Review of the Raven Concealment Vanguard Holster

So I've had the chance to utilize the Raven Vanguard 2 for about a month now, and I'm impressed.  You should seriously evaluate this holster if you are looking for a versatile system that allows for IWB, or off-body carry.

The Vanguard system is very different from your typical holster.  Really, you can hardly call it a holster - it's more of a trigger cover.  The molded plastic only covers the bare minimum needed, ie, the trigger and trigger guard.  It attaches to you in two possible ways: via a belt loop for IWB carry or via 550 cord or other lanyard.  This means that bulk is reduced to an absolute minimum.  When I wear my G19 IWB, it almost feels like I've just got the gun shoved in my pants.  The solid fit of the holster, however, means that it is far safer and more secure than if I actually just shoved it in.   Surprisingly it's still very comfortable, even more comfortable than some hybrids I've worn, again with significantly less bulk than your average IWB.

One of the biggest uses I think this system presents is for carrying off-body, especially for the ladies.  A lady I know used to carry a Glock in her purse.  Being a fashionable young lady, she wasn't really interested in buying a purse designed for carry, so she bought a cheap Uncle Mike's at the store, put the Glock in it, then put the whole conglomeration in her purse.  Couple of problems with that - draw time is dramatically increased and it takes up a whole lot more room.  The other option (or so she thought) would be to just place the gun in the purse bare.  I probably don't have to point out the issue with that, but I will; with a Glock (or some models of M&P, the other gun they make Vanguards for), the only thing between you and boom is the trigger safety.  Spend a little time on YouTube, and you'll see how well that works out for people.

The Vanguard answers that problem.  Simply place the Vanguard on your gun, run the lanyard (or a piece of leather, or a fashionable chain, whatever) through the grommet and a hard point on your purse, like where the straps mount, and you are ready to go.  Just make sure the lanyard is strong enough to take the pressure of your draw by dry firing at home.

There is one big disadvantage of the Vanguard - getting the gun in it.  Your gun has to be placed in the Vanguard before you put it in your waistline or your bag.  There is no re-holstering with this gun.  This could present an issue if you were to draw your firearm and then need to put it back for some reason.  A little bit of practice and problem solving ahead of time should easily mitigate that particular issue, but I do point it out for your consideration.

Overall, this is definitely a system you should consider if your needs call for a simple IWB or bag carry solution.  And at $35, it's a great solution at a great price.

Image copyright Raven Concealment

Train hard, train safe, do work.

-Woody

Raven Concealment

Galco Ankle Glove holster review

So far in my concealed carry experience, I have utilized three different ankle holster: a Fobus ankle holster for a Ruger LCP, an Uncle Mike's holster for a CZ-82, and now the Galco Ankle Glove for my Smith.  I'll tell you upfront, the Galco stands far above the other two in terms of security, comfort, and just plain staying where you put it. 
The construction of the Galco is a neoprene band backed with sheepskin.  The holster itself is leather, and has a thumb snap retention strap that goes behind the Smith.  Some models have the thumb strap and some don't, so make sure you know which is which before you order.  Between the thumb strap and molded fit of the holster, I have no worries about the gun coming loose.  The Fobus was probably the next most secure holster (no thumb strap, but with a tight molded Kydex fit), with the Uncle Mike's in last place (not molded, with a hook and loop thumb strap).  The Galco's wide neoprene band - which is as tall as the holster itself - is easily the most comfortable ankle holster of the three.  I've worn it for 12+ hours while walking around the mall and running errands and almost forgot I was wearing it thanks to the sheepskin panel.  The Fobus and Uncle Mike's had a nylon backer to the holster, with a 1.5-2" nylon strap to secure the holster around your ankle.  The wide strap also keeps the holster in place vertically due to its snug fit.  Technically, the Galco can be worn with or without a calf stap, but I haven't needed the calf strap yet.  The Fobus had no provision for a calf strap, and the Uncle Mike's still managed to fall even with the calf strap.

Despite the wide strap and the general larger width of the revolver versus a slim .380 or other semi-auto, the Ankle glove is not overly bulky under clothes.  As long as you remember you are wearing the holster and don't allow yourself to expose the holster through your pants riding up, no one should even notice that you're wearing it.

This kind of performance doesn't come cheap, though.  My price paid for the Ankle Glove was $75, versus $33 for the Uncle Mike's and $45 for the Fobus.  When it comes to security and comfort, and having your gun when you need it, however, the extra money is completely worth it.  I highly recommend the Ankle Glove for anyone who is considering ankle carry.