Best SD40VE Holsters of 2022 – Comprehensive Guide

Choosing a holster for your handgun can be a daunting task, especially with the plethora of options available on the market. The SD40VE is a good but not very common handgun, so it is quite easy to get confused when choosing a holster.

Check out this detailed guide on the considerations for choosing a good holster, along with the best options available today. 

Comparison of the Best SD40VE Holsters

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Holster For Your S&W SD40VE 

Choosing a holster can end up to be an unproductive decision if you are not aware about the right things to look for. Here’s a quick peek inside a comprehensive list. 

Your Preferred Style

Before you choose a holster you must evaluate the style that suits you the best. There is a wide range of holster designs which include IWB (inside the waistband), OWB (outside the waistband), shoulder holster, ankle holster, chest holster, pocket holster, belly band holster, fanny pack holster, and thigh holster. Different designs serve their own specific purpose and situations, and some designs like IWB are used more often. 

After that, you must also make sure that the holster allows you to adjust your carry position around your waist (3 O’clock, 6 O’clock, etc.), or any other appropriate position. 

Material and Adjustability

Holsters can be found made from different materials, the most common of them being polymer (Kydex and boltaron), nylon, and leather. Each of these materials has their own pros/cons, and the level of comfort. For example, polymer holsters are shape-retaining and maintenance-free but may dig into your body and scratch the firearm. Whereas leather holsters are comfy and high quality, but also need maintenance and cost higher. Additionally, a holster that is adjustable for height, cant, and retention is also a big plus for making adjustments. 

Handgun Modifications

Holsters can be universal or firearm-specific, and either of these has its own pros and cons. If you have made any modifications to your handgun, like adding a laser, flashlight, rails, red dot, or high clearance sights, you must make sure that a holster will be ready for that. For example, just a slight difference in the height of iron sights can impede holstering or retention. 

Retention and Modularity

A holster can either have active retention (a locking mechanism) or passive retention (depends upon the elasticity of the material). Passive retention holsters are mostly preferred with holsters that are worn close to the body like IWB or shoulder holsters, and with holster materials like leather. The choice of retention depends upon the intended application and your personal preference. 

Modularity refers to the adaptability of a holster to different mounting platforms, which can be a big plus in some situations. 

Review of the Best SD40VE Holsters

We have scoured through hundreds of holster options for the SD40VE and have found these holsters to be the most appropriate for this handgun. Take a look and let us know what you think in the comments section.

Top Brands in the Holster Space

The holster’s market has thousands of options to pick from. There are reputed and old players that have been making holsters for decades, and some new players with their fancy and cheap holsters giving them stiff competition. 

The leading brands of holsters on the American market are Galco, Safariland, Gould and Goodrich, Blackhawk, Safariland, Aliengear, Comp-tac international, Fobus, Taurus, and Orpaz. Each of these brands has its own long line of holsters, along with their specialties in a certain type of design. 

Galco and Gould and Goodrich are known for making the best quality leather holsters, alongwith more expensive brands like Bianchi. The military currently uses Safariland holsters in large numbers, and the Blackhawk SERPA models are still quite popular among the Marines and Airmen even after some bad news about them. 

Going with the top holster brands means opting for the best quality materials, amazing customer service, and possibly a great warranty policy. Some leading brands offer you to use their holster for 30 days and accept unconditional returns if you don’t like them. Holsters from these popular brands may cost a bit more, but the extra spends are definitely worth it. 

Additionally, leading brands also offer a wide range of innovative features with different models. For example, Aliengear offers a shapeshift holster that can be used with a variety of different paddles. 

There are other less popular brands like CYA International, comfortTac, and relentless tactical which offer affordable (cheap) holsters, and believe me, these are insanely popular on sites like Amazon. For example, CYA International is the leading seller of IWB CCW holsters on Amazon, whereas ComfortTac rules in belly band holsters. Since these picks are cheap, you don’t regret when they break, plus they deliver significantly good performance. 

Price Points of SD40VE Holsters

With so many options for holsters on the market, you will also encounter several price ranges 

$17 – $50

Yes you read that right. You can find a holster for your SD40VE for as low as $17, and the holster will not be bad if you expect so. Like I told you in the previous section, there is a lot of influx of cheap items from overseas, and there can be lemons in this price range. Although, all the picks we have included in this review have undergone strenuous testing and show acceptable quality. However, you may have to compromise on advanced features and things like fit and comfort.

Conclusion 

The SD40VE is a good everyday carry and duty pistol that needs an appropriate holster for perfect performance. There is a wide range of styles to choose from that include IWB, OWB, Shoulder, and other holster designs. Each of them serves a different purpose and you should take factors like modularity, fit, comfort, material, adjustability, and retention, into consideration.