Galco is a name with a longstanding reputation in the holster community. I could write for days about the many holster models and gun fitments that Galco offers, but for today, we’ll focus on the Galco Summer Comfort Inside-the-Waistband holster.
The particular holster that I’m reviewing will fit a few different pistols: The CZ P10M, Glock 43X, Springfield Armory Hellcat, and Taurus GX4. That’s quite a few handguns for one holster to fit! Were it made from nylon like a lot of other holsters on the market these days, I wouldn’t be surprised. But this one is made from molded leather and it’s a stiff holster, so the fact that it fits a variety of handguns is refreshing.
About Galco
Galco has been making handcrafted holsters in the United States since 1969. They make several types of holsters, including IWB, OWB, cross-draw, appendix, and shoulder holsters. They’ve been used by citizens, police, and the military.
Aside from holsters, they make so much more, including ammo/magazine carriers, belts, slings, outdoor gear, butt cuffs for rifles, recoil pads for rifles, tactical gear, and a ton of other stuff. They can even make items for you in exotic materials such as horsehide, shark skin, stingray, ostrich, and alligator.
Most people in shooting circles are very acquainted with the Galco name.
Construction and Materials
The holster came with a certificate that explains the leather used in constructing the holster. It states that their holsters are made from the hides of steers raised and grown in the United States.
They further elaborate that non-hazardous materials are used in the tanning process, such as natural organic bark materials in a vegetable tanning process. All of Galco’s hides are “…of the highest ‘Number One’ grade out of seven possible grades, which guarantees that Galco premium holsters are cut from the top 2% of vegetable-tanned U.S. steer hides.”
Each of their tanned holsters receives four to six hand-rubbed applications of oil that preserve the leather’s structural integrity and enhance its appearance. Of course, this makes each holster have a unique appearance.
For their other holster colors, aniline dye is used, which penetrates the grain of the leather and gives it a deep hue that resists abrasion while still showing the natural variations of the leather. After all of that, every holster is treated with a clear finish that repels dirt and resists the effects of moisture and sweat.
In a nutshell, each Galco holster has a lot of handwork invested in it. That tends to give pride of ownership to those who own them.
First Impressions
Upon unpackaging the holster, the first thing that struck me was the construction. The holster looks attractive (this one has a black finish) and feels sturdy. The finish has a pleasant, satin appearance; it’s not quite matte, but not very shiny; sort of in-between.
The snaps and loops used on the belt retention portion are of heavy-duty and high quality.
I was pleased to notice that this holster requires very little break-in time; the Hellcat that this holster is designed to hold slips in and out with minimal friction. Of course, it will smooth out a lot more in the coming weeks as the holster sees more use. Some holsters are very stiff and have a lot of friction, making draws difficult until they are broken in, but that’s not the case here.
Overall, my initial impression of the holster is very positive.
Versatility
I was especially excited to get this holster because it fits two of the pistols that I have: Springfield’s Hellcat and Glock’s 43X. I love items that can perform double duty, and this one fills that bill perfectly.
Naturally, I checked to see how both platforms fit the Galco Summer Comfort, and they both fit perfectly. Not to mention, the holster will also fit two additional platforms aside from the two that I have, as mentioned earlier. That’s value for the money right there!
What’s more, having holsters that fit multiple platforms cuts down on the number of holsters that I have lying around the house. For some reason, my wife has made her displeasure known when she sees mounds of firearms/tactical gear around our house. Something about “clutter” and “put it away before I burn it” or something like that.
Models for both right and left-handed shooters are available.
Construction
As stated in the literature, the leather used in the Galco Summer Comfort holster is first-rate. It’s thick and very rigid, which holds the handgun securely while not deforming.
The very heavy stitching that’s used is impeccable; very even and uniform. The edges of the exposed leather have been rounded and nicely polished, making them both attractive and durable.
Around the mouth of the holster, there is a piece of reinforcing leather that helps to keep the mouth of the holster more rigid to hold it open. Underneath that leather piece is a piece of metal to reinforce the holster and keep it open. This assists in holstering the handgun and ensures that the top of the holster does not collapse.
That same piece of reinforcing leather wraps around to the front of the holster where the retention loops are attached.
Forward Cant
This holster features a forward cant, which differs from most of my other IWB holsters. Most of the others don’t have any can’t or else have a very slight cant.
I imagine the Summer Comfort’s cant is to accommodate those who like to carry IWB in the three or four O’clock position. In those positions, a cant would be an advantage when drawing.
For drawing from the Appendix Inside-the-Waistband (AIWB) position, the cant is not as helpful. I found myself having to bend my wrist unnaturally when drawing from AIWB.
Aspects That I like
The construction is outstanding, as are the materials used.
The holster is easy to put on and take off. The snaps, which are robust, snap and unsnap easily. The loops, which attach the holster to the belt, can be removed and attached to the belt very easily. These loops will fit belts up to 1.75 inches wide, although there are other loops available from Galco that will fit belts both more and less wide.
The holster’s appearance is quite pleasing, as is the finish. The very minimal break-in period is also an appreciated factor, as it saves time and frustration.
Because the holster is leather (as opposed to Kydex), it does not dig into the wearer’s body but instead, presents a somewhat “softer” presence. This is nicer when the wearer bends over to reach for something because the holster does not dig into their stomach or side like a hard Kydex holster would.
Things I Didn’t Like
The Galco Summer Comfort holster sits rather high in the waistband. I’m accustomed to Inside The Waistband (IWB) holsters sitting and carrying lower on the belt line, which keeps them tucked in closer to the body. Not so with this one.
It has the aggravating habit of sagging out away from my body, which does nothing to conceal the pistol. In fact, it creates more of a bulge under my shirt, which contributes to printing.
Additionally, that top-heavy feeling didn’t contribute positively to the comfort factor while wearing the holster.
Now I will admit that my body type might contribute to this phenomenon, as I do have a few extra pounds around the midsection. I’m not morbidly obese or anything, but many of us do tend to gain some tonnage over the years. And different holsters do fit different body types to varying degrees.
While the retention straps, which fit outside the belt make removing the holster easy, they also add a significant layer of thickness outside the belt. That, coupled with the snaps, adds layers on the outside of the belt, which contributes to printing, especially if the user is only wearing a t-shirt to cover the holster and pistol.
In Summary
Galco has put together a holster with top-notch materials and craftsmanship. The finish is also very pleasing to the eye and promises to protect the holster for many years of use.
Because the holster will fit four different types of handguns, the Galco Summer Comfort holster gets very high marks in the versatility area that few other holsters will be able to brag about.
I just wish it would sit lower in the belt line so that the holster and pistol would not sag away from my body like it does. Aside from that, I have no complaints about the holster. Other uses might experience a better fit than I did, so your mileage may vary.
As this is being written, the price of the Summer Comfort IWB holster at GunMag Warehouse is $84.99. Considering the materials used to make this holster and the workmanship involved, I think that represents a good buy.
