Standard Co
How many holsters have you purchased? Are you the type of person that is always looking for the “next best thing” no matter what brand? Or, are you the type of person who finds one brand they like and stick with them no matter the trends and innovations that come and go through the industry? Speaking for myself, I can say that I have always been open to all types of holsters and carry locations, it all depends on what I find that works for me. Kydex holsters have been around for a long time. You can throw a rock and hit a company that makes kydex and each one will offer their own take on the basic principle of “carrying”.
Everyone is different, built different, carries different firearms, accessories and likes certain styles. For me personally, I have always gravitated towards function rather than looks, especially when it comes to choosing a holster for concealed carry purposes. In fact, most of my choices in every gear category have been based on function rather than looks.
Normally, when I carry a pistol concealed it has been my Salient Tier 1 M&P Shield with two spare mags on my ankle. However, I have been wanting to carry my Salient Utility G19 for some time, however, I just haven’t found the right holster. For some jobs when carrying the Utility G19 I was using a Crossbreed, which is leather/kydex with metal clips. I would carry it on my hip and not apex. It works, however, I just haven’t been able to find a set up I really liked.
While in Vegas some time ago I was at the Salient headquarters and saw a kydex company down the hall from our offices. The company is named, StandardCo, and although I have seen them pop up on social media, I was not aware they were based out of the same building and had ties with Salient. Given my knowledge of Salient and the fact they like to provide a premium product, I wanted to get my hands on one. I ordered the “Atlas” for my Utility G19/Surefire XC2 combo.
First Impressions
A few weeks later I received my Atlas. First look and feel I was pleased with the fit and finish. Everything was solid and the kydex wasn’t marred or damaged. The lines of the Atlas are aggressive and the edges smooth for concealed carry. There wasn’t any extra material left and felt good. The attached mag carrier was canted at an acceptable angle which allowed consistent and deep grab for me during reloads.
The retention was spot on out of the box. I didn’t have to adjust anything and the pistol didn’t hang up or catch on anything during the draw. I was pleased with it so far and decided to take it with me to California for some armed protection work. Seeing as how I will be wearing the holster for up to 12 hours or more, it would be a good test. The Atlas is definitely the biggest holster I have used, that’s because of the mag carrier which is attached. I found that using a slimmer belt with a more low-profile buckle worked the best. Normally I use a Mean Gene belt, but this time I opt for my EDC belt with cobra buckle, it was the lowest profile belt I had with me at the time.
The Atlas felt comfortable and didn’t feel as “big” as I thought it would. I also had zero issues with printing, even while wearing a t-shirt. I knew that being in LA and working in the area I was at if someone saw me printing, they would most likely try to call me out. This never happened and I had no issues. The next test was wearing it for 12 or more hours. I had my concerns with the added mag carrier and to be brutally honest it went very well. The Hypalon that is used to attach the mag carrier to the holster moved better than I had anticipated. Again, premium materials, you get what you pay for and the use of the Hypalon was a solid choice.
The wing, which helps push the holster into your body, is also a great touch, which helps with further concealing the pistol. Keeping with attention to detail, the wing is stamped with “STANDARD”. Does the stamp do anything? Nope, just further proof of the thought that goes into the holster. I worked in the heat of the day and any additional sweating was minimal, thank God. I don’t think this was due to any major design different, other than maybe the wing. That being said, it was nice not to feel uncomfortable like a damn swamp.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, I can say that I was very impressed by the Atlas. It lived up to the standards set by the other companies within the same walls. The one thing that I personally would change is the clips that are used. For me, I really like metal clips. The clips that come with the Atlas work great, they do exactly what needs to be done. For me, however, I have fallen for metal clips, especially the Zero Clips sold by Dyanimis. I purchased a bunch of those and any knife sheath or holster gets its stock clips switched out.
Overall, the Atlas performed very well over the course of a 21 day “work week”. I wore it every day, for at least 8 hours and it was always solid and comfortable. To add to that, I had no problems with the holster while in any position I had to be in or walking for miles. The Atlas by StandardCo is highly recommended for anyone looking to change up or upgrade their holster game with something new.
Currently, the Atlas has a price point of $129.99 and with a 7-day lead time due to demand. The price is comparable to other high-end brands and a 7 day lead time is not bad at all for a handmade product. To see what else StandardCo has to offer, click here.
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.
