In todays firearms accessory market there are literally hundreds of pistol holster makers to choose from, each one of them claiming some new design or manufacturing technique or space aged limited edition color options. Some companies claim they produce the easiest to use outside the waist holster, others claim the label of most comfortable inside the waist holster. The problem with all of these claims and holsters is that it’s all subjective reasoning, and if you notice I brought up both of the most popular styles of holster, the IWB and the OWB, and here lies part of the problem. At times its easier to carry inside the waist and other times its easier to carry your pistol outside the waist. This necessitates the need for two different holsters, or I should say It DID, that was until the Alien Gear Shape Shift Modular Holster System was released by the Idaho Falls, Idaho based Alien Gear Holsters.
The Shape Shifter changes the way that most shooters will look at conventional holsters, gone are the days of multiple holsters for the same pistol. All of that maybe a thing of the past, modularity, and affordability combined in one package made by an American company, sounds great right? Let’s take a look at some of the specifications of the Alien Gear Shape Shifter Holster and exactly what sort of options it offers to users to potential users and how it all works.
Name: Shape Shift Modular Holster
Manufacturer: Alien Gear Holster
Models Available To Support:
- Most Glocks
- Ruger LC Series
- Ruger RC Series
- Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Series
- More Models Coming Soon
Types of Holster Offered:
- Inside the Waist
- Outside the Waist Paddle
- Outside the Waist Slide
- Appendix Carry
- Vehicle Mount
Materials: Ballistic Nylon & Polymer with Steel Reinforcing Strips
Additional Notes:
- Made in USA
- 30 Day No Questions Asked Return Policy
- Lifetime Warranty
- Cool Vent Neoprene Backing to Prevent Moisture Build Up
MSRP: $99
Instructions Included
The first thing I noticed when I received my Alien Gear Shapeshifter Holster was that the box contained a ton of parts and belt loop adapters. I can honestly say this was a bit of a shock to me, I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t what I found. There is a nice fold-out map style instruction manual that shows where all the small parts go and how this holster puzzle fit together. I will say that even with this fold out listing of all the parts I still became frustrated quickly.
I decided to inspect the holster bodies and backing panels instead of diving into the parts bins. The starter kit that we received for testing contains all of the options and accessories that are available for the holster, which may have led to my confused state. The holster backing features the usual amount of foam that you would expect from a conceal carry style holster, but the Alien Gear designers added strips of steel between the foam and polymer backing for enhanced rigidity. The outside of the holster that is designed to be in close contact to the skin features a cool vent neoprene coating. This part of the holster allows comfort for the wearer and fights any heat or cold transfer from the metal to the wearer’s side. This is especially important in climates that feature extreme temperatures.
The material the exterior of the holster that faces away from the wearer is coated in what Alien Gear refers to as a “thermo elastomer coating”. This material looks like it could double as an alien or reptiles skin, It’s a great piece of function blended with marketing genius. The surface is functional as well as ascetically pleasing, the finish produces a slight amount of resistance while holster and drawing a pistol from it. The stitching on all edges of the holster is wide and snag-free, the polymer components of the system are free of any molding marks, this speaks highly of Alien Gear’s attention to detail during all aspects of the production cycle.
Tension Adjustment Screw Shown
The modularity of the Alien Gear ShapeShifter may give traditionalists some frustrations but if an owner takes their time and reads the literature provided by the company or watch a few YouTube videos any questions will be answered. The whole system really is easy once you learn it and I’m genuinely shocked by the available options and there are rumors coming from Idaho to expect even more mounting options as well as new pistol models supported in the near future. The holster was only recently released, shortly after SHOT Show 2017 so there isn’t a huge body of long term reviews on it yet. That said we are very impressed by the Alien Gear ShapeShifter Holster and as soon as we can we will be sending the holster out into the wilds of Alaska for a more complete testing cycle.
In 2017 the market for holsters of all styles is as crowded as any other segment of the firearms community. We are curious what our readers are using for their duty and conceal carry holsters. Are you a Travis Haley G-Code fan or are you using someone else’s index holster? Are the days of the trusty DeSantis or Galco leather holster dead? We want to hear your thoughts..Drop us a line below and speak your mind, there are no wrong opinions.
Rick
