PHLster Floodlight2 Review — A Universal Light Bearing Holster

In this PHLster Floodlight2 review, Dylan Casey tackles the question of whether a single carry rig can be a legitimate universal light-bearing holster. PHLster is a popular brand in the CCW market, and the company’s designs have been influential. But, does it hold up? The holster reviewed here was purchased by the author prior to testing.

I’ve been concealed carrying for nearly a decade. While Kydex holsters have been around for a long time, its popularity has really taken off on the past 20 years or so. This is probably been driven by its affordability, adaptability and affordability as a material, combined with the expansion of CCW laws around the country during those same years.

The PHLster Floodlight2 light bearing holster shown with a Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy, highlighting its innovative design and universal light-bearing capabilities.

During this era, a man named Jon Hauptman in Philadelphia began creating content on how to make custom DIY Kydex holsters at home, with the goal of educating the masses. One of his original DIY videos currently has a view count of 1.2 million on YouTube. What happened next was interesting. He became swamped with custom holster requests.

It turns out a lot of people wanted to pay Jon to make holsters for them. Jon’s operation was originally known as Philly EDC, but today that same operation has grown and evolved into PHLster. The name itself is derived from ‘PHL,’ which is the airport code for Philadelphia, reflecting the company’s origins in that city.

The author is holding the PHLster Floodlight2 holster, emphasizing its lightweight and ergonomic design for concealed carry. The holster’s wave-pattern ComfortScape texture is clearly visible, designed to enhance airflow and reduce pressure during wear. Its durable Kydex construction provides a secure fit for light-bearing pistols, indexing retention off the weapon-mounted light. The open-ended design supports advanced firearm features like threaded barrels and red dot optics, adding to its versatility. The attached red bungee cord is seen, which adjusts the retention for compatibility with a wide range of pistol frames. The holster is designed for inside-the-waistband carry, with sturdy clips ensuring it stays securely attached. This image highlights the Floodlight2's innovative approach to comfort and concealability for concealed carry enthusiasts. — The author holding the PHLster Floodlight2, showcasing its innovative design and comfort-focused features.

PHLster’s holster designs evolved rapidly. Nothing remained static as they looked for better ways to conceal and comfortably carry a pistol. The efforts turned PHLster from just another holster company to a concealment technology company as they dug deeper into what made varying concealed easier.

Buying the Holster

This now brings us to the subject of this article. The PHLster Floodlight2, an updated and refined second iteration of the original Floodlight, hit the market and I purchased one for myself. Now, after owning and using the holster for almost six months, I will share my findings to see if this holster, derived from a company that prides itself on a commitment to concealed carry technology, is a worthy purchase or not.

A close-up view of the ComfortScape texture on the PHLster Floodlight2 holster, highlighting its wave-like grooves designed to improve airflow and comfort. The unique pattern creates small ventilation channels that reduce heat buildup and prevent discomfort during extended wear. This feature ensures the holster feels smooth against the skin, even in warm conditions or under active movement. Made from durable Kydex, the holster combines rigidity with ergonomic design for concealed carry. The grooves are an innovative addition that sets the Floodlight2 apart from traditional holsters. This texture not only improves comfort but also adds a sleek aesthetic to the holster. Ideal for inside-the-waistband carry, the ComfortScape demonstrates PHLster's commitment to user-focused innovation. — Close-up of the ComfortScape texture on the PHLster Floodlight2, designed for ventilation and unmatched comfort during carry.

The original design feature that drew me to the Floodlight2 is called ComfortScape, which is patent-pending technology developed by PHLster. As it turns out, it’s one of the big things that makes this holster so different from other holsters. This is the wave groove-like texture on the body of the holster, and it is totally unique as it provides a naturally smooth feel to the holster with no edges to grind into the wearer. The wave pattern has depth between each wave so that there can be ventilation between the holster and the body.

All of this may sound great, but does it work? The answer is yes, it does. I have never once felt as if the holster was carving into me while wearing it. I can also say, even after wearing it on a hot day, I’ve never removed my holster to find it drenched in sweat — no doubt due to the increased airflow of the design.

Universality

The unique look of the Floodlight2 may have been what piqued my interest and drew me to it, but that’s not what got me to the cash register that day at Rainier Arms. No, it was that fact that this holster has some notable universality to it.

The PHLster Floodlight2 holster is displayed alongside an assortment of pistols, highlighting its universal fit for light-bearing firearms. The holster's innovative design indexes retention off the weapon-mounted light, making it compatible with multiple models, including compact and full-size handguns. Pistols in the image are equipped with accessories such as red dot optics and suppressor-height sights, showcasing the holster’s adaptability. The wave-textured ComfortScape body ensures comfort during concealed carry by enhancing airflow and reducing pressure points. The open-ended design accommodates features like threaded barrels and compensators. Sturdy belt clips are visible, ensuring secure attachment for inside-the-waistband carry. This image emphasizes the Floodlight2’s versatility and practicality for firearm owners who need a single holster for multiple pistols. — Versatility on display: the PHLster Floodlight2 accommodates a range of pistols equipped with weapon-mounted lights.

The Floodlight2 is a holster that is meant to index off the weapon-mounted light, not the firearm itself. That means the retention of the holster is built on the light so the holster itself will have a broad application of firearms. The Floodlight2 can be purchased in two versions that will work specifically with these models of lights:

I purchased the X300 SureFire version and I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed this feature. I can use my 1911 DS Prodigy, my 1911 9mm Emissary and my Echelon 4.5F. All I must do is switch my X300 SureFire from one pistol to the other and voila, the holster fitment works like a charm. PHLster has been kind enough to include a list on the Floodlight2 product page of specific pistol models that have been verified to fit.

The shape of the Floodlight2 will accommodate most full-size and compact handguns, as long as they are equipped with the specified weapon light. Plus, due to the floodlight’s open-ended design, it will fit pistols with compensators, threaded barrels, suppressor-height sights and, of course, red dot optics.

The Red Bungee

The universality of the Floodlight2 even goes a bit further with the inclusion of the red bungee cord you will find in the packaging. This cord can be adjusted to increase retention simply by hooking the ends of the bungee into the center loop, effectively shortening the bungee and increasing retention. The red bungee can also be swapped out with the default one to accommodate pistols with wider frames like double-stack .45 ACP pistols and double stack 10mms. This is an amazing feature of the Floodlight that is only possible because of its unique design.

Concealment

A holster can be easy on the eyes and fit your gun perfectly, but the feature that makes or breaks a holster is whether it aids in concealment or not. To help the holster conceal even better, I also purchased PHLster’s Modular Holster Wedge Kit.

The author is on a shooting range, drawing a Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy pistol from a PHLster Floodlight2 holster worn in the appendix position. The movement highlights the holster's smooth draw and retention capabilities. The holster's ComfortScape texture ensures comfort during carry, even under dynamic conditions. The appendix carry position emphasizes the Floodlight2’s compact design and concealment effectiveness. The universal fit of the holster, designed to accommodate light-bearing pistols, is a key feature being demonstrated. The shooting range backdrop and safety gear underscore the practical testing environment. This photo captures the holster’s performance under real-world conditions. It is also compatible with other pistols like the Glock 17 and Glock 19 handguns. — The PHLster Floodlight2 in action during a range test, demonstrating smooth and reliable draws from the appendix carry position.

This kit consists of a variety of stackable shapes that you can use in any combination or configuration to quickly get the comfort and concealment results you need, with no permanent modifications to the holster. The wedge helps press the gun’s grip more tightly against your body for improved concealment.

A close-up of the PHLster Wedge system, featuring several wedge shapes and sizes designed to improve comfort and concealment for the Floodlight2 holster. The wedges are attached using a durable hook-and-loop system, allowing users to customize how the holster rides inside the waistband. The modular design lets wearers adjust the angle and depth of the holster for optimal fitment based on body type and carry preferences. The material is soft yet firm, ensuring durability without sacrificing comfort during long wear. These wedges help press the pistol grip closer to the body, enhancing concealability for appendix and other carry positions. The photo emphasizes the adaptability and ease of use of the system, suitable for concealed carry enthusiasts seeking personalized solutions. The variety of shapes highlights the flexibility of the PHLster holster system. — Using a hook-and-loop system, the PHLster Wedge comes in various sizes and shapes and can be placed in the perfect location for your needs. This can optimize concealability for any user.

The whole modular system is centered around the hook and loop attachments in a variety of sizes that stick to the holster by first sticking an adhesive strip to the holster. Then you can mix and match any of the shapes by sticking them to the back of your holster to dial in the perfect fit.

It is a brilliant idea, and the pads are sure to hold up well because their design and function are based on the familiar padding in ballistic helmets.

A Springfield Armory pistol is securely holstered in the PHLster Floodlight2, highlighting the holster's universal fit for light-bearing firearms. The holster, designed to index off the weapon-mounted light rather than the firearm, accommodates various pistols with mounted accessories like suppressor-height sights and red dot optics. The photo showcases the sleek ComfortScape design, featuring wave-like grooves for airflow and comfort during concealed carry. The open-ended structure allows for compatibility with threaded barrels and compensators, enhancing its versatility. The sturdy clips ensure a secure attachment to the belt, making it suitable for both appendix and strong-side carry. This image underscores the Floodlight2's innovative features, making it ideal for concealed carriers seeking comfort and adaptability. The pairing of the pistol and holster reflects a focus on practical, high-performance concealed carry solutions. — As shown here, the Floodlight2 makes it relatively easy to carry a full-size, double-stack defensive pistol concealed.

The Floodlight 2 ships with Discrete Carry Concept belt clips, which have a lower profile and visibility than any other holster belt clip on the market. The clips also are extremely strong, ensuring they are unlikely to break. However, I personally prefer the belt clips from one of my LAS Concealment holsters. So, I swapped them out on the Floodlight2 for this test.

The Verdict

All in all, the Floodlight2 is a truly innovative holster. It’s not just another Kydex holster where the only difference is the branding that’s attached to it. It’s clear careful thought and attention to detail has been taken with it.

The holster at the time of writing does have a price point of $138. With its broad range of adaptability and performance, it’s an investment that will serve you for a long, long time. That’s what leads me to say the PHLster is a great purchase. I am certainly glad I picked mine up!

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