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The Holster Rant

Recently, too recently, I've broken two cell phone holsters and one iPod holster. So I'm here today to talk about the right and wrong ways to make holsters.

Many holster makers (including Apple, with its very expensive iPod holster) make the mistake of using plastic at the load-bearing hinge of the holster -- where it clips over your clothing or belt. So when you get into a car and something snags the holster the plastic clip breaks and the whole holster is ruined. Of course even a simple cell phone holster costs more than $10.

So what is the right way?

The best way, as far as security goes, is to have a simple closed leather or nylon loop that you pass your belt through. But not everyone likes belts, so we need something to clip to your pants or what have you.

The second solution -- and the one used by the folks at incase, for their iPod holster -- uses a short ribbon of metal. The end of the ribbon are bent nearly together, forming a springy clip, and it is sewn into the holster. The metal makes the clip very forgiving when tugged ... certainly it hasn't broken yet.

A third solution, a nylon loop with a loose end that snaps to the side of the cases, is what incase used for one of their cell phone cases. That certainly won't break, but it would probably be just as hard to take on or off and doesn't work unless you have a belt.

So ... all you holster makers out there -- pay attention and make better stuff!