The 8 Best Glock 19 Holsters In 2024

The Glock 19 is the go-to concealed carry weapon for many civilians. It’s also the favored firearm for many law enforcement agencies and military organizations, not just in the USA but worldwide.

If you’re planning to carry your Glock 19 around with you, you’ll need a holster to do so safely and protectively. Luckily, it’s not hard to find a holster that’s compatible with Glock 19s. However, it’s worth reading up on how to find the best Glock 19 holster to ensure your new accessory is the safest and most reliable one on the market.

Our Pick Of The 8 Best Glock 19 Holsters Available

We have sifted through the countless holsters on the market to find the highest quality products out there. We’ve tested 8 of the best ones and thoroughly reviewed them to help you choose the holster that’s most suited to you. Moreover, we’ve included a breakdown of the pros and cons of each one for easy comparison.

Read next: The Best Upgrades for Your Glock

What to look for in a Glock 19 holster

The most obvious job of a holster is to hold your Glock when you’re not using it. But it’s equally as important for your holster to protect your firearm, whether that’s from being dropped or from bumps and scrapes.

All the best Glock 19 holsters will also prevent accidental discharge. What’s more, they will give a quick draw when the situation calls for it, whether that’s in a competition or a defensive situation.

To find the best Glock 19 holster on the market, look for the following qualities.

Comfort

• Comfort is a factor you should consider before buying a holster, especially if choosing an inside waistband holster (IWB) as these can not only feel uncomfortable when moving around, but they can also rub against your skin.
• Rubbing is more common from holsters made of hard materials such as Polymers rather than soft ones like leather.
• Rubbing will lead to more irritation and you’ll need to wear something between your holster and your skin, although that doesn’t always solve the problem.
• You should also make sure that your holster doesn’t slip or shift, or feel like it does.

Protection

• A holster built with durable and protective materials will best shield your Glock 19 from any bumps and abrasion.
• For sufficient protection, opt for leather, nylon, or polymer holsters.
• Like Kydex, hard polymer holsters are popular choices because they can be custom-molded to any gun to give a perfect fit.
• Polymer models also give more protection against impacts.
• Hard Polymer holsters can create some scuffs on your Glock over time as you draw it from the holster repeatedly.
• To preserve your Glock’s finish, opt for either a softer holster or a hard holster that has a soft, protective lining.

Retention

• Simply put, a good holster should not let your gun fall out of it.
• A simple way to test for retention is to turn the holster upside down. If your gun stays firmly in place, you’ve got plenty of retention.
• A holster with good retention is vital if you ever find yourself in an altercation where you get knocked down. An ineffective holster would allow your gun to slip out, giving your attacker the chance to grab it before you recover.
• Even if it’s unlikely that you’ll end up in a combat situation, you’ll still want your holster to hold your gun firmly in place as you go about normal daily activities such as getting in and out of a vehicle.

To hold your gun in place, Glock holsters use an active retention system, a passive retention system, or both at once.

• An active retention system requires you to engage and disengage the retention system. This is most commonly seen in the form of thumb breaks or straps that need to be released before pulling the holster’s weapon.
• With a passive retention system, the scabbard (the part that holds the gun) fits snugly around your gun and is molded to its shape. This increases surface area contact, which creates friction to hold the gun securely in place.
• Many passive retention holsters have adjustable screws. This allows you to choose how tightly the scabbard fits around the gun and adjust the friction level.
• Passive systems typically allow quicker access than active systems but give less retention.
• Some holsters use both a passive retention system and an active retention system, giving the most secure hold.

Trigger coverage

As well as preventing your gun from falling out, your holster needs to cover your Glocks trigger to stop any accidental discharge. While this is not an issue with the vast majority of holsters, it’s still something you should check, and if possible, test out before buying.

Concealment

If you only plan on carrying your gun openly, concealability may not be a concern for you. However, if you don’t want your holster and gun to be visible when you wear it, this is something you should consider.

As everyone’s body type is unique, it’s worth trying out different holster types to get a feel for which one gives the most concealment for you. The type of clothes you wear will also play a role in how well you can conceal your weapon.

Types of Glock 19 holsters

Not all holsters are the same. These are the three holster types that you will come across in your search.

1. IWB holsters
2. Appendix IWB holsters
3. OWB holsters

IWB (inside waistband) holsters

• The design of an IWB holster places your Glock between your underwear and your trousers. This makes it the IWB the best holster type for concealed carry.
• They are great for keeping your gun safe because they place it closer to your body than other holsters do.
• They also feature many mounting options such as spring clips and soft & hard belt loops.
• The standard position for the IWB holster is on your hip in the 3-4 o’clock position.
• Drawing can be harder and slower when using an IWB holster. This will depend on the clothing you wear though.
• These holsters can make crouching and sitting down less comfortable due to the positioning. This may be problematic for shooters needing to take low positions.

Appendix IWB holsters

• These are IWB holsters that can be worn on your hip and also in the Appendix position. They allow you to carry your pistol against your lower stomach/groin area.
• Appendix IWBs are ideal for carrying and concealing large handguns that don’t fit in a standard holster.
• Since Glock 19 is not a large gun, these holsters are not a common choice and should only be used by advanced shooters.

OWB holsters

• OWB holsters give an open carry method and are better for larger pistols.
• They give quick access to your weapon compared to IWBs. For this reason, they are the most common holster type used by police officers.
• The quick access also makes them a good choice for the range where you can practice drawing your gun.
• OWB holsters can either be mounted on your belt or between your belt and your body.
• They are carried in the same position as the IWB, on the hip at 3-4 o’clock.
• The downside to OWBs is that they are harder to conceal. You will need to wear a hoodie or jacket to hide your weapon.

You may also come across shoulder, pocket & ankle holsters on the market. However, I wouldn’t recommend choosing this style as many are too small for a Glock 19. Furthermore, waistband holsters give much better concealment & accessibility.

The best materials for your Glock 19 holster

Most holsters will either be made from leather or Kydex – a type of polymer. Here are the main differences between the two.

Leather

• Leather is a popular choice because of its ability to stretch.
• Leather holsters bend just enough to hold your Glock against your body in a very tight and secure way.
• They are a good choice if you’re looking for concealed carry.
• However, they don’t give a good fit initially as it takes some time for the leather to shape to your gun. Typically, it will require between 100-150 draws to fully break into a leather holster. After this though, it will fit your pistol like a glove.

Kydex

• Kydex is a type of polymer similar to plastic that’s commonly used to mold weapons.
• It’s a favored choice as it is durable and affordable.
• The downside of Kydex is that it doesn’t bend and can feel very hard against your body. This makes it less comfortable than leather.

You might also come across Glock holsters that are made from hybrid materials. This is a combination of Kydex and another material – usually leather. This gives a hard exterior side with a softer interior side. A Kydex/leather fusion can make the best Glock 19 holster as it conforms to your body and is much more comfortable than a full hard Kydex holster.

There are also nylon holsters on the market. These are usually cheaper and serve as a budget option but they are not as good as leather or Kydex ones. This is because they’re not molded to individual guns and they do not protect the trigger.

Can I use a generic, all-purpose holster?

The vast majority of holsters are designed to be compatible with specific guns, and for good reason. You may find some universal holsters on the market but these typically offer poor retention and poor attachment options.

While all-purpose holsters might be a cheaper option, they will not hold your gun as well as the models that are made especially for Glock 19s. Thanks to the popularity of the Glock 19, there’s a huge market of compatible holsters to choose from so there is no need to buy a generic product.

Which are better, holsters that go inside or outside the waistband?

In short, inside waistband holsters (IWB) will be the best Glock 19 holster for you if you want concealed carry. In all other cases, outside waistband holsters (OWB) will best serve you.

One thing to bear in mind though, inside waistband holsters can make it a little slower to draw your gun. If you need to draw your gun in a flash, an OWB holster may be more suited to you.

Is it legal to carry a Glock 19 around in a holster?

Firstly, there are different laws around open carrying and concealed carrying and these laws vary from state to state.

• For concealed carry, all 50 states in the USA have passed laws for individuals to carry certain concealed firearms in public.
• Some states allow concealed carry without a permit, whereas 34 states require you to first obtain a permit from a government authority.
• Nevertheless, some states that require permits for concealed carry will not issue them or will make it extremely difficult to obtain one.
• For open carry, 26 states permit it, 6 states permit it with local restrictions, and 13 states require individuals to obtain a license for open carrying.

It’s vital that you thoroughly check and fully understand your state’s laws before carrying your Glock around in either an open or concealed way.

Why are Glocks so dominant on the market?

Glock has an almost 65% market share of handguns in the U.S, making Glock a celebrity in the gun world. Glock is the preferred pistol for both law enforcement and civilians. But, what is it that makes Glock so popular?

• Glock is known for having spent considerable time and effort working on the “pointability” of the pistol.
• Pointability refers to the pistol’s natural ability to act as an extension of the shooter’s hand and eye coordination.
• The high pointability that Glock has obtained makes the pistol easier to aim than most of its competitors as well as being more user-friendly and accurate to shoot too.
• Gaston Glock came into the game knowing nothing about handguns. Surprisingly this is what he credits his success to. The lack of knowledge gave him no preconceived notions about what a handgun should be. This allowed him to focus on just a handful of requirements: ease of use, simplicity, and reliability., mastering them all.

Are there any good alternatives to carrying a Glock 19 in a holster?

It is possible to carry your Glock 19 without a holster. The most common method of carrying concealed without a holster is the belt carry method. Typically, you place the weapon inside the waistband of your pants. Other methods include carrying the gun in your pocket or bag.

The legality of carrying a gun in a concealed way without a holster varies from state to state. While in some states it may be legal to carry concealed without a holster, it is never a good idea to do so and is not something we would recommend.

• The main reason you shouldn’t carry a weapon without a holster is safety.
• Concealed carrying without a holster is dangerous both to yourself and potentially to others around you too.
• By carrying without a holster you don’t have the security and trigger guard that a holster provides.
• You will also not have the protection against accidental discharges that a holster gives.

What is the best Glock 19 holster on the market?

It’s hard to pick one of these models as the best Glock 19 holster as we all have different carry needs and preferences. If you’re planning to carry your Glock OWB, I’d recommend the Fobus CH-series paddle holster. This is also a top choice for those on a budget, thanks to its affordable price and excellent value for money. However, what I like most about this holster is the naturally positioned index finger release, giving retention without needing to alter your draw stroke.

For those looking for an IWB holster option, the Muddy River Tactical tuckable inside waistband holster gives the best concealability, comfort, and style. This leather holster allows you to mold it to best fit your body and gun, giving the softest and comfiest feel against your body.

No matter which Glock 19 holster you prefer, all the products made to this list are of the highest quality, promising efficiency, reliability, and protection. Allow this article to guide you towards making an informed and knowledgeable decision, and choosing the best Glock 19 holster for your carry needs.