In my quest to find the perfect holster, Tiffany Fulton at Comp-Tac was nice enough to box up and send the entire catalog of products that fit my EDC XD(m). I’ve been slogging through reviews (tough life, I know) for the last few weeks and the Comp-Tac Minotaur Neutral Cant next on the hit parade . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIaipwslPzQ
Those who read my MTAC review will recognize the pieces and parts that make up this AIWB (appendix inside the waistband) holster from Comp-Tac. Same style of leather backing, same kydex shell, same tuckable clips. And just like the MTAC, I found the leather backing to be incredibly comfortable with only an overnight stay stuffed with dress socks and gun to break it in enough for daily carry.
On that note, let’s talk about tucking a loaded gun in next to your femoral artery, your favorite reproductive organs and wastegate. It already lends itself to a sense of discomfort by virtue of the horrific damage that can occur due to a negligent discharge. Any AIWB better be comfy as all hell to help you forget that potentially gory scene.
With a few caveats, I can say that the Minotaur fits the bill. The leather backing is supple, the whole rig can be positioned up or down to make your piece fit with whatever height you wear your pants and that little leather flap cushions the kydex/gun barrel on your thigh. All in all, very nice features.
The nagging issue for me was the actual width of the holster. I normally wear pants with a waist measurement of 32-34. The screw to screw width of those clips is about six inches. Most troubling is the distance between the clip closest to your belt buckle and the edge of the kydex shell. As a smaller-waisted guy, this holster is simply too wide to comfortably fit in the area between my belt buckle and my hip. This forced the holster to round the corner of my hip which was less than comfortable.
I asked Tiffany at Comp-Tac about the possibility of moving these clips closer to the kydex shell and was met with an unfortunate no. Handmade? Yes. Endlessly customizable? Not so much. I was informed that they order these leather backings en masse from Minotaur so they can’t really be customized. If AIWB carry was something I was hot and bothered about, I’d find a leather maker to fix it. But I’m not, so I didn’t.
Specifications: Comp-Tac Minotaur Neutral Cant Holster
- Type: IWB Appendix Carry
- Materials: Hybrid of Kydex and Leather
- Adjustment: Adjustable for ride height, belt size, and clip color. Additional benefits include the ability to swap out kydex bodies for other pistols in your collection.
- MSRP: $85.00
Ratings (out of five stars)
Fit and Finish * * * * *
Absolutely top notch work from Comp-Tac. This holster is hell bent for stout and built to last just like all the other gear I’ve seen from them.
Customization * * * ½
You can do a fair amount of customization from the factory to create a holster that fits your needs and then tune ride height and retention from there.
Comfort * * *
Adjustable ride height is a really nice feature and the leather backing is extremely comfortable. However, “smaller” toters will probably find this offering from Comp-Tac too wide to be worn comfortably. Flat bellied folks with larger waists probably won’t have this problem.
Concealability * * * * *
Say what you will about nestling a gun next to the goods, appendix carry is a printaphobe’s dream. Nobody knows you’re carrying a full size gun unless they hug you or you blow out your femoral artery. So don’t.