10 Best Holsters for VP9 In 2024 [Ultimate Buying Guide]

The VP9 is a popular choice for duty carry, so we’ve got a few holsters on this list that would work for duty, as well as some options for if you want to conceal the VP9 on your person. The VP9 shoots 9x19mm ammunition and is made by Heckler & Koch.

The VP9 is a full-size handgun about the same size as a Glock 17. Because of its size, I wouldn’t consider it a prime candidate for concealed carry, but it’s certainly possible to do so if you’d like.

My choice for the best overall holster to look at for the VP9 is the Blackhawk Serpa CQC. It will function as a duty holster but also works for everyday carry. It is compact enough that it’s not impossible to conceal. Let’s take a look at the other holsters on this list!

10 Best Holsters for VP9

1. Blackhawk Serpa CQC

Blackhawk makes good holsters generally, and the Serpa has an excellent reputation. The most common complaint is that the holster is made out of polymer and not Kydex, but the polymer gives plenty of durability, and the holster functions very well. 

You get level II retention via the forefinger button and adjustable level I retention. The adjustable retention does two things for you – it makes it so the gun doesn’t rattle around in the holster, but it also makes it so that getting your handgun out of the holster requires a stiff tug even after you’ve pressed the release.

The cant is also adjustable, so you can adjust it to your preferred angle for drawing or concealing. The holster will work for duty carry, though you may prefer level III retention, depending on your situation. Again, the Blackhawk is a good catch-all. 

If you’re unsure what features are most important to you, starting with the Blackhawk is a good way to ensure you end up with a holster that works well.

Pros:

• Level II retention
• Compatible with duty belts
• Adjustable retention & cant

Cons:

• Polymer construction

2. Best IWB for Adjustability – Alien Gear ShapeShift 4.0 IWB Holster

Carrying the VP9 inside the waistband can be challenging because it’s a large gun. Suppose you are committed to carrying a VP9 IWB. In that case, one of the smartest things you can do is get a holster that allows you to make adjustments to get the firearm in as comfortable of a position as humanly possible, and that’s what the ShapeShift is designed to do.

It has a neoprene backing to give the holster a little more padding against your skin, and allows you to adjust the cant and ride height without using any tools. If you can change where on your waistband the holster sits and how high and at what angle, a whole world of possibilities opens up.

That said, the ShapeShift will cost you a bit more than some other options, which may be a deal-breaker. As the adage goes, “buy cheap, buy twice.”

Pros:

• Adjustable retention
• Adjustable cant, ride height
• Neoprene backing for comfort
• Two belt clips

Cons:

• A little bulky
• More expensive than other options

3. Best Minimalist IWB – Amberide Heckler & Koch Holster

Here’s one of those less expensive options I mentioned, and despite the bold declaration of “buy cheap, buy twice,” if you go for the Amberide and buy twice, it won’t be because the holster was low quality.

You can still adjust the cant here, though it will require a tool, and you can only go from 0 degrees to 15 degrees, and you cannot adjust the ride height.

Other than that, you get everything you need out of the Amberide (unless you need optic compatibility). The retention is level I only, which makes sense for IWB, and the trigger guard is completely covered. The retention is also adjustable, so you can ensure the gun is nice and snug in the holster.

The material is Kydex, so it won’t have much give but won’t add much bulk to the gun. It’s noticeably more affordable than the ShapeShift, and should still do a good job, though you won’t have the same level of customization available to you.

Pros:

• Adjustable cant
• Adjustable retention
• Minimalist design

Cons:

• No adjustable ride height
• Cant is only a little adjustable

4. Easiest to Conceal – Fierce Defender IWB Kydex Holster

With the VP9, keeping the gun from printing, even carrying IWB, can be challenging. If you’re willing to sacrifice some adjustability and a little bit of comfort for better concealability, you may want to consider the Fierce Defender IWB holster.

The reason it’s easier to conceal is the little claw attachment at the bottom of the holster. This changes the angle that the holster sits at and points it slightly more toward your body. The difference is subtle because if it weren’t, then the back of the slide would jab into you uncomfortably.

That said, you’d be surprised how much of a difference that extra ~¼ inch makes. It is often the difference between obvious printing and no printing at all. The only thing you can adjust on this holster is the retention, though, so there may be a tradeoff in your comfort level to make it more concealable.

Pros:

• Claw attachment makes it more concealable
• Kydex construction
• Unobtrusive

Cons:

• No adjustable cant
• No adjustable ride height

5. Best Duty Holster – Safariland 7360 7TS Level III Retention

If you’re carrying the VP9 on duty, chances are you’re already aware of the many different duty holster options you can choose from, but if you’re reading this article as part of that research, I would encourage you to take a look at the Safariland to get an idea of what features you should be looking for.

This holster offers level III retention. Though it has a technical definition, in practice, Level III retention means that you have to take two actions before you can draw the weapon and that when you do draw it, it will require a certain amount of force in order to get the gun out of the holster.

This holster also offers you three different ride heights based on your preference and work conditions – low-ride, mid-ride, and high-ride. The belt slots are 2.25” for good compatibility with duty belts.

The cant is not adjustable, so you get a straight up-and-down draw, which may or may not matter for you.

Pros:

• Level III retention with ALS and SLS
• Adjustable ride height
• Material is a proprietary nylon blend that won’t scuff the gun

Cons:

• No adjustable cant
• Level III retention might be a bit much for some situations

6. Best Minimalist OWB – Fobus Active Retention Holster

If you’re open-carrying but want something that doesn’t take up much space, you can take a look at the Fobus. It’s a paddle holster, so it’s relatively easy to take on and off, and it comes with level II retention.

This holster is also made with a nylon formula and gives good passive retention on the VP9 when it’s holstered. Overall it’s a solid holster for open carry and even concealed carry because it’s so small.

That said, it’s not the perfect holster; the holster does not completely envelop the trigger guard, which means the trigger could theoretically be accessed either accidentally or malevolently. The VP9’s safety is on the trigger as well, so while unlikely, it’s a possibility.

This holster also works with the VP9L with the longer slide, as it just sticks out a little further.

Pros:

• Level II retention
• Small and unobtrusive
• Nylon construction

Cons:

• Doesn’t cover trigger guard all the way
• Not much adjustability

7. Best Overall Shoulder Holster – Alien Gear ShapeShift Shoulder

Shoulder carry doesn’t work for everyone, and it’s not as common as either OWB or IWB, but in situations where it does work, it can give you the best of both worlds in terms of comfort and speed of draw.

Alien Gear has a ShapeShift shoulder holster that does a lot of things right. The shoulder straps are padded for a little extra comfort, and a strap on each side anchors the holster to your belt.

You can adjust how high on your rib cage the holster rides, which is a very nice touch, and you can also adjust the cant. Retention is passive only, but not only does the holster come custom-molded to your gun, but you can also adjust it to make it both snug and comfortable to draw. It also comes with two spare magazine holsters.

Pros:

• Adjustable ride height
• Adjustable cant
• Padded shoulder straps
• Belt anchors

Cons:

• Mag pouches aren’t upside-down
• No level II or III retention

8. Quickest Reloading Shoulder Holster – Masc Premium Shoulder Holster

Masc made a few different design choices that I think allow it to work well, depending on your priorities.

Right off the bat, the mag pouches are upside-down like I would prefer, and there’s a thumb break snap that holds the gun in place in addition to the passive retention.

The lack of padding on the shoulder straps may make it a little less comfortable, but it’s not like leather is the most abrasive material in the first place, and it will make the straps much less visible underneath a jacket if concealment is a priority. 

The straps that hang down are not long enough to anchor on your belt unless you’re carrying them down below your rib cage, which is one of the biggest marks against this holster. If your priority is either quick reloads, active retention, or concealability, this may be a better choice than the ShapeShift.

Pros:

• Upside-down mag pouches
• Thumb break snap on holster
• Easier to conceal

Cons:

• No belt anchors
• Not as comfortable
• Not as adjustable

9. Best for Competitions – Comp-Tac International OWB Holster

The Comp-Tac gives you three different mount options included with the holster – paddle, belt, or drop offset. You can adjust the belt width to be from 1.5 inches to 2.25 inches, and you can adjust the retention to give you exactly the right tightness.

You can also adjust the cant, and there are 16 different settings you can choose from. The entire holster is designed with competition in mind, and it shows.

The trigger guard is completely encased, which is a must when you have your firearm equipped with a competition trigger, and the holster is made entirely of Kydex.

Pros:

• Adjustable cant (16 different positions)
• Adjustable retention
• Three different mounting options
• Fully-enclosed trigger guard

Cons:

• Not great for anything besides competitions

10. Best Leather OWB – Masc Premium Leather OWB Paddle Holster

To close out the list, we’ll give you an option for a basic leather OWB paddle holster. Masc has done a good job with this. The leather is high quality, and the retention is surprisingly good. The paddle holds the gun at an angle that makes it fairly easy to conceal for an OWB holster, and that’s the primary use case I’d recommend for this holster.

The lack of level II or III retention makes it less suitable for open carry, though there are plenty of situations where that would be fine, and the trigger guard is completely enclosed, which does well to mitigate the threat of accidents.

The bottom is open as well, so if you have the long slide version of the VP9, this holster will still work for you. 

Pros:

• Leather
• Paddle makes it quick to take on/off
• Passive retention is very good

Cons:

• No level II or III retention
• Limited adjustability

What to Consider While Buying the Best Holster for VP9 [Buying Guide]

Trigger Guard Coverage

In my opinion, covering the trigger guard completely is important no matter where you’re carrying. There is a school of thought that it’s more important if you’re carrying IWB because the gun is pressed up against you and it’s more likely to be disturbed than if you’re carrying OWB.

While true, to me it seems pretty simple to just cover the whole trigger guard, even if you’re carrying OWB and eliminate the possibility of an accident even though it’s less likely. You may have different preferences, and that’s completely fine.

Material – Leather, Kydex, Nylon, etc.

If you’re new to holsters I honestly wouldn’t worry too much about this. As long as the holster has good reviews, you’re probably not going to run into serious durability issues except with a neoprene + velcro holster. Even the oft-ridiculed polymer holsters are rarely discarded because the polymer cracked.

Most people swap holsters because they are looking for a feature that their current holster doesn’t have, not because their current holster suddenly broke, though it can happen. Usually, when breakages occur, it’s around the highest pressure points – the belt clip, set screws, etc.

Closure Mechanism

Another word for this is retention, but it’s an important factor to consider when you’re buying a holster. How does the gun stay in the holster when it’s supposed to? How do you release the gun when you need to draw it?

With Kydex, polymer, and nylon holsters this is usually referred to as level I, II, and III retention. Level I just means that the gun fits snugly enough in the holster that it won’t come out unless you intentionally pull it out. Level II means one action (e.g. pressing a button) needs to be taken before the gun can be drawn, and level III means two actions need to be taken first.

Leather holsters have similar levels of retention, though they are usually in the form of snap-and-straps that wrap around the back of the handgun.

It’s easy to make the mistake of assuming that higher retention levels are always better, but that’s not necessarily the case. If you’re carrying concealed, then often level I retention gives you everything you need and keeps the holster small and unobtrusive.

Price

It’s always my preference to try and test things out first, especially when a purchase is largely subjective instead of clear-cut. If you aren’t sure how important a specific feature is, see if you can find a dirt cheap holster that doesn’t have it so you can try and find out. As long as you recognize that you’re paying for the research and not the holster, you’ll be fine.

If you are confident in what you’re looking for, don’t skimp when buying a holster. Your holster is an essential part of carrying your firearm both safely and effectively, and if you buy one that malfunctions or falls apart because you wanted to save money, you can do neither.

Concealed vs. Open Carry

As mentioned above, the VP9 is a full-size handgun. It’s not abnormally large, but it’s large enough that it creates a few issues with carrying it concealed. The biggest issue is the height from the top of the slide to the base of the magazine when inserted. For the most part the length of the slide doesn’t create a problem.

If you are going to carry the VP9 concealed you need to be very discriminate in what holster you purchase to make sure that it gives you a little extra help in keeping your gun hidden and comfortable. 

FAQ

Final Words

My pick for the overall best holster to start your search for the H&K VP9 is the Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster. It certainly requires training and practice to use correctly, but the same is true of every holster that offers levels II or III retention. There are a lot of different situations in which you might be carrying a VP9, so if the Serpa doesn’t fit, feel free to look at some of the other options.

Are there any holsters that should be on this list? Should any of these holsters be kicked off the list? Let me know in the comments.