I've got pain in my back right where I usually wear my pistol IWB/OWB, and pain in my thigh where my pocket carry usually hits. Looks like a shoulder rig is the only way to go for the next month or so. My DeSantis rig that I really like and is very comfortable is on its last legs, I believe. So I started shopping around for a replacement.
Being one of the NES Skinflinters, I was very interested in Armadillo Holsters. I read some reviews on them and they seemed pretty positive. I figured I'd give it a shot.
I've been wearing it for about a week now, and I'm really liking it! Here's my review.
The holster and mag pouches are thick and stiff, and took 3 days of sitting with parchment paper wrapped gun / magazines to stretch out enough that I can actually put the gun in and draw it without excessive force. Any holster will need to be stretched, so I'm fine with that. 5 stars
The harness is soft but not thin flimsy leather. It feels like a cheap belt, but not as thick and bulky as a belt. It's very comfortable, supports weight of the gun/mags well without causing hot spots on my shoulders. It's thin enough that it doesn't print through my shirt - but if you look closely you can probably make out the back plate and might think I'm wearing a man bra, but that's going to be the case anyway. At least it takes attention off my garters and high heels. Don't judge. 5 stars
My first wearing I didn't adjust it right. It carried more like a Jackass style, almost upside down, than a traditional horizontal holster. It also was low on my torso and printed terribly. It looked like I was wearing a concealed colostomy bag. I didn't notice the weight, I was comfortable, I just looked stupid. This was my fault, I was in a rush to get someplace and wanted to wear my new toy. No rating given - I'm a dumbass.
I adjusted the holster properly, and it disappears under my arm. It falls right where I can reach it well. It hides as well as any shoulder rig I've worn and isn't bulky under my arm. It doesn't seem to print at all that I can tell, except for maybe the back plate like I said earlier. The harness holds the weight so the gun isn't even noticed and doesn't dig into my shoulders. Also, the thin harness stays in place on my shoulders, and doesn't ride up to rub against my neck. It doesn't have a large leather piece on my shoulders like I'm used to, I thought this would be an issue, but it actually looks like the thin straps (about 1" wide) are a better setup, color me surprised! 5 stars
The thumb-break is positive, but not difficult to release. I'm not a big fan of the strap going under the beavertail of my 1911, but this allows regular carry (cocked and locked) and isn't as bad as I first thought once I got a bit used to it. My DeSantis goes over the cocked hammer, and is a better setup, I think, but this is OK. 4 stars
The gun comes from the factory with belt tie downs. I'm not a fan, but they're easily removed. Use them or not, dealer's choice. 5 stars
The hardware is all metal. The stitching is well done. The adjustments for the harness are done with screws. I think they'll back out in time, so I plan on Loc-titing them once I'm certain I've got them where I want them. The screws and metal loops make adjusting this a breeze. I don't think I'll need to adjust them often, but with weight loss or whatever, I've had to adjust my current rig a few times and it was a pain in the butt. My DeSantis seems to hold the strap better and in more places, so it will stay if the plastic adjuster breaks, but I don't think the metal screw will break on this rig, so it's a non issue. 5 Stars
On a separate but similar deal - the harness doesn't snap into the holster. It has a metal loop sewn in, and the harness goes through that. I'm giving a rating on this separately since nothing sucks more than stretching or whatever and having a snap pop off the holster while you're wearing it. Makes for a fun walk out of church service to the bathroom to put your setup back together. I've only had this happen once, but it wasn't fun, and I'd hate for that to happen in a non-permissive environment. This won't be an issue with this holster, thankfully. 5 Stars
Value - at $80 delivered this holster is an outstanding value. I'll report back if this falls apart, but it doesn't seem to be cheaply made, at all. The company is very responsive to questions and says they have a lifetime warranty. 5 stars
Overall, I'm giving this 4.875 stars.
Black Horizontal Shoulder Holster
www.armadilloholsters.com