RDR "The IWB Holster" Review

     On my long quest to find my perfect carry system I have come to a true crossroad and the RDR Holster is solely responsible. If you have read my review of the Peach State Concealment holster you will know I prefer the appendix carry method. If you haven't read the review, you now know. When I got my new RDR I immediately put it on in my normal 1 o'clock position and was heartbroken. However that's where things get really interesting and where some of my favorite features of this holster really presented themselves. But first......

The Facts:
     The RDR IWB is a fold over design using a single .08 thickness kydex for the body and .125 kydex for the single belt clip. The holster is clamped together with a single rivet. The standard cant on RDR's IWB holster is 10 degrees but upon request they can put up to a 15 degree cant or even a neutral cant.

Construction:
    This is one solid and damn near perfect holster. The construction is very solid and the finish is flawless. The single .125 clip is a big time winner for me. It is very sturdy and provides for extremely stable hold on your belt. There is very little wiggle but it is not so tight that it is tough to take on and off when needed. I originally ordered a 1.5 inch belt clip with mine but when it came in it did not fit either my 5.11 Casual Leather belt or 5.11 Double Duty belt. Both belts are measured at 1.5 inches but I could not get the clip to clip over or slide onto either one. After shooting an email to RDR I was amazed to actually get a phone call from them to address my problem. Jeff informed me that sometimes the thickness of certain belts can cause potential issues with the 1.5 inch belt clip and that he would send me a new holster with a 1.75 inch clip as a replacement. Talk about great service. When I got the new holster and shipped the old one back I was very happy with the result. The 1.75 inch clip goes over both of my belts with no issues. After taking some measurements you can see that the fold on the back side of the clip goes back onto itself a little; therefore reducing the size belt that it will actually fit over.

Comfort:
     The holster is extremely comfortable. I find that the .08 kydex is a good thickness when it comes to comfort. It's extra thickness makes for a smoother exterior to the holster while still giving a good enough mold to the firearm to provide good retention. Thinner kydex takes a more detailed form of firearms, with the result being a holster that has more bumps and edges pushed against your body. Another thing that makes this holster so comfortable is it's ride height and the angle at which the kydex is cut and comes together at the bottom at the firearm. The holster puts the vertical center line of the gun almost perfectly even with the top of your belt. This results in less bulk and pressure points in your waistline and allows for a perfect firing grip to be acquired. When used in the appendix position it also fits perfectly into your pelvic area without pushing too far down onto your "junk" or the bend in the front of the hip when sitting. The cut angle of the kydex is just enough to allow for the single rivet to make it's connection. There is no unneeded material to push into your legs or cause discomfort. It also means that the need to adjust or pull your belt up a little when sitting is greatly reduced. This is where we go back to my heartbreak.

Concealment:
    To be fair, I do not think this holster is designed for appendix carry. RDR offers an appendix carry holster on their website and it is quite different than this holster. The ride height that works so much to it's advantage in the comfort department causes the holster to ride a little too high and ends up being pushed out by MY stomach. Of course this will vary greatly with different people's body types so take this with a huge grain of salt. I am 6 feet tall and weight 205 lbs. I normally wear a large size in shirts and between a 34 and 36 size in shorts just to give you an idea of my perspective on concealment. Being in Texas, I also am in tshirts and shorts most of the time. If you are one to wear baggier shirts you will not have a problem at all using this holster in the appendix position. Where this holster really shines for me in in the 3 and 4 o'clock positions. Even with my more form fitting tshirts, my gun disappears. Below is a picture with the holster being worn on my hip.

And now in the appendix position. I'll even admit that on camera and probably to the general public, it is also very well concealed in this position. However from my view looking down, it just sticks out a little too much for my preference. It is possible this will change as I get more experience with concealed carry.

Conclusion:
     I am very happy with my purchase of the RDR IWB Kydex holster. It is a simple, clean, and sturdy design that allows for easy on and off. I can honestly say that this is the most comfortable holster I own so far. Without a doubt it will be my carry option during winter months when I am more layered. Even with my summer attire, I am having a very hard time convincing myself it prints too much for appendix carry. The guys over at RDR were extremely helpful and it made entire purchase that much better. Shipping time was about 4 weeks but the holster is worth the wait. RDR offers a large range of products so I encourage you all to visit their website. My holster cost $49.99 and I feel that I got my money's worth. I would confidently recommend this holster to anyone looking for a high quality IWB holster; especially if you carry on the hip.

http://www.rdrholsters.com/

Peach State Concealment Mini-Me Holster Review

I am a new concealed carrier and after reading endless reviews and taking the typical steps most go through to decide on a carry system I bought a Crossbreed mini tuck. While I am not going to hate on Crossbreed; as we all know most have great experiences with their products, I found some major shortcomings in the mini tuck holster. For me the Crossbreed just had too much material pushed against my body (no matter where on my body I carried) for my small pistol (KelTec PF9) and is just wasn't comfortable. My focus then shifted from the hybrid leather/kydex holsters to a simple low profile full kydex holster. Enter the Peach State Concealment Mini-Me Kydex holster. http://www.psconcealment.com/

I contacted Peach State Concealment after seeing a video on youtube http://youtu.be/KfMrjdPTd6k . After a very quick response to my email on whether or not he made holsters for my gun the owner informed me of their awesome "Holster/Blue Gun Trade Program". If he doesn't have a blue gun/mold for your particular weapon, the company will let you send them the Blue Gun that fits your needs and will send your holster to you at an even trade. They also have many other methods in which they can accommodate special orders listed on their FAQ page. Great idea and the first time I've seen this service offered. I sent my Blue Gun in and had my holster on my hip in less than a week total turnaround. Their web site is quoting a 3.5 week turnaround time right now so your mileage may vary.
       The holster is built specifically for appendix carry, though carrying at 3,4,5 o'clock is easily done, and works well. The holster is a full Kydex fold fold over design and utilizes the G-code clip as it's single attachment point to your belt. I do not know what thickness of kydex is used and could not find it on the company's web site but I can say it doesn't feel flimsy at all while not feeling overly bulky or thick. The standard Mini-Me does not come with a sweat guard but it can be added for no additional cost. Simply let the owner (Austin) know when you place your order. He is very flexible and easy to work with.

 The clip will fit up to a 1.75 inch belt and is very solid. The clip's main selling point is that it's negative angle pushes the holster closer to your body. In my experience so far the clip is a great clip but the negative angle push is a little over sold. I haven't noticed that it is an overly aggressive push to the body but it does work well. The clip is fastened to the holster with two standard screws and uses rubber spaces between the clip and the holster. The spacers keep the clip from rubbing against the kydex as far as I can tell. The holster offers extremely easy on and off and the clip allows for a secure fit while still allowing for enough wiggle room for the holster to be adjusted while sitting/getting in and out of a vehicle.

The fit and finish on the holster is excellent; with great retention. I use the Keltec trigger shoe on my PF9 and find that it makes the fit a little more snug than it may be without it. However even with the trigger shoe, I have no problems drawing and re-holstering. The design is very minimalist and when carrying this holster it really feels like I am carrying Mexican style. It is extremely comfortable. The concealment is excellent, with virtually zero printing. I am 6 feet tall and weight 205 lbs. I live in Texas and normally wear a tshirt and shorts. As you can see in the pics, there is virtually zero printing. I even attached a picture of me pulling my shirt against my body to show how low profile the holster is.

As if the features of this holster weren't enough; they sell for $35.00. While most holsters of this quality sell for $50.00 minimum, I will be ordering a Mini-Me for my Glock 19 very soon. Overall I can say I am a full kydex holster convert and Peach State Concealment's Mini-Me is to thank.