As a reasonable gun owner, you probably understand the importance of a gun holster. Whether you carry a firearm for work or for personal protection, finding the right holster is essential. When it comes to the materials used in the manufacturing of holsters, you may have some questions. Let our gun holster material guide help! Let’s take a look at the most commonly used materials to help you narrow down the many choices on the market.

Leather

When you think of a gun hostler, you probably think of leather first. This is one of the most common materials on the market and for good reason. Leather is naturally long lasting, retains the weapon well with a secure fit, and it looks great for those concerned with style matters. Leather is also quieter than other options, so you can draw your firearm as discreetly as possible. Leather is also undeniably comfortable against the body whereas harder materials can be a bit of nuisance to wear. The only drawback to leather is that it may shrink or loosen its fit over time. It can also crack when left exposed to high heat and sunlight. Aside from that, leather is one of the best solutions on the market for a gun holster.

Nylon

At the other end of the spectrum is nylon. While nylon is a great material for a ton of uses, it is less than ideal for holstering your weapon. If someone tries to sell you a nylon holster, look elsewhere. Nylon is too pliable and soft to make it a good idea for housing a firearm. This is not to say that it can’t be used in certain elements of your holster, such as a lining or something of that nature, but it shouldn’t be the main material of the entire holster since there are better-suited materials on the market.

Synthetic

Resting closer on the spectrum to leather, synthetics are the next most commonly used option for gun holster materials. Typically made out of special plastics which are exceptionally hard, a synthetic holster has a few great benefits worth considering. It is harder than leather which means a slightly more secure fit and trigger guard protection, as well as allowing for a fast draw when needed. It is also really tough in terms of what you can do it since it is mostly scratch resistant, impact resistant, and waterproof. Another benefit of leather is that you never need to break in a synthetic holster the way you need to break in leather. Another key factor contributing to why many people choose synthetic is that it doesn’t lose fit over time the way leather will. It is important to note that not all synthetic holsters are the same in terms of quality, so you should definitely do your research on which one might best fit your needs in terms of brands.

Hybrids

When you want the best of both leather and synthetic, there are hybrids. These options use leather as the main element of construction for the exterior yet utilize a synthetic holster interior designed so you never have to choose between the two. When you can’t decide between a leather or synthetic because they both have great benefits to offer, maybe a hybrid is your best bet.