Tip of the Week: How to Keep Your Leather Holster From Squeaking

There is no question that Kydex is king in the current world of holsters.

But there is also no denying the enduring popularity, comfort, and cool factor that leather holsters still enjoy today. 

But those of you who still choose to rock leather holsters, especially on a leather belt, may have run into a pesky problem — the dreaded squeak.

While well-worn leather holsters usually don’t squeak, it isn’t uncommon for new holsters to do so. 

Squeaking can be annoying and, in some cases, can be detrimental to concealment if it is loud enough. Not to mention, it can be embarrassing for some folks.

I’ve sure as heck run into this problem more than once, but luckily, I’ve found a couple of methods to help curb the creaks and squeaks.

Method #1 – Talc Powder

The use of talc powder and baby powder is a common method to help quiet down squeaky holsters.

I like this method because the powder doesn’t put any undue chemical or physical wear on the leather, and it is easily dusted or wiped off.

A small application on the holster loops and the surrounding belt area helps reduce friction, which reduces the noise.

I also like to apply some powder directly to the stitching in the areas where I hear squeaking as well.

You can also use Q-Tips to apply the powder to any small or hard-to-reach areas of the holster.

While any baby powder can do, I strongly recommend the use of pure talc powder.

Many standard baby powders are now corn starch-based. In my experience, corn starch works, but for a much shorter time than full-on talc powder.

Method #2 – Renaissance Wax

Renaissance Wax, or Ren Wax, isn’t what I’d call a well-kept secret, but rather “insider knowledge.”

Ren Wax is actually recommended by renowned holster crafter Milt Sparks. It is excellent for managing squeaky holsters as well as general holster care.

The reason Ren Wax is great is that it uses a finer microcrystalline structure that is made from crude oil. Other waxes, like carnauba wax, can become acidic over time and cause irreparable damage to leather.

A little goes a long way here. Apply a very small amount to the affected squeaky areas, such as the loops. This should help reduce friction and smooth things up, all without compromising your holster or belt.

Avoid Most Oils

A cursory search on Google for fixing squeaky leather will usually yield some forum posts with people saying to use things like neatsfoot oil.

My advice here is to avoid oils at all costs if you can. Things like neatsfoot oil will eliminate squeaks but do so by darkening and softening the leather.

Holsters are meant to have a certain amount of stiffness in order to properly retain the gun as well as offer a clean draw. Softening a leather holster with oils can absolutely compromise a holster in the long run.

Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that the best thing to do is to wear your holster often and even wear it around the house to help break it in. But sometimes, they are just stubborn, or you want to wear your brand-new rig the day you get it.

While there are other ways to waylay a noisy holster, talc powder and Ren Wax are my two go-to methods.

Do you have any methods for combating the creak? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to check out our article on the Best Concealed Carry Holsters!