With Constitutional Carry becoming more and more common throughout the United States, the every day carry (EDC) lifestyle has grown exponentially. Pistols are getting smaller, slimmer and lighter, with increased capacity. The holster industry has equally evolved with this growth in the EDC market. Holsters are lighter, stronger and much easier to conceal.
One such company is DeSantis Gunhide. Located in Amityville, New York, DeSantis has been a leader in the holster industry for decades. Like most leather companies, while DeSantis started making quality leather holsters, they have since evolved and added a wide variety of Kydex holsters and accessories.
The clientele has evolved, too, and their EDC needs have changed as a result. I must admit I am one of these people. I used to be 100% “Fudd,” carrying only strong-side, outside-the-waistband (OWB) leather holsters and mag pouches.
But with age came wisdom, and now I carry a much lighter pistol in a Kydex inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. Remember I mentioned strong-side only carry? That Kydex holster is in the appendix position, which I have found to be both more comfortable and much easier to conceal.
The Pistol
The first step to finding a suitable holster for your EDC is to select your pistol. For me, that was a very easy choice. With the release of the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro Comp — an integrally compensated variant of the Hellcat Pro — I had a pistol that fit my needs perfectly. It’s easy to conceal while not being “too” small, is lightweight, and is optics-ready.
As for optics, I chose the Shield RMSx. This is one area where I decided to go a tad bigger. While still a compact optic, the RMSx has a much bigger window — 80% larger, in fact — than the Shield RMS. Although the RMSx was designed for competition shooting, I prefer the much larger lens and my aging eyes appreciate a larger field of view.
The Perfect Holster
Next, I needed to pick the right holster for the job. Since I know that DeSantis offers a broad selection of high-quality holsters, I decided to check out their site. After careful examination of the wide variety of holsters available, I landed upon one with a very unique name.
That holster, the Mean Streak, is made of very strong and thick Kydex in a low-profile gray color. The holster is fully adjustable for both height and cant, which is a feature that immediately sold it for me. The holster also features a sweat guard to protect the pistol from your body, and it has an integrated “claw” to push the grip of the pistol closer to your body for easy concealment.
Pairing Up
When you pick the right holster for your needs, your next pick should be a proper magazine pouch. A further search of the DeSantis site revealed three options that potentially fit my needs: the IWB Persuader, and two versions of the OWB Quantico.
The Quantico, in particular, caught my eye. It comes in either a single- or double-magazine option. After careful consideration, I went with the Quantico double pouch. I know it adds extra weight to my belt, but I wanted to explore carrying two spare mags.
The Quantico magazine pouches feature a double tensioning device and fits belts up to 1½”. In addition, there’s a 1¾” option should you need it.
Prepping for EDC
After receiving my holster and pouch, I started to set up everything ahead of my first practice session. I like to set up any EDC rig prior to going to the range that first time so I can make sure everything is in the correct spot, is easily accessible, and will allow me to perform a swift, safe and repeatable presentation of my pistol.
The first step is to find the best and most comfortable spot for the holster. The cant and height adjustment options were two of the primary benefits of this holster for me. I adjusted the cant to straight up and down, and I set the belt clip to the lowest possible position. This ensured it would ride as high as possible on my belt, therefore giving me the best grip on my pistol before clearing the holster. That’s a critical benefit for a safe and effective drawstroke.
I wanted to set up this holster in the appendix position, but not centered in front of me. I was looking to position my holster to the right of the first belt loop on my right side. It took just a few minutes to adjust my holster for my preferred retention and the optimal and most comfortable position on my belt.
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Given that this is the first time I’ve ever used a double magazine pouch, I had to experiment to find the most reliable and comfortable spot for it due to the increased size and weight over a single mag pouch. I ended up positioning it right on top of my 9 o’clock belt loop on my left side, as it would be both accessible and out of the way there.
The Belt
It’s a given that one of the most important factors in proper EDC is a sturdy belt. For the past decade or so I’ve been using a nylon instructor’s belt, and it has been effective and comfortable. While I have never had an issue with it, I wanted to test something a little different this time around.
I searched again through the DeSantis website, and I picked a plain and simple lined belt. This belt is leather with a suede liner, and it’s available in either black or tan. I selected black, thinking this would go well with either jeans or slacks.
The design of the belt is sturdy and very elegant, without screaming EDC or “TactiCool.” Another feature I really like is that this belt has an interchangeable buckle, so I can use one of the many belt buckles I’ve accumulated over the years.
Hands-On
I thought it would be prudent for me to familiarize myself with this holster, pouch and belt and do some dry pre-practice before hitting the range. Safety first, so I divested myself from every single round of live ammunition and locked the door in my garage so I could concentrate on just doing some pistol presentations and some mag changes.
I wanted to get used to the new holster position, holster, mag pouch and belt. I have to admit it did take me quite a while to get used to the whole new set-up, but once I was going everything ran smoothly.
Now I was ready for some live fire at the range, which I did the next day. Again, everything ran as planned. My pre-practice time really paid off, as I was able to settle immediately in while drawing and shooting at the range. I think I might have found my perfect EDC carry set-up.
Closing Thoughts
I’ve carried a pistol in a leather holster on my belt at the 3 o’clock position for many, many years now. Frankly, I thought I would probably always carry one like that. But, it looks like change was on the horizon.
The DeSantis Mean Streak has certainly helped change my opinion regarding both carry style and holster materials. This holster has proven to be extremely comfortable to carry and wear all day long. The built-in claw helps press the grip of the pistol in tightly against your body, reducing the risk of “printing.” Finally, the adjustable cant and height allows me to optimally position the holster for a positive grip, which in turn makes my presentation safer and more reliable.
After using this holster, pouch and belt, I would consider it one of the best combinations for EDC available today. If you’re looking for a comfortable and reliable IWB holster, the DeSantis Mean Streak should definitely be on your radar.
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