The Glock 43X is one of my very favorite handguns because of all it has to offer. I’d been carrying it in a Kydex holster for about a year, but really wasn’t thrilled with the holster. It was uncomfortable and carried high, making concealment difficult. I should have just gone with a holster from DeSantis to start with, but we all have our moments of stupidity.
Recently, DeSantis remedied my misery by sending me a holster to review. It just happens to be for my Glock 43X! Let’s take a look and see if the DeSantis Inside Heat leather holster solved my issues.
Old School
DeSantis Holsters has been around for a while. I began using them back in the 1980s and have never stopped. Despite being an old standby, many people these days overlook DeSantis, which is a shame. Back in the day, they put out top-notch leather holsters, and they still do this currently. Naturally, they also use other materials now, including Kydex. But leather still seems to be their main forte.
Leather Vs. Kydex
Kydex is great stuff, no doubt about it. Supremely durable and rigid, it hangs in there forever and protects the handgun nicely. It is also normally inexpensive to purchase. There are all sorts of nice attributes to it.
But, there are some aspects that aren’t so great. Namely, that rigidity can cause discomfort, at least for this guy. Kydex also seems to scratch the finish of many guns.
Another drawback to Kydex is that holstering and drawing the weapon is “noisy”, unlike leather.
Leather is softer and more comfortable. It doesn’t dig into your stomach or groin the way Kydex does. It’s easier on the firearm’s finish, too, and quieter when drawing the gun. Plus, leather has an old, classic style to it that Kydex never will.
No, I’m not throwing my Kydex holsters out. However, I certainly will be using my leather holsters a lot, especially in situations where I’ll be sitting for long periods of time, such as when driving. The difference is like night and day. If you’ve not compared Kydex to leather, I think you owe it to yourself to give the two a comparison try.
DeSantis Inside Heat
The Inside Heat holster is one of DeSantis’s minimalist holsters. In recent years, they’ve realized the necessity of being able to offer a reasonably priced product that is without frills, bells, and whistles. The Inside Heat is one such holster.
This particular model is only available in black. Many of their holsters also have tan as an option, but not this one. I have no complaint there because this holster will spend its time inside the waistband (IWB) and won’t be seen anyway. I do have to say, though, that I normally choose tan when using DeSantis holsters because I like that color slightly better.
They use saddle leather to construct their holsters, which are precision molded to the specific weapon they are intended for. I have DeSantis holsters from the 1980s and ’90s that are still rigid and molded to the firearms they were marketed for, and they’re still functional. These holsters are built to last, and they do!
The leather has a nice luster and looks attractive. The moment you get the holster into your hands, you realize it’s a well-made, quality item. And it’s not flimsy leather; it’s thick.
Stitching
The deserves specific mention because it is that good. It’s heavy and evenly spaced, and just really adds to the overall quality of the holster. This is not unique to this specific holster, but rather a consistent DeSantis characteristic that dates back to their earlier days.
Comfort Factor
How does the leather Inside Heat holster do in the comfort department? Oh, man! It’s like putting on an old, comfortable pair of slippers!
I literally made the switch from my Kydex holster to the Inside Heat and holstered my Glock 43X in a matter of moments. It was like instant relief. Seriously, it was that comfortable. At the risk of over-using the term, I will say it fits like a glove!
I’m being biased, because I have the Inside Heat for one of my other pistols (the S&W CSX) and it is the same; just seriously comfortable and functional.
Holster Position
Aside from the Inside Heat being softer than Kydex, there is another factor that makes it more comfortable. My Kydex holster sat high, which made the pistol angle away from my body. Not only did that add to my discomfort, but it also made it more difficult to conceal.
Not so with the DeSantis Inside Heat; these holsters sit lower in the waistband, which makes them tuck into the body far better. This contributes to both comfort and concealability.
Holstering
The mouth of the holster is reinforced with extra leather, which keeps it stiff. This makes holstering the pistol easy and safe.
Holsters that have no rigidity make holstering a real chore at best, and dangerous at worst. You basically have to remove those holsters from the belt in order to holster the pistol. Not so with DeSantis; they always make certain that the mouth of the holster is rigid enough to perform an easy holstering of the pistol.
Clip
A spring steel clip is utilized for the Inside Heat holster. It’s not super heavy-duty, but it gets the job done nicely, holding the holster in place very well. The way it’s set up allows the holster to be donned and removed easily and conveniently. The main factor that makes the holster easy to remove is the tab on the bottom of the clip; it flares out, which makes it easy to grab with the fingers. Just grab it, pull out gently, and you can easily slide the holster out of the belt line. There’s really no fuss about it.
They’ve also stamped their logo onto the clip, and although this bears no function, I think it looks classy, so I like it.
Made In America
DeSantis holsters are made in the USA, which means a whole lot to me these days! I do my best to support American workers in our country.
Conclusion
These points of quality and value are why I consistently turn to DeSantis for my holster needs. I’ve tried others and keep coming back to DeSantis. As a point of fact, they don’t pay me anything to say that; it’s truly what I think.
For the money, you will not find a better holster maker. In fact, even if they were to charge more money, DeSantis would still be a smart buy.
