“This holster is so comfortable that I could take a nap with it on.” Said no one ever. Until now.
I own two N82 Tactical Professional holsters for both my Glock 30SF and my Remington R1 full-size 1911. I am 100% serious when I say I could take a nap with it on. In fact, I did just that. Trust me, my wife will attest. She gave me that “what are you doing?” look when I laid down. I feel that the true innovation of these holsters and what makes them so comfortable is their unique shape. Allow me to tell you a little bit about this company and share with you my personal experience with these holsters.
Background
N82 Tactical (pronounced Nate’s Squared Tactical) is an American company that was started by Nate Johnson and Nate Beard of Lexington, North Carolina in October of 2009. Their first design was the “Original Holster” and is still being produced today along with their “Tuckable” version and their “Professional” model. I carry my Glock 30SF almost everyday in my N82 Professional Holster.
Features
All three holster designs are of the inside the waistband (IWB) variety and attach to the user’s belt with a single, but strong, belt clip. Each holster is made up of three main materials: oil tanned leather for the front, soft suede leather on the back, and then neoprene padding in between. In my own experience, I have found that the oil tanned leather in the front of the holster gives my handgun something to be in contact with that won’t harm the finish, while the suede leather on the back provides a “grippy” texture that helps prevent slipping when I wear it for extended periods of time. What the neoprene padding in between these layers does is, well, provides padding. I can never feel any “pressure points” from my firearm because of this padding. On that same note, because neoprene is water-proof, (neoprene is the material from which wet suits are constructed) it protects my firearm from all moisture from my body, i.e. sweat and skin oils. This proved especially helpful during last summer’s humid season here in Minnesota.
The unique shape of the holsters is a notable feature in and of itself. When I first saw one, I thought to myself “well, that sure is interesting.” Because of the particular wide shape, my firearm never touches any part of my body directly. I think that is the main reason why it is so comfortable to wear.
In addition to all of the features I mentioned above, the N82 Tactical Professional Holster – the one I personally own, also features a “poly-carbonate form” specifically molded to fit certain firearms. This material can be compared to Kydex, but it is smoother and appears see-through with a smokey tint. Because of this molded piece on the holster, it allows for what I find to be a clever retention system. N82 calls it the “Twist Release System.” Instead of just drawing the firearm by pulling straight up, the user must first twist the firearms slightly, and then draw upwards on the firearm to release it. Personally speaking, I like this retention feature because it gives me peace of mind that someone else would not easily be able to grab my firearm. It also gives me reassurance that my pistol will not fall out of the holster either. This series of holster also has an adjustable cant so you can adjust the angle in which the firearm “rides”. I like to carry mine with a slight forward cant. To change the cant, all I have to do is slightly loosen the screw on the belt clip, turn the belt clip to the desired angle and then tighten the screw down to lock it in position.
Pros
- I have been wearing mine almost everyday for over a year and have found it to be comfortable even during long periods of time.
- I like the retention system on the Professional Holster and knowing that it certainly would not be easy for someone else to grab my firearm.
- I appreciate the fact that I can easily adjust the cant of the holster to suite my needs at any given time.
- I always like to try and prevent excessive wear to my firearms, and the leather on this holster is soft enough that it has not worn any finish off on either of my firearms.
- Having peace of mind that none of my sweat or oils are going to come in contact with my firearm is reassuring to me.
Cons
- Some may find the overall size to be cumbersome as the feeling of a large pad against one’s body is different than any other holsters.
- Training will be required for getting used to the retention system. However, my opinion is that one should already be constantly training with their CCW when taking on the responsibility of carrying a firearm.
- The Professional Holster may be a little rigid for some people, but the Original holster makes a more flexible substitute.
- After continuous adjustment of the cant, the belt clip may become loose and not hold in place. Fortunately, this is easily solved as potential issues like this would be covered under the N82 Tactical lifetime warranty.
Overall, I feel that my N82 Tactical Holster offers a comfortable, practical, safe, stylish, and cost effective way of carrying my firearms concealed. These are all features that are important to me when I look for a holster; and the N82 Tactical Professional meets all of those expectations. What are some of the important features that you look for when purchasing a holster for concealed carry?
You can get your very own N82 holsters HERE.
