Kydex holsters continue to gather a following in nearly every facet of the shooting industry from range use to competitive shooters to concealed carry permit holders. Today nearly every style of leather gun holster is available in a comparable kydex version. If you follow any popular gun forums, youll eventually see someone post a question about kydex holsters and its advantages or disadvantages. To answer questions about kydex, we first need to define exactly what kydex is. Kydex is a durable acrylic/PVC thermoplastic manufactured and marketed by the Kleerdex Company in Bloomberg, P.A. It is manufactured in a wide range of different colors, patterns, textures, thicknesses, and grades. Produced for long-term durability, kydex has a assortment of diverse end-use applications.
In addition to gun holsters, kydex is also used for:
Aircraft interiors, Medical products, Food processing equipment, Electrical components, and Store fixture components
First produced in 1965, kydex was introduced to the market by a company called Rohm and Haas. Originally designed to be used in commercial aircrafts, its strength to weight ratio and durability made kydex an excellent choice for other commercial applications. Shortly after its inception, kydex was quickly adopted for use by United, American, Delta and other major airlines.
The rights to kydex were eventually sold to the Kleerdex Company in 1987, and they began producing it at their P.A. plant.
As with any material, Kydex holsters have pros and cons compared to traditional leather holsters. Here are a few pros:
*Durability
Using the pound for pound analogy, kydex is a more durable material than leather, and has a much higher impact resistant rating. Accidentally spill gas or some other solvent on your favorite leather holster, or catch that holster on a sharp object, and you'll see where kydex could be beneficial. In addition, leather will stretch out over time, while kydex will retain its original form.
*Water/moisture Resistant
One potential downside of leather is that it isn't truly waterproof. Over time, leather holsters can and will absorb moisture.That moisture can soak into the holster and affect the weapon finish, as well as produce a foul odor. Kydex is virtually waterproof, making it an excellent choice for holster use in humid or tropical climates.
Like everything in life, kydex also has a downside:
*Weapon wear
First, we need to talk about some facts in regards to finish wear.. Wear on the weapon is generally associated with friction that takes place each time the weapon is drawn and holstered. Over time, that repeated friction causes wear on the weapon. This type of wear occurs on weapons that are holstered and unholstered no matter what the holster itself is made of.
Now do kydex holsters cause wear?
The short answer is yes it will, but several other factors will play a big role in the level and amount of wear. To further explain, leather holsters are molded specifically to fit a particular weapon. The close fit of the leather grabs the weapon and keeps it in the holster. Kydex holsters typically provide retention through specific points within the holster that "grab" onto the weapon itself. These specific retention points are usually located around the trigger guard, and front of the muzzle (front slide area for semi-automatics). Over time, repeated holstering and unholstering will most likely cause some finish wear at these points. In most quality kydex holsters, the amount of wear is usually dependant on the frequency of draws and re-holstering.
Hopefully this information will be helpful to you and answer some of the common questions that you may face when deciding on a kydex gun holster.
Brad Justus is the co-founder of Gunner's Alley, which specializes in handgun holsters and related shooting supplies. Please visit
Gunner's Alley if you would like more information on kydex holsters.
