Alien Gear Holsters built a huge following by solving the oldest problem in concealed carry: most holsters are uncomfortable enough that people stop carrying. Its hybrid Cloak Tuck IWB holster — a soft backer against your body with a hard retention shell — made all-day carry genuinely comfortable, and the modular ShapeShift system let one holster reconfigure into many. Add the duty-grade Rapid Force line, the slim Photon, and a famous no-nonsense warranty, and you have one of the most popular holster makers in America. Here is who they are, what they make, and what is worth buying.
Who Alien Gear is
Alien Gear Holsters built a following by making concealed carry comfortable enough that people actually keep carrying. Its hybrid Cloak Tuck IWB holster and modular ShapeShift system let one rig reconfigure for different carry positions.
Alien Gear Holsters started in 2013 the way a lot of the best gun gear does — because the founder couldn’t buy what he wanted. Thomas Tedder went looking for a concealed-carry holster he actually liked, came up empty, and started designing his own. The operation began on his kitchen table and, at his wife’s request, soon moved out to the shed. From that backyard start the company (legally Tedder Industries) grew fast through direct online sales, and today it runs a large manufacturing operation in Post Falls, Idaho, after an early move through nearby Hayden. Everything is made in the USA.
The brand’s whole personality leans into its name — an alien-and-UFO theme runs through products like the Photon, the Roswell, and the ShapeShift. Behind the fun branding is a serious customer promise: a forever warranty, a free trial period to make sure the holster works for you, and the standout perk that if you change carry guns, Alien Gear will send you a new shell for your existing holster rather than making you buy a whole new rig. On the quality ladder, Alien Gear sits in the value-to-mid tier — affordable, direct-to-consumer holsters that punch well above their price on comfort and backing.
What Alien Gear makes
Hybrid IWB holsters: the Cloak Tuck
The Cloak Tuck is the holster that built the company. It is a hybrid inside-the-waistband design: a broad, soft backing pad (neoprene and other comfort materials) sits against your body for all-day comfort, while a molded retention shell holds the gun. It carries a huge range of pistols, the cant and ride height adjust, and it is the go-to recommendation for someone who tried a cheap holster, hated it, and almost gave up on carrying.
The ShapeShift modular system
The ShapeShift is Alien Gear’s headline idea. It is a modular platform built around your specific gun’s shell that reconfigures — with included parts — into IWB, OWB, appendix, paddle, and other carry styles. Buy into the system once and you can change how you carry without buying a brand-new holster every time, which is a genuinely different approach from most makers.
Rapid Force duty and OWB holsters
The Rapid Force line is Alien Gear’s move into serious polymer OWB and duty holsters, offered in Level II and Level III retention with light-bearing options, basketweave duty finishes, and a fast, positive draw. It is aimed at open carry, range, and law-enforcement-style use rather than deep concealment.
Slim and OWB options: Photon and Roswell
The Photon is a slim, minimalist holster that works IWB or OWB with light-bearing compatibility, and the Roswell is a low-profile OWB option for everyday carry. Between these, the ShapeShift, and the Cloak line, Alien Gear covers nearly every carry style.
Build quality and the comfort idea
Alien Gear’s core engineering insight is that comfort is what keeps a gun on your hip. The hybrid Cloak holsters spread the pressure over a wide, padded backer instead of a narrow strip of stiff plastic, which is why so many people who “couldn’t carry comfortably” suddenly could. The retention shells are precisely molded to each gun model, the hardware is adjustable for cant and ride height, and the newer polymer holsters like the Rapid Force and Photon use rugged injection-molded shells for hard use. None of it is boutique-priced custom kydex — and it doesn’t need to be. The value is in comfortable, adjustable, well-supported holsters sold direct at fair prices, backed by a warranty and a shell-swap policy that take the risk out of buying.
How Alien Gear compares
In the hybrid IWB space, Alien Gear’s main rival is CrossBreed, the brand that popularized the leather-backed hybrid; Alien Gear counters with synthetic backers, more adjustability, the ShapeShift’s modularity, and aggressive direct pricing. Against minimalist kydex makers like Tier 1 and Vedder, the trade-off is honest: a dedicated appendix kydex rig will ride slimmer and tighter to the body, while an Alien Gear hybrid trades a little bulk for a lot more comfort. On the duty side, the Rapid Force steps into territory owned by Safariland and Blackhawk. Where Alien Gear consistently wins is value and customer-friendliness — the comfort, the modular options, the trial period, and the free shell swap when you change guns make it one of the lowest-risk holster buys out there.
Who should buy what
- New concealed carriers: a Cloak Tuck IWB — comfortable enough that you’ll actually keep carrying.
- People who carry different ways: the ShapeShift modular system.
- Open carry, range, and duty users: a Rapid Force Level II or III OWB.
- Minimalists who still want versatility: the slim Photon.
- Everyday OWB carry: the low-profile Roswell.
If you want the absolute slimmest, tightest appendix kydex setup, a dedicated custom maker may edge it — but for comfortable, adjustable, low-risk carry at a fair price, Alien Gear is a top pick.
The Alien Gear philosophy
Alien Gear’s guiding belief is that the best holster is the one you’ll keep wearing, so comfort and customer trust come first. That is why the company built its name on a padded hybrid instead of a thin slab of plastic, why it created the ShapeShift so you don’t have to rebuy a holster every time your carry style changes, and why it offers a trial period and a free shell when you switch guns. It is a direct-to-consumer, customer-friendly model: sell good gear at a fair price, remove the risk of buying online, and make it easy to stay a customer for life. The playful alien branding is just the wrapper — underneath is a very practical mission to get more people carrying comfortably and to keep them happy after the sale.
How to choose your Alien Gear setup
Start with how you want to carry. If you want maximum all-day comfort for concealed IWB carry, the Cloak Tuck is the classic answer. If you think you’ll carry different ways — IWB some days, OWB or appendix others — buy into the ShapeShift system so one purchase covers them all. For open carry, the range, or duty-style use, step up to a Rapid Force in the retention level you need (Level II for most, Level III for duty), and add the light-bearing option if you run a weapon light. Want something slimmer? The Photon and Roswell keep things low-profile. Whatever you pick, match the shell to your exact gun model, set the cant and ride height to your body, and remember the warranty and shell-swap policy have your back if your needs change.
From a backyard shed to a household name
Alien Gear’s rise is a genuinely modern success story. In a little over a decade it went from one frustrated carrier building holsters on his kitchen table — then banished to the shed — to a major Idaho manufacturer shipping holsters all over the country. It did it not by reinventing the gun but by fixing the thing that makes people quit carrying: a holster that hurts. The comfort-first hybrid, the modular ShapeShift, and the customer-friendly warranty turned a homegrown idea into one of the most recognized names in concealed carry. For a buyer, the takeaway is simple: this is gear designed by someone who carries, sold in a way that makes it almost risk-free to try.
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Where Alien Gear Fits in Our Buying Guides
Alien Gear FAQ
Where is Alien Gear based?
Alien Gear Holsters (Tedder Industries) was founded in 2013 by Thomas Tedder and is based in Post Falls, Idaho, where it manufactures its holsters in the USA.
How did Alien Gear get started?
Founder Thomas Tedder couldn’t find a carry holster he liked, so he started designing his own — first on his kitchen table and then, at his wife’s request, out in the shed. It grew from there into a major manufacturer.
What is the ShapeShift system?
A modular holster platform built around your gun’s shell that reconfigures into IWB, OWB, appendix, paddle, and other carry styles using included parts, so one purchase covers multiple carry methods.
Is the Cloak Tuck comfortable for all-day carry?
Yes — that is the whole point. Its wide, padded backer spreads pressure across your waistband instead of a narrow stiff panel, which is why it is a top pick for comfortable concealed carry.
What happens if I change carry guns?
Alien Gear will send you a new molded shell for your existing holster, so you don’t have to buy an entirely new rig when you switch pistols.
Alien Gear or a custom kydex holster?
A dedicated kydex rig rides slimmer and tighter, but an Alien Gear hybrid trades a little bulk for more comfort and adjustability — plus a strong warranty and trial period. It depends on whether you prioritize concealment or all-day comfort.
Can I carry appendix with an Alien Gear holster?
Yes. The modular ShapeShift system includes an appendix (AIWB) configuration, and several Cloak holsters can be set up for appendix carry, with adjustable ride height and cant to dial in the fit.
What tier is Alien Gear?
Value-to-mid — affordable, made-in-USA, direct-to-consumer holsters that lead on comfort, modularity, and customer-friendly policies.
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