Whether it’s for use in the home office or around the ranch, or while you run errands in your city with your concealed carry weapon, when it comes to picking the right concealed carry, or home carry handgun, there are few modern personal defense firearms as venerable as the Glock.
As far as concealed carry goes, the Glock 19 offers a generous mix of performance, handling and reliability in an easy to carry package. When it comes to the best Glock 19 holster, there are a few factors that you need to consider.
Having the right holster makes all the difference in reaction time, comfort in carrying your handgun and responsibly handling your weapon.
This article is mostly about IWB (Inside Waistband) holsters because they tend to be the easiest to use and to conceal while still maintaining a natural draw and a quick draw speed. As an added bonus, IWB holsters tend to be very easy to maintain and wear different clothing and the prices are very reasonable compared to many other types of holsters.
There are some very good holsters that are not IWB and an example of those will be covered here too. Not everyone can find a solution with a single type of holster, hence the need for breadth as we cover holsters for the Glock 19.
9 Best Glock 19 Holsters
1. Concealment Express
Concealment Express
Features
- 'Posi-Click' Audible Retention Lock System - Integrated Full Sweat Shield
- Type: IWB - Inside The Waistband - Easily Adjustable Retention Pressure & Carry Angle (Cant) 0-15 Degrees
- Fits: GLOCK G19 - G23 - G32
- Thickness: .08 inch KYDEX - Weight: 2.5 oz. - Belt Clip: 1.5 inch
The Concealment Express offers more than most single waistline contact holsters from the IWB portfolio and does offer enough rigidity that you can guarantee good repeatability in draw with a tight belt and good practice.
Carry options include on the appendix, hip, cross draw, and palm in back. This holster has easily adjustable retention pressure and a carrying angle from 0-15 degrees with a Philips screwdriver.
Available for both left and right hand draw the materials, warranty, and adjustability are very good. Lightweight at 2.5oz. it comes with a 1.5″ ABS standard belt clip.
Pros
- Great adjustability
- Great warranty- unconditional lifetime warranty
- Quality materials
- 100% handmade in the USA
Cons
- Single point of contact with your waistline
Why it’s Recommended
Though it is a bit less sturdy on the single pivot point, the quality of manufacture and the very good adjustability while still maintaining a slim profile and a simple design makes this a very solid choice for those who want the flexibility of a single point waistline contact. Great warranty and solid material quality for the Concealment Express.
2. Tulster IWB
Features
- Minimal to zero "drag" until retention point keeping "holster wear" down to a minimum.
- Comes with a 1.5" Quick Clip that makes it extremely fast and easy to put on and take off your weapon.
- Adjustable cant (angle) from 0-30 degrees. Forward hole is oblong to allow for you to choose any angle between 0-30 degrees.
- Adjustable positive retention point. When gun is fully holstered you get a audible and noticeable "click"
- Holster has a full sweat shield to aid in re-holstering by giving you an indexing point and to keep clothing out of the opening.
The full-time rigid Tulster IWB makes sense for those who sweat the details or sweat a lot in general.
The Tulster offers great adjustability and a very safe design while also offering a relatively good price point, given the bevy of value adds built into the holster.
Offering minimal to zero drag until retention point which keeps any wear on the holster down. Six different colors to choose from.
1.5″ quick clip included for ease of putting it on and taking it off. Adjustable positive retention point with an audible click once fully holstered.
Pros
- Audible retention click
- Excellent adjustment on the fly
- Solid materials
- Very safe design
Cons
- Slightly too rigid for complete comfort
Why it’s Recommended
The seriously adjustable, high-quality holster is made with excellent materials and built for maximum rigidity. For a single point waistline contact, the Tulster IWB offers unmatched safety if the holster is used properly, and very solid design and mechanics.
3. Galco KT224B Kingtuk
Galco KT224B Kingtuk
Features
- DESIGNED TO FIT GLOCK: Galco's KingTuk Deluxe tuckable IWB Holster is designed and molded to fit the Glock 17 Gen 1-4, 17 Gen 5, 19 Gen 1-4, 19 Gen 5, 19X, 22, 23, 26 Gen 1-4, 26 Gen 5, 27, 31, 32, 33.
- COMFORTABLE & SECURE: The highly popular KingTuk Deluxe IWB holster reigns supreme in comfort, speed, and versatility! The lined leather backplate design makes it comfortable against the body while creating a snug and secure fit.
- UNRIVALED SPEED AND VERSATILITY: The patented KingTuk Deluxe provides a comfortable backing plate lined with Premium Center Cut Steerhide, a smooth leather front and a rigid Kydex holster pocket for a fast draw and easy holstering.
- UNIQUE CLIP DESIGN: Worn inside the waistband, the KingTuk Deluxe includes Galco's patent-pending polymer UniClip and Ultimate Stealth clip designs for excellent concealment, stability and easy on-off capability.
- MADE IN THE USA: The premium saddle leather used in our holsters is sourced from the top 2% of leather available in America and is transformed into pieces of functional beauty by our experienced craftsmen in Phoenix, Arizona.
Galco Holsters have been market-leading designs for more than a generation. This holster represents a great deal of innovation that the legacy brands like Galco normally aren’t known for implementing.
In this case, Galco seems to have gotten it right. All the customer feedback that addresses the shortcomings of competitors seems to have been modeled into this holster’s design.
Pros
- Highly adjustable
- Two waistline connection points for more solid draws
- The design removes unnecessary pieces and only utilizes the most important parts
Cons
- Bulkier than most IWB holsters
- Doesn’t have as much contact with the firearm despite having excellent body/waistline contact
Why it’s recommended
Galco is a brand name that has been known for many years as a leader in the industry in quality control and innovation. This Galco Holster offers great concepts and follows through on most of the proposed ideas it tries to implement. The slimmer design and dual contact points offer great stability for those who need absolute repeatability in their draw.
4. BLACKHAWK! Serpa CQC
BLACKHAWK!
$35.29 in stock
4 used from $25.14
Features
- Passive retention detent adjustment screw and SERPA Auto Lock release
- Reinforces full master grip and superior draw technique
- Immediate retention and audible click upon re-holster for security
- Includes belt loop and paddle platform
- This holster will not fit polymer frame Taurus Judges
A great name brand and a very solid material choice considering the actual use case of the holster. However, the Blackhawk Serpa may not be quite the rigidity of some of the bulkier IWB’s in competition with it.
The possibility of “printing” is perhaps outweighed by the repeatability of draws and the lightweight in total carry feel.
Pros
- Good universality
- Lightweight design
- Sturdier than some single point IWB’s
Cons
- Not as sturdy as 2 points IWB’s
- A bulkier outside appearance could lead to occasional printing
- Odd placement when moving frequently from seated to standing positions
Why it’s recommended
The quality for the money is hard to beat for the composite design. The Blackhawk Serpa has a vocal following that defends its design and brings up many good points. The design gets it outside of the waistband so your hips don’t take as much punishment when you wear it full time. Consistent draw patterns.
5. Fierce Defender
Features
- Thick .08 Kydex material that is strong, durable, and molded specifically for your weapon
- Fully covers trigger and backside of gun, providing safety and protection from sweat
- Adjustable Retention so you can get the perfect fit
- Flared opening allows for easy re-holstering
- Adjustable Cant - 0 & 15 Degrees
The repeatability and rigid design of the Fierce Defender make it a very good choice for those who value draws that are repeatable to a “T” over sitting comfort or absolute minimalism.
The thick .08 Kydex construction is of good quality and offers protection against sweat and heat. Strong, durable, and molded specifically to your weapon.
This holster fully covers the trigger and backside of the gun which makes it very safe and protected from external elements.
The flared opening design allows for ease of re-holstering and there is adjustable retention for ease of fit.
Pros
- Heavy-duty single point waistline clip
- Rigid Kydex construction
- Relatively thin design
Cons
- Still slightly uncomfortable in certain positions
Why it’s recommended
For a single-point waistline connection, this is a fully-featured holster with a great retention setup and the potential for very repeatable draws. The lack of complexity while still maintaining decent adjustability makes the Fierce Defender a very good contender for those who want a single contact point with the waistline.
6. Relentless Tactical Ultimate
Relentless Tactical Ultimate
Features
- HANDMADE BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMEN, FROM GENUINE USA SUEDE LEATHER! American made with American Pride, No synthetic materials or cheap, mass-market production
- FITS MOST J FRAME STYLE REVOLVER HANDGUNS - Charter Arms, Rock Island, Ruger LCR, Ruger SP101, Smith and Wesson 442 / 642 / M&P 340 / Bodyguard Revolver, Taurus Model 50, Taurus Model 85 & Most .38 Special Snub Nose Revolvers.
- BACKED BY RELENTLESS TACTICAL’S LIFETIME WARRANTY Carry with confidence, for the rest of your life.
- SAY NO TO CHEAP NYLON HOLSTERS! Why settle for inferior nylon or imitation leather when you can have a Genuine, Made in the USA suede leather holster with our complete Lifetime Warranty?
- DESIGNED FOR OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE AND MAXIMUM COMFORT! Sturdy, dependable, and form-fitted for easy, effective concealment and quick, reliable access
The Relentless Ultimate is a robust solution to sagging waistlines due to heavy carry weapons.
The wide platform and high-quality materials are just a couple of reasons why the company has rabid fans all over the place.
Customer support is relentless and the guarantees are very good. The price point is relatively low and the system just delivers on most of its promises. That said it can be a bit bulky for some, for all of its reinforcement and the wide body.
Pros
- Solid construction and materials
- Great integrity and stability for an IWB
- Incredible customer support and responsiveness from the factory
- Great warranty
Cons
- Can be somewhat complex to get fitted initially
- Can seem a bit bulky
Why it’s recommended
If the Relentless Ultimate works for you, you’ll love it forever. The solid feel and security of the system make it very reliable and easy to make repeatable draws in practice and in stressful situations. The price is an excellent factor, as it is low for what you get.
7. OUTBAGS USA
Features
- Inside Pants Holster. NOT for Outside Pants or Small of Back!
- Handcrafted in USA from full grain leather. This is a hard-molded leather holster and will require breaking in.
- Hand dyed to preserve natural leather characteristics
- Brown dye will vary in range from medium to dark brown.
- Holster belt clip will vary as shown in the photographs.
The simple and easy-to-use Outbags USA that functions as a quickly adjustable IWB for your firearm.
It is an easy choice for those who want the ultimate adjustment from a single pivot point. While this can cause some stability issues, it generally doesn’t affect the draw if a proper belt is in use.
Pros
- Leather (Full-Grain)
- Simple design and robust construction
- Compact size and less bulk than most other holsters
Cons
- It doesn’t cover as much of the firearm as some other holsters so unless you are wearing a tight belt and are used to the feel of the holster, it can feel loose at times.
- Small Waistline Clip
Why it’s recommended
The original design and very easy to maneuver positioning due to the small waistline clip profile make it fast to adjust, and while that might make the holster feel a bit wobbly, sometimes seated comfort is an absolute necessity. The leather conforms to your body and the gun, making the Outbags feel like an old friend.
8. CYA Supply Co.
Features
- Fits Glock 19 / 19X / 44 / 45 GEN 3-5 Glock 23 / 32 Gen 3-4 (Optic Not Compatible) - No Light/Laser Attachments (Right Hand Draw Only)
- IWB Holster - Inside The Waistband - Easily Adjustable Retention Pressure & Carry Angle (Cant) 0-15 Degrees
- Precision molds from CAD milled in house on our CNC. Made of .08" Thickness Boltaron Material - Belt Clip 1.5" wide - All Stainless Steel Black Powder Coat Hardware
- Posi-Click' Audible Retention Lock System - Sweat Guard covers full length of slide
- Made in USA - WE STAND BY OUR QUALITY: 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, No questions asked return policy and Lifetime Warranty.
A simple enough holster made with rigid and semi-rigid materials makes this a good mix of flexible and comfortable, but also rigid enough for repeatable draws.
The lightweight design of the CYA Supply Co and the IWB platform makes this a good choice for those who need something a bit more rigid but don’t want to go to a wide design.
Pros
- Simple design and adjustment
- A great mix of quality materials
- Great tension adjustment
- Great Warranty
Cons
- Can be a bit rigid in certain positions
- Can be a bit too sloppy thanks to the single waistband connection point
Why it’s recommended
The quick in-service time and the easy profile to move around make this a very nice holster for quick adjustment and relatively solid draws. The high-quality materials and excellent no-questions-asked warranty make the CYA Supply Co a solid choice.
9. Relentless Tactical
Relentless Tactical
Features
- This Is The Perfect Concealed Carry Holster For Your Glock! It Fits Glock 19 / 19X / 23 / 32 | Glock 17 / 17L / 22 / 31 / 40 | Glock 26 / 27 / 33 | Glock 43 / 43x | Glock 45. This holster fits virtually all Standard, Compact and Sub-Compact Glocks
- Fits Most Full Size & Compact Handguns in 9MM, .40 & .45! If you are looking for a Taurus GC3 holster this is it! It fits Taurus G2 / G2C / G3 / PT111 / PT140. It also fits Springfield XD, XDS & XDM and H&K VP9 / VP40, Sig Sauer P226 / P229 / P252
- This Holster Fits Too Many Models To List Them All! It's a perfect fit for the Smith and Wesson Shield (9mm, .40 & .45), SD9 / SD40, SW9VE / SW40VE. It fits Ruger American, Max 9, Security 9 & P95 & SR9C. It fits Kimber Crimson Carry & Ultra Carry
- 100% Made In The USA! Where was your holster made? If it's a Relentless Tactical Holster you can be sure it was made right here in the USA! You can carry this leather gun holster confidently knowing its backed by our Lifetime Warranty.
- Beware Of Cheap Impersonators! The Defender Leather IWB Holster design has been such a success it has been stolen by many other Amazon sellers but they can't live up to Relentless Tactical. We are Made in the USA & back it up with a Lifetime Warranty
The Relentless Tactical is handmade from genuine USA Bullhide Leather with no synthetic materials at all.
Extremely high quality, this holster is durable and comes with a lifetime warranty to further attest to the quality.
Designed for maximum comfort and optimum performance, this holster is sturdy and form-fitted for ease of effective concealment and quick access.
Pros
- All-natural materials made in the USA
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not as form-fitting as other competitors so without a tight belt this could affect draw speed and repeatability.
Why it’s recommended
If you want a simple design and an all-natural leather holster then the Relentless Tactical is a great choice. The high-quality materials and construction, when paired with a tight belt and some good practice can yield a very good draw and extremely good retention without feeling as bulky as other holsters that are based on the IWB design.
Glossary of terms for those New to Holsters
Printing: The propensity for a concealed weapon to be showing in profile or in bulk outside of your clothing which is meant to conceal it. The ability for casual observers to see “something”; the ability for those in the know, and potential criminals to actually know what you are carrying by such an outline or noticeable bulk.
Weapon retention: The passive or active ability for your holster to hold your firearm in the position you desire it to be before you are ready to draw it. This can be achieved through your actions or through the design and materials of the holster.
Belt Loop Holster: A Holster that connects directly to the belt instead of offering an inside waistband paddle or connection point. These holsters require a stout belt to be worn tightly and can be a bit more wobbly and harder to sit with when worn.
Paddle Holster: A holster that relies on a paddle to rest against your hip in between your waistband and your undergarments. This type of holster gives more contact and therefore more stability on the waistband.
Draw Speed: The quickness and smoothness with which you will be able to remove your firearm and come to a position where you will reasonably be able to make an accurate threat stopping shot or shots. This usually is a combination of understanding, situational awareness, practice time, manual dexterity, and mechanical conditions of the holster. There is no one aspect that seems to become more prevalent in a real-time tactical scenario.
Key Information & Considerations
Materials for IWB holsters
Kydex
A huge deal in the IWB market right now, Custom Kydex holsters can be vacuum formed near-instantly to fit the exact needs you have for your firearm and for movement or condition specifics for carrying. These are rigid plastic materials that can be slightly uncomfortable and non-flexible under certain circumstances.
Leather
The original material is a natural material that gets better over time if you keep it maintained properly. The Leather holsters will start very tight and shape themselves over time to your firearm so that the firearm can be held exactly as needed for retention and drawing purposes.
Some drawbacks include wildly varying qualities of leather between brands and the tendency for moisture or heat to negatively affect the integrity of the holster over time (this includes sweat).
Cordura/Ballistic Nylon
The softest, least rigid, and least durable material under most circumstances. These have a definite place in the discussion, but innovation in materials and retention are beginning to make this material obsolete in many ways. For comfort and flexibility, it still reigns supreme.
Polymer
A cheaper plastic that doesn’t have the heat vacuum capabilities of Kydex for customizing, this is a material often found in lower-cost holsters and can be very flexible without being easily broken depending on the quality of manufacture and the design style.
Almost all holsters combine several materials to arrive at the finished product that you will use as an end-user. You’ll find metal and polymer and rubber and other materials in addition to the above materials. They all work in harmony to provide the flexibility, comfort, retention, or draw speed you need to get yourself in the game in a tactical shooting scenario.
Size of Holsters and Size considerations
Most inside the waistband holsters are within a relatively tight size range. What you really need to consider is where the main weight point will be on your belt/waistband and how thick or how outwardly oriented the holster is.
This will make a huge difference in avoiding “printing” or being awkward to sit with or draw from a seated position. Both concerns are related mostly to the size of the weight focal point or the position of the holster in relation to your body when worn.
Generally, IWB holsters are easy to conceal your Glock 19 in, but they can pose some difficulty in seated positions.
Understanding how to work with your holster
Believe it or not, wearing a holster can be extremely tiring and annoying at first. It may take several days to get used to balancing and sitting with a holster on. The level of discomfort can be high for a while until you find the most common positions you’re likely to be in during normal day-to-day events.
Like a new pair of hiking boots or a baseball glove, you need to wear it, use it, live with it for many days, and unfortunately quite a few uncomfortable hours (though with the right holster choice you can minimize that substantially) until it becomes an extension of your body.
You will eventually find yourself touching your holster and resting your hand on your pistol grip more than you think. At some point beyond that, you kind of forget that the holster is there until instinctively, you react to an imminent threat. Muscle memory and awareness will play a major role in using your new holster effectively. Be sure you devote adequate time to developing these traits.
Being aware of your surroundings is always an important part of effective concealed carry. A majority of the time, the situational awareness you bring to space will be the determining factor in how the outcome of a personal defense scenario plays out.
Being aware of what you are wearing, who is a threat, and what is around you, can make a huge difference in the way you react to a tactical self-defense situation.
Where your holster is riding and what you will do in the case of an imminent threat are important things to consider at a relatively frequent interval. This type of thought process shouldn’t overwhelm your thoughts, but it should be a cognizant part of your overall awareness.
Practice Makes perfect
You might be a very good shot at the range. You might be a very fast draw. It takes a lot of practice to learn how to draw quickly, safely, and accurately fire off a shot, or two, or three.
This is infinitely harder if you don’t practice the different types of clothing you might be wearing in different weather conditions or in different social settings. Not being able to competently draw your weapon with a winter jacket on, or not being able to effectively conceal your (Glock 19) firearm in work clothing can cause issues that do not only center around protecting yourself.
Practice generally is cheap and easy. More than anything it equates to drawing your Glock 19 from the holster in the privacy of your own home with an unloaded firearm at different times with different conditions while roleplaying different scenarios that are likely to exist.
Legalities
Most people will have access to excellent concealed carry trainers when they take the step to begin the concealed carry license process.
These trainers know your local area regulations and can help you not only to navigate the concealed carry permit process but will also help you to understand state laws, how to be a better shooter and what not to do in the case of a defensive shooting scenario.
While the scope of this topic is much too large to discuss in an article about the best IWB holsters for a Glock 19, the importance remains.
You need to understand when it is legal to draw your weapon and under what circumstances.
You need to know what constitutes an imminent threat to your safety or life.
You also need to know where it is appropriate to carry a concealed firearm, and how to react to and interact with law enforcement, or other people in daily situations.
Knowing this information like the back of your hand will keep you out of legal trouble and ensure you the peace of mind that can only come from carrying confidently and knowing you are able to mitigate threats around you properly.
Bottom Line
Just like with firearms, having something that works for you is what’s most important. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you must draw your weapon to protect yourself, you need to know you can do it safely, responsibly, and competently.
An important variable to the equation is a Glock 19 concealed carry holster that fits you in the right way and allows you to draw reliably and engage a threat in the proper way.
In the grand scheme of things, the holster is important, the gun is important, and the ammo is important, but what is crucial is your state of mind and your ability to react accurately and decisively in a personal protection situation whether it be at home or at the office, in the car or in the supermarket.
Check out all the other clothing/outfit related articles put together by the expert team here at Guns & Safety Reviews;
- Ankle-Holsters
- Kydex-Holsters
- Belly-Band Holsters
- Shoulder-Holsters
- 1911-Shoulder-Holsters
- Ankle-Holsters for Glock-26
- Holsters for Running
- Concealed-Carry Belt
- Concealed-Carry Vest
- Range Bag
The Review
Best Glock 19 Holster
Choosing the right Glock 19 holster is very important, and researching and comparing gear is a good place to start. By sharing my knowledge I hope to have provided an insight into the best products and their features.
Review Breakdown
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Concealment Express
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Tulster
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Galco
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Blackhawk Serpa
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Fierce Defender
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Relentless Tactical Ultimate
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Outbags
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CYA Supply Co
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Relentless Tactical
Best Glock 19 Holster DEALS
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