There comes a time in most people’s lives when they start looking for exactly what they want instead of just what is available. With the benefit of experience and some additional disposable income, many experienced shooters start seeking out custom solutions that match their needs precisely. This is true in the world of holsters, too. FALCO Holsters offers custom holsters configured for a specific pistol or revolver, including combinations with more than 160 weapon lights and lasers. Depending on the selected model, customers can choose options such as sweat guard height, adjustable retention, cant, handedness, belt width, leather color, stitching, edge color, decorative underlays, and more. That is an extensive level of customization, but are these options necessary? Let’s look at why you should (or should not) consider a custom holster.Holsters @ TFB: FALCO Holsters Introduces New Carbon Fiber Holsters Best Shoulder Holsters: Comfortable, Concealable, and Ready for Carry FALCO’s New Multi-Fit Collection for Versatile Carry Types Of Holsters, Explained FALCO Expands Holster Lineup for Glock Gen 6 PistolsDisclosure: Falco sponsored this article and provided sample holsters.What Matters In A Holster?Whether carried on a belt, an ankle, in a bag, or some other method, the core utility of a pistol is having it with you when you need it. Handguns exist to be portable. We all accept the reduced range and power of handguns compared to rifles and shotguns because long guns are simply too difficult to haul around at all times. Holsters are as essential to handguns as optics are to modern rifles. Without them, we cannot fully make use of the gun. There are myriad options for pistol and revolver holsters on the market.Why Not To Go Custom?Custom holsters are not for everyone. The market is replete with options available for some popular handguns that can be purchased off the rack. For some people, universal is a good enough route. Here are some good reasons not to get a custom holster.Tight BudgetFor many people, shooting is primarily a hobby. Life can be expensive. If you are on a tighter budget, the differences in price between heavily customized holsters and off-the-shelf options can be a deal-breaker. Or, if you have to choose between a standard holster and a supply of ammo, or a custom holster and no ammunition to practice with, the prior is probably the better solution. Look, having a cool custom holster is really nice, but if you have to choose between the necessities of life and having the holster of your dreams, you should not feel pressure to splurge on a holster.Getting Started CarryingPeople who are just starting to carry may not yet know exactly which holster features will work best for them. Factors such as the handgun, how long it is carried each day, whether most of that time is spent sitting or standing, clothing style, body type, and preferred carry position can all influence the choice.That does not mean beginners should avoid custom holsters. They will still benefit from an exact handgun fit, full trigger coverage, proper retention, and compatibility with a weapon light or optic. However, while exploring different options, they may not yet know which optional features, materials, or carry positions they prefer.There is a running joke about the “box of holsters” that many experienced gun owners accumulate while testing different setups. Thinking carefully about your needs before ordering may help keep that box a little smaller.Employer MandatesFor people who carry guns professionally, there are layers of bureaucracy and policy to consider when selecting a holster. If you carry a gun as part of your job duties, your employer will likely have something to say about the holster in which it is carried. These policies can range from very simple to very restrictive. If there is a specific list of approved holsters, a custom version is unlikely to be on that list. There may also be specific characteristics like retention mechanisms or the ability to clean a holster when exposed to hazardous materials FALCO offers holsters with multiple retention options and configurations that can meet many professional-use requirements. However, users should always confirm that a selected model complies with their employer’s policies before ordering, as not every custom holster will be approved for duty use by every agency.Depending on the nature of your employment, a custom holster may still be a great choice for off-duty carry. Now, not everyone around the world is able to carry their gun when they are off the clock, but if you are, a custom holster may actually be a very good choice. If you are expected to have your gun with you at all times, finding holsters that make it easy to have your gun on is imperative. Expedited TimeframeIf you need a holster right now, custom is probably not the best route. Almost by definition, custom holsters meeting your specifications will not be hanging on the shelf of your local gun store. A skilled craftsman will need to take your vision and turn it into a physical product. While many custom holster makers struggle with months-long waiting times, FALCO Holsters has streamlined its production process and can manufacture a made-to-order holster in as little as 10 working days. Production times may increase during peak periods such as the Christmas season, but this still places FALCO among the fastest manufacturers in the custom-holster market. Why Go Custom?Custom holsters may not be right for every use case, but there are many circumstances where they make sense. Let’s look at some of the reasons why you might want a custom holster.You Want OneThe best reason to buy a custom holster is simply that you want one. Much like with men's suits, there comes a time when buying off the rack no longer interests you. And once you have reached that point getting exactly what you want is plenty of reason.For people who carry guns regularly, you will spend a ton of time with your holster. When I am getting ready in the morning, I always grab my watch, phone, wallet, knife, and handgun. It feels wrong to leave the house without any of those items because it is so habitual. An item that is on your person day in and day out should be tailored to you, precisely to your setup and should work just how you want it to.Now, if you are someone who has become bored with the ordinary options, getting just what you want is doubly important. An experienced shooter who has spent the time and effort to know exactly what works best for them can have a custom holster.There is also something to be said for having something that no one else does. Guns are usually mass-produced, and most handguns are not unique. But with holsters the sky is the limit. For instance, check out this rig: I would bet there are no other turquoise cross-draw IWB holsters for the Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum with included TFB branding out there! A 4-inch wheel gun is not a common choice for inside waistband carry, but it works very well. On the range trip where I took these pictures, I entirely forgot that I was carrying this setup. Eventually, I came to put on another strong-side holster only to find that I was still carrying this one. The best part? You can simply order such a holster by configuring the A105 Falcon yourself. Exact Fit With Your SetupThis is a big one for true gun connoisseurs, particularly to carry the kind of pistols we call “barbeque guns.” These are interesting or expensive handguns carried in low-risk settings like a cookout with friends and family. There is nothing wrong with carrying a serious handgun to grill some burgers, but it is also a good chance for that P210 or P7M8 to come out of the gun safe.These guns are usually less common, and holsters are harder to find as a result as well. Custom holsters are often the only option for an obscure pistol, particularly if you want a specific material or carry method. It also just feels right to match the quality and craftsmanship of an exquisite pistol with a custom holster.I recently purchased an FN Five seveN USG because it was too good of a deal to pass up. A lightweight pistol with a deep magazine and some long-range advantages is a nice option to have for a desert dweller like me. But Five seveN holster options from many sources are underwhelming.Not so on the custom side. Falco has over 350 holster options for that pistol! They have 80 light-bearing holsters for it, and I can combine my Five SeveN with over 160 lights!. Just about any type of carry imaginable has a compatible holster. And beyond simple compatibility, many of those models offer additional customization. Shoulder rig for a Glock Model 40 in 10mm? Falco does that too To Pair With A Special GunSome guns, particularly bespoke ones, deserve a special holster. Even if there are basic off-the-shelf options, vague compatibility is not the right objective for an heirloom-grade handgun. An exceptional pistol should be paired with an appropriately special holster. Just as you would not accept no-name magazines or a knock-off red dot on a handgun like this, the holster should also not lessen the experience.This pairing can also move beyond simple quality into material and style choices. Perhaps the stocks on your 1911 are a point of pride, and they would be complemented by a 1911 holster with nontraditional color or material. Maybe you want to protect its finish at all costs, so you opt for an underlay. Lastly, you might want to fine-tune retention based on your mood. When you go custom, you can make it happen, whatever “it” may be.To Get Exactly What You WantCustom means you get to decide exactly what you get. You can match the carry position, cant, ride height, sweat guard, belt width, and holster shape to your needs. This reduces printing and painful pressure points for all day comfort. Custom holsters can also be matched to your body type and clothing style, pairing perfectly with your specific requirements. You can also select between the comfort and style of leather, the positive retention of Kydex, or a blend of both with a hybrid model.Another area where personal preferences vary is retention. Some prefer the faster access of an open top, the “snap in” feel of a Kydex holster, or the added security of active retention methods like a thumb break. Whatever you prefer, you can get exactly what you want (and need) by going custom and tailoring the holster to you.Many shooters already have a holster that they like, except for one little thing or other. Whether it is the ride height or cant angle, or a retention feature that should be added or removed to make it just right, having exactly what you want makes it much easier and more comfortable to carry all day, every day. Opting for a custom holster can tweak an almost perfect setup to make it actually perfect. And that kind of improvements is very valuable when you spend hundreds or thousands of hours wearing that holster!This is especially true for left-handed shooters, who often struggle to find even standard holsters. Not so with custom holsters! Lefties can get the exact holster they want rather than settling for one of the few off-the-shelf left-handed holsters they can find in a local shop. Instead of settling for what they can find, southpaws can get what they actually want by going custom.ConclusionCustom holsters are not the right solution in every instance. But if you want a perfectly fitting holster that not only works for your handgun and light, but also for your body shape, clothing style, and any other kind of special needs, a custom rig cannot be beat. Being able to specify every detail and have the holster match what you want instead of working around the limitations of what someone else thought you would want is very freeing. So whether a custom holster is in the cards for you now, or if you just want to daydream about what you might order someday, it is worth taking a look at custom holster options and particularly Falcoholsters.com.PS.: In case you have an idea for a holster that isn't covered by Falco's extensive lineup, they make custom designs from the ground up via their Bespoke program.