Tenicor Certum3 Review: Best IWB Holster?
When it comes to IWB holsters, the devil’s in the details. Let’s take a look at what makes the Tenicor Certum3 such a strong contender.
PPT Editor. Marine vet, hunter, and long-range shooter. Articles in 10+ major publications
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Pros
- Secure and extremely comfortable
- Excellent belt clips from Discreet Carry Concepts
- Lots of fitment adjustment options
Cons
- Limited range of light-bearing models
- Shell could use some Cordura
The Bottom Line
The Tenicor Certum3 won me over quickly. It’s well built and secure with an impressive range of adjustment that helps create a super comfy fit.
Looking for an IWB holster for your concealed carry pistol? You have options – maybe too many.
Good news: I can shorten that list for you.
I grabbed a Tenicor Certum3 for my EDC pistol and spent a month with it to see if it deserves to be your next IWB holster. Is it better than previous models? Can it hang with the competition? What could be improved?
Read on for all those answers – and everything else I learned from my time with the Certum3.
Table of Contents
Tenicor Certum3 Specs & Features
Specs
- Style: IWB (strong side or appendix)
- Material: Thermoplastic
- Belt Clips: T1 (2)
- Retention: Passive (adjustable)
- Compatible Manufacturers: 1911, 2011, Glock, HK, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Staccato, Walther
- Country of Origin: USA
Features
- Belt clips by Discreet Carry Concepts
- Adjustable ride height (1”) and cant (30 degrees)
- Compatible with optics and suppressor-height sights
- Designed for IWB and AIWB carry
Tenicor Certum3 Backstory
If Tenicor sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been reviewing and using their holsters for a while around here.
The Velo earned a spot in our guides to the Best Concealed Carry Holsters and Best IWB Holsters. Back then, we said it was comfy, secure, and super sturdy. That’s still true, but there are a few differences with the Certum3.
Gone is the built-in wedge on the back of the holster. The idea was to rotate the muzzle outward, which in turn pulls the grip of the pistol back against your body to reduce the risk of printing. It’s a logical idea, but I don’t experience printing with the Certum3 during strong-side carry so I don’t miss it.
The camming bar was integrated into the mold back then, too. A raised portion of the thermoplastic shell helped push the grip of the pistol away from the belt – once again in an effort to reduce printing. Now, Tenicor provides three screw-on camming bars so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
Tenicor used to offer a variety of belt clips. These included the T1 clips you see here, soft loops with snaps, and closed soft loops. The only ones available on the Certum3 are the metal T1 clips, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Carrying the Tenicor Certum3
I used the Certum3 every day for a month to get a thorough feel for how it performs in the real world.
Printing is one of the biggest challenges to carrying concealed. How well a holster works is highly individual because it’s affected by our body shape, our clothing, and how we move.
For me, the Certum3 did a better job of staying hidden than most of the holsters I’ve used. I usually try to dress around whatever I’m carrying, but it even worked with shorts and less baggy T-shirts.
Off-body carry isn’t the main reason we buy holsters, but I tried it, too. The metal belt clips held on tight to holster retention systems from 5.11 Tactical and Vertx.
I regularly practice drawing from concealment, which gave me an opportunity to appreciate one of the Certum3’s strengths.
Wait, isn’t drawing a pistol basically the same regardless which holster it’s in? I argue that it’s not.
Consistency is key. Fast, well-aimed first shots come from a consistent presentation, which comes from a consistent initial grip on the pistol. It’s hard to build that foundation when your holster shifts around on you – even little differences can throw you off.
The Certum3 locks onto a gunbelt so securely that it doesn’t budge. That’s partly because of the holster’s design, and partly because of high-quality components and attention to detail; see the screws with pre-applied blue thread locker.
I can go for a walk, sit at my desk, or hop out of the car; it’s still going to be exactly where I left it. As a result, I can expect a clean draw, predictable presentation, and safe reholster every time. That’s worth paying for.
Ergonomics: Fit & Feel
Retention
The Certum3 uses simple friction retention to keep your pistol in place. That’s standard for concealed carry holsters, and it works just fine. In this case it’s adjustable (more on that in a minute).
One aspect of IWB holsters that I don’t think gets enough attention is belt clips. They play a huge role in keeping your CCW gun safe, secure, and properly placed on your waistline. I don’t have patience for a holster that slides around on my belt or – heaven forbid – lets a gun pop out without me drawing it.
The Certum3 comes with two metal belt clips that Tenicor calls T1 clips. You might recognize them as Discreet Carry Concepts belt clips, and as far as I’m concerned they’re hands-down the best you can get.
These belt clips hold onto a belt like a vise. They keep a super low profile. I can pretty much promise that your pants will rip apart before these things let go.
Comfort
You might expect that putting hard plastic and metal inside your waistband is bound to be uncomfortable, but somehow Tenicor makes the Certum3 very easy to live with.
The secret is in rounded edges that help the holster move with your body rather than gouging your thigh with every step.
I wore the Certum3 for days around the house, hour-plus drives, hiking in the mountains, and fishing. At the end of every day, I was as comfortable as I was when I put it on in the morning.
If you aren’t used to carrying concealed, it will take some getting used to no matter which holster you use. This one will make the learning curve short and easy, though.
Adjustability
There are three ways to adjust the Certum3.
First up are those belt clips. They have about an inch of vertical range and about 30 degrees of cant. That lets you position the pistol exactly how you want it on your belt when you install them.
At the lowest setting the pistol rides seriously deep – that’s great for concealment, but I raised mine up to get a better grip during my draw stroke. I set the belt clips in the vertical position.
Tenicor also uses a shim (they call it a camming bar) to press the butt of the pistol away from your belt and into your torso to reduce printing. Three sizes come with the holster so you can fine-tune how closely your pistol fits to your body.
During my testing, the medium camming bar was perfect.
The open edge of the Certum3 is fastened by a pair of screws that pass through soft rubber spacers. As you tighten these screws, the spacers compress and increase the pressure on your pistol. This controls your degree of retention.
I tighten my holsters enough that the pistol and a full magazine can’t slide out when I shake it upside down over the bed.
Speaking of magazines, Tenicor also offers separate magazine holders.
All in all, the Certum3 is one of the most adjustable CCW holsters I’ve used. Getting it set up requires some trial and error, but it’s not difficult and you can do everything with a screwdriver (Phillips and flathead both work).
Improvements We’d Like to See
This holster is excellent, but there are two things I’d do differently if Tenicor turned me loose in the factory, and one aspect you should be aware of.
First, I’d love to see them offer more support for pistol lights. Right now, you can get the Certum Lux2 for pistols with compact lights, but only if you carry a Glock or Sig Sauer P320. Glock 17, 19, 45, and 47 owners can also use a full-size light with the Certum Sol.
The Certum3 supports a nice range of makes and models; I just wish I could run mine with my Streamlight TLR-7X.
This next one is kind of a silly request, but I’d really enjoy some Cordura wrap options. Adding a pop of color is a fun way to personalize your holster, and some people (me) are clearly willing to pay extra for it.
Cordura also makes a thermoplastic holster slightly less noisy when something bumps or scrapes against your hip. That might prevent you from drawing unwanted attention.
Lastly, Tenicor ships the Certum3 with a disclaimer that it’s not for safe queens – meaning that it’s possible to rub the finish off your pistol where it contacts the holster.
That doesn’t bother me because my carry gun is a tool, but keep it in mind if you want to preserve your pistol’s like-new condition. If you’re really picky about that kind of thing, consider a leather holster.
Who is it For?
Tenicor lists the Certum3 as an IWB holster that can pull double-duty in the appendix position, which is notable since there’s a separate category for dedicated AIWB holsters. The distinction is in the belt clips.
On the Certum3, the two belt clips are right next to each other, rather than on either edge of the holster. That makes it ever so slightly more compact on the waistline. If you carry strong side on your hip, the difference will be noticeable.
That doesn’t mean you’re locked into one position, though. This is the more versatile configuration, and you can absolutely carry it appendix, slightly forward of three-o’clock, or slightly behind three-o’clock.
I found the Certum3 very comfortable in front of my strong-side hip and to the right of my belt buckle. The shim keeps the pistol’s grip tucked against my torso, no matter where it is on my waistline.
If you’re not committed to one style of carry, this is a versatile holster that can do multiple jobs well.
By the Numbers
Reliability: 5/5
I’d argue that CCW holsters are either a 0 or a 5 when it comes to reliability. This one’s a 5.
Ergonomics: 5/5
Between the rounded edges and the death-grip on my belt, this is an extremely comfortable holster.
Customization: 4/5
The Certum3 has lots of room for adjustment to get the perfect fit. Give me a light-bearing option and some snazzy colors, and I’d call it just about perfect.
Value: 5/5
As tested, this holster costs $109. That’s on par for a quality IWB holster, and this one is better than most.
Overall: 4.5/5
It’s hard for me to give five stars without a few light-bearing options, but the Certum3 does everything else very, very well.
Upgrades & Accessories for the Tenicor Certum3
There’s really nothing to change about this holster, except maybe to improve the way you wear it. If you don’t have a dedicated gun belt already, pick up a Kore Essentials EDC belt. That’s what I used for testing, and it offers way more support than a casual, run-of-the-mill belt.
And if you want even more options, check out my picks for the Best Off-Body Carry Bags! Most of them come with retention straps so you can mount an IWB holster in the CCW compartment securely.
Meet the Experts
At the helm of this article is editor Scott Murdock, who got his start shooting in the Marine Corps. In addition to qualifying on rifle and pistol and training with crew-served weapons, Scott competed in the Western Division Matches intra-service shooting competition. Since then, he’s expanded his knowledge with training that includes courses at AMTAC Shooting, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Vortex Edge. Before joining Pew Pew Tactical, Scott reviewed guns, gear, and vehicles for a wide range of publications.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Verdict on the Tenicor Certum3
This is one seriously well-thought-out IWB holster. If you want to have the option to carry strong-side or appendix, you can’t go wrong here.
The Certum3 had a pretty high bar to clear given how much we liked Tenicor holsters in the past, but it aced the test. Slow and steady improvements made this one of the best holsters you can get.
Now, let’s cross our fingers for some light-bearing models.
What’s your go-to IWB holster? Let us know in the comments. Looking for more options? Check out our guide to the Best IWB Holsters!