N8 Squared Tactical Holsters

At the NRA Convention, I stopped by the N8 2 Tactical holsters booth to follow-up on the pictures I took the night before the show started. There I got to talk with Katie Johnson about what could be one of the most comfortable inside the waistband (IWB) holsters on the market. The name of the company is an acronym for the two founders, Nate Beard and Nate Johnson. Pronounced properly the company name is “Nate Squared Tactical”.

The N8 2 comes in Original, Original Tuckable, and Professional holsters. Each holster is hand crafted for the highest quality possible. In fact, the two Nate’s are so confident in their patented design that they offer a lifetime warranty from any manufacturing defects.

Each holster has a large backer, or carrier, that completely supports and extends past the handgun in the holster. This backer is kind of in the shape of an inverted triangle with the edges rounded off, with the wider portion on top to support the pistol’s handle, even on full-sized pistols.

The front of the backer is made of high quality, oil-tanned leather, with the back being made of very comfortable soft suede. This suede backing is so soft that you wouldn’t think twice about having this holster ride right next to your skin all day long. The suede allows the holster to breathe so your body doesn’t get too hot wearing this really nice holster. In addition, the Nates claim that “the natural friction coefficient of the suede displaces the weight of your handgun. This allows you to carry the firearm without its weight pulling down against your waistband”.

In between these two layers is another secret to the flexibility and added comfort of the N8 2 holsters – Neoprene. The Neoprene center provides just enough support to hold the overall holster together but is flexible and pliable enough to conform to all types of bodies. And with a holster that conforms to the body, comes a holster that is very concealable. Neoprene, being waterproof, also provides a protective barrier for your handgun from any sweat or skin acids.

ORIGINAL

The original holster comes with a comfortable backer and a dense elastic material that is shaped in the general pistol configuration. This allows the holster to carry a variety of pistols, and not just one. The Nates claim that after a few days the elastic material will conform to the shape of your particular gun.

There is a single clip on the outside to attach the holster to your belt. The one drawback to the Original is that the clip configuration requires that the user leave their shirt untucked.

ORIGINAL TUCKABLE

The Original Tuckable version was designed to fix the untucked shirt requirement of the original. Everything is the same except the belt clip is now only secured to the elastic material at the very bottom. The gap that is created between the clip and the holster allows the user to tuck their shirt into that area.

THE PROFESSIONAL

The professional holster brings the same great backer, but then adds a molded polycarbonate material that is specifically shaped for your particular brand of handgun. There is a locking mechanism that secures the trigger guard and provides an added measure of securement.

To release the handgun the user simply twists their handgun slightly towards their body as they draw, which releases the handgun from the trigger guard securement point. The flexibility of the backer allows for this movement without any snagging on the backer itself. This is a trademark feature of the N8 2 holsters, called “Twist Release Design”.

The Professional series holster will fit both full-size and compact sized handguns of the same make. So a holster for a Glock will hold the Glock 22, Glock 23, or Glock 27. The N8 2 holsters also have an option for weapons with Crimson Trace lasers.

The N8 2 holsters are available for the following firearm manufacturers:

• Beretta
• Diamondback
• Kahr
• Ruger
• Taurus
• Bersa
• FNH-USA
• Kel-Tec
• Sig Sauer
• Walther
• Colt
• CZ-USA
• Glock
• HK
• Kimber
• Para
• S&W
• Springfield

Prices are $39 for the Original, $59 for Original Tuckable, and $69 for the Professional. Add $10 for the Crimson Trace option. Shipping is only $3 anywhere in the United States or an APO/FPO address, and your holster will ship within 7 business days of order.