The Floodlight PHLster Holster: Universality That Doesn’t Suck

The Floodlight is one of the very few universal holsters that don’t suck. In fact, I’d say this PHLster holster is the best quasi-universal holster made to date by anybody. The Floodlight is an all-polymer design that is made of two separate halves that present an utterly ambidextrous holster. You can flip flop the parts around and make the holster fit both right and wrong handed shooters. 

The Floodlight comes in both OWB (Outside the Waist Band) and IWB (Inside the Waist Band) configurations. Today we are looking at the IWB model.

How the Floodlight Works

The Floodlight is quasi-universal and was designed to accommodate guns outfitted with weapon lights — that is, in fact, the whole point of the thing.

Two variants exist, one for the Streamlight TLR-1 and the other for the Surefire X300U (each variant further expanded into OWB and IWB configuration). The inside of the holster is smoothed out, radiused, and regularized to accommodate the various frame shapes and dimensions that exist between guns like the 1911, the Glock, the Beretta 92FS, and beyond. 

A shock cord sits over the slide, and users may set the slide contact by tightening the cable and knotting it around itself. The Modwing attachment point allows adjustable retention to fit the wide variety of guns the Floodlight fits. Speaking off which, the Floodlight eats up full-sized and compact type handguns. For my fellow Marines, that means both big guns and kinda big guns. Little guns, noooo.

Guns like the Glock 17, Glock 19 and Glock 19X fit the Phlster Floodlight. Guns like the P365 and Hellcat are predictably left to the wayside. 

PHLster floodlight holster shock-cord close-up
This shock cord allows you to control your slide to holster fit, providing a measure of control over retention and resistance.

Phlster sends the Floodlight with both a set of leather loops and a set of plastic clips. The Floodlight will accommodate most aftermarket clips.

I’d say it will accommodate all of them, but I know someone out there has some Eastern European loops from some country that doesn’t exist anymore that won’t fit, and you’ll tell me in the comments I lied. 

Universality of the Floodlight 

The Floodlight doesn’t just accommodate a ton of different guns, but it squeezes in all those upgrades and assorted bullsh!t we tack on our weapons. This includes red dots like the Holosun 507C, as well as threaded barrels fitted with most compensators. The open bottom is relatively broad and will squeeze in most modern comps. 

The Phlster Floodlight is all polymer and extremely durable. The retention is around the light and this allows for a quasi-universal design to accommodate most compact and full-sized guns.

I’ve tossed in a Glock 17 equipped with an Aimpoint Acro, a KE Arms comp, and of course a TLR-1, and it fits in smoothly with no issues. No hang-ups, no stalls, no catches, just a smooth draw and a reholster fast enough for Instagram. 

The Phlster Floodlight can carry tons of guns, outfitted with a ton of accessories meaning that it’s more than just your standard universal rig. It’s a universal holster for people who demand the best, and like a Karen demand, their accessories fit too. 

Why the Phlster Floodlight? 

I chose the Phlster Floodlight because I’ve been transitioning to carrying with a weapon light and RMR. The Floodlight accommodated both, so it caught my eye. I also like weird guns. Slightly odd anyway, guns like the CZ P09. Sure I can find other holsters for it, but are they as high quality as the Floodlight? Do they accommodate a light and potentially a red dot? 

The Phlster Floodlight accommodates either the TLR-1 or Surefire X300U. On top of that, the holster can work with suppressor height sights, most compensators, and red dots.

Also, can I take the P09 out and carry an IWI Jericho? What about if I want to be a basic white girl and slap a Glock 19 in it?

The Phlster Floodlight offers me all the above in a high-quality holster. 

The Phlster Floodlight isn’t a cheap holster by any means, but it offers me a substantial value for the dollars spent. The Floodlight can house the majority of firearms I own, with the majority of accessories I have.

If I break it down by cost, I have six guns that fit perfectly in the Floodlight, which means I’m spending less than 20 bucks per gun to have a high quality, light-bearing holster. 

Practical Day To Day Carry 

It’s been a little over a month now since I started carrying with the Phlster Floodlight. I’ve carried numerous handguns on my daily adventures to Taco Bell, to the Mart of Wal, and even more active adventures, including hikes through the wonders of Florida’s nature coast. I’ve also run my reps, so to say. 

I can’t sit still and watch TV, so I’m often dry firing, drawing, and generally driving others crazy with the snap, pops, and locks involved. However, it’s given me a good perspective on how the Phlster Floodlight works under stress and also allows me to put stress on the holster. 

The Floodlight comes with both clips and loops. These are modular and allow for adjustable right height, and various degrees of cant. This makes it an excellent option if you’re looking for an AIWB holster to carry a full-size gun. 

Since I’ve worn and used the gun so much, I’ve made changes. I replaced the loops with clips, and then I rose the ride height. I increased the retention a hair, tightened the slide shock cord, and added a bit of reverse cant. I’m carrying AIWB, and these steps made carrying more comfortable and made my firearms more accessible. 

This broad-application Phlster holster fits all my weirdos like the CZ — P09.

The hidden benefit of the Floodlight is this modularity. You can make it fit you, which is critical for comfortable and accessible carry. The Floodlight knocks it out of the park when it comes to user-generated tweaks. Everyone’s different, and everyone carries differently, so why should a holster not accommodate that? 

The Check List 

When I’m considering a holster for concealed carry use, or well, any use, I have a mental checklist I flow through to make sure it’s worthy of my time. I’ve since thrown up that checklist all over this page, and it’s listed in my order of priorities. 

PHLster's light-bearing holster checks all the boxes.
The Phlster Floodlight checks all the boxes

Safety 

First and foremost, is this a safe holster? Does it fully cover the trigger guard? With the Phslter Floodlight, safety isn’t an issue. The trigger is fully covered, and the holster doesn’t interact with the trigger in a dangerous way. There are no major issues like a SERPA style button.

Access

How hard is it to grip and draw my gun? The Floodlight presents the gun’s grip for easy access, and retention is purely passive. Nothing will slow you down, and nothing the holster hangs up on the gun, preventing a smooth draw. 

Security 

Is the gun going to fall out randomly in the middle of Walmart and land me in a fail video compilation? The Phlster has adjustable retention, and the tension caused by the gun riding between your body and the holster is more than enough to keep it in place. It sits nice and deep in the holster and would take a gorilla (RIP Harambe) holding you upside down and shaking you to drop your gun accidentally. 

The Floodlight is surprisingly comfortable for AIWB carry.
The Phlster Floodlight allows for comfortable AIWB carry.

Concealment 

Does the holster print like Randolph Hearst? If so, it’s not concealing well. The good news is as an appendix rig, the Floodlight disappears decently easily. The bigger the gun, the harder it will be to conceal. A Glock 19 conceals better than a CZ P09, but overall the Floodlight provides sufficient concealment. 

Comfort 

Comfort isn’t the biggest concern. Like any appendix rig, you’ll never forget you’re wearing the Floodlight. Once adjusted, I found it comfortable for all-day carry, and it never caused me pain or discomfort. It’s not something I’d nap with, but I’ll carry it. 

The Big Guy 

The Phlster Floodlight is an outstanding holster. The price may at first turn you off, but when you consider its quality, versatility, and universal nature, the price starts to make a lot of sense. The Floodlight is exceptionally comfortable and provides me a holster that accommodates all the expensive gadgets and gizmos I want to tack on my gun.

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner and a lifelong firearms enthusiast. Now that his days of working a 240B like Charlie Parker on the sax are over he's a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is probably most likely the world's Okayest firearm instructor. He is a simplicisist when it comes to talking about himself in the 3rd person and a self-professed tactical hipster. Hit him up on Instagram, @travis.l.pike, with story ideas.

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