About Kydex Gun Holsters

Up until fifteen years ago, most gun holsters were traditionally made from leather. Since then, the holster industry has changed dramatically in the type of materials it uses to create its products. One of these newer materials, kydex, has a number of advantages and disadvantages that you should consider when buying a holster for your gun.

But first, what is kydex? Kydex is a synthetic thermoplastic material that currently dominates that gun holster market. From a material standpoint, its durability and other desirable characteristics make it hard to beat in this competitive market. Kydex is typically produced in sheets of varying thickness and color, which are then cut and formed. The sheets are non-porous and are easily molded into the desired shape by heating, forming, and cooling the material. In addition to gun holsters, other applications for this material include aircraft interiors, food processing equipment, electrical components, medical products, and store fixture components.

Today, nearly every style of gun holster (IWB, OWB, Tactical, and so on) is available in a kydex version. When formed as weapons holsters, kydex sheets have a number of advantages over leather:

1. They are waterproof. Over time, leather holsters can and will absorb moisture. This moisture can soak into the holster and affect the weapon finish, as well as produce a bad smell. Kydex is virtually waterproof, making it an excellent choice for use in humid or tropical climates. In addition, you can easily clean kydex holsters with a wet cloth.

2. They are scratch resistant. With a Rockwell R scale hardness of 90, a torn or damaged holster is a thing of the past.

3. They are easy to use. Kydex holds its shape, which makes for ease of re-holstering. Not only that, but holsters made from this material will not stretch or shrink under normal conditions.

4. They prevent finish wear. Gun finishes wear down over time from repeated holstering and re-holstering. A high-quality kydex holster significantly lessens the amount of friction caused by these actions, depending on the fit, quality, and make of the holster.

Along with these benefits, there is also one important drawback to kydex holsters: limited flexibility. Where leather is supple and conforms easily to the shape of the wearer's hip, kydex is a rigid thermoplastic that lacks this same flexibility.

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