Best Duty Holsters of 2024 - Pew Pew Tactical

Oct 30, 2024

Holsters, like guns, have different purposes. These include range use, competition, concealed carry, and duty use.

Duty refers to those who carry a firearm professionally. This primarily concerns military and police forces but could include armed security and similar roles.

Duty holsters are for more than just duty users. These outside-the-waistband designs feature some form of active retention. Active retention is a purpose-built device the user must defeat to free the gun. This device could be a button, a lever, a hood, etc.

These holsters prevent the gun from leaving the holster until the user wants it to. This means it doesn’t fall out when running, climbing, jumping, and similar situations. It’s also built to resist takes and grabs from an opponent. The worst thing that could happen is a bad guy taking your gun.

With that in mind, duty holsters are for everyone! They aren’t precisely MIL/LEO only. I will often use what’s traditionally a duty holster for competition shooting. If you’re a prepper gearing up for zombies, aliens, and Russian invasions, you likely want a duty-style rig on your belt because retention is paramount.

So, let’s dive into what makes a good duty holster and give you some recommendations. Keep reading!

Safariland Holsters

Blackhawk T-Series L2C

Alien Gear Rapid Force Duty Holster

Gould and Goodrich T.E.L.R.

Comp-Tac CT3

Table of Contents

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As established, we want retention and an OWB design, which can include many holsters.

Look for something that fully covers the trigger for a good duty holster. This is universal for any serious holster but still bears mentioning.

A good modern retention device that the USER quickly and easily defeats is also necessary. You want to be able to draw fast and get the gun in action, but not at the cost of a holster that makes it easy for the bad guy to grab your weapon.

Leather is fine for many applications but shouldn’t be used for a duty holster or soft nylon. You want a modern polymer design like Kydex, Bolatron, or something similar. It should be molded to fit your gun for maximum security.

Modern mounting systems are also a must-have. These allow you to tailor your holster to work with various belts, plate carriers, soft armor, and more. You should be able to set the holster up for an easy draw, even with the rest of your equipment present.

If you carry and use modern accessories like lights and optics, you should have a holster that accommodates both without needing modification.

Safariland Holsters

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Safariland created the modern duty holster concept and produced some of the highest-quality holsters on the market.

The most modern Safariland option is the 7XXX series. Though there is no specific 7XXX holster, the XXX are stand-ins for the various models. Any of the 7XXX series will make exceptional duty holsters.

This series uses the Safariland Seven material to create an incredibly durable and well-made holster. Its proprietary polymer can be precision molded for each firearm. The holster series is tough, weather and wear-resistant, and the inside of the holster won’t beat up your gun.

Safariland has its retention rating system, which should be the industry standard. With a Safariland holster, every movement of the hand required to free the gun from the holster equals one level of retention. The combination of the ALS/SLS systems makes it nearly impossible for the holster to lose your weapon.

I used a Safariland holster at a retention combative course, and the gun was untakeable. Even in a full-on wrestling match, I never lost the weapon. With ALS/SLS, you have three hand movements to free the gun, so it’s a level 3 holster.

The RDSO design ensures compatibility with red dots and lights. Compatibility is a big deal, and the 7XXX series embraces modern weapons. The holsters provide a protective shield for your optic and fully embrace your light.

Safariland produces the 7XXX series for a wide range of guns. Their holster finder is a pain, but it’ll give you a place to start.

I only have a few downsides to the Safariland holsters…

They are exceptionally well made, but that comes at a cost. You will spend at least $100 and some change. Some of their kits get close to $200 with a QLS system, a leg strap, etc.

The 7XXX series is an excellent, modern-duty holster with unbeatable retention if price isn’t an issue.

What do you think of Safariland? Rate them below!

Blackhawk T-Series L2C

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Blackhawk hasn’t fully redeemed themselves for the SERPA series, but the T-Series is getting close.

With the T-Series, they ditched the trigger finger-activated button for a thumb-activated design. These holsters are polymer designs that are cross-compatible with most SERPA accessories.

The T-Series comes in both level 2 and 3 options. There isn’t a vast difference between the two. The level 2 and 3 holsters release the gun with a single-hand movement. A lever positioned at the back of the holster presses inward when the weapon is gripped, freeing the firearm.

The Level 3 holster has an additional retention strap, but the same button press defeats it. That button is very ergonomic and easy to use. It requires little thought and allows for a quick and efficient draw.

The T-Series comes in various models. There are compact designs, light-ready and optics-ready options, and more. They even have a basketweave model for police forces stuck in the 1950s.

The T-Series holsters are modern and compatible with various accessories, making carrying one much easier than average. The price can vary depending on options, but a simple level 2 rig costs as little as $50 for a decent, affordable duty rig.

Various models allow for multiple positions to have similar duty holsters. The L2C compact models are even small enough to be concealable. This makes them an excellent option for plain-clothes or concealed carry if you prefer active retention.

I’ve used an L2C for what I call adventure carry. If I’m kayaking, boating, riding ATVs, etc., I like active retention, and the L2C works.

The downside comes down to options. There are few. Glock and Sig Sauer P320 users are covered, and there are some limited options for HK guns. Other than that, you’re on your own. If you fall into those realms, this might be a great budget option for your battle belt.

Alien Gear Rapid Force Duty Holster

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Alien Gear has evolved from simple hybrid holsters to full-on Kydex, and now they’ve dove into the duty realm of holsters.

The Alien Gear Rapid Force series offers users a level 3 retention system. It requires two hand movements to free the gun.

When the user grips the gun, their thumb presses the release button, which flips the hood forward. Then, the thumb sweeps backward against a lever, defeating the other retention device and freeing the gun. It’s ergonomic and intuitive, making for an easy draw.

There is also a level 2 that ditches the hood and uses the lever release.

Alien Gear has created an ecosystem around its holster to provide users with many options. This includes adapters for MOLLE, paddles, different belt slides, drop legs, and more. It allows a new holster to be worn in many different ways.

An optional optics-protecting hood works with most optics unless you’re rocking the mailbox-sized ACRO. It’s even designed to work with AXON body cams, which gives the holster a unique duty advantage.

With an optics-protecting hood, we know the rigs are optics-ready, but they are also light-ready if you decide to take that route.

The biggest downside is that the Rapid Force is only produced for the Glock medium frame series and the Sig P320. Alien Gear does promise more compatibility in the future.

The Rapid Force Series of holsters is a pleasant surprise. It’s always nice to see companies grow and expand. The Rapid Force promises an intuitive and even innovative holster design that isn’t afraid to be a little different.

Check out our full review of the Alien Gear Rapid Force!

Gould and Goodrich T.E.L.R.

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Gould and Goodrich are names that harken back to the old magic! They’ve been around for a long time and have produced several high-level, well-made, easy-to-carry holsters for concealed carry, duty, and more.

The newer T.E.L.R. system brings Gould and Goodrich to the modern era with a polymer active retention holster designed for duty users.

T.E.L.R. stands for Thumb Activated Ejection Port Lock Retention. I’ll give them points for design, but I’m taking points for acronyms. The T.E.L.R. (pronounced teller) comes in three variants, each classified as a level 3 holster.

The retention system uses a hood and an ejection port lock. Your thumb drives the hood downward and then forward. The thumb pulls rearward and defeats a lever to release the gun.

The T.E.L.R. comes in non-light-bearing and light-bearing models. Its light-bearing models are designed for full-sized lights like the Surefire X300U or compact lights like the TLR-7. Gould and Goodrich produce belt loops, paddles, and thigh setups.

This system uses a single-piece injection-molded holster design that is free from the clamshell design of other holsters.

The biggest downside to these duty holsters is the weapon selection. There are only Glock and Sig models, mostly Glock with the X5000 T.E.L.R. only accommodating Glocks. These two guns are the most popular duty pistols, but G&G is leaving out a ton of great guns.

While Gould and Goodrich are known for their leather holsters, modern duty rigs deserve recognition.

Comp-Tac CT3

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Comp-Tac is another well-known holster company that made its name on passive retention and has entered the dusty world. Comp-Tac took three years to develop the CT3 and enter the duty market.

Comp-Tac worked with law enforcement officers to develop the CT3 based on their experiences. The CT3 system delivers a thoroughly modern holster for the discerning user. It features two retention devices.

The first is the hood, which can be defeated quickly and efficiently. The second is a thumb lever that defeats an ejection port lock to free the gun. The combination gives you excellent retention and a secure way to carry your firearm of choice.

Modern holsters should accommodate modern guns, and the Comp-Tac CT3 does just that. The holster is designed for optics, and various weapon selections allow you to use multiple lights. There is also an optic cover option for additional electronics protection.

One of my favorite features is the holster’s thin design, which reduces bulk. That’s a big deal if you’re moving in and out of cars all day with a duty belt.

The Comp-Tac CT3 has various attachment options for mounting the holster at different heights and positions. Comp-Tac wisely produces a QLS adapter to allow the CT3 to work with multiple Safariland attachments.

Safariland rules the market, and opening the CT3 to that level of accessorizing is smart.

Sadly, the CT3 series accommodates only a few guns and fewer lights. You’re covered if you fall into the Glock, Sig, and S&W family. If that’s not a problem, the CT3 provides a modern duty rig that’s slim and trim but tough enough for daily carry.

Dara Holsters

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

Dara isn’t known for Duty Holsters, but they likely will be soon. They’ve taken their experience with concealed carry and competition holsters and pivoted to producing duty rigs.

A part of their philosophy when doing so was not just to slap a hood on a competition holster and call it a day. These holsters don’t just accommodate a ton of guns but a ton of guns, lights, and optics.

The big selling point to me is that they have an active retention duty rig for almost any weapon and light combo you can come up with. It’s insane how many different combos they have that range from Sig P365 to the CZ P10 series.

Dara classifies their holster as a level 2 retention holster. This rig utilizes a hood that locks over the top. Pressing a lever rearward frees the hood, freeing the gun and allowing for a quick and straightforward draw.

According to Dara, the hood moves so fast that it can defeat any garment that might be in the way. I’ve never heard of that being a problem with other holsters, but it’s worth mentioning.

The Dara ecosystem is enormous. You can pick from many different mounting systems adapters, straps, and more. How much you can do to get your Dara Level 2 up and running is wild. You can make it do almost anything and wear it in virtually any way.

My complaint about the rig is related to the retention lever. It’s pinchy and doesn’t feel like it is in the most natural position. It’s okay, but it takes some time to warm up.

Dara does have the same long-term reputation as someone like Safariland, but they are making a great effort to produce a high-quality duty holster.

U.S. Duty Gear Holster Model US 280 Level 3 Holsters

Prices accurate at time of writing

Prices accurate at time of writing

Pros

Cons

U.S. Duty Gear is an underrated hero of the duty holster market. Sure, they don’t pop up in the cool kid’s YouTube videos, but they are extremely well-made and incredibly durable.

U.S. Duty Gear makes both level 2 and level 3 holsters. I prefer the level 3 for duty use, but the level 2 is just as well built. U.S. Duty Gear is perfect for military and police use. It’s tough enough to resist abrasions and wear and will last very long.

One of the significant benefits of using a U.S. Duty Gear holster is the lack of bulk. A lot of duty holsters get bulky quickly. These rigs are surprisingly thin and molded very nicely from a material known as SDR.

SDR outperforms Kydex in durability, thermal resistance, and longevity. It’s rugged and can be both thin and durable.

The Level 3 rig requires three hand movements to free. The hood has to be pressed downward and then forward. Then, the user has to pull back a tiny lever with their thumb before the gun is freed.

These devices make a grab nearly impossible and provide outstanding protection for the weapon and the person carrying it. At the same time, it’s ergonomic and easy to get free and take action.

The US 280 model is compatible with a weapon light and an optic. Numerous models are available for guns with or without either option. I picked the US 280 for its modernity, but the various Level 3 rigs are all fantastic, and if you don’t carry a light or optic, those may be a better choice. We can’t forget the various finish options to make your holster uniform.

U.S. Duty Gear holsters are costly. You’ll spend over $200 for a light-bearing, optics-ready model. They also don’t have many gun options; the big brands are represented, but if you’re a tactical hipster, these might not be for you.

For this article, we focused on holsters that balance retention, ease of draw, features, and value. Travis Pike took the lead in testing and writing for this article — assessing a variety of holster models against one another to determine the best options for duty carry.

Travis is an NRA-certified instructor and concealed carry instructor with a military background who has carried on and off the battlefield. He’s been a gun reviewer for several years and has tested and evaluated hundreds of products for various publications, including Pew Pew Tactical. He assesses holsters based on their ability to retain a firearm, durability during testing, features that appeal to professional users, and the value the holster brings.

Duty holsters perform an invaluable service to police and military forces. For the rest of us, they make sure our guns stay put.

Duty holsters come in various shapes, sizes, and configurations. If I had one piece of advice, I suggest finding one that’s comfortable, easy to access, and secure.

Your firearm is out in the open, exposed to the world. Make sure the world can’t take it.

What’s your favorite duty holster? Let us know below! If you want to make it concealed, check out our top recommendations for Best Concealed Carry Holsters.