There’s no shortage of opinions about the best daily carry holster – much less the best carry gun – but there's no debating the fact that Glock has commanded an impressive chunk of the carry market overall. On the long list of favorite carry guns, the Glock 19 most certainly sits comfortably near or directly at the very top. 

Since good options for budget-friendly carry holsters is one of the most common topics we get asked about, I thought the Glock 19 seemed like a pretty good gun to try and offer some answers. Well, that was until I started to clean out my comically large box of Glock 19 holsters. 

I quickly realized I’ve only worn a few for any significant period of time over the last few years. It’s quite depressing, actually. I’m not a fan of fashion shows – watching them or starring in them – but I clearly have an addiction to trying on holsters. So, instead of wasting time talking about the ones I really don’t wear, I figured I would focus on the three types that I keep strapping on my belt day after day. Better yet, they’ve all been price-friendly picks.

Quick Spoiler: It turns out I’ve become an increasing fan of carrying outside the waistband. If you haven’t at least dabbled in both OWB and IWB holsters, you may have overlooked something that’s well worth your time.

Kydex AIWB (The Easy Conceal)

If I am just popping off to the store or visiting the range, there is one holster that has proven to be my constant go-to for quite some time. It’s a simple, Kydex IWB that I carry exclusively in the appendix position. I’ve done long road trips, hunts, and hikes with this holster, but that’s not really where it has shined for me. Under most circumstances, it’s been great and fills 80 to 90 percent of my carry needs and desires. But it’s not perfect.

There are fancier and more affordable options, but the simplicity of the Vedder LightTuck has served me well. I’m not married to any one brand, and I’ve actually put some decent miles on a budget-friendly DeSantis Slim-Tuk while carrying a larger Glock 17 just fine. The Kydex option has protected the gun and my flesh in relative comfort. 

It will get a little sweaty if I get a little sweaty. That’s kind of like getting mad if your umbrella gets wet in the rain, and all I really have to do is wipe it off. More importantly, the appendix position has proven comfortable enough for all-day use and easy concealment, which is a constant concern I hear about these types of holsters. 

I won’t claim you’ll never feel it, but I seem to find people grow into this type of carry option over time when they apply reasonable expectations to physical comfort. It might be worth it for you to just try it out before you fill a box with other expensive toys.

Hybrid IWB (Concealment On the Go)

This is really where I started for my carry holsters personally, and it’s worth noting that I found the simpler the system the better it has served me over time. There are forms with swappable shells, backs, clips, and – probably – even bottle openers and Pez dispensers. I’ve basically just lost all the extras over the years. For my money, I tend to lean toward versions that don’t have removable shells and focus on serving just one gun. 

I used a hybrid leather/Kydex holster for years, and only moved past it for my IWB carry in favor of the Kydex ones I mentioned above. If you like carrying on the hip and enjoy having the weight of your gun spread out while moving around, I’m still a fan of these. In fact, I’ve struggled to find a Kydex-only option I enjoy hosting on my hip. For tasks that I know will involve a lot of walking, my hybrid still comes out because I know it will make for a pleasant journey.
 

Related: Glock Hiking - 500+ Miles With the Glock 19

Yes, some people hate hybrid holsters, but I have found this to be one of my favorite ways to carry on the go. There are still some drawbacks, but they are worth it for me if you are willing to put in a little work to maintain the holster along the way. I have had to clean this type of holster, and they do tend to sweat a bit more. Whatever you do, make sure you have a quality leather – or other material – for the backing to avoid having a floppy holster.

My personal CrossBreed hybrid has built up some salt lines, but a bit of neatsfoot oil for the leather and an occasional sprinkle of baby powder to remove any creaking by the clips has sufficed. As a general rule, I would also give a nod to purely Kydex holsters for easier retention adjustments. For now, the hybrid basically only comes with me when I am hitting a trail.
 

Leather OWB (Comfort & Function)

First, I will admit there are some fine Kydex options for OWB, and I see the appeal. They are durable, rigid, and can certainly perform on the range. My personal experience has also generally required less/if any break-in time for Kydex. But for comfort and the pure joy of carrying it, I find it hard to beat a fairly basic leather OWB when I’m just doing work around the house. 

What’s surprised me, however, is how often I just leave this holster on when I head out for lawn work, to shovel, or to grab groceries. I can conceal it fine in the winter with a basic cover garment. When I carry it in the summer, I normally roll with a fairly basic T-shirt or collared option, but I would have second thoughts about concealing it under my tank tops. As an OWB, it’s also perfectly comfortable for long days of sitting and, well, writing. 

No, it does not conceal as easily for me as my AIWB Kydex or my hybrids. In fairness, I’ve also been favoring a very simple yet sizable Galco, but there are truly minimalist options out there if you want to rock it old school with something like the Yaqui slide. 
 

Conclusion: Comfort Vs. Concealment?

I often hear people muse about the difference between comfortable and concealable holsters. You get similar conversations about retention, draw speed, reholstering, etc. That’s all fair game. A holster needs function and safety. 

But for a concealed carry holster, I’m also not demanding that it can retain a gun if I fall head over heels down a cliff for 15 minutes like a rag doll. Nor is it fair to stuff a Glock 19 into a Speedo and expect perfect concealment. I’m rarely wowed by a holster, but that would do it. You might get away with some of these options and a nice pair of swim trunks. The simple fact is that in a box of options these three styles continue to make their way onto my belt while others rarely do.