LightDraw™ vs Quick Draw
With so many holsters on the market, it can be a challenge to find the one that’s right for you. Kydex or leather, clips or wings, cant or no cant … where do you even start? At Vedder Holsters, we offer several different IWB and OWB holster styles because we know everyone has different needs. But how do you know which one is a good fit?
If you’re looking for an outside the waistband holster for training, open carry, or concealed carry, it’s no surprise that you would want to compare the Vedder Holsters Quick Draw and LightDraw™ OWB holsters. Both are easy to draw from and sit close to your body to reduce printing, but have very distinct styles. The Quick Draw features a flexible leather backing and secures to your belt with loops, while the LightDraw™ has a full Kydex shell, adjustable retention, and plastic clips.
Both of these holsters are popular, comfortable to wear, and handcrafted to your exact gun model. But don’t take our word for it. The LightDraw™ and Quick Draw both get a lot of love from our customers. Here’s what a few of them had to say:
“The [LightDraw] holster fits my gun and light perfectly with just the right amount of retention. It also contours tightly to my body so there's minimal printing.” - Anthony
“The [Quick Draw] holster is very comfortable and conceals the weapon nicely under a shirt … The draw is smooth and the weapon comes out quickly.” - Francis
At the end of the day, the best holster for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. Both of these OWB holsters are highly functional and durable but are very different in terms of design. In this article, we’ll cover all the differences between these two holsters to help you figure out which one will work best for your purposes.
So, let’s get into it!
Products Mentioned In This Article
Material
Material is a major factor that sets these two holsters apart. While the LightDraw™ is made entirely out of Kydex, the Quick Draw is a “hybrid” holster and features a Kydex shell with a leather backing.
Both holsters are made with high-quality Kydex, which is a lightweight yet durable thermoplastic measuring .080 inches thick. This scratch-resistant material is heat-molded to your specific gun model for a precise fit, keeping your weapon right where it should be. At Vedder Holsters, we offer dozens of Kydex colors to choose from, so you can customize your holster's color and pattern to reflect your personality. And if you order the LightDraw™, you’ll have the option to select up to two colors – one for the front and one for the back.
The Quick Draw’s backing is also somewhat customizable, as you have the choice between premium 10-12 ounce black cowhide or natural tan horsehide leather. Both leathers are long-lasting, water-resistant, and incredibly comfortable against the skin. There are differences in terms of appearance and structure, which you can learn all about in our article “Horsehide vs Cowhide: Choosing the Best Backing For Your Hybrid Holster”.
Adjustability
Adjustability is a major factor to consider when choosing a holster. For some, having adjustable features is a deal-breaker, while others aren’t interested in making these tweaks as long as the holster already comes well-oriented.
Knowing where you stand on either side of the debate is an easy way to determine which of these holster options will be better for you, as the LightDraw™ is adjustable while the Quick Draw is not.
Because the Quick Draw is a hybrid holster with a full leather backing, there is no way to adjust things like ride height, cant, or retention. That being said, the Quick Draw is designed so that your body provides the retention while it’s in use, and it comes standard with a fixed 10-degree FBI cant angle for concealment and ease of draw.
Since the LightDraw™ is made with a full Kydex shell, it offers a few more adjustment options. It features adjustable retention so you can determine exactly how much pressure will be required to draw your weapon. You can also adjust the ride height of this holster to three different levels. Finally, although this holster does not have adjustable cant, you do have the option of ordering it with a fixed 10-degree angle or straight with zero cant.
Clips
Another major difference between these two holsters is their clips (or lack thereof).
The Quick Draw holster keeps things simple. Instead of traditional metal or plastic clips, you thread your gun belt through pre-cut slots in the leather backing. Not only does this help contour the holster to your body and increase comfort, but it also effectively keeps your gun snug against your body for easier concealment.
The LightDraw™ is available with two different styles of clips, and you can choose to include one or both in your order to mix and match. The first option is a standard plastic clip that you can thread a 1.5-inch to 1.75-inch belt through. The second option is a pancake wing clip, which holds the holster closer to your body for added comfort and security.
Other Features
There are a few other things about these two holsters we thought were worth mentioning. Both the LightDraw™ and Quick Draw can be cut for red dot optics and are available for most popular gun models.
The LightDraw™ and Quick Draw also both come standard with a sweat shield, which helps keep your gun clean and sweat-free. Lastly, both of these holsters use an open front design to accommodate for extended threaded barrels and allow dirt and debris to exit the holster.
Finally, as with all of our holsters, the Quick Draw and LightDraw™ can accommodate both right- and left-handed users. During the ordering process, you’ll have the opportunity to choose which orientation you need.
Cost and Warranty
One of our priorities at Vedder Holsters is to offer our customers the best value for all their carry needs. We know that you spend your hard-earned money on a concealed carry firearm and, naturally, you want a quality holster to carry it in.
We don’t think a great product should have to cost a fortune. We also know that you typically get what you pay for. That’s why we work hard to handcraft the highest quality holsters and sell them for a reasonable price – and we do it all right here in the USA.
Our LightDraw™ OWB holster is priced at $89.99 while our Quick Draw hybrid Kydex holster is priced at $79.99. Both holsters, like all Vedder Holsters products, are backed by a 30-day risk-free trial and a lifetime guarantee.
Summary
Both the LightDraw™ and Quick Draw are outside the waistband holsters designed for open or concealed carry. Although both are excellent options, there are some distinct differences that may make one better for your needs than the other.
The Quick Draw is a hybrid holster with a Kydex shell and a wide leather backing, and it is secured to your belt with loops cut into the leather. The LightDraw™, on the other hand, is all Kydex, secures to your belt with durable plastic clips, and features adjustable retention.
If you’re looking for a new IWB, OWB, or pocket carry holster, head to our Holsters by Gun Model page for Kydex holsters that are custom-made for your weapon of choice.
Interested in items beyond holsters? Take a look at our Resources Page for links to recommended products like lights, lasers, first aid, maintenance, and more. Or, browse our selection of apparel, gun belts, and accessories. And be sure to visit our sister company, GeoGrit, to view our collection of durable, RFID-blocking minimalist wallets.
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