstering; a hybrid puts a rigid shell on a leather back.
- Retention. Passive holsters hold the pistol by friction or a molded fit, and some let you adjust it. Active retention, like the SERPA lock, adds a release you operate during the draw.
- Optic and light. A slide-mounted red dot or a weapon light needs a holster cut for it. The Incog X is listed as red-dot compatible and sold in light-bearing versions; for the light itself, see our best pistol light picks.
- Your belt. A clip-on holster is only as steady as the belt it clips to. Check the clip width against your belt: the Bianchi clip takes belts up to 1.75 inches.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We started from the retailer's inside-the-waistband and concealment holster categories, opened each listing's full model block (every orderable variant, with used and demo units set aside) to find the exact model each card should link to, and read every owner review on each listing, including every low-star one. For the Bianchi, our top pick, we checked the construction, fit table and warranty against Bianchi's own pages; where a claim came only from secondary research and we could not confirm it at the source, we left it out. Our scores are our opinion; owner ratings are shown attributed to the retailer that collected them, and each listing's rating covers all of its models. We say nothing here about carry laws, which vary by state. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best concealed carry holster?
For most people carrying a compact pistol inside the waistband, the Bianchi 100 Professional. Bianchi builds it from full-grain cowhide with a suede-lined back, a high back that shields you from the slide, and a spring-steel clip for belts up to 1.75 inches, and comfort is the most repeated praise in its 170 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet. Choose the Comp-Tac Infidel Ultra Max if you want a Kydex shell that stays open, and the Safariland Incog X if your pistol wears a red dot.
Is IWB or OWB better for concealed carry?
Inside the waistband conceals better, because the pistol sits inside your pants and only the grip rises above the belt. Outside the waistband is often more comfortable and easier to draw from, but it needs a cover garment. The one OWB holster here, the BlackHawk SERPA CQC, draws the same complaint from its own owners: bulky to hide under a T-shirt.
Leather or Kydex: which is better for a carry holster?
Leather is quieter and softer against the body, but an unreinforced leather holster closes up after the draw, which is the most repeated complaint about the Bianchi 100. Kydex and Boltaron shells keep their shape, so you can reholster with one hand, but they can feel harder against the skin. A hybrid, such as the Comp-Tac Infidel Ultra Max or the Galco KingTuk, puts a rigid shell on a leather back to get some of both.
How do you break in a leather holster?
Bianchi's own leather-care guide says to put the firearm in a plastic bag, insert it into the holster and leave it overnight, then repeat if it is still too tight. Unload the firearm first; that part is our advice, not Bianchi's wording. Bianchi also warns that softening products such as Neat's oil or mink oil will soften and distort the original molding.
Is the BlackHawk SERPA safe?
Owners disagree. The most helpful positive review of the SERPA CQC on OpticsPlanet warns that some people hook their finger into the trigger after releasing the lock, while other owners say that keeping the index finger straight on the release, as the instructions direct, keeps it away from the trigger. Whichever holster you choose, practice the draw with an unloaded pistol until it is automatic.
More for your carry pistol: best Glock 19 holster · best shoulder holster · best pistol light · best pistol red dot · for the rest of your everyday carry, the best pocket knife · to lock the pistol up at home or in the car, the best handgun safe · how we evaluate.