I was first introduced to the Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe by Guido over at New Frontier Armory. He swore it was an outstanding holster and that I’d love it. I can’t tell you how many holsters I’ve tried over the years based on the opinions of different gun store owners and staff but what I can tell you is that the search for “the right” holster can be an expensive undertaking. Because of this, I was not in a hurry to drop another 80ish bucks on yet another holster that would probably end up tossed in box in my garage. So, rather than spending the money, I decided to contact the owner of Crossbreed and ask for one of their holsters for review purposes. I was somewhat politely turned down. Since I still hadn’t found an IWB I liked, I decided to bite the bullet and bought one from New Frontier Armory.
I made a mistake by intentionally ordering the left handed version. You see, I’m right handed but my previous experiences with IWB hip carry proved to be pretty uncomfortable. Because of this, I was now used to carrying in the small of my back (I know, not a safe way to carry). I “assumed” by adjusting the angle (cant) of the holster, I would be able to easily carry and draw from mid back using my right hand. My theory proved to be wrong and painfully so as I actually messed up my arm trying to reach for my gun. This prompted a second email to the owner explaining why I purchased the left hand one and asking about any other “IWB small of back” options they may have. My email was ignored. I found that disturbing considering the company has a two week guarantee period where they will refund your purchase. This made me start questioning the customer service level of Crossbreed.
In most cases, if I see any red flags from a company about their customer service, I stop doing business with them. After thinking more about this I came to the conclusion that I had foolishly brought the problem on myself by purchasing the left hand version intending to use it in a way other than what it was designed for. I chalked it up to a learning experience and ordered the same holster in the right hand version.
Most product reviews I see are based on limited interaction with the product. Since I paid for the holster (twice) and wasn’t real excited about the company’s customer service, I decided I wasn’t going to be in any sort of rush to publish a review. As I began to hear others discuss their customer service experiences with Crossbreed, I decided not to review this holster at all.
Fast forward 6 years…
CrossBreed MiniTuck Black Cow Hide
This is the most comfortable and best IWB holster I’ve ever owned. I ended up giving the left hand version to a friend and have since bought a Crossbreed MiniTuck for my Wife’s G43, bought another SuperTuck for another friend, and recently bought another so I can show you a side by side comparison of a well worn Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe vs. a brand new one. So why continue to support a company with questionable customer service? Well, because I truly love their products.
CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe Old vs. New
CrossBreed MiniTuck Snap Clips
Lets get down to the nitty gritty about the holster itself. The name “CrossBreed” seems very appropriate considering the company was the first to develop a leather and Kydex hybrid holster. “SuperTuck” hints at the holsters ability to be tucked into any kind of regular everyday clothing. Most days I wear an untucked t-shirt or dress shirt and vest which completely cover the part of the firearm that is exposed over the waist of my pants, shorts etc… However, what about the times I need to tuck my shirt in like when I wear a suit and may want to remove my jacket? Each of the different clip options available allow you to tuck your shirt between the leather and the clips. When you wear it like this, only the 2 clips show over your belt. The standard clips come in black but the company also offers a brown option for those who wear brown belts. A quick yank of the shirt and you can access your weapon with ease.
CrossBreed MiniTuck Exposed
CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe Horse Hide Texture
It was originally suggested that I order the horse hide option. I was told it would last longer, be more comfortable and stand up better in hot as well as humid conditions. All of this has proven to be true. I’ve carried this holster in various climates all over the country and most of the time, it’s so comfortable I don’t even realize it’s on my hip. In fact, I’ve accidentally left home a few times thinking I had it on me when I didn’t. Like most other current IWB holsters, this one is adjustable for cant as well as ride height. The difference in feel and comfort between the Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe and EVERY other hip carry IWB holster I’ve ever tried is significant. In the last few years competing companies have offered me free holsters and I’ve declined their offers. There may be other holsters out there that I might prefer but I’m so sick of failures that I’m sticking with what works perfectly for me.
I’ve had discussions with people who claim “the retention sucks” and that it’s not adjustable. This is simply untrue. The holster is made of leather and Kydex. For those who don’t know, Kydex is extremely easy to work with. The retention can be quickly adjusted by heating the Kydex with a hair dryer and manipulating it a bit. Crossbreed even has a video showing you exactly how to do it. (I’ll embed the video at the end of this review)
I do have one complaint about the holster though. Actually it’s about the “Snap Lock” clips that come standard on it. On the one I’ve been carrying, there are small sharp areas on the bottom of both clips. This was brought to my attention when my Wife asked me why all of my jeans were developing holes. Once I saw the location of the damage, I knew right away it was caused by the holster. This was confirmed by examining where the holster rides and seeing the clip pop through the hole in my jeans. Here’s the good news, when I received the new holster, I noticed three differences between the new and the old. One of those differences was that the sharp squarish edge is now gone. The bottom of the clips are now smooth and round as they should be.
The two addition differences I noticed were the finish on the clips and the rivets used to secure the Kydex to the leather. While I’m not sure of why the change and have no preference between the flat and rounded rivets, I do like the new textured and dull finish of the clips. Not that anybody has ever mentioned they noticed I was wearing a holster but this small change makes me feel a little better knowing I don’t have a shiny clip potentially drawing attention where I don’t want it.
CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe Cow vs. Horse Hide
Lets jump back to the horse hide for a moment. For me this holster is primarily about it’s comfort. The horse hide wicks away perspiration better than cow hide, makes for a slightly thinner profile and is smoother to the touch. When I bought the MiniTuck for my Wife, she didn’t want to wait to order a horse hide version and instead opted for immediate gratification the moment she spotted the black cow hide version at Cabela’s. Although it’s still fairly soft, it’s not as smooth as the horse hide. Time will tell how it lasts compared to my SuperTuck.
While breaking it in, after 2-3 days, I knew I had found a holster that would work well for me. I did have some minor annoyances for the first 6 months or so due to something squeaking as I walked. If I adjusted the holster placement a little, the sound stopped. The holster had to be in a “sweet spot” to not produce noise. Over time, this went away.
CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe Standard Cut
Crossbreed offers what they call a “Combat cut” on their holsters. This option is meant to allow the user to get a more solid grip while drawing. While I don’t have any concerns over the draw from their standard cut, I can certainly see where others may find it handy. As for me, I’ve got love handles and the combat cut option removes a portion of the leather that keeps part of the firearm’s frame from rubbing on skin. My love handles have also shaped the horse hide to where it now wraps over about 2/3rds of the back of the slide and cover plate of my trusty G23 which again protects my skin as well as the slide from possible rust due to perspiration. I’ve had to adapt my draw a little to compensate for the extra material but that’s what training and practice is all about. For me, it was worth it.
In conclusion, if you want a solid holster that will last for many years under various conditions, you may want to check out the CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe or any of CrossBreed’s holsters for that matter.
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