PROTOS-M
INTRODUCING THE PROTOS-M, AN ALL NEW HOLSTER USING OUR PATENT-PENDING 3/4 HYBRID SYSTEM AVAILABLE IN THREE CONFIGURATIONS, SINGLE-CLIP IWB, DUAL-CLIP IWB, AND OWB
SINGLE-CLIP IWB
Tuckable
Mounts with one premium polymer clip
Reduced bulk and backer size makes it better suited for appendix carry
Adjustable ride height and cant
DUAL-CLIP IWB
Tuckable
An average of 25% smaller backer than our ACE-1 Gen 2
Very stable, dual-clip design
Adjustable ride height and cant
OWB
- Dual-layer premium cowhide backer
- Stable, rigid platform
- Flared mouth stays open when empty for easy, safe reholstering
BOX SET
- One Modular Kydex Shell with three backers for a wide range of options
- Spare hardware for every part of the holster
- Every clip option we offer
3/4 HYBRID
Our patent-pending 3/4 Hybrid system is one of the things that makes the Protos-M truly unique. The retention on the holster doesn’t rely on the highly variable pressure from your body on the back side of the holster like traditional hybrid holsters, but rather on a piece of kydex wrapped completely around the trigger guard. This unique system provides the solid, highly adjustable retention of a full kydex holster, while providing the comfort of a traditional hybrid.
This ensures that your holster is comfortable enough to wear all-day everyday, all while providing a superior fit to keep your pistol in place and ready.
SINGLE-CLIP IWB
Although visually very similar to our original Protos holster, there are several key changes we made for the Protos-M in response to your feedback. While it was not designed specifically to be an appendix carry holster, many of the changes were to make it more suitable for appendix carry.
We redesigned the backer, from the ground up, removing as much unnecessary mass as possible. Beyond just removing mass, we did so smartly. The corners on the bottom of the backer, formerly quite square, are now angled upward and rounded for greater comfort, particularly when carrying appendix.
The Protos-M is also tuckable where the Protos is not. We had to redesign the mounting system for the clips, and even the clips themselves. It uses a single premium polymer clip with 15 degrees forward and backward cant adjustment, as well as an inch of vertical adjustment.
DUAL-CLIP IWB
Dual-Clip IWB hybrid holsters are definitely where we have the most experience. We’ve been refining our flagship ACE-1 for years now. One of our main design philosophies with the ACE-1, from the very first one up through today, is to make our leather backer as small as possible to increase both comfort and concealment. As a result, our ACE-1 Gen 2 has one of the smallest footprints of any dual-clip hybrid holster on the market today.
With the Dual-Clip IWB backer for the Protos-M, we decided to redesign the backer from the ground up. Thanks to the 3/4 Hybrid system, we were able to cut down on the backer size even more than possible with traditional hybrid holsters. Further, with the Protos-M, each backer is also custom designed and laser cut for the exact gun model, allowing us to further eliminate bulk from the backer.
These and other factors combine to provide an average of 25% less backer surface area than an ACE-1 Gen 2 for the same model of handgun. This ultimately means greater comfort for you, making it easier to be prepared at any time, and in any place.
OWB
The Protos-M represents our first foray into the world of production OWB holsters. Our design philosophy has always been to not just make products that may sell, but to make products that are better than what is already available on the market. In this case, that meant even more research than in other cases.
To research, we thoroughly tested OWB holsters of all types from many different competitors, from full kydex, to hybrid, to full leather, and everything in between. We then documented the pros and cons of each option, and set out to make the best OWB holster possible.
Of the issues we found, some of the most common, were that holsters were often floppy. Even with a good stiff gun belt, many allowed the holster and gun to be pulled far away from the body with very little force. This along with another common problem, holsters that hold the gun too far away from the body, made these holsters very prone to snag on objects around you such as seat belts, furniture, or clothes.
Another common problem, particularly with hybrid holsters, is that they often collapse, closing off the opening when the gun is drawn. This makes reholstering both inconvenient, and dangerous, as it requires you to either point the gun inward, toward your body to force the holster open, or to use your off hand to force the holster open. Both are bad solutions. Thanks to both the flared mouth and the 3/4 Hybrid system, the mouth of our holster is always open, and ready to be reholstered easily and safely.
On a perhaps more minor note, we found that hard-sided holsters, such as those made of full kydex or injection molded plastic, wear your pants and belt out very quickly. Additionally, they tend to be less comfortable and less concealable.
We decided to stay with a hybrid holster design in order to have the comfort of a soft sided backer. Which, paired with our 3/4 Hybrid system, provides the best of both worlds in holster design comfort and function.
BOX SET
For those that want the full Protos-M experience, we offer our special edition box set. It includes:
- One 3/4 Hybrid Kydex shell
- One Single-Clip IWB Backer
- One Dual-Clip IWB Backer
- One OWB Backer
- Powder coated steel belt clips
- Steel J-Clips
- Tan Lock Loops
- Black Lock Loops
- Spare hardware for every part of the holster
- One Screwdriver
Individually, these components retail for over $230. We package them in a custom laser-cut hardwood box, all at a discounted price of $210.
