In the sea of kydex holsters where appendix carry is king, Alien Gear brings it back to roots combining modern technology and a classic carry position with their Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB holster. Featuring a generous palette of options for adjustable angle and ride height and comfort, it provides a solid platform for daily carrying your life-saving tool.
Until I got my hands on the Cloak Tuck, I had only ever carried appendix IWB using a variety of holsters. Unfortunately, due to my skinny frame and thick belt, this caused an unfortunately obvious print no matter what shirt I wore. It caused my firearm to stick out farther than my chest, and create a not-so-subtle tent effect. It was when I picked up the Alien Gear holster that I considered carrying at the ~4-4:30 position. The adjustable ride height on each side allows for a variety of angles but I really enjoyed the center neutral position out of the box. I did however adjust the retention by swapping out the bushings for the smallest/tightest fit of my firearm.
The adjusted level of retention is stiff, but not impossibly so, and I felt I could reach for my firearm and draw it with confidence. This is of course a personal preference. The length of the belt loops on my own body (31” waist) allowed for one loop at the 3 o’clock position and the other at the 6” o’clock, clearing the belt loops of my pants with ease, but your mileage may vary. They clipped on satisfyingly and held my 1.75” Hank’s belt very confidently, allowing for a draw that kept the holster secured to my belt and pants. They were also easy enough to intentionally remove when removing the holster for any reason. Additionally, they are considered “tuckable” so you can theoretically tuck a shirt into your pants and still cover your firearm, but you would not be able to cover the clips. As far as retention, angle, and comfort goes, I was very satisfied.
On the subject of comfort, the Cloak Tuck 3.0 is backed by thick soft neoprene that carries the pressure of the firearm very comfortably against your body. I had zero issues sitting in the car for hours while traveling across Arizona in the spring. This is however dependent upon setting up your holster correctly for your firearm. I am carrying a Glock 23 (19 for the 9mm folk) and I reckon a more compact firearm could be lowered deeper into your pants but a longer slide/barrel might leverage as you sit and cause discomfort. Regardless, the neoprene does an excellent job. I talked with a representative from Alien Gear and they informed me that the cloak tuck 3.5 has a new neoprene material that is perforated and provides all of the same comfort with the added benefit of breathability and cooling. If you live in a warm climate the cloak tuck 3.5 is worth your time.
But onto concealability…
After all this is a concealed carry holster, so I’m sure you’re curious as to how well this conceals your firearm. I’ll let you take a look for yourself.
With the wind pressing my shirt against my back, try and spot any firearm on my person.
For comparison, here is the holstered firearm against my body. I am able to clear the shirt and draw the handgun with my dominate hand easily. I also feel significantly more confident in the Cloak Tuck 3.0’s ability to conceal on my body than the appendix options I was previously trying.
Overall, I’m very impressed with this holster. I can carry in hot or cool weather, with nothing more than a t-shirt, pants, and a sturdy belt. I highly recommend this holster for someone struggling to find an option that conceals easily and you’re comfortable carrying strong side.
My number one caveat is you have to be considerate of the sizing of your pants. This does add a 1-1.5 inches to your beltline and if your pants are running tight, you might have to consider letting them out or purchasing a size up. With that understood, It’s a very pleasant carry experience for all day comfort. Certainly for the price point of ~$50 dollars it’d be strong contender for someone who already carries strong side IWB and looking for something with more adjustability.
While the Cloak Tuck 3.0 is no longer available, I’m sure the Cloak Tuck 3.5 would only be better with their perforated breathable neoprene backer.
For more info or to purchase the Cloak Tuck holster visit AlienGearHolsters.com.
The Cloak Tuck Holster is also available on Amazon.com.
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