Top Springfield XD-M Holsters

By T. Logan Metesh

Everyone is searching for the perfect holster for their perfect carry gun. If you’ve already decided that the perfect carry gun is the Springfield Armory XD-M 4.5″ pistol (smart choice, by the way), then we’ve got some holster options for you to consider.

There’s something for everyone on here: IWB, OWB, leather, Kydex, and even some options you might not have thought about. So, without further ado, here’s a list of XD-M holsters worth your consideration.

Kenai Chest Rig

Carrying a gun with an IWB or OWB holster is the most common method, but it’s not always suitable for certain applications, such as hiking, biking, jogging or hunting.

This is where the Kenai Chest Rig from Gunfighters Inc. comes into play.

The XD-M chest holster and its harness are made from a combination of Kydex and nylon to provide the best retention characteristics that are also lightweight and unyielding to any weather conditions. The Kydex holster shell is molded to the contours of your XD-M to make sure it stays safely stowed until you need it. The nylon webbing keeps down weight, is UV resistant to fading, and stitched with waterproof thread.

Wide, flat nylon webbing with a four-point stretch yoke in the back has been used to distribute as much weight as possible throughout the harness, while the buckles have been placed strategically to keep them out of the way of any pack gear you may also be carrying.

Be sure to check out Clay Martin’s full review of the Kenai Chest Rig if this style of holster catches your eye.

Safariland 6360 ALS/SLS

For law enforcement XD-M duty holsters, the first and only brand you need to know is Safariland. The company makes a wide range of firearms accessories, but none more important than its line of duty rigs.

The Armory Life contributor Massad Ayoob documented the positive impact in the reduction of police officers killed with their own sidearms by the Bill Rogers-designed Safariland 070 SSIII holster. Since that rig saw widespread adoption starting in the 80s, the company continued to develop duty holsters that improved security while enhancing the ease of draw for the officer.

If you are looking for a completely reliable duty holster, take a close look at the Safariland 6360 ALS/SLS rig. It offers excellent weapon retention with superior durability in harsh conditions.

The 6360 uses several technologies including ALS and SLS. ALS, or Automatic Locking System, instantly secures the gun as you insert it. While additional security devices can be added, the ALS feature allows you to drop the gun in place and immediately go hands-on with a suspect or jump a fence without fear of the gun falling out.

Safariland’s SLS, or Self Locking System, is another security technology that takes the rig all the way to Level III security by rotating the top hood into place. A compound action is required by the shooter to disengage the hood — one I’ll not explain in detail for obvious reasons — and the SLS engages all of the security functions when the hood is simply rotated into the closed position.

The ALS and SLS technologies are fantastic improvements over older (yet still effective) technologies that required the manual application of snaps and straps. The technologies allow the 6360 holster to test to the Level III security rating. An optional Sentry device can take the rig to a Level IV security rating.

If I may, a quick aside: not all security levels are the same. Safariland has a specific set of criteria on what constitutes each level of security in a holster. I have not encountered any other holster company that adheres to the same rigid standard, but many still use terms like “Level III” when marketing rigs. I urge extreme caution when purchasing one of these.

Made of a proprietary laminate material called SafariLaminate, the holster will withstand years of hard abuse on patrol. To protect the finish on your XD-M, the 6360 has a suede interior lining.

I highly recommend Safariland holsters for duty carry. The security and durability offered by these rigs is unmatched for the XD-M.

Crossbreed Reckoning IWB

If you’re not familiar with CrossBreed holsters, then you’ve probably been living under a rock. Simply put, they make some of the most comfortable holsters on the market for the XD-M, Hellcat and other Springfield Armory pistols.

If you can’t decide whether to get an IWB or OWB holster, then go with the Reckoning from CrossBreed. It does both!

You can transform the holster between the styles of carry with just a few minutes and a common screwdriver. All you need to do is move the belt clips from one side to the other and you are ready to go.

The Kydex shell and leather backer offers a great blend of comfort (the leather) and retention (the Kydex). Since “one-size-fits-all” isn’t always a good thing, there’s a lot of options with the Reckoning. You can choose the type of leather, the Kydex color, and the cut.

Most importantly, though, is retention. You can adjust that, too. An included Allen wrench is all you need to adjust the level of retention in the holster.

We The People Full Size IWB

Sometimes you just want a simple, tried-and-true holster. We get it — and so do the folks over at We The People Holsters.

Made entirely out of Kydex, their Full Size IWB holster handles the XD-M with ease without adding any extra material that would cause weight or bulk to start adding up.

Their holsters are molded to your specific model gun and feature a ton of user-customizable adjustments: retention, ride, cant, and the clip are all able to be set to your own liking, allowing for maximum flexibility in carry options.

Oh, and there are also 27 different Kydex colors and patterns you can choose from. Your own body can be your gun’s enemy at times, so We The People built in a protective sweat guard to keep contact between your gun and your body to a minimum.

StealthGear Appendix Plus Ventcore

Comfort is one of the obvious features of the StealthGear Appendix Plus Ventcore holster. If you find that the summer heat is a major problem when carrying concealed, this StealthGear rig is worth the time for close examination.

The company built a name for itself with the backing it uses on its hybrid-style holsters. Instead of being made of leather or an impervious synthetic material, StealthGear opted for a soft, breathable mesh backing. This backing allows for airflow between the gun and body which in turn improves the ability of your body to cool itself.

With the Ventcore, the company ups the potential comfort with the use of ports on the hard portions of the holster to allow for even more airflow. In most areas of the United States, summers can get downright hot. Improving airflow between the gun and body cannot be overstated for its contribution to comfort.

This CCW rig positions your XD-M in front of your strong side hip in the approximate location of your appendix. Draws from this location can be extremely fast. It has a built-in magazine carrier for added functionality.

1791 Gunleather Carbon Fiber Open Top

The final XD-M holster on this list is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen as it blends two materials that I never expected to see combined into a single carry rig.

The Project Stealth line from 1791 Gunleather uses both leather and carbon fiber to produce a unique-looking and extremely resilient holster for your Springfield Armory pistol. According to the company, these rigs are suitable for both the average citizen and professionals who carry pistols concealed.

1791 Gunleather uses a type of leather known as American Heavy Native Steerhide for its durable nature. Then the company uses carbon fiber as the rigid material to lock the gun securely in place. Binding the two is double-reinforced stitching.

According to the company, these two materials in this combination ensure that neither heat nor cold will negatively impact the security of the holster. Likewise, you can get it wet and not worry about any shrinkage.

All-in-all, it is an impressive package worth your consideration — especially if you spend any time in the elements with your Springfield XD-M.

So Many Choices

One of the great things about an extremely popular pistol line like the Springfield Armory XD-M series is that manufacturers flock to it with every kind of accessory imaginable. For me and you, that means we have a veritable plethora of holsters from which to select.

I’ve highlighted a few of the best holster options for the XD-M. There are many more. If you have a favorite I did not mention, join us over in the forum to share your experiences. We can all benefit when we read what works for other Springfield owners.

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Featured in this article

Gunfighters Inc Kenai Chest Holster

Safariland Model 6360 ALS

Crossbreed Reckoning

We the People XD-M IWB Holster

StealthGear XD-M Appendix Plus Ventcore Holster

1791 Gunleather BH2.4 Carbon Fiber Open Top Multi-Fit Holster 2.4

XD-M® Series