Last updated October 15th 2026
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The Glock 43X is one of the most popular carry guns in America, so you’d think finding a holster would be easy. It is, right up until you order one that doesn’t close over your red dot, won’t fit around the rail you didn’t know your gun had, or was molded for a Glock 43 with a shorter grip.
So this guide starts with fit. On October 15, 2026 our price feeds from 200+ retailers carried 256 in-stock Glock 43X holster listings from 25 brands. We read what each one claims to fit, then picked twelve that cover every common way to carry a 43X, and priced each on the live cards below.
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Best Glock 43X Holsters at a Glance
| Holster | Best for | Carry style | Light | Price on October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safariland Species IWB | Best Overall | Inside the waistband | No | About $55 to $66 |
| We The People Red Dot Ready | Best for a 43X MOS With a Red Dot | Inside the waistband | Separate TLR-7 Sub version listed | About $60 to $70 |
| Alien Gear Photon | Best Value With a Light Option | Inside or outside the waistband | Yes, separate versions | About $45 to $50 |
| C&G Holsters Tactical IWB (TLR-7 Sub) | Best Light-Bearing Kydex | Inside the waistband | Yes, TLR-7 Sub | About $80 |
| Henry Holsters Flint Compact | Best Appendix Holster | Appendix inside the waistband | No | About $80 |
| T.Rex Arms Sidecar | Best With a Spare Magazine Attached | Appendix with attached magazine carrier | Check the listing | About $150 |
| Mission First Tactical Hybrid | Best Hybrid for All-Day Comfort | Inside the waistband | No | About $46 to $65 |
| DeSantis Mini Slide | Best Leather OWB | Outside the waistband | No | About $58 to $68 |
| 1791 Gunleather Tactical Kydex Paddle | Best OWB Paddle | Outside the waistband, paddle | No | About $62 to $71 |
| Blackpoint Tactical Mini Wing (Railed) | Best for a Railed 43X | Inside the waistband, twin clips | No | About $102 |
| Raven Concealment VanGuard 2 | Best Minimalist Holster | Minimalist IWB | No | About $20 to $50 |
| Sticky Holsters Optics Ready Pocket | Best Pocket Holster | No | About $26 to $28 |
Check Three Things Before You Buy a 43X Holster
A 43X holster has to match your gun, not just the model name. These three details decide whether a holster fits.
1. Does your 43X have a rail?
GLOCK’s current G43X is sold as the G43X Rail, and in GLOCK’s own description its frame “features the GLOCK Mounting rail slim for mounting tactical accessories.” The G43X MOS carries the slim rail too. Earlier 43Xs had a plain dust cover. Some holsters fit both, but makers like Blackpoint list a separate railed version, so look at the underside of your frame before you order.
2. Do you run a red dot?
The 43X MOS has optic cuts in the slide, and a holster has to leave room for the dot you mount. 46 of the 256 listings we found named the MOS, and 32 said red dot or optic ready. No optic means you can ignore this.
3. Do you carry a light?
Light-bearing listings name the light they fit, most often the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub (27 listings) or the TLR-6 (17). The TLR-7 Sub needs the slim rail. The TLR-6 clamps around the trigger guard, so it works on rail-less guns. A light-bearing holster fits one light, so buy the version that names yours.
| Your gun | What to look for in the listing |
|---|---|
| 43X, no rail, no optic | “Glock 43X” or “43/43X”. Most holsters work. |
| 43X Rail (current production) | A railed version if the maker offers one. |
| 43X MOS with a red dot | “MOS”, “red dot ready” or “optic cut”. |
| Any 43X with a light | The exact light model, such as TLR-7 Sub or TLR-6. |
| 43X and a Glock 48 | An open-bottom holster listed for both (32 listings did). |
Want to set up the rest of the gun? Our Glock 43X parts and accessories guide covers magazines, sights, triggers and red dots, and the Glock 43X review covers the gun itself.
1. Safariland Species IWB: Best Overall
- Fits: Glock 43 and 43X
- Carry style: Inside the waistband
- Material: Polymer laminate
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: Check the listing
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $55 to $66
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 5 / 5 |
| Value | 4 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- From a duty holster maker
- Fits both the 43 and 43X
- Sold by Palmetto State Armory
Cons
- Not cut for a light
- Check optic clearance before buying
- Plain looks next to custom Kydex
Safariland build holsters for police departments, and the Species is what that experience looks like scaled down to a concealment IWB. It’s the pick I’d hand someone who just bought a 43X and doesn’t want to think about holsters again for a few years.
It’s cut for both the Glock 43 and the 43X, which is common in this category, and Palmetto State Armory had the right-hand black version at $54.99 on October 15, 2026. Multicam versions ran about $10 more.
The one thing to check is your gun. If you run a red dot on a 43X MOS, confirm the listing you buy says it clears an optic before you order, because that’s the most common way a good holster ends up in a drawer.
Best For: Most 43X owners carrying inside the waistband without a light.
2. We The People Red Dot Ready: Best for a 43X MOS With a Red Dot
- Fits: Glock 43 and 43X, red dot cut
- Carry style: Inside the waistband
- Material: Kydex
- Light bearing: Separate TLR-7 Sub version listed
- Red dot: Yes
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $60 to $70
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Cut to clear a red dot
- Many colors at Palmetto State Armory
- Light-bearing version also listed
Cons
- Patterns cost $10 extra
- Left-hand stock is thinner
- Busy prints show through light shirts
If your 43X is a MOS with a dot on it, this is where I’d start. We The People cut this holster to clear a red dot, which sounds basic, and is exactly the detail a lot of cheaper Kydex skips.
Palmetto State Armory listed the plain black version at $59.99 on October 15, 2026, with printed patterns at $69.99. Sportsman’s Warehouse had a version cut for a Streamlight TLR-7 Sub at $59.99 as well, which covers the light-and-dot setup without a jump in price.
Best For: Glock 43X MOS owners running a red dot inside the waistband.
3. Alien Gear Photon: Best Value With a Light Option
- Fits: Glock 43, 43X and 43X MOS (light versions listed for TLR-6 and TLR-7 Sub)
- Carry style: Inside or outside the waistband
- Material: Polymer
- Light bearing: Yes, separate versions
- Red dot: MOS versions listed
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $45 to $50
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Converts between IWB and OWB
- Light-bearing versions cost the same
- Ambidextrous shell
Cons
- Polymer, not hand-formed Kydex
- Pick the exact light version
- Bulkier than minimalist holsters
The Photon is the cheapest route into a light-bearing 43X holster, and that’s why it’s on the list. Alien Gear list it in plain, TLR-6 and TLR-7 versions, all at $49.99 at MidwayUSA and Optics Planet on October 15, 2026, with a plain version at GrabAGun for $44.99.
Get the light version that matches your light, because the two lights mount completely differently. A TLR-6 clamps around the trigger guard and works on a rail-less 43X, while a TLR-7 Sub needs the slim rail found on GLOCK’s current 43X models.
Best For: Budget carry with a weapon light, or anyone who wants one holster for IWB and OWB.
4. C&G Holsters Tactical IWB (TLR-7 Sub): Best Light-Bearing Kydex
- Fits: Glock 43 and 43X with a Streamlight TLR-7 Sub
- Carry style: Inside the waistband
- Material: Kydex
- Light bearing: Yes, TLR-7 Sub
- Red dot: Check the listing
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $80
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 5 / 5 |
| Value | 4 / 5 |
| Availability | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Molded around the TLR-7 Sub
- Proper Kydex, not injection polymer
- OWB twin also listed
Cons
- Needs a railed 43X for the light
- One retailer in today’s feeds
- Light adds length to conceal
Once you hang a TLR-7 Sub off a 43X, you need a holster molded around the light, and C&G’s Tactical IWB is the tidiest Kydex option in our feeds. MidwayUSA had the right-hand version at $79.99 on October 15, 2026.
Remember that the TLR-7 Sub needs a rail. GLOCK’s current G43X and G43X MOS both carry the slim mounting rail; if yours is an early, rail-less 43X, this isn’t your holster, and the Alien Gear Photon’s TLR-6 version is.
Best For: Railed 43X owners carrying a TLR-7 Sub every day.
5. Henry Holsters Flint Compact: Best Appendix Holster
- Fits: Glock 43, 43X and 48
- Carry style: Appendix inside the waistband
- Material: Boltaron
- Light bearing: No (Ember model is light-bearing)
- Red dot: Check the listing
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $80
| Concealment | 5 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 4 / 5 |
| Availability | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Built for appendix carry
- DCC Monoblock clip hides well
- Also fits the Glock 48
Cons
- Partial sweat guard only
- Light version is a separate model
- Appendix carry takes practice
Appendix carry is where the 43X shines, and the Flint Compact is built for it. It’s a Boltaron shell with a partial sweat guard and a DCC Monoblock clip, which sits flatter on a belt than a standard clip and helps the grip tuck in.
MidwayUSA listed it at $80.10 on October 15, 2026, cut for the Glock 43, 43X and 48. If you carry a light, Henry’s Ember model is the light-bearing sibling.
Best For: Appendix carriers who want a dedicated AIWB holster that disappears.
6. T.Rex Arms Sidecar: Best With a Spare Magazine Attached
- Fits: Glock 43X
- Carry style: Appendix with attached magazine carrier
- Material: Kydex
- Light bearing: Check the listing
- Red dot: Check the listing
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $150
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 3 / 5 |
| Availability | 3 / 5 |
Pros
- Gun and spare mag together
- Spreads the load across the belt
- Known appendix specialist
Cons
- Costs twice most picks here
- One retailer in today’s feeds
- Wide footprint for slim waists
The Sidecar puts a spare magazine right next to the gun in one rig, which is a good fit for a 43X because its magazines are slim enough not to add much bulk. It’s an appendix design from T.Rex Arms, a company that built its name on exactly this kind of carry.
It’s also the most expensive pick here, at $150 from SCHEELS on October 15, 2026. You’re paying for the integrated mag carrier and the design work; if you never carry a reload, the Henry Flint is half the price.
Best For: Appendix carriers who always carry a reload and want it attached.
7. Mission First Tactical Hybrid: Best Hybrid for All-Day Comfort
- Fits: Glock 43 and 43X
- Carry style: Inside the waistband
- Material: Leather backing with Kydex or Boltaron shell
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: Check the listing
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $46 to $65
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 5 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Leather backing against your skin
- Ambidextrous shell
- Sold by Palmetto State Armory
Cons
- Bulkier than single-layer Kydex
- Leather takes time to break in
- No light-bearing version listed
Hybrid holsters pair a leather backer against your body with a molded shell for the gun, and they’re the comfortable choice for long days. The MFT Hybrid fits the 43 and 43X and ran from about $46 at MidwayUSA to $64.99 at Palmetto State Armory on October 15, 2026.
The tradeoff is width. A hybrid is a little bigger than a single-layer Kydex holster, so it’s easier to print in summer clothes. For most people, that’s worth it for a holster you actually keep wearing.
Best For: All-day IWB carry where comfort beats the last bit of concealment.
8. DeSantis Mini Slide: Best Leather OWB
- Fits: Glock 43, 43X and 48 (MOS versions listed with or without a red dot)
- Carry style: Outside the waistband
- Material: Leather
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: Yes on MOS versions
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $58 to $68
| Concealment | 3 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Classic leather belt slide
- Rides high and tight
- Fits the 43, 43X and 48
Cons
- OWB needs a cover garment
- Leather needs breaking in
- No light-bearing version
A leather belt slide is the most comfortable way to carry a small gun outside the waistband, and DeSantis has been making the Mini Slide for years. It pulls the 43X tight to your side under a jacket or an untucked shirt.
Palmetto State Armory listed it at $67.99 in tan on October 15, 2026, with another retailer at $57.87. DeSantis also list MOS versions with or without a red dot, so check the listing if you run an optic.
Best For: Outside-the-waistband carry under a jacket, and anyone who prefers leather.
9. 1791 Gunleather Tactical Kydex Paddle: Best OWB Paddle
- Fits: Glock 43, 43X and 43X MOS
- Carry style: Outside the waistband, paddle
- Material: Kydex
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: MOS cut
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $62 to $71
| Concealment | 3 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Paddle on and off in seconds
- Cut for the 43X MOS
- Palmetto State Armory stocks it
Cons
- Paddles print more than belt loops
- Not a deep concealment holster
- Right-hand most common in stock
A paddle holster slips over your waistband without threading your belt, which makes it the easy choice for the range, the truck or a quick trip out. The 1791 Tactical Kydex Paddle is cut for the 43X MOS and listed as compatible with the 43 and 43X too.
Palmetto State Armory had it at $61.99 on October 15, 2026, the same price as most of the other retailers carrying it.
Best For: Range days and open carry where convenience beats concealment.
10. Blackpoint Tactical Mini Wing (Railed): Best for a Railed 43X
- Fits: Glock 43X Railed
- Carry style: Inside the waistband, twin clips
- Material: Kydex
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: Check the listing
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $102
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 4 / 5 |
| Value | 3 / 5 |
| Availability | 3 / 5 |
Pros
- Molded for the railed 43X
- Twin clips spread the load
- Leather OWB version also listed
Cons
- Priced above most Kydex
- One retailer in today’s feeds
- Not for rail-less 43Xs
Blackpoint is the clearest example of why the rail matters: they list the Mini Wing separately for the 43X and for the 43X Railed. If your gun has the slim rail, buy the railed version, because a holster molded for a smooth dust cover may not fit around it.
Optics Planet listed the railed Mini Wing at $102 on October 15, 2026. The twin clips spread the gun’s weight wider than a single clip, which helps keep the grip from tipping out.
Best For: Current-production, railed 43X owners who want a twin-clip IWB.
11. Raven Concealment VanGuard 2: Best Minimalist Holster
- Fits: Glock 42, 43, 43X and 48 (trigger guard holster)
- Carry style: Minimalist IWB
- Material: Polymer
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: Yes, open top
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $20 to $50
| Concealment | 5 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4 / 5 |
| Retention | 3 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Covers only the trigger guard
- Ignores rails, optics and lights
- Smallest footprint on this list
Cons
- Less retention than full holsters
- Takes practice to reholster
- Kit options change the price
The VanGuard 2 covers the trigger guard and not much else, which is the whole point. Because it only grips the trigger guard, the slide, rail, optic and light don’t matter, so one holster fits a 43X whether it’s a MOS, railed or neither.
Prices ran from about $20 for the basic shell to about $50 for the advanced kit with clips on October 15, 2026. It’s the smallest way to carry a 43X, and the one I’d pick for running shorts or a summer waistband.
Best For: Deep concealment and anyone who owns more than one slimline Glock.
12. Sticky Holsters Optics Ready Pocket: Best Pocket Holster
- Fits: Glock 42, 43 and 43X (size 3)
- Carry style: Pocket
- Material: Sticky rubberized fabric
- Light bearing: No
- Red dot: Yes
- Price on October 15, 2026: About $26 to $28
| Concealment | 4 / 5 |
| Comfort | 5 / 5 |
| Retention | 3 / 5 |
| Value | 5 / 5 |
| Availability | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Cheapest holster on this list
- Optics ready version available
- Stays put in the pocket
Cons
- Needs a deep front pocket
- Slower draw than belt carry
- Low retention outside a pocket
The 43X is on the big side for pocket carry, but in cargo pants or a jacket pocket it works, and a Sticky holster is the way to do it. The rubberized outside grips the pocket so the holster stays behind when the gun comes out.
Palmetto State Armory had the optics ready size 3 at $27.99 on October 15, 2026, the cheapest pick on this list.
Best For: Pocket and jacket carry, and a cheap second holster for the truck.
How to Choose a Glock 43X Holster
Inside or outside the waistband
Inside the waistband is how most people carry a 43X, because the slim frame was built for it. Strong side at about four o’clock is the easiest place to start. Appendix carry conceals better for many body types but takes a dedicated appendix holster and careful practice. Outside the waistband is more comfortable and faster, and needs a cover garment.
Kydex, polymer, leather or hybrid
Kydex is molded to the exact gun, holds its shape and clicks into place. Injection-molded polymer is cheaper and close enough for most people. Leather is quiet and comfortable once it’s broken in. Hybrids put leather against your body and a hard shell around the gun, which is the comfortable middle ground.
Retention and a good belt
You should be able to turn the holstered, unloaded gun upside down without it falling out. And whatever you buy, carry it on a stiff gun belt. A thin dress belt lets even a great holster sag and print.
Looking for holsters for other Glocks? See our best Glock holsters guide, or browse every Glock part we price on our Glock parts page. If you’re shopping for a slide or optic cut for your carry gun, our best Glock slides guide covers that.
Glock 43X Holster FAQ
Will a Glock 43 holster fit a Glock 43X?
Often, yes. Many makers cut one holster for both, and 119 of the 256 in-stock 43X holster listings in our feeds on October 15, 2026 also named the Glock 43. Check the listing, because some holsters are molded for one grip length or the other.
Do I need a different holster for the Glock 43X MOS?
Only if you mount a red dot. The MOS slide adds optic cuts, and a holster has to clear the optic you put on it. 46 of the 256 43X holster listings we found named the MOS, and 32 said red dot or optic ready.
Does the Glock 43X have a rail?
GLOCK's current G43X is sold as the G43X Rail, with GLOCK's slim mounting rail, and the G43X MOS has the slim rail too. Earlier 43Xs had a plain dust cover. Holster makers like Blackpoint list railed and non-railed versions separately, so check your gun before you order.
Will a Glock 48 holster fit a Glock 43X?
Some will. 32 of the 256 43X holster listings in our feeds also named the Glock 48, mostly open-bottom designs that let the longer 48 slide pass through. A closed-bottom 43X holster won't take a 48.
What light fits a Glock 43X?
The Streamlight TLR-7 Sub mounts on the slim rail of GLOCK's current 43X models. The Streamlight TLR-6 clamps around the trigger guard and works on rail-less 43Xs. Light-bearing holsters are cut for one specific light, so buy the holster that names yours.
Is appendix carry a good choice for the Glock 43X?
It's one of the best ways to carry it. The slim frame tucks in close, and dedicated appendix holsters like the Henry Holsters Flint Compact use a clip and wing setup to keep the grip from printing. Practice reholstering slowly with an unloaded gun before you carry that way.
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