The best Glock 43X holster for most carriers is the Rounded Gear IWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $44.95. It is our best selling 43X holster, it is Claw Compatible, and the same Kydex shell is rated for the Glock 43, 43X and 43X MOS. If you carry appendix with a spare magazine, step up to the Glock 43X 43 Sidecar Holster, from $94.95.
The Quick List
- Best Overall: IWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $44.95
- Best for Appendix Carry: Glock 43X 43 Sidecar Holster, from $94.95
- Best Premium Build: Plus Line IWB Kydex Holster for the Glock 43X, from $64.95
- Best for Dress Clothes: Tuckable IWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $49.95
- Best Convertible: DRUID 2.0 Holster for the Glock 43X and 43, from $69.95
- Best OWB Quick On and Off: Paddle Holster for the Glock 43X, from $49.95
- Best Belt Loop OWB: OWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $59.95
- Best for a Weapon Light: IWB Holster for the Glock 43X with TLR-7 Sub, from $49.95
- Best Minimalist and Pocket: Trigger Guard Holster for the Glock 43X, 43 and 48, from $36.95
- Best for Gym and Beltless: Athletic Wear Holster for the Glock 43X, from $57.95
Glock 43X Specs That Affect Holster Choice
These are Glock's published figures. The rows that matter for a Kydex holster are slide length, slide width and barrel length, because the shell wraps the slide and trigger guard. The grip sits outside the holster.
| Spec | Glock 43X | Glock 43 | Glock 48 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber | 9mm | 9mm | 9mm |
| Capacity (factory) | 10+1 | 6+1 | 10+1 |
| Barrel Length | 3.41 in | 3.41 in | 4.17 in |
| Slide Length | 6.06 in | 6.06 in | 6.85 in |
| Slide Width | 0.87 in | 0.87 in | 0.87 in |
| Height With Magazine | 5.04 in | 4.25 in | 5.04 in |
| Overall Width | 1.10 in | 1.06 in | 1.10 in |
At 6.50 inches long, 1.10 inches wide and 16.40 ounces without a magazine (23.07 ounces loaded), the 43X is one of the easiest full-grip 9mm guns to carry inside the waistband. Its weakness is the grip: at 5.04 inches tall it is the part that prints, which is why a concealment claw matters more on this gun than on a Glock 43.
Glock 43, 43X, 43X MOS and 48: Which Holster?
The Glock 43 and 43X use the same holster. Glock publishes identical barrel length (3.41 in), slide length (6.06 in) and slide width (0.87 in) for both guns. Only the grip changes, and a Kydex shell leaves the grip outside the holster, so the shell cannot tell the two apart. Our fitment data rates the Rounded Gear 43X shell for the Glock 43, Glock 43X and Glock 43X MOS.
The Glock 48 needs its own holster. It shares the 43X grip and the 0.87 inch slide width, but its slide is 0.79 inches longer, so a 43X shell is too short. The one exception is the Trigger Guard Holster for the Glock 43X, 43 and 48, which covers only the trigger guard and works on all three. For a full shell, see our Glock 48 holsters.
The slimline Glocks were not part of Glock's V Series changeover, so a current production 43X takes the same holster as an older one.
Every Carry Configuration, Compared
IWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $44.95
Best Overall
Our best selling 43X holster. Adjustable cant, adjustable Posi-Click® retention with an audible click when the gun seats, and full trigger guard coverage. It is Claw Compatible, so you can add the Holster Claw Kit ($15.95) later if you move to appendix. One shell covers the Glock 43, 43X and 43X MOS, and it is optic cut.
Best for: strong side or appendix daily carry, first holster for a new 43X owner.
Glock 43X 43 Sidecar Holster, from $94.95
Best for Appendix Carry
Holster and spare magazine in one appendix rig. The magazine pouch sits beside the gun and helps tip the tall 43X grip into your body instead of out against your shirt. Rated for the Glock 43X and 43.
Best for: appendix carriers who want a reload on board without a second clip on the belt.
Plus Line IWB Kydex Holster for the Glock 43X, from $64.95
Best Premium Build
Our upgraded IWB for carriers who want more out of the box than the standard IWB. It is Claw Compatible and optic cut, and it suits appendix carry where the 43X grip needs help staying tucked.
Best for: appendix carry, all day wear, carriers who want the step up build.
Tuckable IWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $49.95
Best for Dress Clothes
The clip leaves a gap so a shirt can tuck between the holster and your belt. With a 1.10 inch wide gun, a tucked shirt shows almost nothing. It is Claw Compatible and optic cut.
Best for: office carry, tucked button-downs, uniforms.
DRUID 2.0 Holster for the Glock 43X and 43, from $69.95
Best Convertible
One holster that runs IWB, tuckable or OWB. If you are not sure yet how you will carry the 43X, this is the one that adapts instead of being replaced. Rated for the Glock 43X and 43, and optic cut.
Best for: carriers who switch between inside and outside the waistband through the year.
Paddle Holster for the Glock 43X, from $49.95
Best OWB Quick On and Off
The paddle slips inside the waistband and holds without threading a belt, so it goes on and off in seconds. Rated for the Glock 43X and 43.
Best for: range days, training, open carry, keeping the gun on you at home.
OWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $59.95
Best Belt Loop OWB
Belt loops hold the holster tighter to your body and steadier than a paddle, which matters if you carry OWB under a jacket all day. Optic cut.
Best for: all day OWB carry, cold weather carry under a cover garment.
IWB Holster for the Glock 43X with TLR-7 Sub, from $49.95
Best for a Weapon Light
A light changes the shape of the gun, so it needs its own shell. This one is molded for a railed Glock 43X, 43 or 48 with a Streamlight TLR-7 Sub mounted, per our fitment data. We also make light-bearing IWB shells for the Streamlight TLR-6 and the Olight Baldr S and Baldr Mini, each from $49.95, and a DRUID 2.0 for the TLR-7 Sub from $77.95. Seat the light fully and as far rearward on the rail as it goes, or the gun will not seat in the holster.
Best for: carriers running a weapon light on a railed 43X.
Trigger Guard Holster for the Glock 43X, 43 and 48, from $36.95
Best Minimalist and Pocket
The smallest holster you can carry that still covers the trigger. It is the only shell that fits all three slimline Glocks. Add the Pocket and Purse Trigger Guard Holster Kit ($9.95) to carry it in a pocket or bag. We do not make a dedicated pocket holster for the 43X, so this pairing is our pocket answer.
Best for: deep concealment, pocket and purse carry, a second holster for a second slimline Glock.
Athletic Wear Holster for the Glock 43X, from $57.95
Best for Gym and Beltless
Built for gym shorts, joggers and other waistbands with no belt. A light 43X is one of the few guns that carries well this way.
Best for: workouts, walking the dog, lounge clothes.
What Actually Matters When Buying
- A shell molded to the gun. Kydex molded to the 43X slide holds it by shape, not by friction, and keeps the 1.10 inch profile slim.
- Full trigger guard coverage. Non-negotiable on a gun with no manual safety. Every holster in this guide covers the trigger guard.
- Adjustable retention. You should be able to set how hard the gun clicks in and how much pull it takes to draw.
- Cant and ride height. What works at 4 o'clock does not work at 1 o'clock. Adjustable cant and ride height let one holster follow you as your carry position changes.
- A real gun belt. A light gun still sags on a dress belt. The Ultimate Concealed Carry Leather Gun Belt ($69.99) is 1.5 inches and 14 oz leather.
IWB vs OWB for the Glock 43X
| Factor | IWB | OWB |
|---|---|---|
| Concealment | Excellent. A 1.10 inch wide gun disappears under a t-shirt. | Fair. Needs an untucked shirt or jacket. |
| Comfort | Very good at 16.40 oz unloaded. | Excellent. Nothing inside the waistband. |
| Draw Speed | Good, once you practice clearing the garment. | Faster. |
| Wardrobe Impact | Small. Most people do not size up pants for a 43X. | None. |
| Best For | Daily carry, summer carry. | Range, training, open carry, winter carry. |
Appendix Carry Setup
- Fix the grip print first. The 5.04 inch grip is what shows. Use a Claw Compatible holster with the Holster Claw Kit, or the sidecar, whose magazine pouch does the same job.
- Set ride height carefully. If your holster or clip allows it, start in the middle. Too low and the muzzle digs in when you sit. Too high and the grip clears the belt and prints.
- Use a stiff belt. Appendix carry puts all the weight forward. A 1.5 inch gun belt keeps the holster from tipping.
- Check it seated. Sit in your car and at a desk before you commit to a ride height. Most adjustment problems only show up sitting down.
Optics, Lights and the MOS
Every Kydex holster we build for the 43X is optic cut, so an optic-equipped 43X MOS needs no different shell and no separate decision at checkout. The 43X MOS has the same slide dimensions as the standard 43X, and our fitment data rates the same shell for both.
A weapon light is the one real variant. A mounted light changes the outline of the gun, so it needs a light-bearing shell. Pick the shell for your light: TLR-7 Sub, TLR-6, Olight Baldr S and Baldr Mini, or Olight PL-MINI 3 Valkyrie. Without a light, use any of the standard picks above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Glock 43X a Good Choice?
Yes, for most people who carry concealed. The Glock 43X is 1.10 inches wide and 16.40 ounces unloaded, yet holds 10+1 and gives a full grip. The trade-offs are lower capacity than a double-stack gun and snappier recoil than a Glock 19. In a Claw Compatible IWB holster it conceals under a t-shirt.
Does the Glock 43 Jam?
Not as a rule. The Glock 43 has a strong reliability record, and Massad Ayoob's launch test found it cycled even when deliberately held limp-wristed. When small Glocks do malfunction, the usual causes are a weak grip on a light gun, ammunition, or dirty or worn magazines and springs. A holster that sets a consistent firing grip on the draw helps.
What's the Best Optic for a Glock 43X?
The best optic is one built for the Glock 43X MOS footprint, which is cut for the Shield RMSc pattern, so RMSc-pattern micro dots such as the Shield RMSc mount directly. Holosun K-series dots like the 507K need an adapter plate on a standard MOS slide. Every Kydex holster we make for the 43X is optic cut.
What Glock Is Best for Concealed Carry Holsters?
For most people the Glock 43X or Glock 19 is the best concealed carry Glock, and both have the widest holster choice. The 43X is slimmer and lighter; the 19 holds more and shoots softer. The Glock 43 is smallest. Our Glock 43X Kydex holsters cover the 43, 43X and 43X MOS with one shell.
What Is the Best Holster for a Glock 43X?
For most carriers it is an IWB Kydex holster with adjustable retention, full trigger guard coverage and a concealment claw for the tall grip. Our pick is the Rounded Gear IWB Holster for the Glock 43X, from $44.95, which is Claw Compatible. For appendix carry with a spare magazine, the Glock 43X 43 Sidecar Holster is $94.95.
What Does "Mexican Carry" Mean?
Mexican carry means tucking a gun into your waistband with no holster. It is unsafe: the trigger is exposed, the gun can shift or fall, and nothing holds it in place on the draw. If you want the least bulk possible on a Glock 43X, a Kydex trigger guard holster covers the trigger for $36.95.
How We Chose
These are our own holsters, so we say that plainly. We ranked them by what Glock 43X owners actually buy from us, checked every pick against our live catalog and our fitment data, and left out anything we no longer sell. Gun specs come from Glock's published figures. Every holster here is molded in Jacksonville, Florida and backed by our lifetime guarantee.
Related Guides
- Best Glock 43 Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
- Best Glock 48 Holster Buyer's Guide
- Best Glock 19 Holster Buyer's Guide
Shop Glock 43X Holsters
See every holster we make for the Glock 43X in Glock 43X Holsters, or shop by model in Glock 43 Holsters and Glock 48 Holsters.
