I used to work with a guy who would occasionally reference the one that got away. A woman so good, so pure, and so joyous that he spent the rest of his life a confirmed bachelor (in the Victorian sense). In a startling coincidence, I have also had one get away. Not a woman, of course, but a holster. She was a Don Hume, and a real beauty at that. Fitted perfectly for my Glock 19, it was the most comfortable I’ve tried, allowing me to carry a nearly full-sized pistol in the appendix position. I don’t know what made it so good, but I regret every day that I let it go. And all the Kydex girls in the world will never compare to that homely looking Don Hume . . .
The only Kydex holster that has ever come close is the Custom IWB from DARA Holsters & Gear. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes this one so good, but I’ve tried at least half a dozen Kydex IWB rigs, trying to find the perfect set-up, and this is far and away the best one I’ve ever used. Perhaps its the higher ride height, or maybe the wider belt clip, but this is flat out a fantastic carry rig.
The path to success starts at the DARA website. There you can almost infinitely configure your holster making selections for firearm (lots), your light/laser (lots), color (5 choices), draw hand & position (all of them), belt attachment style and size (12 options), ride heigh (low, medium, high), and finally, cant (6 options).
I elected to go with a medium ride height, appendix carry model with the clip over style attachment in all black sized for my XD(m) 3.8. Rest easy though, it does just fine with the longer barreled 4.5 model as well.
Retention of the gun is secure and can be fine-tuned using the included Philips screw. Mine was perfect out of the box, but your mileage could certainly vary.
On the body, I found the wide clip did a great job keeping the gun balanced horizontally, though it did allow a bit of wiggle. In my mind, this is a feature as it allows for some creature comfort. The clip over style attachment system does a great job holding onto your belt of choice, while still being slick enough internally to allow repositioning throughout the day.
In the pants, the DARA holster is very unobtrusive, hugging the gun closely so as not to create any unnecessary width. Sitting, standing, running, and jumping are all easy to accomplish and don’t seem to dislodge things.
As you’d expect there’s full coverage of the trigger, but no extra material that can get in the way of a proper grip from the holster. Additionally, all the edges had been smoothed so fabric snags were non-existent. I was able to easily get a solid grip without issue.
Ratings (out of five stars):
Overall Rating * * * * *
DARA has done a fine job creating about the most comfortable Kydex AIWB holster I’ve ever used. If you’re thinking about switching to the appendix position, you’d be hard pressed to find something better to start with. At $52, the DARA model is certainly on the pricier end of things, but it’s extraordinarily customizable, exceedingly stout, and dare I say mighty comfortable.