The Holster That Broke The Wingman's Back

         Let’s face it we’ve all been there before, at least us gun folks. We’ve waited weeks on end for the “perfect” holster to arrive after countless amounts of research trying to decipher through the flooded kydex holster market, to only be mildly content for a couple weeks and then on to the next holster hunt. This feeling brings me to the start of what you know today as Wingman Holsters. A couple years back I waited more than two months for a holster I felt I spent too much money on from a HUGELY known kydex company still present today. Only to be disappointed with the quality when it arrived. I was shocked at the lack of care and thought process that went into making it. The edges were rough and sharp. The overall size wasn’t shaped well and the holster had a lot of unnecessary material and the fit was merely just okay. It was clear the company didn’t take the time to hand buff all the edges for a smooth look and comfortable carry. I couldn’t believe that a company had made it this big with such an entry level holster. I didn’t let my disappointment turn into defeat, instead I let it inspire determination. I knew if I learned right I could produce a better quality product that the market needed and deserved. At this moment Wingman Holsters was born.

         For the first couple years I played it as a hobby and side gig, learning and growing from every holster, but a year ago I discovered another need. I was using a process called foam pressing, which is pretty standard and what about 90% of the holsters in circulation are made from. But I quickly learned of a new technology rising that created far superior holsters. Membrane-less Vacuum Forming. The draw back? The conversion process was seriously pricey and for good reasons. The process alone took a vast amount of time to not just learn but to be confident in, it was a whole new ball game. The unique splitboard molds are all CNC cut and made to exact specifications of each firearm. The process uses a larger piece of kydex meaning more cost and more waste. (Don’t worry guys we recycle all our kydex scraps!) Overall the number of different molds you need for each gun model about tripled. I knew if I was going to stay and thrive in the market I only wanted to do so if I could be one of the best. I knew I wasn’t fine with offering just okay products to our consumers when their was something better for near the same cost. With this in mind we fully converted to vacuum forming and have been working full force at Wingman Holsters to be one the best small American companies in the kydex industry.

        Our process: In doing some consumer research I came to realize that there's very little information on vacuum forming for customers to understand and learn the benefits. The first thing to note is there is actually too different methods to doing it, one being vacuum forming and the other being membrane-less vacuum forming. The main difference between the two is standard vacuum forming uses a silicone mat(membrane) that is laid over the hot piece of kydex before pressing. With membrane-less vacuum forming it is simply that, no membrane laid over top before pressing. The difference in results is that with membrane-less forming you are able to get a much better definition overall in the holster. This can result to less wear and tear on your firearm in the long run, better retention and overall the best fit and finish you can get. 

 

So why would a company go through all the trouble and expense to vacuum form and then choose to use the silicone membrane resulting in less definition? Cost.
When a company uses a mat over top of the piece of kydex they are able to use a much smaller piece or scrap piece of kydex, while without the mat it does require a larger piece to seal properly. For us at Wingman the extra profit we could make on a holster from using a membrane isn't worth the quality we would be sacrificing to our consumers on the other end. Only about 10% of kydex makers in the industry are vacuum forming and only about another 5% roughly are membrane-less vacuum forming. My first question in determining to buy from a holster company would be on what process they use, do they buff all their edges and overall is it the most minimal design it can be? Have you ever looked inside you holster? Like really looked? I did some comparisons the other day and even though I know the difference in the processes I was still shocked at how visibly different they were.

 

 

A sight channel Comparison.

The inside difference.

An overview of the definition difference.

       At the end of the day what's important to us is seeing a consumer with a quality holster that provides good safe retention and a comfortable carry. We aim to educate customers on the holster making process and continue to offer some of the best holsters money can buy. We do this with the American gun owner in mind, the more good people out there that carry a gun, the safer our Country will become. At Wingman Holsters we offer a lifetime warranty and 30 day money back guarantee on all of our holsters because we truly believe in our craftsmanship and are proud to be in the 5%. And that’s our story.

           -Wingman Holsters