The Best Hellcat Holsters in 2024

We’ve reviewed the best holsters for the Springfield Hellcat, a popular carry gun. Our top picks include the Concealment Express IWB Kydex holster for its low profile and durability, and the Tulster Oath for its versatility with red dot sights. For a modular option, the Alien Gear Holsters Shapeshift Core Carry Pack offers great durability and flexibility.

The ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band Holster is our choice for breathability and comfort, while the Desantis Nemesis Pocket Holster stands out for its smooth draw and comfort. Each holster is chosen for specific needs, ensuring a reliable, comfortable, and efficient carry experience.

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The Springfield Hellcat has quickly become one of the most popular new carry guns on the market, and with good reason. Springfield has, by all accounts, hit it out of the park with their latest offering, and shooters are taking notice.

Of course, even the best carry gun can be held back by a sub-par holster.

To help Hellcat owners avoid this common problem, we got our hands on all the most popular holsters for Springfield’s new Wonder Nine and tested them to see which ones worked and which didn’t. Let’s look at the best holsters for the Springfield Hellcat that are currently on the market, and then we’ll go into how to choose the best one to meet your specific needs.

Also Read: 9 Best Glock 19 Holsters in 2022

The Best Holsters for the Springfield Hellcat

Concealment Express IWB Kydex holster – Best IWB Holster

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The Concealment Express IWB Kydex Holster is one of my all-around favorite holsters, and you’ll find it on almost all of my lists of holster recommendations. 

It’s simple, but it has all the essential features in a holster without wasting anything on unnecessary features. I’m a simple man, and that’s what I like in a holster.

This holster is made from .08-inch thick Kydex, making it lightweight, low profile, and durable. It features passive adjustable retention with an audible click when your pistol is completely holstered. 

It also features adjustable cant from -5° to 20°. The 1.5-inch belt clip is fiber reinforced, and the holster can be worn for the strong side, cross draw, hip, back, and appendix carry. To make printing even less of an issue, you can pair this holster with the Concealment Express Holster Claw Kit, which pushes the holster closer to your body for more discreet wear. 

The Concealment Express IWB Kydex holster has an overcut open face to allow for threaded barrels and accommodates suppressor height sights. The undercut trigger guard makes drawing easier while simultaneously providing complete trigger coverage.

Pros

• Low profile
• Durable
• Adjustable retention and cant
• You can use it with the Concealment Express Holster Claw Kit 

Cons:

• It may be a bit uncomfortable, like most Kydex IWB holsters

Tulster Oath – Best Holster for the Hellcat RDP

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The Tulster Oath is another favorite IWB holster of mine. Still, this one is distinct from the Concealment Express IWB Kydex holster in that it’s cut low along the slide to accommodate a red dot, meaning one can use it with the Hellcat RDP or the Hellcat with whatever pistol red dot you prefer. Of course, you can also use it with a Hellcat with just the standard sights. 

The Oath is even slimmer than the Concealment Express, with Kydex just a single millimeter thick. 

Like the Concealment Express, you can use the Oath with a claw to push the holster closer to the body. Unlike the Concealment Express, the claw comes with the holster by default. 

It’s also ambidextrous, so it’s great for both right- and left-handed shooters. It’s designed for appendix carry and comes with two different types of clips as well as two types of belt loops. 

In addition, the Tulster Oath is excellent for adjustability. You can adjust not just the cant and retention but also the ride height. 

Pros

• Very low profile
• It comes with a claw for even better concealment
• Versatile design

Cons

• Changing the cant angle can be a little tricky

Alien Gear Holsters Shapeshift Core Carry Pack – Best Modular Holster System

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Next, we have something a little bit different. Strictly speaking, the Alien Gear Shapeshift Core Carry Pack isn’t just one holster; it’s a modular system that you can customize for almost any popular carry gun.

It works because you have a holster shell and then the holster itself that the shell mounts to. This means you can have a holster shell that fits your Hellcat and mount it on your preferred style of Alien Gear holster (IWB, OWB, ankle, shoulder, etc.) as long as it’s Shapeshift-compatible.

So if you’re the type of person who likes to vary the way they carry based on the demands of your day or what you’re wearing, this is an excellent option. If you want to switch up what you’re carrying, this is the best option out there. 

If you have a Hellcat, it works for that. Same for your Glock, SIG, Beretta, CZ, 1911, and more. All you have to do is swap out the shells, and you’re ready to carry a different gun. You could also swap the shell to a different holster body, and you’re ready to carry with a different holster.

The Core Kit here includes the IWB holster, appendix-carry holster, OWB belt slide, and an OWB paddle holster. Then all you need to do is choose the Hellcat shell, and you can start carrying it in various ways.

Pros

• The most versatile holster on the market
• Incredibly durable and comfortable
• Very cost-effective vs. buying multiple individual holsters

Cons

• A bit of an overkill if you’re just looking for a Hellcat holster with no other guns in your carry rotation or plans to buy more in the future.

ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band Holster – Best Belly Band

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Suppose you like the idea of a belly band. In that case, the ComfortTac Ultimate belly band is a great option, especially if you usually find IWB holsters uncomfortable or like to wear gym shorts or sweatpants frequently. 

Belly bands are also great for runners who want to stay armed while out jogging or what have you, as the belly band holds the gun very snugly to your body and keeps it from bouncing around. 

The ComfortTac Ultimate uses an elastic pouch with a snap-on retention strap to hold everything in place. That strap is also surrounded by leather to provide durability and support and completely cover the trigger guard once the snap is locked down.

The rest of the band is made primarily from a perforated neoprene, which allows the holster to breathe well and keeps you from sweating into it, as is common with other belly bands that feature a solid strap that goes around your middle. 

I also really like that the strap truly blocks access to the trigger guard, which is something that many other belly bands like. It’s clear that ComfortTac has put some serious thought into improving the standard belly band design, both in terms of comfort and effectiveness. 

Pros

• Good trigger coverage
• Additional storage for mags or other small items
• Most breathable belly band on the market

Cons

• Belly bands are best suited for thinner folks

Desantis Nemesis Pocket Holster – Best Pocket Holster

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If you’re planning to carry your Hellcat in your pocket for deep concealment and ultimate convenience, I wholeheartedly recommend the Desantis Nemesis Pocket Holster. 

The Hellcat is an excellent gun for pocket carry for most folks, and the Nemesis is one of the best pocket carry holsters on the planet, so I’m thrilled the folks at DeSantis got this one rolled out quickly. 

It’s a very simple design that feats nicely into either front pocket, and it is very low-profile and comfortable, so you likely won’t notice you’re carrying a gun until you need it. It provides complete trigger guard coverage, is well-padded, and is water and sweat-resistant to boot.

The inside of the holster is a very smooth material that won’t wear the finish on your gun (not like Kydex or leather), and the outside is made of a grippy material that helps to keep the holster firmly in your pocket when you draw. 

Lastly, the way the holster is cut around the grip allows you to get as much of your hand on it as possible when you draw. This way, you’re not fumbling and adjusting too much once the gun is out of your pocket in a high-stress situation.

Drawing from any holster when your adrenaline is up can be tricky, which is why most of us practice our draw extensively. A pocket carry holster is maybe the second hardest holster to draw smoothly from, only coming in ahead of an ankle holster.

With the Nemesis, you can tell DeSantis put some serious thought into the draw and made a pocket carry holster that fixes this problem as much as possible. This really is the ultimate pocket holster, and I’m delighted it’s available for the Hellcat.

Pros

• Incredible comfortable and convenient carry option
• Can accommodate a red dot
• One of the smoothest draws of any pocket holster

Cons

• Not everyone has pockets big enough to carry the Hellcat (sorry, ladies)

CYTAC Polymer OWB Holster

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The Cytac Polymer OWB Holsters is one of my favorite budget-friendly holsters, as is the similar IWB version. 

It’s a simple paddle holster, which I love because it doesn’t need a belt. That, plus the fact that it’s very lightweight, means it’s excellent for quickly slipping on sweat pants or gym shorts (as long as you can tie them securely) to take the dog out or similar. I have a buddy who lived on a big piece of property in a rural area where feral dogs and hogs could be a problem, so he carried this holster every time he left the house at night, just in case. 

With that said, if you can wear a belt with it, that does make it more secure, thanks to the notches designed to secure around a belt. If you’re looking to EDC, I’d definitely wear it with a belt. 

Since it’s an OWB holster, that’s probably not what I’d recommend it for, but some of you live in open carry states or just don’t mind the extra work (and layers) required to conceal an OWB holster.

It uses active retention, you just have to press a button to release the weapon. It also has adjustable cant to allow you to choose the perfect draw angle. 

Pros

• Very light
• Comfortable
• No belt required
• Easy to slip on and off

Cons

• Not very concealable

Relentless Tactical Defender Leather Holster

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Most of the other holsters on this list are made of Kydex, and all the other IWB holsters are. But leather is a classic, so I had to include a leather IWB holster. And when it comes to leather IWB holsters, my favorite is the Relentless Tactical Defender Leather Holster.

The soft, bull hide exterior is far softer against your skin than Kydex and could even be worn against bare skin. The belt clip and the hardware that attaches it to the holster are the only metal bit. Everything else is stitched together. 

And it’s still very durable, especially if you care for the leather properly.

It’s also a nice-looking choice, with leather finishes available in Charred Oak, Whiskey Barrel Brown (my favorite), and Midnight Black. 

It’s not ambidextrous, but it is available in both right-handed and left-handed versions. 

Finally, for those who like to prioritize that sort of thing, The Defender is made in the United States.

Pros

• Classic style
• Multiple leather finishes to choose from
• Incredibly comfortable, especially for an IWB holster
• It can be used with other similarly sized firearms, like the SIG P365 or the Glock 42

Cons

• Not specific to the Hellcat, so it’s not as form fitting

Tulster Profile Holster

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Next up on our list of recommended holsters for the Springfield Hellcat is the Tulster Profile Holster. 

The Profile is an excellent holster in general, but its versatility is the main reason it has earned its spot on this list.  You can carry it not just in the appendix position but also on the hip and behind the hip, so it’s great if you’d like a few different options out of a single holster. You can even use this holster with a belt clip or a soft loop for even more options. 

The cant is adjustable from 0° to 30° to work with those different positions. You can adjust the retention just by using a Phillips screwdriver rather than needing a specialized tool. 

It’s also quite comfortable for an IWB holster with a high sweat guard. The undercut grip is also useful, making it easier to get a positive grip on your Hellcat. 

Finally, being made of 0.8-inch thick Kydex, the Tulster Profile holster is also low-profile and durable, so it’s great for everyday concealed carry. 

Pros

• Low profile
• Adjustable cant
• Allows for versatile carry positions
• You can use it with a belt clip or loop

Cons

• It doesn’t allow for use with a red dot

DeSantis Die Hard Ankle Rig

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Ankle holsters are not my favorite for a primary handgun, but sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, and ankle holsters can be a good choice for a backup gun, and subcompacts like the Hellcat are also popular backup guns. 

But whatever reason you’re opting to ankle carry your Hellcat, I suggest doing so with the DeSantis Die Hard Ankle Rig. 

It’s a simple ankle holster that was initially designed for law enforcement (and yes, the name is a reference to the 1988 film starring Bruce Willis). It consists of a neoprene band that loops around your ankle and a molded leather shell to house your Hellcat. The band is padded and backed with sheepskin for comfort.

The leather has a PU coating to provide water resistance and general protection from the elements. A strap around the back of the gun provides retention and secures it in place with a snap. 

You can release the snap with a thumb. It’s not as fast to disengage as a passive retention holster or the CYTAC’s manual button, but ankle holsters generally aren’t exactly quick draw friendly. 

The holster already feels pretty secure around your ankle, but if you’d like extra support, it comes with a calf strap that you can use like a garter to help keep it in place. 

Pros

• Secure, especially for an ankle holster
• Very comfortable, especially for an ankle holster
• Low risk of printing, particularly if you don’t cross your legs
• Great for a backup gone

Cons

• Not ambidextrous
• Hard to draw from quickly

Tulster Contour OWB Holster

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Our last recommendation is another option from Tulster, this time an IWB holster.

Tulster designed the Contour to be very concealable despite the OWB design. Paired with the petite Hellcat, if there was ever an OWB setup that could pull off concealed carry, this is it. This thing practically disappears under a longer jacket or even a long shirt.

The OWB design makes drawing quick and easy, and Tulster’s design of the Contour keeps the gun riding high. This goes a long way to keeping that draws fast and smooth, but it also makes the whole rig much more concealable, especially if you’re dressed for it.

All you have to do is run your belt through the holster’s loops, and you’re ready to go. This does make removing the holster a bit of a process, but nothing too difficult. Just something to keep in mind whenever you go to the bathroom. 

The Contour is also sized for an optic, so if you have a red dot mounted on your Hellcat, this could be a great option, especially if you’re worried about the optic poking into you or otherwise being uncomfortable when you’re seated or moving around.

Pros

• Fast-drawing holster design
• Minimal thickness on the holster body (lightweight, less likely to be uncomfortable)
• Can accommodate red dot optics

Cons

• Less concealable than an inside-the-waistband option

Also Read: 7 Best Handgun for Beginner

Buying Guide

Choosing the right Hellcat holster involves considering material, type, comfort, and accessibility. Look for durable materials like Kydex for longevity. Decide between IWB, OWB, ankle, or pocket carry styles based on personal preference and typical attire. Comfort is crucial for everyday carry, so ensure the holster fits well and doesn’t chafe. Lastly, it should allow for quick and easy access to the firearm in emergencies.

There are a few things to make sure you’re taking into consideration when choosing a holster for your Springfield Hellcat.                                                                                                     

Holster Type & Carry Location

One of the most essential factors you must consider when choosing a holster is how you want to carry it. There are many options out there, each with pros and cons. 

IWB (inside waistband) holsters are by far the most common. These holsters are, as you can probably guess from the name, worn on the inside of the waistband. They connect to the waistband with belt clips.

There are tons of IWB holsters to choose from, and they’re easy to conceal and place your Hellcat, so it’s easy to access. On the other hand, they’re not always the most comfortable since they put your gun right up against your body. Some have features like sweat guards and soft or padded back panels, especially the more expensive ones, to make the holster comfier. However, you’ll still generally want to at least wear an undershirt between your body and the holster to make it more comfortable.

However, there are far more types of holsters than just IWB holsters, and since the Hellcat is so small, you can take advantage of most of them with relative ease. Other popular holster types for the Springfield Hellcat include OWB (outside waistband) holsters, belly bands, pocket holsters, and ankle holsters. Still, you can get just about any holster type for your Hellcat. 

Comfort

We already talked about comfort in the context of IWB holsters, but I want to go into a little more detail.

It’s easy to discount how important comfort is for a holster but don’t. Even a minor discomfort, like slight rubbing, can become a major irritation over time. And if your holster is irritating to wear, will you? 

That may be fine for occasional wear, but the Hellcat is a carry weapon designed for EDC. And an EDC holster that’s annoying to wear won’t be worn. 

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell if a holster will be comfortable until you try it on, especially since what’s comfortable for one person may be irritating as hell for someone else. Buy a holster with a good return policy, then try it out around your house for a while to see how comfortable it is for you. If you don’t like it, send it back and try something else. 

Trigger Coverage

Next, we need to talk about a few essential safety features.

It’s imperative that any holster completely covers your gun’s trigger to prevent accidental discharges. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is.

Despite its importance, far too many holsters still don’t provide adequate trigger coverage. All of the holsters that I’ve selected for this list do, but you should still make a habit of confirming adequate trigger coverage when shopping for holsters.

Retention

Like trigger coverage, adequate retention is essential. You should be able to rotate your holster in any direction, and your gun should stay securely in place.

Holsters use either active retention or passive retention. The former means that the holster uses a physical barrier to prevent the gun from slipping out of the holster, usually a strap that snaps into place. This is a popular choice for leather and nylon holsters. 

The latter means the holster uses friction and is more common with Kydex holsters. All that means is you have to do is pull your gun hard enough to overcome that friction. 

This makes passive retention holsters generally faster to draw from than active retention holsters, but if they’re not securely in place, and especially if the retention level is set to high, you may accidentally draw the holster with the gun. Well-made passive retention holsters are designed to attach securely enough that this isn’t a problem. 

Positive Grip

Your holster should also allow you to draw with a positive grip easily. That simply means it positions your Hellcat so you can easily draw it in a ready-to-shoot position. Pretty straightforward but very important.

Durability

Probably unsurprisingly, your holster should be durable.

Most holsters are made from Kydex, leather, nylon, or some combination of these, so as long as the stitching and hardware are well done, durability shouldn’t be an issue. 

Still, you should also practice good maintenance to keep your holster in its best possible condition. Keep your holster clean and dry. Treat leather according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check hardware regularly for signs of corrosion. 

Concealability

Again, the Hellcat is a carry gun, so most owners probably intend on carrying it. Most of those people probably want to concealed carry, so they need a holster that helps with that.

Fortunately, because the Hellcat is already relatively small, it’s pretty easy to conceal, and holsters for it don’t need to have a lot of bulk. 

Concealability largely depends on the type, with IWB holsters, shoulder holsters, and belly bands being some of the most concealable. Ankle holsters and pocket holsters are also good options in terms of concealability, especially if they have padding or other features to help break up printing. 

FAQs

Also Read: Best Concealed Carry Holsters

Final Thoughts

The Springfield Hellcat is a great gun that deserves an equally impressive holster, and hopefully, now you are armed with all the knowledge you need to make that pairing happen. 

If you’re having trouble deciding, our top overall pick is still the Concealment Express IWB Kydex holster, simply because it’s a good middle-of-the-road option that is the most likely to work for the most people. That said, all the holsters on this list are great, and another might be better for you.

Whichever one you go with, we know it will serve you well, and we hope you enjoy carrying with it for years to come.