I’ve been going through and testing a few different holsters for my two Shadow Systems EDC guns and I think I’ve just found my favorite option in the Tulster ARC IWB light-bearing holster.
I have the Tulster Arc that’s advertised on the Tulster website as being for the Shadow Systems DR920 paired with a Streamlight TLR-7 series light, and the Arc for the CR920XL with TLR-7 sub series light. But on the back of these holsters, you’ll see their Glock counterparts imprinted on the Kydex, which signifies that these holsters were originally modeled around the Glock counterparts, but because these Shadow Systems guns are basically based on the Glocks, they also fit in most Glock holsters.
Right away, the Arc holster has a few design choices that set it apart from a lot of other light-bearing options on the market.
One of the first things I noticed is the proprietary wing design. This is interesting because if you loosen the two screws on the back and take this off, it’s nothing like any other wing that I’ve personally seen on the market. I didn’t think this would be a big deal, but I’ve actually come to like this. It’s just very clean looking in my opinion and it does work to serve the purpose of helping to push against a belt and help to pull the grip of a gun closer to your body.
We also have the Flexmod, which is an extended Tegris tab that allows the belt hook to flex and form around your body rather than staying completely rigid. That flex, along with the extension of the tab, helps distribute the weight of the gun over a wider area, which should help with fatigue when you’re carrying for longer periods of time.
The holster itself is made from thicker 0.093-inch Kydex, which gives it a more rigid and durable feel compared to thinner holsters. It doesn’t feel flimsy, and the structure stays consistent even with a heavier setup.
Currently, the Arc line of holsters features3 a medium-height sweat guard. Personally, I usually prefer a high sweat guard because sweat can build up on the slide during hotter temps and I’m carrying appendix, but this comes down to personal preference. The medium height still offers a decent amount of protection.
Towards the bottom of the back, there’s also a flat area molded into the holster to accommodate a wedge, which Tulster sells separately. If you’re someone who runs a wedge to help with concealment and comfort, this makes adding one more straightforward and just looks better as you’re not left with some overhanging material if this area isn’t included.
Again, my holster is for the Streamlight TLR-7 line of weapon lights and it is actually compatible with all non-subcompact TLR-7 lights, meaning the TLR-7A, TLR-7X, and TLR-7 HL-X will all fit while still remaining fully enclosed. That flexibility is a big plus if you already own multiple TLR-7 variants or plan to upgrade later.
For this holster, I went with the Glock 17 or DR920 version. I did this intentionally because I run an MR920, which is Glock 19-sized, but I’ve added the Radian Afterburner and Ramjet. That setup brings the overall length closer to a DR920 or Glock 17. With this holster, I can essentially fit any non-micro-compact Shadow Systems handgun as long as I’m running a TLR-7 light, which makes it a very versatile option.
One thing I really like about this holster is how enclosed it is. The light is completely covered, and so is the slide, while still leaving room for a threaded barrel. This is very important to me as someone who runs a comp because that enclosed slide design helps to keep lint and debris out of the compensator. Again, I’m using a Glock 17 or DR920 length Arc holster, and it offers enough material to completely cover my Radian setup. This design being enclosed, not just extended, helps minimize lint getting in my comp.
Retention is another area where this holster stands out. Most light-bearing holsters rely almost entirely on friction, but this one uses an integrated retention system that locks onto the light itself. You actually get a defined click when the gun seats into the holster. If that retention system ever wears out, Tulster has indicated there will be a replacement option available, which is reassuring for long-term use. Replacing this retention system isn’t too difficult because it’s just a molded bump that sits inside the holster and it’s held in place by a washer and screw. It’s a very simple design, but something only Tulster has thought to come up with.
Moving to my CR920X holster, everything that I’ve mentioned with the previous holster is going to apply here. It’s the same design and technology, but in a holster for a different gun. What I want to share is that even though I own a CR920X, I went with the holster for a Glock 48 or CR920XL because I will be adding the Radian Ramjet+Afterburner to this gun when it’s available and I wanted to give myself the extra room to accommodate that. But like the previous holster, this one will accommodate all the various lengths of guns in between from the CR920, CR920X, CR920XP, CR920XL, Glock 43X and Glock 48 as long as they are equipped with any of the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub variants like my HLX version. So again, just a very versatile holster if you have multiple guns in this lineup.
Overall, this is a well-thought-out light-bearing IWB holster with some smart design choices that focus on comfort, durability, and versatility. If you’re running a Shadow Systems handgun with a TLR-7 series light and want something enclosed, secure, and adaptable across multiple setups, this is definitely worth a look.
