Carrying your handgun every day sounds like a great plan when you’re a new gun owner. But once you get going you realize it isn’t as easy as you expected to find the right holster and belt to make carry comfortable and effective. If you’re carrying your handgun concealed odds are good you need an IWB – Inside the WaistBand – holster, but which one should you use? The answer depends on your circumstances and body shape but there is a specific IWB holster out there that’s done a solid job for a lot of concealed carriers: the CrossBreed SuperTuck.
Background
CrossBreed Holsters was founded back in 2005 by the late Mark Craighead. It was the accumulation of the traditional box of holsters most gun owners have that convinced Mark to design his own and now, 15 years later, CrossBreed’s name is one of the biggest in the holster world. The company is known for its hybrid holsters – leather backers with Kydex holsters – but they do have some other offerings as well. Their holsters are comfortable and available in a wide array of styles. The SuperTuck has been around for some time now but remains one of the manufacturer’s more popular items.
Details
The CrossBreed SuperTuck is an IWB – Inside the WaistBand – hybrid holster. This design was created and patented by CrossBreed so there flat-out isn’t another one like it. It’s made with a premium leather backing and molded Kydex holster made to fit your specific model of handgun. True to its name the SuperTuck can be worn with your shirt tucked in or untucked. This holster is made for 3:30 to 5-o’clock carry when worn on your right-hand side or 7 to 8:30 o’clock on the left. That means it places your gun behind your hip rather than over or ahead of it.
A few quick material details. The steel belt clips are rugged and have a SnapLok powder coating. They’re modular, meaning they can be fully adjusted for cant and ride height, and they clip securely to your gun belt (because you are using a good gun belt, right). The leather backing is offered as Standard Black or Founder Series and the Kydex holster is available in Standard Black, FDE, Sniper Grey, OD Green, and Tiffany Blue. It’s also made in a standard cut or combat cut. This holster has an overall size of 8.5 inches by 1.5 inches by 8 inches and an empty weight of 0.85 pounds.
Yes, you get the company’s “Two Week, Try It Free Guarantee” with this holster (it has a lifetime warranty, too). You’re given two weeks to try the SuperTuck and if you end up dissatisfied for some reason all you have to do is contact CrossBreed and return it to get the price of the holster refunded.
But Does It Work?
In the past year, I’ve used the CrossBreed SuperTuck for a handful of different guns but it seems to work best for me with my Glock 48. Matching this holster with a CrossBreed Nylon Cobra Belt is a match made in gun heaven. Thanks to the Glock 48 being a SlimLine 9mm it already has a sleek profile but with the SuperTuck it sits closely and securely to my body so well I can conceal it wearing just about anything (even skinny jeans and tank tops).
During the summer of 2019, I moved across the country with my daughter and our zoo of animals and you can bet there was no way I wasn’t going to carry. Carrying on a cross-country move does require you be familiar with the laws in every state you pass through, so remember that if you intend to do it yourself. With the multiple carry permits I have and the states I went through there was no issues legally and with the SuperTuck there was no issue for comfort. I admit I normally carry AIWB – Appendix Inside the WaistBand – but for this kind of long trip, I decided to switch it up. It turned out to be a fantastic idea because this method was comfortable and discreet. Since then I’ve continued to break out my SuperTuck on a regular basis. It’s easy to secure to my belt, fits the contours of my hip and lower back well, and I can be confident my gun isn’t going anywhere.
When it comes to drawing from behind your strong-side hip, from concealment, you do need to be aware it’s a bit slower than AIWB. Practice can certainly speed things up but when it comes right down to it that placement for carry is always going to be at least a hair slower. There’s also the fact that drawing a gun from behind your hip requires some adjustments to posture and significant caution to be sure you do not sweep anyone with the muzzle of your gun as you draw and get on target.
Overall this is a good option for IWB carry.
The Downside
There are some cons to carrying a hybrid holster and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention them. With use and body heat the leather backing in hybrid holsters creases and folds over. That could mean the edge gets caught in your trigger guard as you holster, it could mean your gun is no longer held firmly against your body, or it could drive the muzzle of the gun down into your hip or thigh. It depends. As for the Kydex holster face, there are failure points where it may crack and break away from the leather backing. Those things can happen as the result of stress put directly on the holster or it could happen over time. No matter what holster you use, check it regularly for signs of excessive wear. Hybrids are comfortable but do require you keep a close eye on them.
Bottom Line
As long as you’re familiar with the pitfalls of hybrids, go for it. The SuperTuck does allow fantastic concealment and yes, you can drive across the country feeling better than you might with an all-Kydex design. Would I suggest having premium leather or Kydex holsters in your gun wardrobe? Absolutely. That doesn’t mean you can’t use some well-made hybrid holsters, too. Just be mindful of the pros and cons. Oh, and please practice your draw. Far too many gun owners fail to train with their carry holsters. Guess what, you don’t magically acquire the skills needed for a rapid draw stroke and target acquisition at the moment you need it most. It takes practice. So find a quality, safe holster that fits your needs and get to training with it. You’ll be glad you did.
Yep, like most that ALWAYS carry, I have a box full of holsters. Some hits and some misses. Bottom line for me personally ? I (almost) always find myself carrying an all-leather holster, whether IWB or OWB. The ones I carry tend to be high-end, “formed” (model specific) and expensive, but they also last forever and they are extremely comfortable. And yes, it’s fastened to me by way of a sturdy, high-quality (gun) belt.
Purchased my Super Tuck when they first came on line for sale. Best holster I have & use it for all concealed carry. All day wear!
Awesome holster even better people
Very comfortable holster but it’s squeaky!!! Every time I take a step It squeaks Terribly!!!
Rub some gulf wax or candle wax on your belt where loops slide
Looks exactly like my Alien Gear holster, only it’s twice the price of mine.
Very, very comfortable easy to wear all day and forget you have it on. Love my AG holster.
Best holster I’ve got for daily carry, and like many others, I have a box full of holsters. The Kydex portion of my Super Tuck cracked after approximately 5 years of daily carry. Sent it back and CrossBreed replaced the Kydex portion free of charge. New gun? I order a SuperTuck as part of the deal for any gun I buy that may fit into the carry rotation. I order the horsehide versions. Best daily carry holster on the market in my opinion.
Great comfortable holster 2 years horse hide no issues
Kind of difficult to look at the holster with such a fine caboose taking up that picture. Wow, just wow
The comment made by the author about the leather flexing and creasing over is absolutely irrelevant.
1) Crossbreed offers a lifetime warranty. If the leather even gets a little mis-shapen, send it back. They will replace it.
2) I have been carrying for 8 years with a HORSEHIDE supertuck. Horse hide is stiffer, denser, and more resistant to wear. My holster has not even begun to show any significant wear.
I used this holster at a 3 day class at the Sig Academy. I had close to 1000 draws out of that holster over those days. Its still in great shape.