Holster Review: Comp-Tac delivers solid, worry-free belt carry

by Dean Rieck

When I needed a new belt holster for my Glock 17, I knew exactly where to look: Comp-Tac.

I'm not one of those guys who likes to collect three dozen holsters. I want one holster that suits my needs and will last forever. In this case, I needed a new holster for my full-size Glock, which I use primarily for training and fun shoots.

I've used a Kydex paddle holster from another well-known company for a few years, but I never liked it. There's no retention adjustment and I have to really yank to draw the weapon. Plus, the rivets are rusted, the plastic is thin, and I'm always worried it's going to break. I bought it because it's cheap and I guess you get what you pay for.

That's why I wanted to make a change. And I knew Comp-Tac was the right place to look. I knew this because last year, I took a 3-day class at Tactical Defense Institute and tested a Comp-Tac holster for my M&P9c, which I use for concealed carry. It performed flawlessly and I couldn't have been happier.

So of course I returned to Comp-Tac to get a holster for my Glock. I chose the belt holster because, while paddles make gearing up and down a little easier, having anything down your pants will eventually cause a little discomfort over a period of time. Plus, a belt holster provides more space between the body and the pistol grip for a confident draw stroke.

What I really like about the Comp-Tac belt holster is that it's a model of simplicity. The entire holster is one piece of Kydex, folded and molded to specifically fit a particular make and model. The holster covers the trigger guard and the barrel, leaving a large notch in the front to allow faster draws.

The two integral belt slots hold the holster tight against the body but can slide forward or backward as needed. If I want the holster to stay in place, I just position the holster over a pant belt loop and run my belt through the loop and slots.

The only non-integral parts include two retention screws and two rubber washers. The screws are adjusted with a small hex wrench, which Comp-Tac provides, along with instructions and a roll of Smarties candy, which is a nice touch.

While it's almost invisible, a tiny, teardrop-shaped bump on the inside puts just enough pressure on the trigger guard to hold the gun firmly yet allow an easy, smooth draw. The pistol goes in with a reassuring click and comes out with minimal resistance, depending on how tightly you've set the screws.

I think the best way to describe this holster is that it's entirely forgettable. By that I mean that, unlike the former holster which was constantly on my mind, the Comp-Tac is so simple and does its job so well, I forget about it when I'm shooting. That's the mark of great design for holsters or anything else.

In addition to the holster, I also got the twin mag pouch and the Tek-Lok flashlight holder.

The mag pouch clips onto the belt and works just as well as the holster. In the photos on the Comp-Tac website, it looks like the belt slots are too big, but this is an illusion. It stays in place remarkably well if you cinch up your belt properly, though like the holster, it's easy to slide forward or backward as needed. The key benefit of this mag pouch is that the magazines are kept farther apart than in other mag pouches, which lets you grip the magazines correctly for reloads. Also, each pouch is independently adjustable for retention.

The flashlight holder also works well, better than I imagined actually. The Tek-Lok attachment allows for nearly infinite adjustment, so you can have your flashlight at any angle you like on belts of various sizes. I do have a couple complaints, though. While the Tek-Lok attachment works great, operating it is not intuitive. I fiddled with it unsuccessfully for a few minutes before visiting the website to watch a video that demonstrates how it works. I would also be happier if the Tek-Lok portion of this flashlight holder was made in the U.S. rather than Taiwan. But I consider these minor annoyances with an otherwise very cool and functional accessory.

I used to be in love with leather holsters. But once I switched to Kydex, I never looked back. And now that I've discovered Comp-Tac, it's always the first place I look online to find a holster or accessory.

One final comment. I like the fact that the founder is a competitor. Unlike a lot of holster vendors that are just divisions of larger manufacturing companies or leather retailers who got into holsters just because there's a market, Comp-Tac is based on the experience of a guy who knows what works and doesn't work in the real world. That's the kind of credibility that matters.

Dean Rieck is the Marketing Director of Second Call Defense and a Leader with Buckeye Firearms Association.