Editor’s Note: This EYV Hybrid holster review is based on testing of the holsters that were provided to the author by the company. All impressions regarding comfort, retention, concealment, and drawstroke are based on the author’s experiences of daily concealed carry and range time with the holster paired with a Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro.
As someone who carries a handgun concealed every day, I am always searching for safer, more comfortable ways to carry. Over time, I’ve found that hybrid holsters tend to increase overall comfort and, more importantly, encourage me to keep the pistol on my body for longer periods.
But what exactly is a hybrid holster?
A hybrid holster is constructed using two different materials: most often a Kydex outer shell combined with a leather backer. The leather backer is the portion of the holster that rests against your body, providing a softer interface than Kydex alone.
Some shooters are not fans of hybrid holsters, often claiming that they lack the retention of a traditional Kydex-only holster. Is that criticism valid? I wanted to find out for myself.
EYV Holsters — A Soft Touch
During my research, I discovered a holster manufacturer called EYV Holsters. They offer several lines of inside-the-waistband (IWB) and outside-the-waistband (OWB) holsters, including both Kydex-only and hybrid designs. I landed on the company’s Standard Hybrid Leather Double-Clip IWB Holster for my Hellcat Pro, and decided to give it a try.
What immediately caught my attention was EYV’s approach to innovation in the hybrid holster manufacturing process. EYV incorporates an optional layer of foam into the leather backer to enhance comfort and allow the holster to be worn for extended periods. Intrigued, I reached out to the team at EYV to learn more about their hybrid holster technology.
The folks at EYV explained that their soft foam backing technology is designed to make their holsters among the most comfortable on the market, while still maintaining durability and performance. According to them, the foam backing was developed after recognizing that Kydex-only holsters, while effective, can be uncomfortable for long-term carry.
That is a bold statement, especially coming from a company that manufactures both Kydex-only and hybrid holsters. Naturally, I asked them to elaborate.
EYV explained that the soft foam backing is an additional layer applied to the back of the leather or Kydex. This layer provides superior comfort while maintaining the easy draw and secure retention typically associated with Kydex-only holsters. They also mentioned that customer adoption of the foam-backed design continues to grow and has become a popular upgrade for their custom-made holsters.
At that point, they had me. Comfortable, secure, and custom-made? I was in.
A Plethora of Choices
I ordered a couple of holsters for the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro, specifically choosing the hybrid IWB holster with the foam backing. I initially assumed the ordering process would be straightforward. Then I discovered all the options.
I expected the usual choices: left- or right-hand carry, and maybe one or two color options. That was not the case with EYV. In addition to left- or right-hand configurations, EYV offers two Kydex styles: black and carbon fiber. Then comes the really fun part.
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EYV offers twelve “accessory color” options: black, blue, red, white, silver, light green, dark green, orange, bone teal, pink, purple, and yellow. But, what are accessory colors?
Accessory colors apply to the foam backer and the various accents throughout the holster, including the logo, the claw, and the hardware surrounding each screw on the front of the holster. I have to admit, it looks very cool.
From a construction standpoint, EYV uses 0.080-inch Kydex, a genuine 3mm leather backer, and an optional 2mm colored soft foam comfort layer. Hardware consists of steel screws and posts, a claw kit to help prevent printing, and two extremely durable metal tuckable clips.
I ultimately ordered two holsters — one in black Kydex and one in carbon fiber Kydex — both with silver accessory colors.
To be honest, I was curious about two things: retention and how the “tuckable” steel clips would work. I typically do not tuck my shirt in, but the folks at EYV assured me that tucking is optional, not mandatory.
Fitting It Out
It didn’t take long for the two custom holsters to arrive, and I was immediately impressed. They looked great. Choosing which one to use first was harder than I expected. For the purposes of testing, it didn’t really matter. The holsters were identical in design, differing only in the Kydex material.
I noted that the dual clips were spaced more closely together on my holsters than they were on the ones in the photos on the company’s website. A quick call to them clarified for me that the ones on the site show weaponlight models with wider-spaced belt clips, whereas my non-weaponlight holsters had the narrower positioning of the clips.
My first step was setting up the holster for my EDC test. The EYV holster uses five screws in total. Two screws secure the claw and control tension, while the remaining three screws are dedicated solely to retention adjustment.
I expected to spend some time dialing in the tension to achieve safe and consistent retention for my Hellcat Pro. Surprisingly, I didn’t have to adjust anything. Out of the box, the retention felt perfect — for me. Still, there was one test I wanted to perform before committing to daily carry.
I conducted a retention test the hard way. With an empty/unloaded Hellcat Pro holstered, I inverted the holster and shook it as aggressively as I could. The pistol didn’t move. At that point, I knew I was ready to proceed.
The claw was another feature I paid close attention to. Some holster manufacturers use oversized claw inserts that aggressively push the grip of the pistol into the body. While effective at reducing printing, these oversized inserts can become uncomfortable during extended wear.
That was not the case with the EYV holster. The claw insert is relatively thin and, at least for me, struck the perfect balance between comfort and concealment.
The only aspect that initially confused me was the “tuckable” metal clips. I was not familiar with this system at first. I quickly learned that the clips attach to the trousers rather than the belt itself. Once I figured that out, everything made sense — though I did feel a little silly.
With that sorted out, it was time to carry.
Real-World Use
I prefer to carry my IWB holsters in the true appendix position, directly over the anatomical appendix. Being right-handed, I positioned the clips just to the right of the first belt loop on my jeans. This placement provided optimal comfort and an efficient drawstroke for me.
Since I don’t tuck my shirt, the tuckable feature of the clips didn’t come into play during this test.
Once the holster was properly positioned, I started the clock. I carried the EYV IWB holster for two weeks, everywhere it was legal to do so. In Arizona, that leaves a lot of room for testing.
After two weeks of daily carry, I was very pleased with the results. The foam backer adds an extra layer of comfort and protection that is immediately noticeable. My testing took place during the fall and early winter months in Arizona. For those unfamiliar, mornings can be cool, but by mid-morning temperatures often reach the mid-70s.
I would be interested in repeating this test during the summer, when temperatures routinely reach 115 degrees for weeks at a time. I want to see how the foam backing performs under extreme heat. That said, I’m confident it would hold up just as well.
The second phase of testing took place at the range. As always, I prefer indoor ranges for this type of evaluation. I appreciate the privacy, and my friends at C2 Tactical in Scottsdale provide me access to a full bay.
I set up a Gunsite Academy target at seven yards and ran several drills from concealment, including single shots, controlled pairs and failure drills. The holster performed exactly as expected.
I was initially concerned that proper retention tension might negatively affect my draw speed or smoothness. That concern proved unfounded. Presentations from concealment were smooth and consistent, and retention remained secure throughout.
This was my first serious experience with a hybrid holster, and I never expected to like one as much as I did. EYV Holsters gave me a fresh perspective on this style of carry.
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