Alien Gear ShapeShift 4.0 IWB Holster Review

Why Use Alien Gear ShapeShift 4.0 IWB?

I think it’s the most comfortable holster I ever used and certainly one of the most concealable ones. It will hold your gun with almost no print at all.

One of the reasons I was so inclined to buy this was the ability to upgrade this holster with other accessories from Alien Gear. Yes, this 4.0 IWB is part of the Shapeshift 4.0 modular system and there’s a lot you can do with it by just spending a few bucks more.

If you aren’t searching for something super cheap and rather enjoy the comfort and concealability, this is the holster you should buy.

Material and Construction

Out of the box, the holster isn’t ready to wear right away. You will need to do some assembling. However, that’s not tough and once you do it a couple of times, it will come naturally to you and all things will sound logical. You just need to attach two clips to attach the holster to the backing.

Check the current price of the Alien Gear ShapeShift 4.0 IWB Holster at Amazon

The holster has a Kydex like appearance. Although I’m not sure what kind of material Alien Gear is using right now. I suppose it could be some form of glass reinforced nylon, but the truth is it’s well made.

The backing in which the holster attaches is made from neoprene. It is soft and breathable which provides the bulk of the comfort that you get when wearing this. An undershirt can be optimal, but you can wear it on your skin as well.

The base of the holster is cut away to have a full grip and your gun before you actually go into the draw. That’s just unreal and something I always wanted in a holster.

Fit and Holster Location

Obviously, it’s a IWB holster which means you will be wearing it inside your waistband. For me, it worked better in the 4:30-5 O’clock position best. This position will also work for people carrying a larger gun and have smaller than average height.

The holster is slightly bulkier than others in the market. But I didn’t feel that it lowers the comfort level. If you are used to carrying a slimmer and lighter holster, it will take some time to get used to the bulky design. That’s just it.

If you think you want to carry an appendix, OWB or any other position, you can buy other ShapeShift accessories to work with this holster. Awesome!!

Cant and Retention

Here’s the best part. The Cant and retention on this holster is completely adjustable. Unlike other holsters that require you to fix some screws with limitations, this holster has a different design altogether.

There are two belt clips on either side that hook up to your belt on pants. Without any use of screws, you can change the positions of these clips up and down or rotate them to achieve almost any cant and ride height.

The only thing missing is a reverse cant adjustment. No matter how much adjustments you make, you simply can’t achieve that. If you prefer a reverse cant, I guess this isn’t for you. However, you can use it at a 0 degree cant and that’s good enough for me.

The retention is the easiest to adjust. There’s a knob you can take off and simply by just clicking it into the retention adjustment hole, you can loosen up or tighten the retention. You can make it super secure so the gun doesn’t fall even if you make backflips or jump up and down. Or, you can keep it loose during the target shooting practice sessions for an easy draw.

Compatibility with Guns

This is a custom holster and there’s a good chance it will fit your gun no matter the model. The list is constantly growing bigger and that’s a good thing to have. Just choose the gun you have and the draw (right or left) when you are buying.

Here’s a list of a few gun models that will fit the holster: S&W M&P, S&W Shield, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Walther, Taurus, Ruger, Glock and Kimber.

Keep in mind, the Alien Gear holsters won’t fit guns with lights, red dot and suppressor height sights.

Lifespan and Maintenance (1 year update)

After 1 year of usage, there’s hardly any wear and tear on the holster. However, there are few frays here and there on the neoprene backing near the edges.

Also, at some point you might need to change the small retention piece inside. But i don’t see that to malfunction even after 6 months which means it will stay in good condition for more than 1.5 years.

As for maintenance, you can wash it after removing all the pieces. What you will be left off is the neoprene backing. Wash it with water and soap and wipe off the pieces. That’s just it.

Final Verdict

This Alien Gear ShapeShift holster is for those who prioritize concealability and comfort their holster. The fact that you can turn this IWB into any other holster type like OWB or ankle, is also a decisive purchasing factor. With the 4.0, Alien Gear might just have an edge over all the other holsters in the market.