PHLster Enigma Review | Bellyband/Kydex Hybrid
Kydex holster made by Eclipse Holsters, attached to the Enigma set up.
This post has been a long time coming. I stared testing the Enigma holster, made by PHLster, a few months ago and wanted to take my time before developing an opinion. Since then, a few other projects have demanded my attention, but it’s time to finally share it with you.
What is an Enigma Holster?
The word, “enigma” means something puzzling, mysterious or baffling. It is named appropriately because this kydex/bellyband hybrid is anything but your typical holster.
The Enigma has a face plate, a belt-like strap, and a unique “leg leash” or smaller strap to be worn around your thigh. This modular system works with your favorite Kydex holster assuming it has two mounting holes directly under the trigger guard.
The company sent me a free sample in exchange for an honest review, so today you’re reading my true thoughts. My first impression was that setup was too technical and somewhat intimidating. But after using the Enigma for a couple of months, I can say I’m surprised, pleased, and excited about this new system.
Let me break it down... the three things I like best about this holster are customization, performance, and versatility.
Customization
Set-up
The learning curve to assembling the Enigma is steep, partly because there are so many options for adjusting the fit to your body type and preferences. Fortunately for me, Sarah from PHLster guided me through the process. At first, I was doubtful this holster was worth the trouble, but I’ll explain later why I changed my mind.
The Enigma comes with the following components:
46 inch adjustable belt
Fidlock Magnetic Quick Release Buckle
Mounting screws
Holster Faceplate
Leg Leash Strap
In one sense, assembly of the Enigma is simple. Just remove the belt clip from your existing holster, attach the Enigma face plate to the outside of your holster with screws, and attach the Enigma belt and leg leash strap to the face plate. When properly installed, your holster will sit between your body and the Enigma face plate.
Adjustments
The more complicated part of assembly is deciding which of several faceplate holes to use when attaching the belt and leg strap. By attaching at a different spot on the faceplate it is possible to rotate the position of your gun on four dimensions. This affects how closely it fits against your body at the grip, slide, muzzle, and sights.
This process is difficult to explain in writing but suffice it to say that it is possible to get a great fit if you’re willing to tinker with it. Phlster provides the adjustment guide above but if you still have questions, a video explanation is helpful. Armed and Styled also has a great video on this.
What Holsters Work With Enigma?
A compatible holster shell will have two mounting holes directly under the trigger guard (pictured below). In addition to Phlster’s own shell, other makers such as Eclipse Holsters and JM Custom Kydex produce compatible models. Two other optional purchases, which are useful for fine tuning the Eclipse include…
Photos taken from the Enigma fit guide
Additional Purchases:
A concealment wing (pictured above), which gives the gives the faceplate something to push against to move the the grip of your gun closer to your body. I ended up using the Modwing version.
Slider buckles – Phlster offers two buckle sizes, the Fidlock Magnetic Quick Release and a reduced sized slider buckle. (More on that later).
Performance
Of the many holster styles women can choose, a simple Kydex holster attached to a belt is arguably the most reliable setup. This is because its secure, has good retention of the gun, covers the trigger with hard material, and allows for a consistent draw as well as one-handed re-holstering.
What I like about the Enigma is that it offers the best of both worlds. It has the low profile and comfort of a bellyband, with the stability, retention, and hard trigger cover of a Kydex holster attached to a belt.
Much of the stability comes from the leg leash, which is worn around the thigh as high and snug as a pair of underwear. When drawing from a bellyband, there is often stretch or movement that can make the draw inconsistent. Thanks to the leg leash, I didn’t experience this with the Enigma.
One challenge I ran into during dryfire practice, was that I kept catching my finger and cutting it with the faceplate. I covered the sharp edge with a Bandaid, but any soft adhesive would work such as Velcro loop, tape, etc. When I shared my concern with Sarah, she pointed out that Eclipse holsters have a tiny bit less of clearance. At the time, they were working on their own shell with higher clearance, which is now available on their site.
To get the full experience, I practiced drawing from concealment and shooting with live fire at the range. I wore a pair of leggings and a loose top. Re-holstering was easier than with a soft holster and much safer in my opinion because there was less fumbling to re-holster. I was pleasantly surprised and felt like I was able to train more confidently and safely.
Style, Versatility & Comfort
It was easy to use the Enigma under a full skirt. I just used a pair of spandex shorts to protect my skin.
Side note: The belt should be horizontal and not angling up like it is in this photo. I needed to tighten the screw to prevent the belt attachment from swiveling.
Layering to protect my skin - First I put a bandeau bra around my hips, then the Enigma, then my jeans.
In terms of style, this may be the most versatile Kydex holster I’ve ever tried. The typical Kydex holster requires you to wear a pair of pants, but with the Enigma, I’ve been able to wear dresses, skirts, jeans, shorts, and leggings. If there was such a thing as a one fits all holster, this would be it.
If you have sensitive skin, you can protect it by wearing something underneath the holster like a pair of spandex shorts, a bandeau bra around your hips, or by tucking in a tank top to keep from the holster and gun. For example, in the picture above, I first put the bandeau bra around my hips, fastened the Enigma overtop, then put my jeans on over both.
A pair of spandex shorts under the holster protects my skin.
I was able to pack light on a recent vacation, by only packing one holster- the Enigma. It worked with shorts and dresses, and I could even bike while wearing it.
It’s functional and so far, hasn’t restricted my movement. I’ve used it while biking, driving long distances, walking, lifting, picking up children, running, burpees, sitting cross legged. Ladies, it doesn’t even get in the way when going to the restroom; just keep it on but remove the leg leash.
Left: Comparison of the large Fidlock belt buckle and the small slider buckle | Right: Wearing the holster low on my hips with the small slider buckle. I’m pointing to where my hip bone is and the buckle doesn’t touch it at all.
Left: Large Fidlock belt buckle worn above my hip bone. (This is what I prefer) | Right: Large Fidlock belt buckle worn lower on my hips. This places the buckle on top of my hip bone. (uncomfortable!)
Buckle – PHLster offers two buckle sizes, the Fidlock Magnetic Quick Release and a reduced sized slider buckle, which they recommend for petit frames. I expected to prefer the small buckle because I’m very sensitive to belts laying over top of my hip bone and find it painful after a few hours. However, after wearing the holster a few days, I realized I tend to wear the strap above my hip bone, so I have enough grip clearance when wearing high waisted jeans.
To get a fair comparison, I tried wearing the Enigma lower on my hips and found that yes, the large buckle size did cause discomfort on my hip bone. If you’re petite, take into consideration how high or low you want to wear the holster before choosing a buckle.
Always Innovating
Overall, I’m a fan of this holster! It can be tempting to prioritize comfort over performance, but I feel like I’m getting both with the Enigma.
The only inconvenience is that the setup requires trial and error, but once fine-tuned you shouldn’t need to mess with it. PHLster is also working on a simplified version, coming out sometimes later this year. It will be pre-assembled and less customizable, but ready to wear right out of the box.
If you purchase an Enigma, definitely join their Facebook user group where people their experience and what works for different body types.
“Chime-In!”
What do you guys think about this bellyband/Kydex hybrid?
