The Glock 17 is one of the most popular and reliable service pistols available today. Aside from having a full-sized grip that’s easy to control, it’s also one of the few gun models around where ammo is of little concern as it’s readily available. It’s no surprise then, that the Glock 17 is commonly used by the military service, police force, and us of course, private individuals who wish to carry firearms for security and safety for ourselves and our loved ones.

There’s no denying that the Glock 17 is a little bulky compared to other Glock models. Thus, carrying it requires a lightweight holster that curves with your body to make it comfortable to carry. If you’re looking for a new holster for your Glock 17, then you came to the right place. With so many options available,  we understand how daunting your search can be. In this post we’ll be reviewing the best Glock 17 holsters to make the search easier for you.

Before diving into our reviews, it’s important to ask yourself a few simple question, that can help us determine the right holster. Something that is especially important than usual when it comes to the Glock-17.

How Will You Carry Your Holster?

How you’re planning to carry your G17 depends on several factors, like the level of comfort, your intentions for carrying, and your attire. You must assess these factors first before buying your holster – otherwise, you’ll end up spending your money on an item that won’t work well with your situation. For example, if you don’t like having to wear a belt, then you might prefer shoulder holsters or leg holsters. On the other hand, if you plan on concealed carrying, you might consider inside the waistband holsters or shoulder holsters. Again, it all depends on how you plan to carry your gun, so make sure to assess your situation first.

Shooting Style and Draw Speed

Whether you’re in a shooting range, or in a real life situation where you have to use your G17 for protection (god forbid), you need a holster that suits the shooting style you’re accustomed to. How you shoot determines where the holster should be mounted to allow you easy access to your gun. Some holsters are specifically made for right hand or left-hand shooting, while some have ambidextrous designs for users who are comfortable with shooting with both hands. Make sure to check the location of the clips first before making a purchase.

You also have to consider the draw speed that your holster affords you. Holsters that give you the best draw speed have excellently molded material that does not block the way for your gun when you draw it out. You should also bear in mind that some holsters might have retention straps and locking mechanisms to keep your Glock securely in place. However, these features require you to perform an additional step to release your gun. Thus, if you want a holster with these features, make sure that it also offers a quick-release feature.

Concealment

And finally, another factor you have to consider is whether you plan to conceal your G17. Some of the more common holsters that offer great concealment are the inside the waistband (IWB) and outside the waistband (OWB) carry positions. From its name, IWB carry position allows you to keep the holster inside the belt, so tucking the shirt over it completely conceals the Glock. On the other hand, OWB carries position clips the holster outside the belt, and you can simply cover it with your untucked shirt. Overall, the carry position depends greatly on your preference.

As a final tip before discussing our top picks, here are some of the qualities that make a great Glock 17 holster.

Durable Material

First of all, it has to be made of durable material. Although leather is considered a classic material for holsters and admittedly some of our personal favorites are leather based, it’s not the most affordable and most sustainable. A better alternative is polymer or Kydex material. The polymer is known for being easy to mold, while still retaining its durability and strength. This makes it resistant against abrasion and other combat-related wear-and-tear. Kydex, on the other hand, is a type of polymer that's both sturdy and lightweight.

Lightweight and Comfortable

Since a Glock 17 is already bulky in its own right, you would need a lightweight holster to make carrying more comfortable for you. You should also look into holsters that curve with your body so you don't feel the gun poking against you.

Draw Speed

And finally, a great Glock 17 holster must afford you rapid draw speeds. Bear in mind that you will most likely use your gun for emergencies, and having a holster that's hard to draw defeats the purpose of carrying a gun.

The first on our list is the Orpaz Glock Level 2 Paddle With Magazine Holster. This holster is known for being sturdy and incredibly versatile. This Glock 17 holster is made with durable nylon 6 polymer material, making it both elastic and resistant to abrasions and other chemicals. This has also been combat-tested, so you know you’re getting something that’s meant to withstand extreme conditions. This holster is custom-molded and features a tension adjustment screw to make sure that you can carry your Glock 17 in a manner that’s most comfortable for you.

While we’re on the subject of comfortable carrying, you would be pleased to know that this holster comes in a 2-piece design that makes it incredibly versatile to carry. This design allows you to rotate your holster to a full 360-degree rotation, making it convenient for cross-draw, bodyguard, driver, small-of-the-back, and strong-side carrying.

The Orpaz Glock Level 2 Holster is easily adjustable yet its 2-screw system firmly locks it in place once you have already found the desired positioning for your holster. It also fits belts ranging from 1.5 to 2 inches wide.  This holster is best suited for the Glock 17 and Glock 19 models but is also compatible with a variety of other Glock models.

If you love minimalist designs for your holster, then I highly recommend the Concealment Express OWB Paddle Kydex Holster. This holster from Concealment Express has a simple outside the waistband design that makes it comfortable for you to carry. This also makes it very easy to conceal – just drape your untucked shirt over it, and people will hardly notice that you’re carrying a gun.

The material used for this holster is 0.8-inch thick Kydex, making it durable yet very lightweight. Its patterned exterior also helps it blend well with your pants, so you know it’s doing a great job at concealing your Glock 17.

This adjustable holster comes with black oxide steel hardware with threadlock. This allows you to easily make adjustments without worrying about missing screws. It can also fit belts up to 2 inches wide.

One of the features I love about this holster is its Posi-Click Retention. This feature notifies you when your gun is securely holstered, thanks toa simple clicking sound. And although the Concealment Express OWB Paddle Kydex Holster is designed for hip carry, you can adjust its carry angle within a range of -5 to 20 degrees, allowing you to customize it for appendix, cross draw, or behind the hip carrying.

One of the most versatile holsters on this list is the Total Eclipse Holster from Blade-Tech Industries. This holster is made from precision-molded material made from a variety of polymers. This promises both durability and comfort, regardless of how you want to carry your gun. But what’s most notable about this holster is that it allows you to carry your gun either inside the waistband or outside the waistband. This is made possible thanks to a conversion kit that allows you to swap between IWB and OWB with ease.

It also boasts an ambidextrous design, allowing you to swap the hardware to different sides. This makes it convenient for either right-handed or left-handed shooters.

Other notable features are its adjustable retention screws, dual sweat guards, and quick-draw speed cut. All these features make the holster very convenient for shooters on active duty or those who simply carry guns for self-defense.

Another notable holster for Glock 17 is the Fobus Conceal Paddle Holster. This holster is made from a molded injected polymer material, so you’re assured that it is sturdy and will securely hold your G17 in place. This is combined with its rubberized paddle that offers stability for your gun.

Its low-profile design provides perfect passive retention with rapid deployment. It is also combat- tested, so you’re assured that it can perform well in all situations. Also worth noting is that it is not as bulky as other holsters, making it easy to conceal despite its outside the waistband carrying design.

Completing our top five list of the best Glock 17 holsters of 2020 is the Concealment Express Tuckable IWB Kydex Holster. It’s perhaps most known for it’s ability to allow comfortably carrying the G17 even if it’s tucked inside the waistband.

Quality and reliability is also something you can ease your mind about, as this hand-molded holster is made of Kydex material that’s known for its strength and durability. Even with its IWB design, this holster has an undercut trigger guard that keeps the gun from interfering with the material. This makes it easier to draw your gun, which comes in handy when you have to do so in emergencies.

While we’re on the subject of concealed carrying, this holster also has a fiber-reinforced stealth belt clip that makes it hard to guess what you’re carrying. The Concealment Express Tuckable IWB Kydex Holster also has an adjustable carry angle. You can choose to adjust the Cant within -30 to 30 degrees, allowing you to carry it comfortably in an appendix, behind-the-hip, cross draw, or strong side carrying positions. It also has adjustable ride height and Posi-Click retention to promise better comfort for you.