Ah, the holster hunt. Does it ever end? It’s like finding the best needle in a stack of needles. Kydex, leather, injection molded plastic, carbon fiber, nylon. There’s something out there for everyone. This review will be taking a look at an efficient and comfortable combination of materials.
The Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 is one of many in an emerging trend of “hybrid” style holsters - known for combining more than one type of material to house your favorite handgun and achieving the best of separate worlds. The Cloak Tuck 2.0 combines this unique set of materials to maximize comfort and concealment for many different guns.
Construction
The Cloak Tuck 2.0 has a kydex shell housed on top of the soft platform of the system. This holster shell is interchangeable and can be swapped out to support different hand guns. The inner platform of the holster, which holds the kydex shell, has a surface layer made of an engineered thermal elastomer. It’s kind of a rubbery and tacky material that is flexible and durable. The back side of the platform is made out of neoprene. This aids comfort and helps minimize heat between the holster and the skin.
There are a myriad of mounting options for the Cloak Tuck 2.0 to your belt. Alien Gear offers all the popular clips you might need. Variations of steel clips, nylon clips, and leather loops are available for maximum customization. In addition to the style of attachment, there are three different mounting positions for each clip or loop to allow for adjustable ride height and cant.
Retention
Retention by the holster itself is good. The kydex fits the gun snug and securely. There is no audible or tactile “click” when the gun is seated in the holster, but the IWB design of this holster keeps the gun wedged between the user and the belt without any doubt of secureness.
Daily use
I wore this holster with different belts, and different types of pants at a 4 o'clock position (just behind my right hip). The comfort factor is remarkable. The combination of neoprene and engineered thermal elastomer make the holster hug the body in a very non-intrusive way. The neoprene provides a soft padding that protects against the uneven pressure caused by the corners and edges of a gun. While the clips are adjustable both in height and cant, it is worth mentioning that they never really stay in the same place twice once the holster is off. With the design of the clips having a rubber bushing under them, it is almost impossible to keep them from rotating when you take off or put on the holster. This isn't a big deal, because it aids in versatility, but be aware of it so you can take it into consideration as you put the holster on each time. In keeping with putting on and removing the holster, I found that the neoprene backing made this process a little tricky. I wear an undershirt or ribbed tank top under my outer garment. The main reason is to keep a cotton material between my skin and a holster. The neoprene on the Cloak Tuck has a tendency to stick to the undershirt and make it a bit hard to wedge it between my pants and the under garment. But there is a silver lining: this thing WILL NOT MOVE! Once it’s in place, the Cloak Tuck will not budge. I have tried to slide it a few millimeters one way or another once it has been put on and attached to the belt, and, the answer is no. The other portion of this silver lining is that the neoprene is so soft and nonabrasive that an undershirt is not really a must. It didn't seem to bother my bare skin at all. I just personally can’t get on board. I think it’s in my head.
Sitting, standing, kneeling, walking and running were all met with zero issue. The comfort is there.
Shooting
I setup the Cloak Tuck 2.0 to have a slightly forward cant (both belt clips on the center hole). Drawing is super easy, and on my Glock 43 it can be tricky to get a good purchase on the gun from IWB concealment considering its small stature. I am able to produce the gun every time with a good grip thanks to the Cloak Tuck.
Re-holstering can be a tad tricky. The sweat guard that runs behind the slide can collapse a bit when the gun is not in the holster. This will depend on varying body types however. If you have a few extra pounds pushing against the holster, it will make the collapse a bit more prominent. Not that this made the gun unable to be re holstered. It just takes a little finagling and muzzle awareness when going back to the holster. This can be done with one hand and doesn't take much effort.
Conclusion
All in all, I really like this holster. Its blend of materials and the thoughtfulness that went into its design have paid off. Usually comfort comes with a lack of durability. This is not the case with the Cloak Tuck 2.0. I see no reason why it wouldn't make a great daily holster that would last a really long time. The even better news is that Alien Gear Holsters has recently released the Cloak Tuck 3.0 – so check that out as well! For more information on Alien Gear holsters, check them out online at www.aliengearholsters.com.
Ian Webster | Corporal
Cpl. Ian Webster is a county police officer in Maryland. In his 15+ years of service, he has been active in training programs and equipment trials. He is a department firearms instructor, active shooter instructor, patrol shield operator and is assigned to a team tasked with targeted enforcement in the region's hot spots. Cpl. Webster is an avid shooter and is constantly on the hunt for gear that will make officers lives easier and their job performance more effective.
