Getting Tricky with Sticky Holsters – Gear Review

in Accessories Misc., David Higginbotham

Updated: June 5, 2014 BY Dave Higginbotham

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Sticky Holsters

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The simple design means the holster can be carried at almost any IWB position or angle.

A few weeks back, I walked into my gunsmith’s shop to have him do some work on a rifle. I knew he was partial to his Springfield XDS, and I’ve never seen him without a gun on him, ever, but I didn’t expect to see the pistol just stuck in his waistband. In all fairness, his shop is in his basement, and he was practicing home carry, which we highly endorse, but the pistol tucked into his waistband—without a holster—that just seemed so…relaxed.

I’m a holster snob. I’ve got my favorite makers, favorite styles, preferred materials. I’ll try anything out, but when it comes down to concealed carry, I’m not going to do experiments on behalf of any product review. So know that I take this seriously. When I first saw a Sticky Holster, I wasn’t terribly enthusiastic. It seemed too relaxed for my taste. I’m not one to tuck a pistol in my waistband, even at home, and that’s what the Sticky Holster is—a holster you tuck into your waistband.

Yet there’s obviously more. The rubberized coating on the outside of the holster gives it a seriously tacky surface that stays where you put it. The tension from your belt, or even just your pants, is enough to hold the holster right where you put it. It is stable and will stay put (especially if one side is against dry skin). Even with a full-sized gun, the sticky holster is a concept that actually works.

Looking down the sights, you can see just how thin the Sticky Holster is.

If you’re one who likes to tuck a gun in your waistband, this will be a step up for you. I happen to like the pocket sized Sticky Holsters best of all. I will often carry a micro .380 in my front pocket. I have some dress pants with deep pockets and thin belt loops, and I live in a part of the country that isn’t conducive to the wearing of sports coats, even. Pocket carry is sometimes my best option. And the Sticky Holster grips the inside of the pocket very well. It holds the gun upright in the pocket. The slight puffiness of the holster keeps the gun from printing through the thin material. It is really an ideal way to carry.

The larger the pistol, the heavier it will be (usually). I’ve carried three compacts in the Sticky holster: a GLOCK 19, a Kahr CT40, and a Sphinx Compact.The Kahr and GLOCK both fit into the mid-sized holster. The Sphinx needed more, as the gun is slightly taller than the other two. It is also the heaviest of these, and it doesn’t feel as secure to me when I’m really moving around. I need to point out that this is mostly psychological.

Sticky now has holsters for revolvers, too, with a slightly different stitch pattern.

I didn’t experience any issues with the three compacts or the holsters, even when running and jumping around on purpose. The only movement I got at all in the holster was due to sweat building up between the holster and my skin, and then the holster only shifted around a bit. Yet that shifting was more pronounced with the heavier guns than it was with thin, light guns, like the Kahr. I have talked to one person who had the holster fall down in his pants because of this, but it may have had more to do with belt tension than the holster’s design.

In the end, I’m a fan. I think this is an idea that clearly has a time and place. A sticky holster is ideal for kicking around the house. It makes getting into and out of a car very easy and even tucks neatly between the seat and a console, and it holds very securely. And for pocket carry, the concept is perfect.

Check them out. The holsters are not expensive: just $24.95 for all of the sizes. They make mag pouches, too, and ankle rigs, and pads to tuck back-up guns into body armor. The concept seems limitless, really.

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