Effectively carrying a self-defense firearm requires more than just the gun. You need a holster, preferably one that’s made specifically for your sidearm. You’ll need a proper belt, too. You might also choose to employ a magazine carrier for reloads. This is where the full carry system from Tenicor Holsters comes in.
The Tenicor Holsters Full Concealed Carry System
Holster options abound, and most folks find something suitable. However, most don’t acquire a proper gun belt or even understand the importance of that piece of equipment. Mag carriers are optional, but they do optimize carrying a spare mag or two.
If people get that far, they’ve likely cobbled together pieces from different manufacturers. Truth be told, it probably works fine. But a few companies offer entire systems in which each part is designed to complement the others.
Tenicor is one of those companies. Everything has a purpose, from the holster clips to the belt buckle. The goal is to provide a system that maximizes its users’ potential performance, while not encumbering them with stuff they don’t need.
A mutual friend introduced me to Tenicor’s Geoff Daul at TriggrCon back in October. I was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm for the company’s products. Geoff is a former Secret Service agent, so he knows a thing or two about carrying a concealed firearm. He told me that Tenicor’s system is designed for maximum concealment while also providing maximum utility.
Naturally, I asked to test a holster, but Geoff insisted that I deploy the entire system consisting of a belt, hip holster, appendix holster, and a mag pouch for each carry position. Of course, I agreed. Geoff sent me the goods, and I’ve been using them with my Sig Sauer P365XL for several weeks.
I’ll break this down into component parts within the system’s overall context. Let’s begin with the belt.
The Tenicor ZERO Belt
Tenicor’s goal with the ZERO Belt was to provide exactly what is needed for concealed carry, with no excess. Many gun belts are very stiff and rigid, which Tenicor believes hampers effective concealment.
Tenicor partnered with Wilderness Tactical Products to construct the ZERO Belt from their proprietary high-quality support webbing. It is coupled with a face webbing, producing what Tenicor says is the perfect blend of flexibility and rigidity for inside the waistband carry.
The belt’s tail end is treated with Wilderness Tactical Products’ proprietary polymer solution. This consists of the polymer soaking into the webbing’s nylon core, permanently protecting it against fraying.
The ZERO Belt’s buckle—really just a fastener—is deceptively simple, while being wickedly effective. The belt’s tail is fed through a slot, tucking it behind the belt instead of in front, as with other belts. This presents a smooth face with nothing to get in the way.
The fastener is designed to create tension, holding the belt in place. Releasing the tension is simple but must be done deliberately. It won’t slip when you need it most. Sizing is easy—just order your pant size.
The ZERO Belt is comfortable, while still supporting a carry gun and an extra mag. Frankly, I hardly know it’s there. The low-profile fastener works as advertised, the belt doesn’t sag, and my gun stays in place. It’s a very good belt and works especially well with the Tenicor holsters’ proprietary T1 clips.
The Tenicor CERTUM3 Inside-the-Waistband Holster
The CERTUM3 Holster is designed for maximum concealment on the hip or abdomen. Tenicor also sent me a dedicated abdominal holster, but after testing, I decided to use the CERTUM3 on my hip. This low-profile thermoplastic holster is slim but rugged, and the fit is perfect.
I expect some retention from a holster like this, and the CERTUM3 delivers. In fact, both Tenicor holsters came with a card proclaiming, “No safe queens allowed! Tenicor holsters are uniquely formed to closely match the gun’s contours. It will cause wear to the finish of your gun!”
I haven’t run these holsters long enough to confirm that last promise, but I believe it to be accurate. My Sig fits perfectly, and I can feel the friction when drawing and holstering. However, you can easily adjust the retention should you want to tweak it.
The CERTUM3 also features adjustable ride height (1”) and cant (30°), including individually adjustable belt clips. The Tenicor T1 belt clips aren’t your average holster clips. They’re made from custom 10xx steel alloy to maximize strength and ductility. They are also very slim, unlike my other polymer clips, adding to the holster’s concealability.
The clips’ grasp on your belt is unmatched in my experience. I have to work a little to remove the holsters once they’re attached, but that’s a good thing. That tenacity gives me certainty that they’ll stay in place no matter what, and my holster will be secure.
The holster ships with three detachable camming bars to further personalize your carry profile. The camming bars cause the pistol’s grip to torque against the body if desired. Again, the goal is maximizing concealment.
The CERTUM3 is compatible with most handgun optics, and the sight channel is deliberately cut to allow for suppressor height sights.
The Tenicor VELO5 Appendix Inside-the Waistband Holster
The CERTUM3 can be worn on the hip or at the appendix. However, the VELO5 AIWB is a dedicated appendix holster. It shares the CERTUM3’s features, like adjustability, construction, optics compatibility, camming bars, and the T1 belt clips.
But the VELO5 is contoured to fit your body at the appendix. I wondered at the odd protuberance on the holster’s body side. But I understood once I tried it.
Tenicor says the VELO5’s “organic angles and curves combine to fill voids between the gun and body for maximum comfort and concealment.”
That’s a fancy way of saying it fits perfectly between your upper thigh and other body parts. I’ve always found appendix carry to be very uncomfortable. But the VELO5 is easily the best-designed appendix holster I’ve ever worn. It works with my body’s contours instead of against them.
FERO2 OWB and ABDO AIWB Mag Pouches
These two Tenicor mag pouches are made from the same durable material as their accompanying holsters. Likewise, they feature the same exact fit. In fact, magazines will only fit properly if they are inserted in the correct orientation. These are not one-size-fits-all pouches. I expect to get the same finish wear on my mags as I do on my pistol.
The FERO2 outside-the-waistband pouch has a wide, proprietary polymer clip that’s adjustable to securely fit 1.5-inch and 1.75-inch belts. The ABDO appendix inside the waistband pouch features a single Tenicor T1 clip.
Both pouches have adjustable retention. The ABDO also has an adjustable ride height, while the FERO2 intentionally rides high for maximum concealment. Like the VELO5 abdominal holster, the ABDO pouch is contoured to provide a comfortable, secure fit.
Final Thoughts
My job demands that I try many different holsters. I literally have a closet full, especially for my P365XL. I also have several gun belts. Each provides a somewhat different carry experience—some better than others—and I use them based on what I need on a given day.
However, this Tenicor system has changed the game. The ZERO Belt has relegated one of my gun belts to the bench, giving me two primary choices.
Likewise, the holsters. The CERTUM3 is now one of my two primary carry holsters, and my first choice for maximum concealment. It will be my only holster in warmer weather. I almost never carry at the appendix because it’s just too uncomfortable. But the VELO5 now gives me a viable option there if I deem it best. I appreciate that.
And the mag pouches are the best I’ve ever run. I don’t always carry an extra mag, but when I do, it will be in one of these Tenicor pouches.
The Tenicor system has deeply impressed me, not least because it is indeed a system. The folks at Tenicor obviously gave much thought to its component parts. Geoff told me as much when I spoke with him at TriggrCon, but I didn’t really grasp it until I ran the products myself.
I always hesitate to gush over products lest I come across as a shill. But sometimes, I run across something that’s just that good. The Tenicor carry system is just that good. Give it a try yourself and see if you agree.
For more information, please visit Tenicor.com.
