Safariland Receives Reader’s Choice Gold Award for Favorite Holsters from Shooting Sports Retailer

May 6, 2026
7:06 am

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Safariland's holster empire just notched another victory, clinching the Gold Award for Favorite Holsters in Shooting Sports Retailer's Reader's Choice Awards—for the second year running. This isn't some participation trophy; it's a reader-voted smackdown where everyday shooters, hunters, and concealed carriers crowned the Incog X as the top dog in 2025. And get this: they're not resting on their laurels. Teasing the Incog XS launch in tandem with Haley Strategic Partners, Safariland is doubling down on innovation that's tailor-made for the tactical crowd. In a market flooded with cookie-cutter Kydex and nylon slings, this repeat win screams reliability and real-world appeal. Dig deeper, and it's a masterclass in what the 2A community craves: holsters that vanish under street clothes without sacrificing draw speed or retention. The Incog line, with its low-profile claw and adjustable tension, has been a game-changer for appendix carry enthusiasts dodging printing on the daily. Pairing with Haley Strategic—Travis Haley's outfit known for no-BS training gear—hints at the XS being optimized for high-stakes scenarios, maybe slimmer profiles or enhanced modularity for red dots and lights. This collaboration isn't fluff; it's Safariland leveraging proven field testers to outpace competitors like Tenicor or Tier1, where ergonomics can mean the difference between a smooth draw and a fumble under stress. For gun owners, this is bullish news. Reader's Choice isn't swayed by marketing hype—it's pure user validation, signaling Safariland's dominance in a holster wars arms race fueled by rising concealed carry permits (up 10% in key states last year, per USCCA data). As anti-2A rhetoric ramps up, awards like this reinforce practical self-defense tools that lawmakers can't easily demonize. If you're building your EDC rig, the Incog X is battle-tested gold; keep eyes on the XS for next-level concealment that keeps you armed, invisible, and ready. Safariland isn't just winning awards—they're arming the resistance, one holster at a time.

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Safariland’s holster empire just notched another victory, clinching the Gold Award for Favorite Holsters in Shooting Sports Retailer’s Reader’s Choice Awards—for the second year running. This isn’t some participation trophy; it’s a reader-voted smackdown where everyday shooters, hunters, and concealed carriers crowned the Incog X as the top dog in 2025. And get this: they’re not resting on their laurels. Teasing the Incog XS launch in tandem with Haley Strategic Partners, Safariland is doubling down on innovation that’s tailor-made for the tactical crowd. In a market flooded with cookie-cutter Kydex and nylon slings, this repeat win screams reliability and real-world appeal.

Dig deeper, and it’s a masterclass in what the 2A community craves: holsters that vanish under street clothes without sacrificing draw speed or retention. The Incog line, with its low-profile claw and adjustable tension, has been a game-changer for appendix carry enthusiasts dodging printing on the daily. Pairing with Haley Strategic—Travis Haley’s outfit known for no-BS training gear—hints at the XS being optimized for high-stakes scenarios, maybe slimmer profiles or enhanced modularity for red dots and lights. This collaboration isn’t fluff; it’s Safariland leveraging proven field testers to outpace competitors like Tenicor or Tier1, where ergonomics can mean the difference between a smooth draw and a fumble under stress.

For gun owners, this is bullish news. Reader’s Choice isn’t swayed by marketing hype—it’s pure user validation, signaling Safariland’s dominance in a holster wars arms race fueled by rising concealed carry permits (up 10% in key states last year, per USCCA data). As anti-2A rhetoric ramps up, awards like this reinforce practical self-defense tools that lawmakers can’t easily demonize. If you’re building your EDC rig, the Incog X is battle-tested gold; keep eyes on the XS for next-level concealment that keeps you armed, invisible, and ready. Safariland isn’t just winning awards—they’re arming the resistance, one holster at a time.

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