Urban Carry LockLeather Holster Review: Best of Both Worlds?

Looking for a new holster? Don’t overlook leather!

Kydex holsters are all the rage, but there’s still a place for leather holsters, and Urban Carry is on a mission to make them just as secure as their contemporary rivals.

Are Urban Carry’s automatic locking leather holsters really the best of both worlds?

Let’s find out.

Specs & Features

Specs

• Material: Leather
• Retention: Trigger guard lock
• Configurations: IWB, OWB, deep concealment, shoulder
• Optic-Ready: Yes (model specific)

Features

• Adjustable retention screw
• High sweat guard
• Discreet, unbranded belt clip on IWB models

How We Tested The Urban Carry LockLeather

Urban Carry sent me several LockLeather products to try: IWB and OWB holsters for the Springfield Hellcat Pro and an OWB holster for a 1911.

I also got to check out Urban Carry’s G3 deep concealment holster. It’s a clever way to stash a pistol below the waistline but I focused on the IWB and OWB holsters for this review since that’s what the vast majority of us will end up using.

You can see the G3 in action here.

I used each holster for its intended purpose. In the case of the two subcompact holsters, that meant everyday carry and CCW duty. I used them with an eye toward comfort, ease of concealment, and how easily I could draw the pistol from various positions.

The full-size holster got some range time. It’s a 1911 holster, so I used it with a .22 LR Hammerli Forge H1 and a .45 ACP, just as John Browning intended.

And who am I to judge? In addition to years of shooting in military and civilian capacities, I’ve also used, reviewed, and maintained a ton of leather goods ranging from ax masks to saddles. These holsters are familiar territory, and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned along the way.

Background

People have been using leather holsters since the days of flintlock handguns, sharing belt space with swords. Leather holsters saw action in the Wild West and both world wars.

Why do we still use them? Because they work.

Leather is comfortable against the body, protects the finish on metal handgun components, and offers more protection against the elements than textiles. Unlike modern materials like Kydex, leather can’t crack and leave you stranded if it takes a heavy impact.

There are downsides, though. The biggest one is retention. Leather stretches over time, reducing its ability to hold your handgun in place. That’s why so many leather holsters incorporate a strap and snap.

Straps are effective, but they slow down your draw significantly. That’s where the LockLeather concept comes into play.

Who Is It For?

Comfort is the name of the game here. LockLeather holsters are built for people who want to carry without plastic digging into their midsection or wearing off the finish on their pistol.

LockLeather holsters promise all the aspects we like about leather, an extra layer of security, and no drawbacks compared to conventional leather holsters.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

Urban Carry holsters use soft leather and durable construction. They certainly look and feel well-built, but how are they to actually use?

Carry in Comfort

I found all the LockLeather holsters comfortable. Leather breaks in as you use it, meaning that your holster will eventually mold to the contour of your hip and your pistol to create a perfect fit. The more I use these holsters, the better they get.

By the way, that aging process will also change the color of your holster. Your body heat, oils from your skin, and exposure to the elements will give your holster a deep, rich color. That’s not a flaw; it’s part of the charm!

Break-In Procedure and Maintenance

Leather products require active ownership, and that includes making sure that your holster fits your pistol correctly before you head out the door. I followed Urban Carry’s recommended break-in procedure, which was easy and gave me great results.

Urban Carry recommends putting your pistol in the soft cloth bag the holster comes in, then inserting it in the holster as far as it will go without excessive force, leaving it overnight, and repeating the process as necessary.

And then there’s long-term upkeep.

Unlike synthetic holsters, leather will dry out and crack if you neglect it. Keep it in like-new condition with an occasional dose of leather conditioner. This will maintain water resistance, keep the leather hydrated, and prevent it from getting stiff and brittle.

This is more effort than Kydex holsters require, but I find it rewarding. Take care of your leather, and it will take care of you.

How Do Urban Carry LockLeather Holsters Work?

The IWB holster was extremely tight when it arrived;  I could barely insert the pistol before the slide started pushing back. That’s intentional. Leather can stretch, but you can’t make it tighter, so I’d rather have a break-in period than a holster that’s too loose.

Urban Carry’s bag method resulted in a perfect fit the next day. The OWB holster fit nearly perfectly out of the box, so I just let it wear in with use.

At the range, I found that I wasn’t able to draw quite as smoothly from these holsters as I could from a Kydex holster. That’s because these are snug and rely on more friction to keep the pistol in place.

They were no slower than any other leather holster, though, and that’s the main takeaway.

LockLeather makes good on Urban Carry’s promise to deliver a more secure leather holster that doesn’t give anything up in the pursuit of retention.

I’m sure you can be just as effective with a LockLeather holster as you can with a lot of Kydex holsters; it’ll just require more training.

Why Is The LockLeather Holster Unique?

Urban Carry’s pitch for LockLeather holsters is simple: get the comfort of a leather holster with the security of a synthetic one.

There aren’t a lot of companies taking this approach, but the Bianchi Assent is fairly similar. With the Assent, you have to disengage a paddle with your middle finger to release the pistol. It’s more rigid than a LockLeather holster, which makes reholstering easier, but the Assent I tested doesn’t fit the pistol as snugly, so it rattles around a little bit.

Urban Carry has successfully found a way to offer more security than a conventional leather holster without driving up the price.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

Pistols always came out when I drew them, and they never fell out on their own. The lock works.

Ergonomics: 4/5

These holsters excel in comfort. The more you wear them, the more they mold to your body. Drawing and reholstering with leather isn’t as slick as it is with Kydex, though.

Urban Carry’s OWB holsters have a natural forward cant. It’s not adjustable, but it’s right where most people want their pistol to sit.

Value: 5/5

I consider LockLeather holsters super affordable, considering the level of protection they offer and the quality of materials they use.

Overall: 4.5/5

As leather holsters go, LockLeather is a slam dunk. There are times when you should still use Kydex, though, and there is more room for user error with leather. If you don’t want to put in that work, stick to synthetics.

Upgrades For The Urban Carry LockLeather

Pistols are heavy enough that your everyday belt probably isn’t going to offer enough support. Urban Carry sells all-leather heavy-duty gun belts that are strong enough to keep your holster in place, and you can choose a color to match your holster.

Maintenance is part of owning leather goods, so you’ll also need some leather conditioner. Urban Carry recommends Bick 4.

As shown in a previous photo in this article, I also like using Hide-Bracer to keep leather conditioned.

I’ve also used Neatsfoot Compound with good results.

Why You Should Trust Pew Pew Tactical

Heading up this article is Scott Murdock, a Marine Corps veteran who qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to his military and recreational background, he has trained with some of the best instructors in the business at AMTAC Shooting and Full Spectrum Warrior. Scott has been writing for the gun industry for a while and has bylines in publications like Free Range American, Coffee or Die magazine, Task & Purpose, Miitary.com, and Breach Bang Clear.

Editing this article is Wyatt Sloan, Jr. Editor. Wyatt is an NRA and USCCA-certified instructor with previous competitive shooting experience. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has done 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has used his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is 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

The longer you own a pistol, the more holsters you’ll accrue. These deserve a spot on that rotating roster.

Comfort with a side of safety is Urban Carry’s recipe for success.

Urban Carry’s LockLeather design is proof that you can get classic leather holsters with modern retention systems. These are great for times when you want to stay comfortable or uphold a certain aesthetic without compromising on safety.

What are your thoughts on the Urban Carry Lockleather? Let us know in the comments section below! Looking for a holster for a pistol with a light? Be sure to check out our guide to the Best Light-Bearing Holsters for Concealed Carry.