[packingasubcompact]

I have been needing a good IWB holster for my subcompact for a while now. I wanted something that did not require you to wear a belt with it, since I don't like having to put a belt whne I am just going out for a minute. I purchased this IWB called "The Insider" from DeSantis last week. They had the holster in stock and it only took about four days to have it at my door. I was surprised they had it in stock, I guess the XD has finally "become popular" LOL. The holster was not really expensive, which was a nice change. The total price with shipping was about $28.

Below are some pictures that I took of my subcompact in the new holster. It is my first time using a digital camera so please forgive the quality.


The picture below shows the holster's black coated metal clip. It holds very well to the pants and is not too hard to take on or off.

The holster is constructed of a good quality smooth black leather.

The holster does have the clip on the holsters side, as opposed to the ones that use two hooks and have them forward and behind the holster. It adds just a bit of thickness, but it is generally pretty thin.

The holster does have a little bit of leather that comes past the front portion of the gun, but I don't mind it because if it were ever dropped it would help cushion the landing. This holster, made for the subcompact xd, also fits the H&K USP compact, so I suppose that is why it has the extra leather.

Overall I am very happy with this holster. It seems to be of good quality and functions very well for its intended purpose. It sits deep in the waistbelt and I am able to conceal it with just a double layer of tee-shirts.

More info on this holster can be found on the web link below

http://www.desantisholster.com/031.html

I hope you have enjoyed my review. Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[kc8ykd]

Nice review. It's hard to come across pics of the actual gun in the reviewed holster for some reason.

I might have to pick one of these up, if they make them for the service. i have something similar for my Kahr PM9 and it's pretty comfortable.

-Chris

note, this was edited for grammar and some spelling. i musta been sleeping at work when i wrote this.

 

[Shnozzer-xd-9]

I might have to get one of those. It looks like it could hold my service fairly well. I don't feel like paying 50-80 bucks for holster when I dont' carry that often anyways.

 

[packingasubcompact]

^ that is a great point. The lower price of these holsters is a great seller feature. I belive this model is available for all of the XD line of pistols.

 

[Captain Ray]

Nice review.. how is it on re-holstering? I have a Don Hume IWB for my 4" service, it wears nicely, and draws great! But re-holstering is a problem, unless I slick up the inside of the holster with a light misting of WD-40. The reason for this is the trigger gaurd has a ridge on it, which I like because I rest my left index finger there.. but that ridge hangs up on the mouth of the holster when I attempt to re-holster it. I have been considering grinding that ridge down to help on reholstering as another member around here has done.. but I hesitate to make such a permanent change... Does the DeSantis holster hang up the same way?

Oh, and my favorite holster ever is the Fobus fixed paddle. I love that thing! It does not conceal well though.

Raymond

 

[dolanp]

Thanks for posting this review. I have been looking into an IWB just like this one, and the price is attractive.

 

[DeftwillP]

what kind of grip is that? do you like it?

it looks like it says pachymar

 

[sjp2452]

Nice review.. how is it on re-holstering?

Dissenting opinion! My wife has the same holster for her sig P232. At first I thought it was a nice little holster too...till I wore it for a few minutes. It sits far too deep in the waist belt--it wants to drag part of the grip below your belt and doesn't allow you to get a full grip on the gun before you draw, so you're forced to readjust your grip once drawn (good luck doing that right when the BG's bearing down on you with a knife). Reholstering is terrible--it does not have a reinforced opening, so as soon as the gun is drawn, it flattens against your body. Reholstering requires two hands and is tedious, increasing the chance of AD while trying to reholster (you're still juiced on adrenaline after successfully defending yourself against the BG with the knife). I have to respectfully disagree with the reviewer on this recommendation. I'd say keep the $28 and put it toward a higher quality reinforced (thin kydex?) holster. Dave Kenik is quite convincing on holster selection, and my wife had a lot of trouble with the Insider during Dave's class. I have a Don Hume 715 IWB...it's not as bad but still not good. I'll go one step further and say that Dave's recommendation for a low cost/high quality holster is a FIST...and I'll likely follow that recommendation after trying his out.

Good criteria for holster selection:
1) You should be able to get a full and complete grip before drawing
2) You should be able to draw and easily reholster with one hand, without looking
3) The holster should be stable--fixed to your body such that it won't move around
4) Comfort

As Dave might put it, no good putting a $28 set of tires on a Maserati.

 

[packingasubcompact]

^^^^ "how is it on re-holstering?" It does flatten out if the gun is drawn and the holster is in the pants. It's not made of kydex on anything. To reholster it you will have to wiggle to gun a little bit. My thought though is if you pull a gun in defense of your life - you should not exactly be in a foot race to get it back in the holster. Yeah it is nice I guess for an easy re-holstering, but it isn't required by law that it goes back in in 5 seconds or something.

^^ yeah the grip is a pachmayer. It fits this gun as well as the glock 26/27 I believe. ajames has them for sale on his website.

^ I must say that I am impressed with your post. Many people are very harsh when they disagree with a post, but yours was a good read. I'm sorry you had problems with this one. I know for myself it is not my only holster I use for my subby. So while it is not the most perfect holster ever made, it does the job well for me. It does sit low in the waist but I like that b/c in the summer I only wear tee-shirts with mine.

 

[mpholic]

How is it for retention? Most holders in this price range are not molded or hand boned. It is the molding to the exact shape of the gun which retains the gun in the holster when sitting, getting out of a car, running for some sort of cover, etc. You mentioned wearing it without a belt. No belt and no molding means minimum retention (IMHO).

Can't beat it for the price though.

 

[packingasubcompact]

No, the holster is not custom fit to the "T" for the gun. It is simply paterned after the guns general shape as the pictures show. The thing to remember with this holster is that it sits very low IWB so it would take something pretty amazing to get the gun to accidently come out. Having worn it for about a week now, I could not possibly imagine the gun just "coming loose." It does a pretty good job IMO of holding on to the gun.

 

[dolanp]

I ordered one myself because I think it fits the bill for what I want: a simple, inexpensive, low-profile IWB holster. I will write back when I get it.

 

[Greg in OKLAa]

I ordered one myself because I think it fits the bill for what I want: a simple, inexpensive, low-profile IWB holster. I will write back when I get it.

+1


Greg

 

[dolanp]

Got it in today. It works perfectly for what I want. This particular model fits several different other makes and models of gun, which is good or bad depending on how you look at it but I consider it a plus. It is still a bit stiff from being new and it took a little coaxing to get the XD all the way in with the trigger guard covered but it was not a big deal. I am the type who would carry clip draw style if it weren't for me being uncomfortable with the trigger being exposed, so I considered this the next step up. I am not disappointed at all and I think it is just right for what I wanted. It does not add a lot of extra width inside the waistband which is what I wanted.

Bottom line: If you like simple IWB carry but you don't want to carry with only a clip, then this is probably for you.

Also note that the clip can easily fit over a belt and the clipping mechanism is very tight. So even though the gun is very snug in the holster, the clip will hang on to your pants and/or belt and allow you to draw the gun without problems. I'm sure it will become less stiff the more I wear it also.

 

[techlogik]

I have been needing a good IWB holster for my subcompact for a while now. I wanted something that did not require you to wear a belt with it, since I don't like having to put a belt whne I am just going out for a minute. I purchased this IWB called "The Insider" from DeSantis last week. They had the holster in stock and it only took about four days to have it at my door. I was surprised they had it in stock, I guess the XD has finally "become popular" LOL. The holster was not really expensive, which was a nice change. The total price with shipping was about $28.

Below are some pictures that I took of my subcompact in the new holster. It is my first time using a digital camera so please forgive the quality.


The picture below shows the holster's black coated metal clip. It holds very well to the pants and is not too hard to take on or off.

The holster is constructed of a good quality smooth black leather.

The holster does have the clip on the holsters side, as opposed to the ones that use two hooks and have them forward and behind the holster. It adds just a bit of thickness, but it is generally pretty thin.

The holster does have a little bit of leather that comes past the front portion of the gun, but I don't mind it because if it were ever dropped it would help cushion the landing. This holster, made for the subcompact xd, also fits the H&K USP compact, so I suppose that is why it has the extra leather.

Overall I am very happy with this holster. It seems to be of good quality and functions very well for its intended purpose. It sits deep in the waistbelt and I am able to conceal it with just a double layer of tee-shirts.

More info on this holster can be found on the web link below

http://www.desantisholster.com/031.html

I hope you have enjoyed my review. Any feedback is appreciated!

Will the 4" Service model fit this one as well? I know the nose is longer, but would this fit the 4". I don't need this for carry, just a nice protector to keep my unit in check between the seats of the car and protect it from getting scratched...

Thanks

 

[dolanp]

Mine is a 4" and it fits fine. When you order it they will ask you what your barrel length is.

 

[Arnisandyz]

Looks like a decent holster for the price. Those of you looking for more retention, take a look at the Don Hume 715 sold by pistol-gear. I think each of the these holsters offer something different. The Insider seems thinner and might work better for some IWB. The Hume seems more "fitted' to the gun, but a bit thicker. Just got mine a couple days ago for $28 after shipping. PG only has it for the SC though.

I also looked at the FIT #1, which also looks like a good IWB clip-on.