Safariland IncogX IWB Holster Review

Safariland’s IncogX brings Cordura comfort, Boltaron stiffness, and a positive dual lockup that makes daily carry feel easy while keeping draws clean and fast.

IncogX Origins: Safariland x Haley Strategic Built For Real Carry

Safariland built its reputation by providing durable retention holsters to meet the needs of security, law enforcement, and military personnel. That strategy is great to generate brand consciousness, but did little for pushing the envelope as the growing concealed carry market went underserved. When Safariland finally developed a concealed carry holster, it proved to be its biggest success yet. The holster I am talking about is the Safariland IncogX. Here is what you need to know:

Design That Works: Cordura Comfort, Boltaron Backbone

The Safariland IncogX is the culmination of a partnership between Safariland and Haley Strategic Partners to meld Safariland’s proprietary processes with the needs of the concealed carry market. The IncogX debuted in 2023. Initially, the IncogX was Glock-centric, but now includes fits ranging from FN, PSA, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Staccato, and Wilson Combat, among others. The lineup now includes left-handed and right-handed draw and options for pistols with weapon lights. The IncogX is also cut for micro and macro-sized optics, should your pistol come equipped with one.

The IncogX is an inside-the-waistband holster constructed of a Boltaron body wrapped in Cordura. To break that down into plain English, Boltaron is a heat-resistant polymer commonly used in the aerospace industry. Fluctuations in temperature, particularly heat, are the enemy of plastics over the long term, as the plasticizers leach out of the base material, and cracking occurs. The Cordura sheath comes in different colors for style purposes. Tactically, Cordura reduces the heat signature of what is cloaked around. Safariland’s OWB holsters often come treated with Cordura to help hide a holstered handgun from NVG devices. That does not really matter for an IWB holster, but Cordura does help from a comfort standpoint instead of having bare polymer against skin.

Retention is afforded by an ejection port and trigger guard lockup, and the holster ships with 1/8 inch, 1/4 inch, and 3/8 inch strut shims to adjust the cant of the holster’s polymer belt loops for customized ease of concealment. The IncogX can be had alone or with an optional magazine caddy that bolts to the front of the holster. MSRP of the Safariland IncogX is $100.50.

Carry Report: Easy Draws, Clean Reholsters, Real Concealment

I rarely dabble with polymer frame pistols, but when I do, a good modern holster has to go in place of my usual gun leather. When I got a Glock 48 MOS, I got a matching Safariland IncogX to complement it. This one came with a Multicam Cordura scheme, but is otherwise standard. Although I experimented with the provided shims, I ultimately devolved to wearing the holster straight as it came out of the holster with no cant at all. This makes for an equally easy draw, whether it is from 4 o’clock behind the right hip to 1 o’clock in an appendix position.

The Cordura sheathing did a great job at stopping any chafing or discomfort when the holster was worn without an undershirt. With the addition of an undershirt, the holster disappears from the senses, even with a pound and a half of pistol within. The inclusion of cant shims would be a welcome addition for concealing double-stack pistols, but this single-stack handgun hides without modifications and in regular dress.

Although it is a more minimalistic holster compared to other options, the process of drawing and reholstering is easy. The mortise offers plenty of room for a clean reholstering, provided that you mind any clothing. The trigger guard and ejection port lockup is adjustable, positive, and audible. While I would prefer a set of stamped steel belt hooks, the stock polymer hooks drop anchor on the waistline and keep the holster from coming out. In their orientation, the pistol has a mid-ride that gives room for the fingers of the firing grip to get a purchase on the grip during the draw stroke. A lower ride would aid in concealability, but that would make it awkward to draw a semi-auto pistol.

If It Fits, It Ships: Compatibility That Covers the Hits

The Safariland IncogX is a solid, secure IWB holster that doubles well as a hip and appendix holster. It is available for the most popular duty and compact semi-auto handguns and carries them in comfort. While I look forward to the currently nonexistent low ride version for revolvers, for those of us in the 21st century, the IncogX gets a thumbs up for everyday carry.

Safariland IncogX Specifications For Concealed Carry

Pros And Cons: What Stands Out On The Belt

• Pros: Comfortable Cordura lining, secure dual lockup, mid-ride allows a full firing grip, adjustable cant with included shims.
• Cons: Polymer belt loops with no steel options at this writing.