Review: Blade-Tech Klipt IWB Holster

By David Higginbotham

With so many new guns being sold and new gun owners getting into EDC over the past year or so, many of the companies I’ve relied on for holsters for gun reviews over the last decade have waiting lists or have been backordered. In cases like this where you have a gun and need a holster, a solid off-the-shelf option is your best choice.

The evolution of the Blade-Tech brand for the 25-year-old-company is interesting, having begun as a small custom shop and then scaling up to offer off-the-shelf options for a wide range of customers.

My Hellcat Option

I decided to try out the Blade-Tech Klipt inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster for my Hellcat 9mm. The material is listed as being a “high-strength, heat-resistant polymer.” It won’t abrade the finish. It is easy to keep clean.

I wore this through the summer, and even when I’d gotten it sweaty, I simply ran it under the faucet and let it dry. The fit is exacting. The Hellcat snaps into place with a distinct click that lets you know the gun’s home. The Positive Lock Trigger Guard covers the whole trigger guard and there’s no practical way to get to the trigger while the gun is holstered.

Even though there’s no active retention, the Klipt holds the Hellcat well. If you are running, standing and sitting or twisting, the Klipt is going to hold the Hellcat. When it is time to draw, the gun will pull free just like it should — so long as you have it secured with a solid foundation. I had the best results with a snug, wide belt (the Klipt’s clip is 1.5”). With a narrow belt, I lifted the holster too much for my taste. The same was true for a loose belt. [Editor’s note: You may want to check out Dan Thurs’ review of the Applied Gear Hybrid EDC Belt if you are looking for a quality belt.]

This is not the holster’s fault. Part of everyday carry requires that you have discipline, and that includes intentional clothing and belt choices, and attention to retention of the gun — of course — but also to the retention of the holster.

Slim Pickings

The Klipt is thin. Its clip adds a minimal amount of depth to the holster, but not as much as some of the more over-built competition. The low side of the holster has a slight lip that protrudes away from the gun. This is an ideal way to seat your thumb during a draw if you need more leverage. The holster for the Hellcat is cut low enough to accept slide-mounted optics without any modification and the sight channel gives ample clearance for the front sight.

While some holsters have adjustable tension screws, this one doesn’t. The holster is held together with a grommet. That keeps down costs, though, and ensures every holster leaving the factory will fit exactly the same. So, I understand the decision.  And Blade-Tech backs their work with a lifetime guarantee.

Conclusion

MSRP on this Klipt IWB holster is just $29.99 (and it is priced at $23.39 at the time of publishing). That’s much less than a box of 9mm these days. For an off-the-shelf holster, that’s a very reasonable price.

In the end, that’s what this is — make no mistake. Blade-Tech describes the Klipt as a “no-nonsense” holster. True enough. But this is also an American-made, inexpensive no-nonsense holster. I’ve been carrying this one now for four months. It works every bit as well as my old Blade-Techs, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less.

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Blade-Tech Klipt IWB

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