Archive | Tactical Gear

Many bags come with internal hook and loop fields these days. These allow you to place Velcro backed accessories on the interior of the bag. They are especially popular as a way to attach a holster for off-body handgun carry.

I have always been pretty unsatisfied with most Velcro backed universal holsters. Many of them are basically the same. They consist of a webbing loop that can be sized to wrap around the trigger guard and slide of the handgun. Their retention is uninspiring and I am concerned that something could migrate into the trigger guard causing the trigger to be depressed. They can also be difficult to use when re-holstering.

Universal style Velcro holster (Click any picture to enlarge)

I think a Tactical Handyman can do better than this.

Materials:

• Cheap kydex/plastic holster that is made to fit your handgun (I use Uncle Mike’s because they are cheap and sturdy, but any brand with a removable belt loop and mostly flat sides will work)
• Plenty of hook side Velcro (hook and loop material)
• Glue (I use Gorilla Glue, but contact cement would probably work better)

Procedure:

1. Remove the belt attachment point from the back of your holster. We only need the holster body for our purposes. 
   

   Remove the belt loop.

2. Cut pieces of hook side Velcro (the stiffer side) to fit the contours of the back of the holster. 
   

   Adhere Velcro to the back of the holster.

3. Glue the pieces to the back of the holster. I use a tooth pick to spread the glue out evenly over the surfaces where I plan to adhere the Velcro.

It is just that simple. You have now created a Velcro backed holster that has the positive retention of kydex that we all love so much. I recommend that you glue the Velcro in place because the adhesive used on even the “Industrial” Velcro will not hold up to regular use (especially if it is exposed to temperature shifts). Normally, I find the cheap injection molded holsters to be pretty unacceptable for belt carry but for carry inside of a bag they are perfect – sturdy, lightweight, and inexpensive. These work great in bags like the Hawkpaks Rifle Bugout Bag and the Eagle Escape & Evasion Bag LE.

Holster with handgun in place