Alien Gear....
Looks like E.T. phoned home and sent us a new holster option. The new Alien Gear,
Cloak Mod, outside the waistband (OWB) holster is something highly functional but this thing is nothing short of fun. It’s kind of like Legos but for holsters. It’s a completely modular holster. It comes with both a paddle connection and a belt loop. So it really depends on how you want to carry it that particular day. But the fun doesn’t stop there. You can adjust the holster cant and the retention. So you can literally tear this thing apart and rebuild it...”we have the technology”.
Retention is adjusted with rubber grommets in between the two panels of the holster. Yeah, you can adjust the tension via the screws but it doesn’t stop there. The Cloak Mod comes with a medium retention but also comes with a card with different grommets (and the Allen wrench to adjust everything with) with four thicknesses. So the retention possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The Cloak Mod is unique to Alien Gear. We’re all used to the Neoprene/Kydex hybrid that made Alien Gear famous. This is not one of those. To give it a difficult test I had them send me one for a full size 1911. I figured between the weight and profile of a full-size pistol that this thing would have to be good to meet my expectations. Okay...now that that’s out of the way let’s give this a hard look. If you’ve followed Gundoc’s for any length of time you know that I will give you my honest opinion.This will be no different. Well, at first, glance it's a comfortable holster. It doesn't jab or poke anywhere and seems to sit on the belt well. From a critical view, you tend to lean towards Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot.
I wore the holster for a couple of days and came away with some pretty strong opinions. I started noticing little things at first. Things like having to carry my keys in a different pocket because the paddle was in the way and how far off your body this holster sits. Then the amount of slop as it rides on the belt. The section that rides over your belt is wide enough for two carry belts. You can also adjust the cant so it conceals better only to have it shift, because of the width of the paddle’s belt slot to a straight pull position when using the paddle. That got obnoxious.
Another issue I have with it is that it's bulky. By itself, the shell is compact enough but the width of that paddle is a real issue. Because of how it’s constructed the shell sits away from the belt adding to the profile. So instead of the firearm sitting snug against you, it sits away from you enough that there’s no way you will keep from printing when wearing just a shirt. In fact, you need a jacket...because a jacket doesn’t form to your body, in order to try and hide this thing. By the afternoon of the second day, I just took it off and put the gun back in the “go bag”. The holster was driving me nuts. I was constantly pushing it back to the proper cant. And it didn’t help that I was having to wear an extra layer, on an eighty degree spring day in Texas, and was still printing more than I care to. Later...I got another package from them. Well...more on that in an article I’m still working on. I will spoil one piece of information, though. The same company that owns Alien Gear also owns Bigfoot gun belts. I did get this holster to finally stay still...but only with their belt. So nice of them to make a holster that only works well with their belts. More on why that is in the following article on about the belt.
After putting the belt loop on the holster the fun keeps going. The normal width of the optional loop allows for normal belt width and they include shims if you have their belt. Having just the single contact point with the belt the holster still doesn't angle itself against your body, like a carry holster should. I think the belt loop will end up staying on when I make the change. It will come out of the concealed carry rotation, though. Maybe I’ll keep it around for a hunting holster but this thing cannot be considered a concealed holster. As a final opinion on this holster...If you open carry this might be the holster for you. If you need a good range or IDPA holster...this may be the holster for you. Just don’t bother buying this as a concealed carry holster...or...you’ll be as disappointed in it as I am. My advice on this one...don’t bother.
*Update*
Don't forget this little gem...the inside doesn't have a sweat guard. It's exposed to the dirt dust and moisture that comes in contact with your pants.
