Don’t get me wrong; I love leather. Leather jackets, bags and boots are some of my favorite things. However, I don’t love the feeling of sweaty leather against my skin. So many high-quality holsters are premium leather, and while they look fantastic and feel buttery soft when dry, sometimes the weather or activity level invokes some sweating!
My lifestyle is typically very active. I am always running around, hiking or adventuring. The Galco QuickTuk Cloud immediately caught my eye because of the padded, moisture wicking fabric. I knew that this holster was better suited to my lifestyle than a polymer or leather model. When I’m constantly in motion, and sometimes sweating, the last thing I want is my gun sliding around or causing me discomfort. So, I decided to put Galco’s performance mesh backing to the test.
I set out on my hike carrying my Smith and Wesson M&P Shield 9 mm. Although it might not stop a bear, it will certainly cause a human assailant to pause. The Kydex portion of the holster holds the pistol snugly while guarding the trigger completely. The holster’s backing felt just like any of my other outdoor gear’s comfortable, technical material. I climbed over rocks and ascended 2,800 feet without being bothered by my trusty firearm.
I wore the holster directly against my skin, which ended up being fine (to my surprise). It never irritated my skin as long as it was firmly pressed against my body. The padding was certainly a blessing as I was in constant motion. I bent over to examine cool rocks and snow, and I twisted every which way to take in the views, but I never dislodged the holster or felt inhibited.
When hiking, camping or exploring, having a firearm in your backpack isn’t necessarily going to help you. Things can turn sour in an instant, so on-body carry is important. Galco may have designed this holster for steamy weather, but even on a snowy October hike I was glad I had an adventure-friendly holster. I have no doubt that this holster would hold up on a summertime outdoor excursion as well.
I went on my hike alone, but the well-known trail had quite a bit of traffic. Even with just a thin tech shirt on, I wasn’t printing. The QuickTuk Cloud gave me peace of mind on this solo-hike and is now my go-to holster for errands and outdoor activities. Check out my review on the other half of my concealed carry setup: Comfort Concealment Belt.
