Best Concealed Carry Holsters For M&P Shield


Best Concealed Carry Holsters For M&P Shield

Smith and Wesson new they had a hit when they released the M&P Shield.  Quickly dominating the concealed carry market with its compact frame and light recoil.  It’s easily one of the most popular semi automatic handguns on the market and for good reason.  At a little over an inch wide and chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W and 45 acp it’s the perfect concealed carry gun.  While I haven’t tried the new 45acp version the other guns manage recoil well.  Paired with a slim IWB holster, the shield nearly disappears under just about any outfit. Add a nice pair of shield night sights and you’ll have one heck of a concealed carry gun.

See The Alien Gear IWB M&P Shield Concealed Carry Holster On Amazon

 


What’s The Best M&P Shield Concealed Carry Holster?

1.  Alien Gear Holsters ShapeShift 4.0 Appendix Carry Holster

Check Price:  Amazon

Alien Gear Shapeshift 4.0 HolsterIf there’s one company that changed the way I think about holsters it’s Alien Gear.  Alien Gear easily makes one of the most comfortable holsters on the market.  They seem to have a custom molded holster for just about any modern pistol.  From your compact 380 to full size 1911’s this cloak tuck holster provides full days comfort.

The days of wearing uncomfortable holsters are behind us thanks to the Alien Gear ShapeShift Holster.  Alien Gear’s two part holster system protects both you and your gun.  Thanks to it’s flexible neoprene “Alien Skin” you won’t have to worry about your gun rubbing the wrong way.  It doesn’t matter if you’re out for a jog or seated on a long car ride you’ll be comfortable.  What’s I really like about the Alien Gear holster is it’s custom designed retention shell.  All shells are molded specifically for your pistol platform are firm yet flexible offering excellent retention. Backed by a lifetime warranty this should be the last holster you ever need.  Everything about the Shape Shift Holster is completely adjustable.  From the retention to the cant I can almost guarantee you’ll find a good fit.


2.  OUTBAGS USA Brown Leather IWB Holster

Check Price:  Amazon

Outbags Brown Leather HolsterNothing beats the craftsmanship that goes into a fine leather holster.  The Outbags tan leather holster is easily one of my favorite shield holsters.  Outbags holsters are all handcrafted in the USA from full grain leather.  You can see the craftsmanship that goes into these great holsters.

Looking at the Outbags holster it’s hard to believe the price tag.  This affordably priced holster not only looks nice, it’s comfortable as well.  It has a fixed belt clip system which is very secure.  The only downside is you can’t adjust the cant or carry in the small of the back.  All Outbags holsters are hand dyed to preserve the natural appearance of the leather.  These hand crafted holsters really do look amazing.  When you first get your Outbags holster you may notice a very tight fit.  That’s normal with all real leather holsters and it will expand over a few weeks.  After 2-3 weeks your retention should feel about perfect.  For the price you aren’t going to find a nicer leather holster.


3.  Concealment Express KYDEX IWB Gun Holster

Check Price:  Amazon

Concealment Express IWB HolsterIt’s hard to keep track of all the different kydex holsters on the market.  Quality control standards are all over the place with these churn and burn chinese outfits.  Concealment Express is one company that really surprised me when I first tried it.  All of their holsters are completely made in the USA and use high quality materials. You can tell that Concealment Express puts pride into manufacturing an excellent product.

Kydex holsters are really one of those things that you need to see to appreciate the differences. The slim profile and sturdy design sets them apart from the competition.  It costs a little bit more, but the slight price difference is well worth it.  The holster is .08″ thick yet is surprisingly sturdy.  When fully engaged the trigger guard is fully covered preventing an accidental discharge.  I really love their Posi ‘Click” Audible retention lock system.  You can hear an audible click that tells you the gun is fully holstered.  You won’t have to second guess whether or not your gun is secure.  You can further adjust the retention system to make sure your gun is secure with an easy draw.  If you’re in the market for a kydex holster you should seriously consider Concealment Express.


4.  Desantis Inside Heat Holster

Check Price:  Amazon

Desantis Inside Heat Holster

Desantis Inside Heat Holster is another affordably priced option that competes side by side with the above Outbags.  Desantis has been making excellent holsters for a very long time.  All of their holsters are made in the USA using high quality materials.

Desantis has a few more expensive shield holsters on the market, but I prefer the Inside Heat Holster.  Using a old school design this holster is sure to withstand the test of time.  Designed for inside the waistband carry with a fixed belt clip.  The clip is very sturdy and offers a sturdy mounting platform.  The nicest thing about this holster is the slim reinforced leather band on top.  You would be surprised how much easier it is to holster your gun with one hand.  Each holster is made specifically for the M&P Shield using a custom molding process.  Like the Outbags holster your gun will feel tight at first, but quickly expend for an easy draw.


Different Shield Carry Options

There are a few open carry holsters for the shield, but realistically it was designed for concealed carry.  The only reason to carry a single stack magazine is if you are going to have to conceal it.  Being a concealed carry gun you can carry the shield in a few different ways.  You’re going to have to choose between IWB carry(my preference), ankle carry and pocket carry.  There are a few decent ankle holsters on the market, but the Shield works best in a IWB Holster.

IWB Holsters:  If you are going to carry the Shield you should stick to an IWB holster.  It’s the perfect size for IWB carry and will easily blend into just about any outfit.  Whether you prefer small of the back, appendix or something in between you’ll be comfortable.

Ankle Carry:  There are a lot of people that like to ankle carry this gun, but personally I wouldn’t.  While the Shield is small you’ll notice that it can get a little uncomfortable.  The midsize frame feels bulky in most ankle rigs.  If for some reason ankle carry is your only option DeSantis Die Hard Holster is an excellent choice.  The comfortable neoprene layer and leather holster protects your leg from rubbing.

Pocket Carry:  Pocket carry is another great solution for the Shield.  In an ideal world you would plan your outfit around a shooting belt, but that’s not realistic.   If you’re going to pocket carry I would highly recommend getting the DeSantis Nemesis Pocket Holster.  A dedicated pocket holster is cheap and breaks up the outline of your gun.  The outside is made of a rubber that sticks to the side of your pockets without causing damage.  It will significantly increase your draw speed and firearm retention.  You won’t have to worry about losing your gun the next time you sit down in the bathroom.

Leather vx Kydex Holsters

There has long been a debate in the firearm community on which material holsters should be made out of.  Personally I prefer the quality that goes into a fine leather holster, but kydex holsters tend to be more comfortable.  The slim profile and lightweight design make kydex holsters easy to conceal.  Leather holsters on the other hand are slightly thicker, but tend to last much longer.  You should be able to get years of everyday carry out of a good leather holster.  That being said all holsters have a weak point.  Leather holsters tend to have issues with their belt clips.  After a while they either lose their grip or simply break off.  Cheap kydex holsters have a tendency to be flimsy.  With a flimsy holster you might face some serious retention issues.

What’s The Best Holster For Your M&P Shield?

If you’re in the market for a concealed carry holster you should definitely stick to a IWB holster.  The Alien Gear Shapeshift 4 holster is by far the nicest holster for the shield.  Featuring an extremely comfortable design and a durable custom molded shell with excellent retention.  If you don’t choose the Alien Gear holster you might want to consider a leather holster.  There are a ton of different options on the market, but you can’t beat the price and quality of the Outbags or Desantis holsters.  Concealment Express makes a high quality kydex holster if you prefer its slim design.

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