That’s What She Said: Hold it Right There!

There are several considerations for holstering your pistol in your bag:

• ease of draw
• retention
• ability to position for optimal master grip upon draw
• ease of re-holster
• durability
• safety

When we purchased the Vertyx EDC Commuter Sling bag, I researched 3 different holster options for EDC

I started with the system made for the bag, the Vertx MPH Full Size Multi-Purpose holster

“Experience the unique storage capability of Vertx Tactigami with the MPH Full accessory holster. MPH stands for Multi-Purpose Holster, which adapts to fit virtually any full-sized hand gun. Built from Velcro One-Wrap, this holster literally wraps around your piece for a completely customized fit with TPR retention to prevent sliding. The holster then attaches to loop panel in any direction for completely customized carry. Pair with any of our Vertx packs and bags for everyday carry options and ultimate concealment.”

When my MPH arrived from Amazon there were no instructions for how to assemble the mysterious cut outs and pieces. Thank god for the Internet. I was able to follow along with a video from Vertx. I have a series of pictures illustrating the steps, but I’ll show its noteworthy features today.

Vertx really thought about obtaining a master grip. They included a small rectangle of velcro to be rolled up and used to slightly wedge the holster away from the side of the bag.

They also addressed retention with this small patch designed to go over the ejection port. 

A good idea for retention. Maybe too good. I found that I had to be pretty careful about the positioning of this piece. In some positions it held the pistol so well it was impossible to draw. In some, the pistol fell out when the bag was juggled.

This holster system is formed out of Velcro. This makes it very lightweight and quite flimsy. After a couple of hours putting it together and getting the position right, I noticed that it began to fold in on itself when I reholstered. I train with every piece of equipment I carry. There is no way this holster would stand up to a full day of defensive training. I needed something more consistent and robust.

Enter the BLACKHAWK! Diversion Adjustable Hook Back Holster.

Minimalist yet sturdy.

But. This retention strap was crazy hard for me to manipulate with one hand.

Removing the strap might reduce the holster’s reliability. I felt uncomfortable leaving the retention strap off for safety reasons.

I knew I needed help. I talked at length to Gabe from Hawaiian Punch Industries about pros and cons of each holster I had tried. He made a custom Kydex holster that would accommodate my RMR with a matching mag pouch. He knows I love to accessorize….

Since these pieces are prototypes, I did need to attach velcro myself. I made the mistake of buying industrial hook and loop to start with. Because the interior of the bag is lined with a very fine loop, the heavy duty hook did not adhere to the bag at all. After I removed it I prepped the surface of the Kydex by scoring it with rough grit sandpaper. Then I wiped it clean with acetone, applied Loctite to the Kydex side as well as the back of the hook tape. After each side became tacky I clamped them tight for 24 hours.

Durable and reliable, with all of the versatility of Velcro.

If you test your gear with heavy and consistent use, I hope you explore replacing the less robust Velcro holsters usually recommended for this bag. I know there are lots of options for Velcro-backed holsters and mag pouches. I’d love to see how you use yours. If you take pictures, please post them on my Facebook page!

Disclaimer:

BLACKHAWK! provided the Diversion Adjustable Hook Back Holster for testing and evaluation.

About the Author: The She-Shepherd

The She-Shepherd is a defensive firearms student, mother and advocate for pushing the boundaries of how we train. She believes that defensive training must balance context, mindset, and skill to be most effective. Her specialty has become testing alternative modes of firearms carry and best practices of less than lethal force options through rigorous force-on-force scenario based training.