Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
The Safariland Incog XS takes the proven Incog idea and strips it down into a faster, cleaner, easier-to-live-with IWB rig. After running it from concealment with a Glock 19 pattern setup, the big surprise was not just how comfortable it was, but how quickly it got out of the way.
Table of contents
- Safariland Incog XS First Look: Leaner, Faster, Less Belt Junk
- See the Safariland Incog XS Glock 19 Holster in Motion
- Draw Speed From Concealment: The Incog XS Comes Out Hot
- Microfiber Suede and Boltaron: Comfort That Actually Matters
- Single-Clip IWB Setup: Simple On, Solid Under Pressure
- Optic-Ready Clearance for the Way People Carry Now
- Glock 19 Fitment: One Shell, A Pile of Compatible Pistols
- Safariland Incog XS Specs and Carry Features
- Honest Caveats: Minimalist Speed Comes With Tradeoffs
- Safariland Incog XS Pros and Cons: Fast, Clean, and Not Perfect
- Final Verdict: The Incog XS Earns Its Belt Space
- Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
Safariland Incog XS First Look: Leaner, Faster, Less Belt Junk
Safariland and Haley Strategic have been refining the Incog line for a few years now, and the new Incog XS is the latest result of that partnership. Billed as a more streamlined, minimalist evolution of the Incog X platform, the XS strips the system down to a single-clip configuration aimed at shooters who want true everyday-carry versatility without a lot of hardware riding on their belt. I spent time running mine on the range, and I really like it; I think some of you may also appreciate what it has to offer.
This Safariland Incog XS review is not about trying to turn a holster into a personality trait. It is about a simple question most concealed carriers actually care about: Does the thing carry comfortably, stay put, draw fast, and avoid making your beltline look like you are smuggling a cordless drill? In this case, the answer is mostly yes, and the holster gets there without overcomplicating the job.
See the Safariland Incog XS Glock 19 Holster in Motion
The model I tested is designed for the Glock 19, but thanks to smart shaping, it fits a pile of Glocks and Glock clones without acting picky.
Draw Speed From Concealment: The Incog XS Comes Out Hot
Let’s start with the part that matters most to anyone carrying a defensive pistol: speed, because a concealed carry holster that feels great but draws like cold molasses is not helping anybody. Right out of the gate in my range session, from appendix, I consistently drew from concealment and put a round on steel at 10 yards in somewhere between .8 and 1 second. Those are genuinely fast, clean numbers, and the holster never fought me through the draw stroke. Consistency like that, straight out of the box, tells you the holster is doing its job and getting out of the way.
That is the biggest compliment I can give an IWB holster. It does not need to be dramatic. It does not need to announce itself. It needs to sit where you put it, let you get a full firing grip, release cleanly when you draw, and not drag the gun, the belt, and half your wardrobe into the fight. The Incog XS did that from the first drills, which is usually where lesser holsters start exposing their bad habits.
Microfiber Suede and Boltaron: Comfort That Actually Matters
The build quality is where the Safariland Incog XS starts separating itself from the sea of generic Glock 19 IWB holsters. The holster body is a microfiber suede-wrapped Boltaron shell, and that suede is more than a comfort gimmick. It feels soft against the body, breathes noticeably better than bare polymer, and wicks moisture well, so the rig doesn’t sweat and stick to your skin all day. It also wipes clean easily.
Another small but genuinely useful touch is that the model is printed right on the holster. If you carry more than one pistol, you no longer have to squint at a pile of identical-looking holsters wondering which one fits what. That sounds minor until you have three black holsters on the bench and suddenly all of them look like they were made by the same shadowy plastic goblin.
The body is also fully ambidextrous and converts from right to left hand, though you’ll need left-hand parts from Safariland. The bottom is open-ended, so threaded barrels, comps, and longer slides like a G17 or 34 simply hang out the bottom with no issue. For modern carry guns, that open-ended design matters. A lot of shooters are no longer carrying plain-Jane pistols with factory sights and nothing else attached. The Incog XS seems built with that reality in mind.
Single-Clip IWB Setup: Simple On, Solid Under Pressure
The single over-the-belt polymer clip is the heart of the design, and I came away a fan. It sits about the center of the gun, which makes putting the holster on genuinely simple. You tuck the rig in, hook the clip over the belt, and you are concealed. You can’t tuck your shirt if that is important to you.
That simple setup is a big part of the Incog XS appeal. Not everyone wants a giant winged-out carry system with a claw, wedge, two clips, spacer stacks, and enough hardware to make the junk drawer jealous. Sometimes, the best everyday carry holster is the one you will actually put on before leaving the house. The Incog XS feels built around that idea.
Just as importantly, it stays put. You can draw and reholster all day long, and that holster is not coming out with the gun until you deliberately hook the clip and lift it off the belt. Retention is adjustable via a single red screw, but mine arrived dialed in well from the factory and never needed adjustment. I ran it from the appendix throughout my testing, and it works equally well in a strong-side position.
The box includes adapter pieces to change the clip angle for strong-side carry, plus clip strut shims in three sizes that let you tune how aggressively the belt pushes the butt of the gun into your body to kill printing. That is the kind of adjustability that matters because it solves real carry problems instead of just giving you more tiny parts to lose under the workbench.
Optic-Ready Clearance for the Way People Carry Now
The XS is also clearly built for the modern carry gun. Even with iron sights on my test pistol, the cutout has plenty of room for a red dot, and the extended sight channel accommodates front sights up to 0.406 inches, so suppressor-height or other tall sights clear without drama.
That kind of clearance is not optional anymore. Red dots, taller sights, threaded barrels, and comps have moved from the weird-guy corner of the range into mainstream concealed carry. The Safariland Incog XS does not feel like an older holster design that reluctantly made room for modern parts. It feels like those parts were expected from the start.
Glock 19 Fitment: One Shell, A Pile of Compatible Pistols
Fitment deserves a specific callout. Safariland positions the XS for subcompact and micro-compact platforms, but in practice, this Glock 19-pattern shell is impressively accommodating. I ran a Glock 19, a Ruger RXM, a Shadow Systems XR920 with its full-length grip and shorter slide, and a Unit Solutions UTM-style training pistol that is dimensionally identical to a Glock 19. Every one of them dropped in with good retention and zero modification to the holster.
The training-gun compatibility is a real bonus for anyone doing force-on-force work, since you can run the same holster setup with a marking-round pistol that is far cheaper to feed than Simunition. That makes the Incog XS more useful than just another carry holster sitting in the rotation. It can bridge daily carry, range work, and training use without forcing you to build a completely different draw stroke around a different holster.
Safariland Incog XS Specs and Carry Features
| Product | Safariland Incog XS IWB Holster |
|---|---|
| Tested Fit | Glock 19 |
| Additional Tested Pistols | Ruger RXM, Shadow Systems XR920, Unit Solutions UTM-style training pistol |
| Carry Type | IWB |
| Tested Carry Position | Appendix |
| Alternate Carry Position | Strong-side |
| Shell Material | Microfiber suede-wrapped Boltaron |
| Clip | Single over-the-belt polymer clip |
| Retention | Adjustable via a single red screw |
| Sight Clearance | Front sights up to 0.406 inches |
| Optic Compatibility | Red dot cutout |
| Handedness | Fully ambidextrous and converts from right to left hand with left-hand parts from Safariland |
| Open Bottom | Accepts threaded barrels, comps, and longer slides like a G17 or 34 |
| Price | $102.50 |
Honest Caveats: Minimalist Speed Comes With Tradeoffs
A few honest caveats. At launch, the XS ships in a Glock-pattern fit first, which is Safariland’s usual pattern, with additional models promised down the road. So if you carry something off the beaten path, you may be waiting. That is not a dealbreaker for Glock 19 people or anyone running compatible Glock-pattern pistols, but it matters if your carry gun lives outside the usual ecosystem.
The single-clip approach also trades the rock-solid stability of a two-point setup for speed and simplicity, which most concealed carriers will see as a fair deal, but it is a deliberate design choice worth understanding before you buy. If you want the absolute flattest, most locked-down rig possible, a larger two-clip holster may still have an edge. If you want easy on, easy off, fast concealment, and less hardware on your belt, the Incog XS makes a strong argument for itself.
Safariland Incog XS Pros and Cons: Fast, Clean, and Not Perfect
- Pros: Fast draw from concealment, comfortable microfiber suede-wrapped Boltaron shell, strong retention, simple single-clip setup, tuckable design, red dot clearance, sight channel for front sights up to 0.406 inches, open-ended bottom for threaded barrels, comps, and longer slides like a G17 or 34, excellent Glock 19-pattern fitment, useful training pistol compatibility.
- Cons: Glock-pattern fitment comes first at launch, additional models may require waiting, single-clip design gives up some two-point stability in exchange for speed and simplicity, left-hand conversion requires left-hand parts from Safariland.
Final Verdict: The Incog XS Earns Its Belt Space
At $102.50, the Incog XS lands right in line with quality competition while bringing Safariland and Haley Strategic engineering to a rig that actually earns its belt space. It offers excellent concealment, strong comfort, useful adjustability, and draw speed that speaks for itself. More importantly, it does all that without feeling like a giant science project clipped to your waistband.
If you want a comfortable, fast, low-profile IWB rig that disappears under a shirt and does not punish you for carrying all day, the Incog XS belongs on your short list. It is especially appealing if you carry a Glock 19 or a compatible Glock-pattern pistol and want one holster that can handle real daily carry, range work, and training use without a lot of drama.
Learn more by visiting Safariland.
Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
- More Glock 19 Reviews and Carry Gun Coverage
- Best Concealed Carry Holster Reviews on GunsAmerica Digest
- Appendix Carry Gear, Training, and Defensive Pistol Reviews
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I’m a U.S. Air Force veteran, an avid hunter and fisherman, and a passionate videographer and photographer. I have the privilege of being the videographer for GunsAmerica, where I get to combine my love for firearms, videography and the outdoors into one incredible career.
When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll find me on the range competing in USPSA pistol matches and 2-Gun, or out in the field chasing the next great hunt or fishing spot.