One of the most popular pistols on the concealed carry side of the firearms market for the last year has been the Springfield Armory Hellcat. Its micro-compact size and class leading capacity of 13+1 rounds has made it a crowd favorite. I have carried mine a lot while out doing ranch work, checking cattle, and doing such things like archery hunting as a protective sidearm beyond my bow ‘n arrow. One thing that has been lacking for me was a solid option for carrying Inside-the-Waistband (IWB). That is why I was surprised yet thankful when Telor Tactical approached AllOutdoor and asked us to review their Comfort-Air ITW (In the Waistband) Holster for the Springfield Armory Hellcat. So, in this AllOutdoor Review we take a look at one of the Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW (In the Waistband) Holsters for a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm! Let’s dive in!
Specifications: Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster
The Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW holster is intriguing because it does not use the same old, same old materials that many IWB holsters utilize. This one has elements like Medical-Grade fabric, silicone foam, and stretch-to-fit sizing which are all words and phrases you typically do not associate with IWB holsters. The full specification listing for the Comfort-Air ITW Holster can be read below as presented by Telor Tactical:
- Medical grade Spacer fabric for cool comfort
- Sil-Air silicone foam inside so the top of the gun or holster will not dig into your side
- The entire holster allows airflow to your skin
- Reinforced belt clips for a very secure hold
- Two stretch-to-fit holster sizes fit a wide variety of handguns
- Machine washable
- High-Quality durable Materials
- Proudly made in the USA
The current MSRP for the Comfort-Air ITW Holster is $54.99 from Telor Tactical. As you can see above, there are 2 essential sizes to the Comfort-Air ITW Holster. That may not sound like many, but because of the unique way that the holster pocket is shaped and cradles a firearm between those 2 basic sizes it fits 45+ different firearm makes and models. An even further, in-depth explanation can be had from Telor Tactical’s Press Release statement about this holster below:
“Telor Tactical is excited to introduce the new Comfort-Air ITW (In the Waistband) Holster. This amazing new holster gives you the coolest and comfortable option for in the waistband carry. We use medical grade materials for pressure management and to keep you cool. The Sil-Air foam on the inside means you will have long-lasting comfort while this unique silicone material keeps the weapon from digging into you while allowing airflow to your skin. This product can also be machine washed to keep it clean and fresh.“
Fit: Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster
When it came to the overall fit of my Springfield Armory Hellcat to the Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster it was pretty simple. The spacious, padded pocket allowed my Hellcat to be seated deep into the holster yet it was not swimming or jumbling around inside. Also, the muzzle was not sticking out of the bottom end of the holster where it could potentially snag when you need to draw your pistol. The Hellcat was deep in the holster, but simultaneously retrievable and comfortable.
Some other key traits I watch for in all holsters is that the trigger guard has ample coverage to ward against an accidental discharge and that the rear of the slide has a bit of coverage as well so when I bend over my gut does not get poked by the heel of my gun. The Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster was good on both of those areas so that left me feeling confident in giving this holster a spin.
Carry Time: Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster
When it came to actual time carrying with the Comfort-Air ITW Holster there were quite a few things that I noticed. For one, it takes a little longer to put on this holster than other more rigid holsters in my arsenal for carry. It’s not a significant difference. It’s basically the time of 20 – 30 seconds to put the holster on; whereas, other holsters might be half that time. The reason for this is mainly because of the soft, floppy nature of the holster before it is inserted into your waistline. Once inserted into your waistline between your briefs and your pants it maintains its position all day long.
The soft pliability of the holster makes it significantly more comfortable to wear. I understand the concealed carry community is enamored with Kydex, but that has never been comfortable to me when worn Inside-the-Waistband (IWB). It simply grinds against your body and seems to get hot on days when it is not even warm out. The Medical-Grade Spacer Fabric that Telor Tactical uses in the Comfort-Air ITW Holster is a lot cooler against your body and breathes really well.
When bending over at extreme angles like tying your shoes it does dig into your groin/stomach area, but it’s not a hard pointed stab to your gut like most holsters. It’s just simply pressure on that area so the pliability and softness of this holster again comes out as a plus versus other appendix Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) holsters that I have tried in the past.
While carrying, whether it was only under a T-shirt or under a sweatshirt, it never printed at all which was terrific. My day job is managing a firearm store and I would routinely ask customers if they could see a firearm and holster printing anywhere on my body, and they flatly would respond No? To have strangers not be aware if you are carrying or not, and not be able to see your firearm printing at all is the epitome of concealed carry.
The final test I would perform near the end of every day would be some dry-fire drawing drills before unholstering completely for the night. As soft, flexible, and comfortable as the Comfort-Air ITW holster was it still allowed a repeatable and predictable draw everytime. Whether I attempted to draw with two hands (one hand to brush away garments and one hand to draw the firearm) or single-handed draws, it was smooth every time.
Final Thoughts: Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster
So, what are my final thoughts on the Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW Holster for the Springfield Armory Hellcat?… The holster when you pick one up feels tremendously pliable and fluid in your hands. It is almost a cause for concern, but it turns out that the longer you use this holster it only provides more and more benefits for you. It remained cool during long days of carry. It did take a little longer to seat in your waistline, but once there it held its position all day long. Overall, at the decently affordable price of $54.99 I would recommend this holster to anyone looking for an Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) option for their Springfield Armory Hellcat.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Telor Tactical for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out one of their Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW (In the Waistband) Holsters for a Springfield Armory Hellcat. That is always greatly appreciated. The last question that remains is what do you think? Is the Telor Tactical Comfort-Air ITW (In the Waistband) Holster something you would be willing to invest your money in? Would you use it for everyday carry (EDC)? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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