Review: Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 Holster
Rob Reed 07.03.15
The Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 is an “tuckable” inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster designed for comfortable all-day concealed carry.
The Cloak Tuck 2.0 is a hybrid design with a hard Boltaron plastic shell riveted to a soft Neoprone backing. The holster attaches to the belt with nylon or metal clips or leather loops. The clip options include standard clips, J-Clips, or very discrete C-Clips. The plastic shells are individually formed for specific firearm models and are designed to be easily removed and replaced on the same backer to allow the user to change guns without having to purchase an entirely new holster.
Alien Gear sent me one of the Cloak Tuck 2.0 holsters for the Sig 239 for review. They included the standard nylon clips, a set of steel clips, and a set of black leather loops. (I was not charged for the holster but also did not promise anything except for an honest review with no strings attached.)
I’ve used the the holster as my primary carry rig almost every day for the last three months. In addition to daily carry, I’ve also conducted extensive dry-fire practice with the holster at home and used it for several practice trips at the range.
The clips or loops can be adjusted to change the angle of carry and the depth with which the holster rides in the pants. To change the angle, simply reposition the clips. To change the depth use, an Allen wrench to remove and reposition the clips or loops either up or down one spot from their initial middle setting. I experimented until I found a sweet spot at roughly 3:30 with the holster set relatively high. At this position the holster was well positioned both for concealment and for an easy draw. I was able to get a full firing grip on the pistol in the holster, which is something I look for in a concealment holster. As delivered, I found the retention to be just right for my gun, but the degree of friction for retention can also be adjusted by changing out some of the hardware.
Alien Gear promotes their holsters as being the “most comfortable” due to soft neoprone backer. While I’m not sure if it’s truly the “most comfortable” holster I’ve ever worn, I do agree that that the soft material rides easier against the body than hard Kydex or even many brand new leather holsters. While leather holsters do become more comfortable once they have broken in, no break-in period is required with the neoprone backer, so the holster is definitely more comfortable out of the box.
I wore the holster through the change of seasons from the last of the cold weather days to the first of the truly hot days. The holster remained comfortable through the temperature changes, neither sucking away my body heat on the cold days or getting uncomfortably sweaty on the hot days.
At the range I found that the clips attached securely to the belt and kept the holster from coming out of the pants during the draw. I tried both the nylon and metal clips and didn’t develop any real preference for either set. I did eventually come to prefer the leather loops though as the clips are so well-designed to grab the belt that I found it easier to put on or remove the holster by unsnapping the loops than to fumble with getting the clip “grabbers” off my belt.
The only feature that did not work well for me was the tuckable option. The clips are positioned on posts about a 1/2″ above the neoprone backer. In theory this provides space for the fabric of your shirt to go. In practice, while I could get a T-shirt tucked in there, I wasn’t able to easily tuck in the bottom of my buttoned-up dressed shirts. It always left a bulge that varied from just looking a bit sloppy to letting the pistol print prominently. The Sig 239 is a large gun for it’s capacity though (it’s almost as large as a Glock 19) so a smaller or thinner gun might work better.
Alien Gear offers a 30 day “Test Drive” trial where you can return the holster for any reason for a full refund. They also have a “Forever Warranty” where they will replace or repair any broken parts, including clips, for free. In addition users can trade-in their old gun-specific shells for a new shell if they change guns. (Not all backers will accept all shells though).
The Cloak Tuck 2.0 for the Sig 239 I reviewed is available for $35.88 at the Alien Gear website. Extra clips are $6.88 and the leather belt loop are $8.00. The Alien Gear “Search by Gun” page lists all the guns for which holsters are available.
