Best XDS Holster – Top 10 Best Rated Holsters for XD-S Review

Handguns in the Springfield Armory XD-S series are compact, slim, single stack polymer-framed pistols. Available in 9mm Luger and .45 ACP, the Springfield XD-S has become a popular choice for concealed carry. As their reputation has grown, tons of XD-S accessories have flooded the market. While this is good news for gun owners, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled this guide to finding the best XD-S holster. We’ve even included a list of our favorite XD-S holsters.

If you do not have time for the details, here are our top picks for XD-S Holsters:

1. Alien Gear Holsters Cloak Tuck – Best IWB Holster for XD-S
2. BLACKHAWK! CQC Concealment Serpa – Best OWB Holster for XD-S
3. Galco Gunleather Stow-N-Go IWB Holster – Best Concealed Carry Holster for XD-S
4. Tulster IWB Profile Holster – Best XD-S Holster for Appendix Carry
5. Alien Gear ShapeShift Ankle Holster – Best XD-S Ankle Holster
6. Sticky Holsters MD-2 Medium – Best XD-S Pocket Holster
7. DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide – Best XD-S Leather Holster
8. Concealment Express IWB – Best XD-S Kydex Holster
9. Barsony New Vertical Holster – Best XD-S Shoulder Holster
10. Pro Carry Leather SOB Gun Holster – Best XD-S SOB Holster

Best Holsters for XDS – Things to Consider

There are a number of things to consider when looking for a holster for your XD-S. Most importantly, you need to make sure the holster fits your firearm. Look for models designed specifically for the Springfield XD-S to ensure a proper and secure fit. 

Another key consideration is where on your body to carry your weapon. Personal preference and comfort are the biggest influences in determining how you plan to carry your XD-S.

While those two factors are the two most obvious concerns, here are a few other things you should consider. 

Concealment

The slim profile and compact size of the XD-S make it a perfect weapon for concealed carry. The primary concern when concealing a sidearm is printing, which is when the outline of your holster and weapon show through your clothes. If you plan to conceal your XD-S, you’ll want to look for a holster that is easy to hide under most of the items in your wardrobe. 

Comfort

If you intend to wear your holster for extended periods, comfort becomes an important feature. Look for options with soft, breathable materials and extra padding.

Weapon Retention

Retention is important for your safety and the safety of others. You never want someone else to be able pull your weapon from its holster. However, you also need to be able to easily draw your weapon if and when you need it. The balance between securing your weapon and having easy access to it is a hard balance to achieve.

Different holsters offer different levels of retention. Some allow you to adjust the retention to suit your personal preferences. Others feature locking systems that give an audible “click” to signal when the weapon is locked in place. These systems can be released quickly for rapid draw in an emergency situation. 

Another concern for gun owners is the security of their weapon during physical activity. Some people need a holster that allows them to move about without worrying that their weapon may jostle loose. Others may want to carry their sidearm while they are jogging for extra security. 

Some styles of holsters are better suited for intense physical activity than others. Make sure your preferred holster will keep your weapon secure as you go about your day. 

Best XDS Holster on the Market Review

Because the Springfield Armory XD-S series is so popular, there are tons of holsters on the market. This means you have plenty of options to choose from. However, with so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are our favorite models to help get you started. 

 1   Alien Gear Holsters Cloak Tuck – Best IWB Holster for XD-S

One of the best holsters from one of the top industry leaders, the Cloak Tuck from Alien Gear Holsters is a comfortable, convenient, tuckable IWB holster. This holster is fully adjustable, allowing you to set the retention, ride height, and cant to fit your own personal preferences. 

Perfect for concealed carry, the Cloak Tuck features a soft, breathable neoprene backing that is super comfortable to wear against your skin. It even wicks sweat away from your body to reduce skin irritation, even in hot weather. The holster also features fabric-covered edges to prevent uncomfortable rubbing and chafing during wear. 

The holster’s housing compartment is made of molded Kydex for optimal weapon retention. Constructed of layers of spring steel and woven ballistic nylon, the holster base is designed to be flexible enough to conform to the contours of your body, yet sturdy enough to last for years. 

 2   BLACKHAWK! CQC Concealment Serpa – Best OWB Holster for XD-S

The BLACKHAWK! CQC Concealment Serpa for XD-S is a truly modern holster for a truly modern weapon. Made from high-quality molded Kydex, this holster is durable enough to withstand rough use day in and day out. It is also highly versatile and includes a belt loop platform as a well as a paddle platform for easy wear with or without a belt.

Featuring BLACKHAWK’s proprietary Serpa Auto-Lock technology, this Kydex OWB holster provides a smooth, easy draw, and unmatched sidearm security. The L-shaped button is conveniently placed for easy release of the weapon in one smooth motion as you draw. It also features a unique speed-cut design that allows for rapid access to the weapon, fast target acquisition, and easy re-holstering.

 3   Galco Gunleather Stow-N-Go IWB Holster – Best Concealed Carry Holster for XD-S

This tuckable, lightweight IWB concealed carry holster from Galco has a slim, minimalist profile, making it comfortable to wear with just about anything you might choose to wear. You can use the Stow-N-Go holster with dress clothes or gym clothes, and it leaves virtually no printing. The only thing others might notice on your waist is the holster’s belt clip.

This high-quality leather concealed holster is made from premium center-cut steer hide. It has a natural cant and a metal-reinforced mouth for easy drawing and re-holstering. The modern injection-molded nylon J-clip secures the holster to your waistband and allows you to carry in a variety of positions, including 1, 2, 3, and 4 o’clock positions, as well as the 11 o’clock position for those who prefer a cross draw. 

 4   Tulster IWB Profile Holster – Best XD-S Holster for Appendix Carry

If you prefer to carry your XD-S in the 10 o’clock position, this IWB Profile holster from Tulster is a great way to do it. This holster features a full sweat shield that aids re-holstering by providing a solid indexing point. It also helps keep clothing out of the holster opening, making it near perfect for appendix carry. 

Made with minimal material, the Tulster IWB helps keep the holster from digging into your midsection, providing a much more comfortable concealed carry experience than those big, bulky holsters. 

The cant settings are simple to adjust, allowing 0-15 degrees of rotation, so you can find the perfect draw angle. We also love the positive retention “SNAP” that lets you know when your weapon is properly secured. 

 5   Alien Gear ShapeShift Ankle Holster – Best XD-S Ankle Holster

If you need deep concealment (or you prefer to use your XD-S as a back-up gun), an ankle holster is the perfect choice for the job. We highly recommend the ShapeShift ankle holster from Alien Gear. It is definitely one of the most comfortable and secure ways to ankle carry the XD-S

Comfortable enough for all-day wear, the ShapeShift features a plush, elasticized, neoprene strap. Not only is this strap comfortable, it also features Cool Vent perforations that help your skin breathe while wicking away moisture. These features help keep your cooler and drier, even in hot, humid weather.

The ShapeShift also features a two-piece design that connects a heel strap and ankle wrap  with a durable polymer insert. This gives the holster a firm spine that makes it stronger and more stable than most other ankle holsters. 

Alien Gear also backs their products with their Iron-Clad Guarantee that includes a 30-day  period to thoroughly test drive your holster. No other holster company allows you to see how their holster fits your everyday lifestyle before making a commitment.  

 6   Sticky Holsters MD-2 Medium – Best XD-S Pocket Holster

Sticky Holsters are a simple, bare-bones way to carry your XD-S. With no attached clips or straps, you can easily slip it inside your pocket (or tuck it in your waistband) for easy access to your concealed carry weapon.

The Sticky Holster gets its name from the non-slip material used on the holster’s outer skin. With a small amount of pressure, this tacky rubber material will stick to just about anything, including the inside of your pocket. The interior of the holster features a closed-cell foam lining. Both of these materials work together to keep your pistol from shifting around as you move around throughout the day.  

 7   DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide – Best XD-S Leather Holster

DeSantis is well-known for their top-quality leather holsters. They use premium saddle leather and mold it using sharp detail to produce a snug and secure fit for your XD-S pistol. The Thumb Break Mini Slide is one of their top sellers and features a secure thumb break and an adjustable tension device, providing excellent weapon retention in almost any situation. 

The Thumb Break Mini Slide is made with large dual belt slots for a secure OWB fit. This is a stylish and classy holster that is perfect for open carry applications. The only thing we don’t like about this holster is that the cant is not adjustable. However, we don’t consider that a deal breaker. 

 8   Concealment Express IWB – Best XD-S Kydex Holster

This IWB Kydex holster from Concealment Express is one of the finest IWB holsters on the market. It has a simple, minimalist design that makes it easy to use and a breeze to conceal. The slim profile allows you to slip it into your waistband with an untucked shirt and no one will ever know it’s there.

This high-quality holster features a special undercut trigger guard to keep the stiff Kydex from interfering with your draw speed. The holster is made with a full-length sweat guard and a rear sight shield to protect your XD-S from excessive sweat, even on hot summer days. 

Concealment Express manufacturers their holsters from start to finish in the good old USA using only American-made equipment and machinery. They also stand behind their products with an unconditional lifetime warranty.

 9   Barsony New Vertical Holster – Best XD-S Shoulder Holster

Although leather is the traditional material for shoulder holsters, we appreciate the lightweight material used in this Barsony Vertical Shoulder Holster. Made from durable Cordura nylon, this holster won’t tear or scuff, making it ideal for everyday wear. It is also light enough to wear comfortably under a jacket or coat for extended periods. 

Since no two shooters are built exactly the same, we also appreciate that the Barsony holster has fully adjustable straps, allowing you to adjust for chest size and height preference. We admit getting the fit just right on this one can be a bit tricky. But once you get it properly adjusted, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable synthetic shoulder holster for your XD-S.

 10   Pro Carry Leather SOB Gun Holster – Best XD-S SOB Holster

If you prefer to carry your self-defense weapon at the small of your back (SOB) for easy concealment, a good SOB holsterf can make all the difference when it comes to comfort and accessibility. While you may be able to get by with a standard IWB holster, it can cause problems in your draw angle, as well as potential back injury in the event of a fall.

This high-quality leather holster from Pro Carry is specially engineered for SOB carry. Perfectly canted to provide just the right angle for SOB access, this holster allows you to draw in one smooth and fluid motion. 

The leather is perfectly molded to provide excellent weapon retention, even during vigorous physical activity. As a bonus, you can use this holster for front wear cross draw. 

Final Thoughts

No matter which style of holster you choose for your XD-S, spend some time becoming familiar with it. Practice drawing and re-holstering your weapon until you can complete both tasks smoothly and without fumbling. 

Your holster is intended to hold your weapon until you need it. However, if you have trouble releasing your weapon from the holster in an emergency situation, your holster is more of a hindrance than a help. Practice is the best way to smooth out those wrinkles before you find yourself in a high-stress situation.

There are tons of holsters to choose from. Ultimately, the best XDS holster is one you feel comfortable and confident using to carry your weapon. The options on our list allow you to safely and comfortably do just that.