C&G Reviews & Awards
Independent gear editors have tested and ranked C&G Holsters products. This page collects those third-party awards and reviews, quoted directly from each publication, with links to the original articles and to the holsters they cover.
Outdoor Life: Best for Appendix Carry — C&G Holsters Mod1 Lima
Award: Best for Appendix Carry: C&G Holsters Mod1 Lima
Publication: Outdoor Life, “The Best Kydex Holsters of 2026,” by Steve Anderson
“The C&G Mod 1 has an amazing level of detail, engineering, and more adjustability than most Kydex holsters, and it provides an easy way to carry extra ammo.”
Outdoor Life’s Kydex holster roundup picks the Mod1 Lima for appendix carry, citing its adjustability and the easy way it provides to carry extra ammo. The MOD1-LIMA is C&G’s light-bearing version of the MOD1 appendix sidecar system.
Source: Read the Outdoor Life article
Shop: MOD1-LIMA Appendix Sidecar Holster System · All MOD1 & MOD1-LIMA holsters
Outdoor Life: Best Premium — C&G Covert
Award: Best Premium: C&G Covert
Publication: Outdoor Life, “The Best Kydex Holsters of 2026,” by Steve Anderson
“If you’re willing to spend a little more for the ultimate Kydex EDC holster, the C&G Covert becomes the obvious choice.”
The same Outdoor Life roundup names the Covert its premium pick, noting it is available for over 150 guns with each model custom fit to its specific gun.
Source: Read the Outdoor Life article
Shop: COVERT/ALPHA Kydex Holsters
GunVera: Best Optics-Ready — C&G Holsters Covert IWB
Award: C&G Holsters Covert IWB — Best Optics-Ready
Publication: GunVera, “Best Kydex IWB Holsters in 2026: Custom Fit Concealment and Quick Draw,” by GunVera Editorial (updated July 28, 2026)
“The Covert IWB is optics-compatible out of the box — the sight channel accommodates red dots and suppressor-height sights without modification.”
GunVera’s Kydex IWB guide selects the Covert IWB as its optics-ready pick and notes that the Alpha version adds a concealment claw and taller sweat guard.
Source: Read the GunVera article
Shop: IWB COVERT/ALPHA Kydex Holster · All IWB COVERT holsters
Guns & Ammo: 60-Day Carry Review — C&G Covert/Alpha IWB
Award: Full review and 60-day carry evaluation; listed in “10 Best EDC Inside the Waistband Holsters with Reviews” as C&G Covert Alpha (Optic Cut)
Publication: Guns & Ammo, “C&G Holsters Covert/Alpha IWB Holster: Full Review,” by Eric R. Poole (March 17, 2026)
“The Covert IWB was evaluated with The Alpha Upgrade Kit and then worn AIWB every day for two months.”
Guns & Ammo tested the holster on an HK CC9 with a Trijicon RMRcc, scoring it 4 out of 5 for comfort with a 1.25-second average draw-to-fire time. Of that setup, Poole wrote: “if you have (or intend to purchase) an HK CC9 and want to wear it up front, it is my opinion that there is no better option than C&G’s Covert IWB with The Alpha Upgrade Kit.”
Guns & Ammo also lists the C&G Covert Alpha (Optic Cut) in 10 Best EDC Inside the Waistband Holsters with Reviews (March 25, 2026).
Source: Read the Guns & Ammo review
Shop: H&K CC9 IWB COVERT/ALPHA Holster · All IWB ALPHA holsters
What customers say
Our GLOCK 19/23/44/45 IWB COVERT/ALPHA Kydex Holster (Quickship) has an average rating of 4.93 out of 5 from 140 customer reviews on Judge.me (as of October 2026). Read all customer reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Has C&G Holsters won any awards?
Yes. Outdoor Life’s “The Best Kydex Holsters of 2026” names the C&G Holsters Mod1 Lima “Best for Appendix Carry” and the C&G Covert “Best Premium.” GunVera’s “Best Kydex IWB Holsters in 2026” names the C&G Holsters Covert IWB “Best Optics-Ready.” Guns & Ammo includes the C&G Covert Alpha in its “10 Best EDC Inside the Waistband Holsters” after a 60-day carry review.
Which C&G holster is best for appendix carry?
Outdoor Life named the C&G Holsters Mod1 Lima its “Best for Appendix Carry” pick. The MOD1-LIMA is C&G’s light-bearing appendix sidecar holster system, which carries a spare magazine alongside the pistol. C&G also offers the MOD1 sidecar system without the light-bearing design.
Is the C&G Covert optics-ready?
Yes. GunVera rates the C&G Holsters Covert IWB “Best Optics-Ready,” noting that its sight channel accommodates red dots and suppressor-height sights without modification. Guns & Ammo carried its test holster with a Trijicon RMRcc mounted on an HK CC9.
Has the Covert Alpha been independently tested?
Yes. Guns & Ammo Editor-in-Chief Eric R. Poole wore the Covert IWB with The Alpha Upgrade Kit appendix-style every day for two months on an HK CC9, scoring it 4 out of 5 for comfort with a 1.25-second average draw-to-fire time. The review was published March 17, 2026.
Quotes are reproduced from the publications named above; award names are shown as each publication wrote them.
