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Best Glock 19 Holster: 9 OWB, IWB and Duty Holsters Ranked

By Matúš Koleják, Braňo Hrivňák 22 min read
Best Glock 19 Holster: 9 OWB, IWB and Duty Holsters Ranked
In this guide

The short version

The best Glock 19 holster depends on how you carry, so pick the carry style first and the brand second. For outside-the-waistband carry under a jacket or untucked shirt, the Safariland Solis is the one we would buy: it locks the gun automatically, it is cut for a red dot and a compact light, and it already fits the Glock 19 Gen 6. If you want a paddle you can take off with the holster still on the gun, the 7378 or the 6378RDS fit the bill. For duty or the range, the 6390RDS is the holster other reviewers also name. For deep concealment inside the waistband, we do not sell the right product: buy a Vedder LightTuck ($69.99) or, with a weapon light, a PHLster Floodlight2 ($138). Whatever you choose, it has to be moulded for your exact Glock 19 generation, light and optic.

This ranking is for people who own a Glock 19, or a 19X or 45 on the same slide, and want to know which holster to buy for concealed carry, open carry, duty or the range. It compares nine holsters on carry style, retention, light and red dot fit, Gen 6 compatibility, price and warranty, and it says what is wrong with each one. We sell Safariland holsters, so we have an interest. Our five are listed first because this is our shop, not because we can prove they are the best, and we say clearly where the others beat them, which for inside-the-waistband carry is everywhere.

Not sure what "retention level" means? Our guide to holster retention levels explains it in five minutes. If you carry on a uniform belt, our best duty holster ranking goes deeper on Level III holsters.

How we chose and ranked these holsters

  • We started from the holsters that recent Glock 19 roundups name: Outdoor Life, The Firearm Blog (TFB) and Guns Ammo and Gear all pick a Safariland 6390 or 6360 for duty, and the Vedder LightTuck, PHLster and Tier 1 come up again and again for concealed carry.
  • Gun fits for our Safariland holsters come from Safariland's own Holster Finder, the fit database that safariland.com links to, checked on 21 October 2026. Competitor fits come from each maker's product page on the same day.
  • We have not lab-tested the competitor holsters. Where we quote a weakness, we name the review or the owner it comes from.
  • Prices are the makers' own US prices in October 2026. Our Safariland prices in euros include VAT.

The best Glock 19 holsters at a glance

Holster Carry Retention Light / red dot Gen 6 fit US price
1. Safariland Solis OWB belt or paddle ALS auto lock Compact lights (TLR-7) and most red dots Yes $97 to $102
2. Safariland 7378 7TS OWB paddle or belt loop ALS auto lock Light version in 7378RDS No $97 to $119
3. Safariland 6378RDS OWB paddle or belt loop ALS auto lock Red dot, full-size lights Yes $157.75 to $232.50
4. Safariland 6390RDS Duty, mid-ride Level I (ALS) Red dot, all common lights Yes $204.50 to $264.25
5. Safariland 7360RDS Duty, mid-ride Level III (ALS + SLS) Red dot, light required No $237 to $259
6. Vedder LightTuck IWB Friction, adjustable Many lights, optic cut +$5 Yes $69.99
7. PHLster Floodlight2 IWB / appendix Friction, adjustable Fits by light (X300U or TLR-1) Not stated $138
8. Tier 1 Axis Elite Appendix with mag carrier Friction, adjustable Optic compatible Not stated $144.99
9. Bravo Concealment BCA OWB OWB belt Friction, adjustable Separate light versions Yes $39.99

What actually makes a Glock 19 holster good

A carry style that matches your day

Most Glock 19 searches are really one of four questions. Inside the waistband (IWB), and especially appendix carry, hides the gun best but is the least comfortable and the hardest to learn. Outside the waistband (OWB) is more comfortable and faster, but needs a jacket or long shirt to hide the grip. A paddle holster is an OWB holster you can put on and take off without threading the belt, which we cover in our paddle holster guide. A duty holster rides on a duty belt with a light on the gun and makes no attempt to hide it. No single holster does all four well, which is why owners end up with a "holster drawer".

Four empty black polymer holsters in a row: an OWB belt holster, an open-top paddle holster, an open-top Level I duty holster and a Level III duty holster with a hood
Illustration generated from our product photos. From left: OWB belt holster, paddle holster, Level I duty holster, Level III duty holster.

A fit for your exact generation, light and optic

A good holster is moulded for one gun shape. The Glock 19 has had five generations, an MOS version with an optic cut, a 19X and a 45 on the same slide, and since January 2026 a Gen 6. Add a weapon light and a red dot and the combinations multiply. Safariland's Holster Finder treats the Glock 19 Gen 3 to 4, Gen 5, MOS and Gen 6 as separate guns, and the list of holsters changes between them. The table in the Gen 6 section shows how much.

Retention you can trust when you move

Every holster here holds the gun, but in two different ways. Friction holsters (most Kydex IWB and OWB holsters) grip the trigger guard and are adjusted with a screw. Safariland's ALS holsters have a lock inside that catches the gun when you holster it and releases with a thumb movement on the draw. ALS is more secure when you run, fall or get grabbed. The trade-off is that you must learn the release, and on a deep concealment holster that thumb movement is awkward, which is one reason active locks are mostly found on OWB holsters.

A trigger guard that is fully covered

Whatever you buy, the shell has to cover the trigger guard completely and keep its shape so you can holster one-handed. Soft holsters that collapse and cheap "universal" holsters that fit several guns badly are the ones that cause negligent discharges on reholstering. If a holster lets you touch the trigger while the gun is in it, do not carry in it.

1. Safariland Solis ALS (the one we would buy for OWB carry)

Price: $97 to $102 on Safariland's product page in October 2026. In our shop it is €109 including VAT.
Carry: OWB, on a belt slide or a paddle, close to the hip. Safariland also lists cross-draw.
Retention: ALS, the automatic internal lock. Safariland's Gen 6 guide recommends Solis "for Level I retention".
Shell: SafariSeven, a nylon blend that does not mark the finish, with an open muzzle end for threaded barrels and easy cleaning.
Light and optic: "compatible with most compact red dot sights and subcompact lights". For the Glock 19 the Finder lists it bare, with a red dot and with a TLR-7, but not with a TLR-1 or X300. It does not take the RMRcc.
Glock 19 fits: Gen 3 to 5, MOS, Gen 6, 19X and 45.

Best for: anyone who carries a Glock 19 OWB under a covering garment and wants a holster that locks the gun, including officers in plain clothes.

Pros

  • Locks the gun automatically with an audible click, and TFB's reviewer found the pistol does not wiggle once it is locked in.
  • One of very few Safariland holsters listed for the Glock 19 Gen 6, with a red dot and a TLR-7.
  • Belt slide or paddle, so one holster covers daily carry and a quick range trip.
  • Costs about the same as many good Kydex OWB holsters.

Cons

  • OWB only. TFB's review sees it as a bridge between duty and deep concealment, and it hides only under a covering garment.
  • No full-size light: with a TLR-1 or X300 you need the 6378RDS or 6390RDS below.
  • TFB found some vertical play on the paddle even on a tight belt, and noted that dirt can get in at the open top and bottom (it blows out easily).
  • Single retention only, which is fine for concealed carry and not enough for uniformed patrol.

Our verdict: the best OWB choice for a Glock 19 with a compact light or none, and the safest pick if you have bought a Gen 6.

When you order, tell us the generation of your Glock 19, the light and the optic, because the holster is made for that exact combination.

2. Safariland 7378 7TS ALS paddle and belt loop combo

Price: $97 to $119 on Safariland's product page. In our shop it is €99 including VAT.
Carry: high-ride OWB, supplied with both a paddle and a belt loop.
Retention: the same ALS lock as the Solis, open top.
Shell: SafariSeven, which Safariland says "will not scratch or mar" the gun, with raised stand-offs inside.
Light and optic: the plain 7378 fits a bare Glock 19. For a light and a red dot you need the 7378RDS ($157.75 to $179.75), which for the Glock 19 is made in light-bearing versions only.
Glock 19 fits: Gen 3 to 5, 19X and 45. Not the MOS in the plain version, and no 7TS model is listed for the Gen 6.

Best for: owners of a Gen 3 to 5 Glock 19 who want the cheapest Safariland ALS holster and a paddle they can take off in seconds.

Pros

  • Safariland picked it in its own Glock 19 roundup as its OWB paddle or belt loop option.
  • The best-value ALS holster in this list, with two mounts in the box.
  • SafariSeven copes with heat, cold and rain better than laminate.

Cons

  • Does not fit the Glock 19 Gen 6 at the time of writing. Buy the Solis or the 6378RDS for a Gen 6.
  • A paddle sits further from the body than a belt slide and prints more under a shirt.
  • The red dot version only comes as a light-bearing holster for the Glock 19.

Our verdict: a good, inexpensive paddle holster for an older Glock 19. Check your generation before you buy.

3. Safariland 6378RDS ALS paddle, for a red dot and a full-size light

Man seen from behind, face not shown, with an open-top black paddle holster and a compact pistol on the right hip of a brown leather belt, an olive overshirt pulled back
Illustration generated from our product photos. An open-top paddle holster at about 4 o'clock, ready to be covered by the overshirt.

Price: $157.75 to $232.50 for Glock 19 fits in Safariland's Holster Finder, depending on the light. In our shop it is €168 including VAT. The plain 6378 without a red dot cut is €99.
Carry: OWB paddle, with a belt loop option.
Retention: ALS, open top.
Shell: STX hardshell: SafariLaminate outside, SafariSuede lining inside.
Light and optic: cut for a slide-mounted red dot, with fits for the TLR-1 and X300U.
Glock 19 fits: Gen 3 to 5, MOS, Gen 6, 19X and 45, and for the Gen 6 also with a TLR-1 or X300U.

Best for: a Glock 19 with a red dot and a full-size light, carried OWB or kept in a vehicle.

Pros

  • The only holster in our offer that the Finder lists for a Gen 6 with a full-size light.
  • Takes the light and the optic together, which the Solis cannot do with a TLR-1.
  • The suede lining protects the slide finish.

Cons

  • With a full-size light it is a big holster to hide.
  • Laminate is less weather-proof than SafariSeven.
  • Safariland "cannot guarantee" its RDS holsters with non-factory optic mounts, and names Glock MOS. With an aftermarket milled slide, check the fit first.
  • Conflict in Safariland's own data: its Gen 6 page says Gen 6 holsters are "non-light-bearing" for now and light options are "in progress", while the Finder already lists light fits. Ask us to confirm before you order a Gen 6 light version.

Our verdict: the paddle to buy for a fully kitted Glock 19.

4. Safariland 6390RDS ALS mid-ride, Level I (for duty and the range)

Price: $204.50 bare, $204.50 to $264.25 with a light, for Glock 19 fits in Safariland's Holster Finder. In our shop it is €205 including VAT in black, €259 in MultiCam.
Carry: mid-ride duty holster on a belt loop that takes Safariland's mounting systems.
Retention: Level I, ALS only.
Shell: STX hardshell.
Light and optic: red dot cut, and fits for the TLR-1, TLR-7 and X300U.
Glock 19 fits: the widest list here: Gen 3 to 5, MOS, Gen 6, 19X and 45, with every light we checked.
Reviews: 4.7 stars from 699 reviews on Safariland's page.

Best for: range days, competition, tactical teams and plain-clothes duty, where speed matters more than a second lock.

Pros

  • Named by both Outdoor Life ("Best For Duty or Range") and TFB, which picked the 6390 RDSO, for duty.
  • Fits every Glock 19 variant and light combination we checked, Gen 6 included.
  • Moves to a leg platform or a battle belt with the QLS quick locking system.

Cons

  • Outdoor Life's one-word con is fair: "Bulky". It is not a concealment holster.
  • Level I is not enough for uniformed patrol. For that, look at the Level III below.
  • The same non-factory optic caveat as all Safariland RDS holsters.

Our verdict: the most versatile Glock 19 holster in this list if you do not need to hide it.

5. Safariland 7360RDS ALS/SLS, Level III (for uniformed duty)

Price: $237 to $259 on Safariland's product page. In our shop it is €225 including VAT.
Carry: mid-ride duty holster.
Retention: Level III: the ALS lock plus the SLS hood that you rotate forward before the draw.
Shell: SafariSeven, which Safariland says keeps its integrity "even when submerged in water indefinitely".
Light and optic: red dot cut. For the Glock 19 it is made in light-bearing versions only, so the gun must carry a light.
Glock 19 fits: Gen 3 to 5, MOS, 19X and 45, each with a light. Not the Gen 6 at the time of writing.

Best for: officers and armed security staff who carry a Glock 19 with a light on a duty belt.

Pros

  • The highest retention in this list, and Duty Rated by Safariland on its own grab test.
  • The best shell material for patrol cars, rain and cold.

Cons

  • No Gen 6 fit yet. For a Gen 6 on duty, the 6390RDS is the option today, at Level I only.
  • Needs a weapon light on the gun.
  • Three movements to draw, and weeks of training before it is fast.

Our verdict: the right holster for a Glock 19 on a uniform, and the wrong one for anyone else. Our duty holster ranking compares it with Blade-Tech, MFT, Alien Gear and Blackhawk, and the 6360RDS is the same retention in laminate.

6. Vedder LightTuck (best IWB value, and we do not sell it)

Price: $69.99 on Vedder's product page, optic cut $5 extra.
Carry: IWB, with three ride heights and 30 degrees of cant.
Retention: friction, adjustable by screw.
Shell: 0.080 inch Kydex.
Light: a long list, including the TLR-1, TLR-7, TLR-8, X300U and Olight Baldr.
Glock 19 fits: Gen 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the same product.
Warranty: lifetime, plus a 30-day money-back period.

Best for: a first IWB holster for a Glock 19 with a light.

Pros: the lowest price for a light-bearing IWB holster in this list, a long light list, Gen 6 listed, and named "Best Everyday IWB" by Guns Ammo and Gear.

Cons: the same roundup notes that "retention/cant adjustments need tools" and that the "single-clip design doesn't suit every body type". No active lock.

Our verdict: if you carry inside the waistband, start here before you spend more.

7. PHLster Floodlight2 (light-bearing appendix carry)

Price: $138 on PHLster's product page.
Carry: IWB and appendix.
Retention: friction on the light, with screws for slide contact and light retention.
Fit: made around the light, not the gun. There are separate X300U and TLR-1 versions, and PHLster says they are "NOT interchangeable". It does not take the TLR-7 family. The Glock 19 and 19 MOS are confirmed with a supported light.
Warranty: lifetime against defects.

Best for: experienced appendix carriers who run a full-size light on a Glock 19.

Pros: one holster can fit several pistols that share the same light, red dot compatible, and highly adjustable.

Cons: we found only 13 reviews on the maker's page and no independent long-term test. A Glock 19 with a full-size light is a large package to hide. No Gen 6 statement from PHLster.

Our verdict: the specialist choice for light-bearing appendix carry, not a first holster.

8. Tier 1 Concealed Axis Elite (appendix with a spare magazine)

Price: $144.99 on Tier 1's product page, with 10 to 20 business days of lead time.
Carry: appendix IWB with an attached magazine carrier.
Retention: friction, with tool-free ride height and cant adjustment and a shock-cord body.
Optic: "optic and suppressor-height sight compatible".
Warranty: lifetime.

Best for: appendix carriers who want the gun and a spare magazine in one unit.

Pros: spreads the weight of gun and magazine, which many owners find more comfortable and more concealable than two separate items.

Cons: owner reviews on Tier 1's own page include "with my glocks they tend to crack after approximately 1 year of edc use" and "screws are already rusting like a month and a half in". Long lead time. No Gen 6 statement.

Our verdict: a well-loved design, but inspect the shell and screws regularly.

9. Bravo Concealment BCA OWB (the budget pick)

Price: $39.99 on Bravo's product page.
Carry: OWB belt holster, 10 degrees of cant.
Retention: friction, adjustable.
Fit: Glock 19 Gen 3 to 6, 19X, 45 and 19 MOS on one product. Separate light versions for the TLR-1 HL, TLR-7A and X300. Fits the RMR, ACRO and 507C, not the SRO or RMR HD.
Warranty: "unlimited lifetime warranty".

Best for: a cheap range or backup OWB holster.

Pros: a quarter of the price of most holsters here, a broad fit list and a strong warranty.

Cons: no active lock. A retailer notes that the light version "will not retain the pistol without the weapon light", and TFB found it does not take compensated barrels.

Our verdict: good value for the range. For daily carry we would rather have a lock.

Will my holster fit a Glock 19 Gen 6?

Glock announced the Gen 6 on 6 December 2025 and it reached shops on 20 January 2026. Its overall length, height and slide width are the same as the Gen 5 (185 mm, 128 mm and 25.5 mm), but the frame changed: a palm swell, a bigger beavertail, an undercut trigger guard, a flat-faced trigger and an optic-ready slide with plates that screw straight in. Glock's own page puts the overall width at 34.4 mm against 34 mm for the Gen 5.

Holster makers do not agree on what that means. Vedder and Bravo list the Gen 6 on the same product as the Gen 5. JM Custom Kydex treats it as a separate fit. Falco says earlier holsters "would not fit the Glock 19 Gen 6 properly". Safariland says it has "tested retention and certified Gen 6 fits" for its duty designs, but its Holster Finder still shows gaps. This is what it listed for our holsters on 21 October 2026:

Glock 19 setup Gen 3 to 5, 19X, 45 Gen 6
Bare gun Solis, 6378, 6378RDS, 6390RDS, 7378 Solis, 6378, 6378RDS, 6390RDS
Red dot only Solis, 6378RDS, 6390RDS Solis, 6378RDS, 6390RDS
TLR-7 Solis, 6390RDS, 7360RDS, 7378RDS Solis, 6390RDS
TLR-1 or X300U 6378RDS, 6390RDS, 7360RDS, 7378RDS 6378RDS, 6390RDS
Red dot and TLR-7 Solis, 6390RDS, 7360RDS, 7378RDS Solis, 6390RDS
Red dot and TLR-1 or X300U 6378RDS, 6390RDS, 7360RDS, 7378RDS 6378RDS, 6390RDS

The practical rule: never buy a "Glock 19" holster without checking the generation in the listing, and if you own a Gen 6, ask for written confirmation of the fit before you pay. That applies to us too.

Which Glock 19 holster for which job

You want Our pick Why
OWB concealed carry, any generation Safariland Solis Auto lock, red dot and TLR-7, Gen 6 fit
Paddle you can take on and off, Gen 3 to 5 Safariland 7378 Cheapest ALS holster, two mounts in the box
OWB with red dot and full-size light Safariland 6378RDS Takes TLR-1 or X300U plus an optic
Range, competition, plain-clothes duty Safariland 6390RDS Widest fit list, moves to QLS and leg platforms
Uniformed duty with a light Safariland 7360RDS Level III, SafariSeven (not for Gen 6 yet)
First IWB holster Vedder LightTuck $69.99, many lights, Gen 6 listed
Appendix with a full-size light PHLster Floodlight2 Built around the light
Appendix with a spare magazine Tier 1 Axis Elite Gun and magazine in one unit
Cheapest decent OWB Bravo BCA $39.99, lifetime warranty

Common Glock 19 holster mistakes

  • Buying for the gun, not the setup. Add a light or an optic later and most holsters stop fitting. Decide on the light and the dot first.
  • Assuming Gen 5 equals Gen 6. Some makers say yes, some say no. Check the listing.
  • A thin trouser belt. Any holster sags and prints on a soft belt. Use a stiff 1.5 inch gun belt for OWB and IWB, and a proper duty belt for duty holsters.
  • Reholstering with a finger near the trigger, or past clothing. Look the gun into the holster and clear the shirt tail first.
  • Never practising the release. With an ALS holster, the thumb release has to become automatic. Dry-practise the draw with an unloaded, checked gun before you carry.
  • Carrying a Level I holster on a uniform. If people can reach your gun, you want the retention covered in our retention levels guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best holster for a Glock 19?

For OWB carry we would choose the Safariland Solis, because it locks the gun automatically, takes a red dot and a compact light, and fits the Gen 6. For IWB carry, the Vedder LightTuck is the best value and the PHLster Floodlight2 is the specialist pick with a full-size light. For duty, the Safariland 6390RDS (Level I) or 7360RDS (Level III).

Do Glock 19 Gen 5 holsters fit the Gen 6?

Sometimes. The slide is the same length, but the frame, trigger guard and optic plates changed. Vedder and Bravo list both generations on one product, JM Custom Kydex and Falco treat the Gen 6 separately, and Safariland's fit list differs between them. Check the exact listing.

Will a Glock 17 holster fit a Glock 19?

Some open-bottom holsters will take both, because the Glock 17 and 19 share the slide width and differ mainly in length. Whether one retains the shorter gun properly depends on the holster, and with a light or an ALS lock it often does not. Safariland, for example, lists the two as separate fits. For a holster you carry daily, buy one made for the Glock 19.

Do Glock 19X and Glock 45 holsters fit a Glock 19?

The 19X and 45 share the Glock 19's slide length and width and only have a longer grip, so most makers, including Safariland, list them on the same holster. The longer grip does not matter to the holster.

What holster do I need for a Glock 19 with a light?

One moulded for that exact light. A TLR-7 and a TLR-1 need different holsters. In our offer, the Solis takes a TLR-7, and the 6378RDS, 6390RDS and 7360RDS take a TLR-1 or X300U.

Is IWB or OWB better for a Glock 19?

IWB hides the gun better, OWB is more comfortable and faster to draw. With a long shirt or a jacket, a close-riding OWB holster like the Solis is enough for many people. With a T-shirt only, IWB is the realistic option.

What retention level do I need for concealed carry?

Level I is normal for concealed carry, because the gun is hidden and rarely in reach of others. An active lock like ALS adds security when you run or fall. Level III is for open carry on a uniform.

Is a Kydex or a Safariland holster better?

Neither is better for everyone. Kydex holsters are cheaper, adjustable and come in more IWB shapes. Safariland's ALS holsters add a lock that holds the gun even if friction fails. We sell Safariland and still recommend Kydex for appendix carry.

A note on law and safety

Carry laws differ between countries and US states, and many places restrict or forbid carrying in public. Follow the law where you live. Practise drawing and reholstering with an unloaded, checked pistol and get instruction from a qualified trainer before you carry a new holster.

About the authors

This guide was written by Matúš Koleják and Braňo Hrivňák of Combat Defender in Bratislava, Slovakia. We sell Safariland, Blue Force Gear, HATCH and TCI equipment, including the Safariland holsters ranked here, and supply them to police, military and security customers in Europe. We do not sell the Vedder, PHLster, Tier 1 Concealed or Bravo Concealment holsters and are not paid by their makers.

Safariland fits come from Safariland's Holster Finder and product pages, competitor specifications and prices from each maker's product page, all checked on 21 October 2026. Glock dimensions come from Glock's own product pages. We have not lab-tested the competitor holsters. Weaknesses are quoted from the named reviews and owners. The illustrations were generated with an AI image model from our own product photos and checked by us; they are not photographs, and none shows a competitor's holster. The rankings and verdicts are our own judgement. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will correct it.

Last reviewed: October 2026.

Sources

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