New Safariland Holsters with Upgraded Light-Bearing Models

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Today more shooters mount weapon lights on their concealed carry and duty pistols than ever before, and that’s a good thing, as criminals often use low light conditions to stack the odds in their favor during an attack. Weapon lights allow you to get a clear view of your target while potentionally blinding an assailant. The only problem is there are few light-bearing holsters, and almost none of them are designed for concealed carry. Safariland (safariland.com) offers the most robust lineup of light bearing holsters available today—including duty rigs and also more compact designs suitable for concealed carry. For this column I tested three different Safariland outside-the-waistband, light-bearing holsters: the Solis (level I retention), the 6287 (level II retention) and the 6360RDS (level III retention). The goal of the exercise was to test not only the comfort and functionality of the holster but also to examine the effectiveness of each retention system and to compare draw speeds.

Safariland Solis

The Solis is Safariland’s newest holster, and it blends the benefits of an open-top holster with the security of level I retention. The Automatic Locking System or ALS system allows for a rapid release of the pistol with just the press of a tab. The design is intuitive because the thumb naturally contacts the release while drawing the gun. So it’s not surprising that the Solis has the fastest firing time of the test. The average time required to draw and fire a single round on target from an open-top, non-retention holster I used as a control was 1.2 seconds. The Solis registered an average of 1.3 seconds, so it’s plenty fast. It is also by far the lightest and smallest holster. Weighing just 5.4 ounces, the Solis is light enough for daily carry. The holster shell is just 1.5 inches wide and 5.25 inches long, which means that it could be worn concealed under a light jacket or heavy shirt. The open muzzle allows debris and water to flow out of the holster, and this holster accepted a reflex sight without issue. The G43x test pistol wore suppressor-height sights from XS, and they barely fit in the sight channel. Inserting the pistol/laser combo sometimes required some maneuvering, but overall the holster performed very well. The SafariSeven nylon construction is non-marring and reduces friction for a smooth, easy draw stroke. The holster body itself is durable and comes with robust hardware, making this a great holster option for duty or even concealed carry.\

Safariland 6287 Holster

The 6287 comes with Safariland’s SLS locking hood system and meets Safariland’s level II retention standards. To release the firearm, press down on the tab on the side of the hood and rotate the hood forward. The process can be completed in a single motion, so retrieving the firearm is quick. On average I could draw and fire the pistol in 1.5 seconds, but on two of the five test runs I was actually as fast or faster than the ALS system. Part of the reason is that months prior to the holster evaluation I completed Gunsite’s carbine course, which requires participants to carry a sidearm—a Shadow Systems DR920 9mm pistol with a Streamlight TLR-2 light in the 6287. I can also assure you that the mechanical operation of the holster is not impacted by dust or contact. I crawled through the desert, bumped into barriers and generally exposed the holster to lots of abuse without issue. The 6287 comes with a soft suede interior lining to protect the firearm and a SafariLaminate exterior. Unlike the SafariSeven nylon blend used for Solis holsters, SafariLaminate is a thermoplastic shell that is thermoformed around the gun for a close, tight fit. This rugged material is well-suited for duty rigs and can last for years of hard use. The shell maintains its shape even when it is exposed to high heat, and it is also fairly light. The 6287 tested weighs 11.3 ounces, which is more than most dedicated carry holsters but significantly less than competing duty holsters with similar retention levels. I prefer the look of SafariLaminate to SafariSeven, but I believe both will stand up to a lifetime of use. The 6287 is great for anyone who wants the added security of a level II holster but wants a light-bearing carry rig that allows you to quickly access the firearm. Although most law enforcement agencies use level III holsters, the 6287 still secures the firearm effectively. On the downside, the model tested does not accept pistols with optics.

Safariland 6360RDS Holster

The Safariland 6360RDS is a dedicated duty holster that uses both the ALS and SLS retention systems and incorporates Safariland’s RDS optics hood. It’s not designed for recreational or competitive shooters but rather law enforcement and military professionals for whom the threat of hand-to-hand combat demands a holster that keeps the gun secured while still providing rapid access to the gun. After practicing with the system I became fairly fast, but fumbling with the hood release cost me time, and it was the only holster that required more than two seconds to draw and shoot. I don’t blame that on the holster but the shooter, and if I had the same time and experience with the 6360RDS that I had with the 6287, I believe I could have produced equally fast splits with both holsters. The 6360RDS provides lots of security measures to prevent an assailant from drawing the firearm. And while there’s a lot happening during the draw—the hand must evade the top shield, rotate the pistol and RDS optics hoods forward, and then release the ALS lever to draw—it’s a rather intuitive design. The shooter’s hand sweeps from the rear of the gun to avoid the shield, and then the SLS hood tab must be pressed down and the dual hoods rotated forward. With practice this can be done in one smooth motion. The ALS lever is in a natural position to be released by the shooting hand thumb as it contacts the holster.

The 6360 RDS’s exterior is made from thermoformed SafariLaminate shell, available in a variety of colors, and the interior is lined with suede for a smooth draw and no damage to the gun. The RDS hood is a must-have feature on a duty holster with a red dot mounted because precipitation can negatively impact the sight picture. The hood’s design eliminates that risk. I also like how difficult it is to remove the gun from the holster unless you are wearing it and are familiar with the system. Retention holsters save the lives of officers, and if I were on the streets chasing criminals each day I would want a duty holster with these features. Not surprisingly, the 6360RDS is the heaviest holster on the list at 13.5 ounces, but that’s only about two ounces more than the level II 6287. Whether you’re carrying on duty or for personal defense, having a light on your weapon can change the outcome of a violent encounter. No holster maker offers so many options in light-bearing holsters, and no other company provides holsters for such a wide range of carry applications. Safariland does light-bearing holsters better than anyone, and its user-friendly rigs are built to last.

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