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Review: JAVRAN HALP Holster

Most of the Velcro backed “universal” holsters on the market are downright terrible. Many of them are difficult to draw from due to poorly executed thumb-breaks or snag prone designs (often both). They get away with it because they spend their time locked away in a bag and they are cheap so hardly anyone actually thinks much about them. The standard designs were ripe for some innovation so that is just what JAVRAN did.

The HALP Holster from JAVRAN is a Velcro backed universal holster that offers one all important improvement over other similar designs – it has a longer sleeve. This longer sleeve is the key to it improved performance and functionality. It is the simple design tweak that makes the HALP better than anything else that I have tried (more on this later).

Overview

The HALP isn’t complicated. It consists of 2 main parts – a semi-rigid, Velcro backer and an adjustable flap that wraps around the handgun. The backer is made from 2” webbing with hook Velcro sewn to the back while the flap is made from a double layer of 1000D nylon.

Observations from Use

As I said earlier, the key to what makes the HALP better than anything else that I have tried is the longer flap. Most similar holsters have a flap that is just wide enough to cover most of the trigger guard. The muzzle of the handgun ends up dangling out in the open, below the flap which creates a snag point for weapon mounted lights, ejection ports, and front sights during the draw stroke. The wider flap also provides great retention and protection. It is such a simple adaptation that pays off in a tremendous increase in functionality.

I was able to adjust the flap to fit everything from a G17 with weapon light to an S&W J-Frame revolver. The adjustment range is wide enough that it should with anything but the smallest and largest handguns.

You can determine the tension of the holster by how tightly you wrap the flap around the handgun when you are fitting it. I found that I like to wrap it a bit tighter at the bottom and looser that the opening. This makes re-holstering a bit easier and still provides good retention.

Speaking of re-holstering… the HALP Holster would benefit from some reinforcement to the flap position. Since it is made from a double layer of 1000D nylon, it has very little structure which makes it prone to push and fold into itself while re-holstering. I am not sure what could be done, but a layer of webbing under the top part of the flap would provide some additional structure or lines of stitching at close intervals might also provide some additional structure. This is a small issue but it would be a big improvement to a great product.

Wrap Up

I am sure that I haven’t even come close to trying every holster of this type on the market but the HALP Holster is far better than any others that I have tried. Given the growing popularity of Velcro lined bags and packs, I suspect that more and more people will be looking for something better than the typical Velcro-backed universal holsters. They would do well to check out the HALP Holster from JAVRAN.

Check out the HALP Holster on JAVRAN.com.

Disclosure: JAVRAN provided this holster to me, free of charge, for review.

PS – I should also mention that JAVRAN has some of the coolest Made in the USA tags that I have ever seen.

Three Fathom Solutions JustApack – Now at OC Tactical

Small, lightweight packs are one of the handiest pieces of gear you can own. A pack like that has a ton of applications. The JustAPack from Three Fathom Solutions is just such a pack.

The JustApack is designed to be slim, lightweight, and low profile. It has over 500 cubic inches of capacity, weighs about 1 pound, and is designed to pack into its own internal pocket for easy storage. It can also be docked to a larger pack or plate carrier with repair buckles.

It features a large main pocket, a smaller outside pocket, and a slim admin pocket. The shoulder straps are thin and contoured. It features a Velcro panel for displaying patches and a 6 wide by 3 tall PALS webbing field on the front. It is available in Multicam 5ooD and LiteLok as well as Navy Blue Digital and Desert Digital 500D nylon.

I like to carry a small pack inside of a larger one for multi-day hiking trips so I can dump the larger pack at camp. This bag looks ideal for that.

The JustAPack from Three Fathom Solutions is available from OC Tactical.

Welcome Vigilant Gear

We are blessed to partner with some pretty cool outfits here on JTT and the newest is Vigilant Gear. This is a natural fit because they carry tons of the stuff that we love like Bogota Entry Toolsets, SAR Eclipse Signal Systems, Killer Keys, Sparrows Lock Pick Sets, Exotac gear, and other tools. They have gear for EDC, Survival, E&E, and more. I also love their inexpensive flat rate shipping.

Be sure to check out VigilantGear.com.

X-Messenger Bag V.1 from ECHO NiNER

ECHO NiNER has released images of their upcoming X-Messenger Bag V.1. It features a hi-viz interior lining, an internal organizer for small items like pens and business cards, quick access via a top zipper or buckle and Velcro secured flap, a padded shoulder strap, a front pouch, padded breathable mesh back, and PALS webbing on the front and sides.

The X-Messenger Bag V.1 will be available on ENiNER.com soon. You can view more images of the new bag on the ECHO NiNER Facebook Page.

 

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