Several gift-giving holidays are coming up in the next few months, and Valentine’s Day is next! If you’re wondering what to get your tactically special (or especially tactical) someone this year, this buyer’s guide will help you get a gift that is neither trite nor cringe-worthy! And for the record, we bounced this list off several of the Dispatch writers and got the overall okie-doke that they’d receive one or more of these things as a gift.
It won’t surprise you to learn that a lot of these are Safariland Group products – for obvious reasons. But we’re not limiting the list to those products by any means!
Gifts for Gun Lovers: “Occasion Agnostic”!
I’ll include a wide range of prices so you can pick what fits your budget. These products will also be things that any Mom (Mother’s Day), Dad (Father’s Day), Significant Other (St. Valentine’s Day), etc., would use often and appreciate. They won’t be in any particular order.
Oh, and before we get started – the holster you see up above is a Safariland Species inside the waistband (IWB) holster in MultiCam Black! (BYOR – bring your own roses).
1. Safariland Incog X IWB Holster
We’ll start with this one because it’s been hands-down one of our most popular holsters ever. This collaboration between Safariland and Travis Haley from Haley Strategic Partners was a great one. This low-profile IWB Holster is weapon-light and red dot compatible. This covers more of the pistol than the schema and has the option to have a magazine caddy attachment to hold a spare magazine.
Incog X IWB Holster fits are available for multiple handguns including models from Glock, Sig, Staccato, and more. Consider this holster first if you’re looking to gift a holster to someone, but make sure ahead of time they carry “appendix style” or “AIWB”. That stands for Appendix Inside (the) Waist Band.
2. Real Avid AR15 Armorer’s Master Kit
If your significant other has one or a few AR15 rifles at home (and gosh, we hope they do!), we’re certain this is something they’ll love: Real Avid AR15 Armorer’s Master Kit.
This kit has everything you need — and then some — to build or work on any AR15, and many other platforms as well. It comes in a durable hard case that keeps it all together, so he won’t have to look all over the garage for the tool he needs.
3. Safariland Species IWB Holster
The Safariland Species is another low-profile IWB solution for a multitude of micro-compact pistols. It will accommodate a host of popular red dot sights but not weapon lights. If you’re buying one of these for someone else, make sure they don’t habitually keep a weapon-mounted light (WML) – a flashlight that mounts under the gun barrel – on their pistol.
This is an affordable and simple gift option for pretty much anyone’s everyday carry gun. It’s available in several colors and finishes and offers dual functionality and tension adjustment for a personalized fit, feel, and draw. Note that it is currently only available for right-handed shooters.
Remember the Species holster with the roses up top? Then the first entry in this list, the INCOG-X? If you’re wondering which is the better choice for you or the intended recipient, check out our Best IWB Holster showdown.
4. Streamlight TLR-7 Sub
I prefer to have a weapon-mounted light on every firearm that I use for self-defense. I didn’t have one for my defensive handgun for the longest time because the size of WML was too bulky for my liking. That was until the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub series of WMLs became available.
I’ve been carrying this one on my P365X for over a year, and it is plenty bright with 500 lumens and decent run time as well. This would be an excellent accessory for a P365 or G43/48 carry pistol.
5. Safariland Schema IWB Holster
The Safariland Schema is an inexpensive, extremely simple, and effective holster for that gun owner who carries a micro-compact pistol for their EDC. I have one for the Sig P365 XL, which also fits my P365X.
It’s a minimalist, lightweight, skeletonized IWB Holster, and it is one of my favorite options. It doesn’t accommodate a weapon-mounted light, but then, its purpose is to be a minimalist.
6. Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 Headset
“Eyes and ears!” remember? Protect your hearing with the Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 Hearing Protection. These are some of my favorite headsets, and I have them in my work bag, ready to go for the range or at a moment’s notice to simultaneously protect my hearing and enhance my situational awareness.
7. Safariland Hatch Task Medium Police Duty Glove
These TSK324 – Task Medium Police Duty Gloves are a good mix of protection and dexterity. I have had many pairs of Hatch gloves over the years, and they have served me well and have been very durable through hard use.
8. Mean Gene Leather Renegade Belt 1.25″
This is no mere mortal belt. This is like an up-armored, up-gunned super belt that belongs on a superhero (though maybe not one that wears spandex). This will provide a sturdy and stable platform for anyone’s EDC setup. The Mean Gene Leather Renegade Belt is an excellent belt made with high-quality leather with multiple leather options. I have had mine for several months, and it is one of the easiest belts to use. They are also customizable with the buckle. They also look great, which, let’s face it, is important.
9. Safariland QLS System
If your intended giftee runs a Safariland rig for work or on the range, the Quick Locking System Kit (QLS) is a must-have. It allows him to quickly remove the holster from his belt system. It is extremely useful if he has multiple holsters so he can switch out the holster that he needs in seconds, without tools.
10. Holosun EPS Carry Micro Red Dot Sight
Buying for someone who runs a G43/G48 or P365 that is cut with RMSc footprint? Well then, this is an excellent micro red dot sight for him. It is a closed-emitter design, which makes it perfect for EDC, especially IWB.
I’ve had both an open emitter as well as the EPS Carry, let’s just say the EPS Carry won over the previous red dot sight for me, and that’s what I still carry to this day. There are a few models available, including red and green dots and cross-hair reticle. I prefer the 2 MOA dot.
11. EDC Nexbelt
Here is another great EDC belt system if your intended gift recipient isn’t into leather belts (or heavy-duty rigs like that MGL above). The Nylon EDC Nexbelt ratcheting design is easy to use and adjust. It is a great option for EDC, or if you’re gifting to a Peace Officer, for plain clothes duty, detectives where they don’t wear a full duty Belt.
The EDC Nexbelt from Safariland is an everyday belt made specifically for people who carry a handgun. It works great for a multitude of other tasks as well.
12. Safariland 575 IWB GLS Pro-Fit Holster
Here is another IWB option, this time with an active retention system. The 575 IWB GLS Pro-Fit has the Grip Locking System or GLS. You use your middle finger to press the button underneath the trigger guard to quickly release the pistol.
The low-cut, compact design of the 575 makes concealment easy, while allowing for a quick draw. Should the giftee prefer an OWB or outside waistband, it includes over or under-the-belt loop attachments. Nice, eh?
13. Safariland 7378 7TS ALS Concealment Paddle Holster
Picking up something for someone who runs a slick pistol with just the iron sights and likes paddle holsters? Then the 7378 7TS Concealment Paddle holster may just be the one for them. It has the ALS retention system, which is secure and fast to deploy when needed. It is adjustable for cant, and the paddle fits belt widths up to 1.75 inches.
Give your favorite gun owner a gift they’ll celebrate
They’re already going to be celebrating whatever they’re getting the gift for, but let’s make that gift something they’ll celebrate because of what it is!
