Blackhawk! Omnivore Multifit Holster | Review

The Blackhawk! Omnivore holster is designed to accommodate more than 150 types of handguns. What differentiates the Blackhawk! Omnivore from other multi-fit holsters on the market is the retention mechanism.
In the past we have seen various manufactures designing a multi-fit holster that was based on multiple handgun sizes and makes. This did not allow almost any of the firearms to have a good (and safe) level of retention because of the large tolerances that were needed in order to fit multiple models of pistols. This design, based on an engineering compromise could not ensure the consistency in the draw, the re-holstering and most importantly the retention; it was therefore not considered a valuable product by most consumers in the industry.
Blackhawk! has rethought the whole process and has designed the holster around the weapon mounted light and not around the weapon itself. This allows to have a very precise mechanism that retains and secures the weapon inside the holster. Since most modern pistols feature a rail attachment systems of some sort (below the fore-end of the barrel) this design is able to standardize the way that the holster gains the purchase on the weapon system. Blackhawk! has also designed the holster around those users that are not interested in utilizing a weapon mounted light.

The Omnivore Holster is available in three variants: for SureFire X300, for Streamlight TLR-1 and TLR-2, and for pistols without a light there is a very low-profile accessory that attaches to the rail.

The firearm is secured with a level 2 retention system that can be disengaged with a thumb activated mechanism. We have tried without any success to pull the gun out of the holster without pressing the thumb switch, even with rough force.
It is remarkable that Blackhawk! has designed an efficient and secure retention system that only locks on the weapon mounted light and not on the weapon’s frame itself. In the past we have witnessed some issues with other holster manufacturers that failed in retaining the weapon (and the holster was designed to utilize the whole frame of the gun for the retention).

The Omnivore holster also features a free-floating weapon design that was implemented mainly for avoiding any premature wear on the firearm caused by the friction of the draw and the re-holstering. We found this feature extremely useful when doing longer range sessions in which the firearm would heat-up and the free-floating design would help to cool it down faster. It is also useful for eliminating any issued with debris and dirt that may interfere with the weapon in rougher environments.

The thumb release is provided with three different sizes and it features a rubberized texture for a secure engagement under critical stress. With the thumb release mechanism adjusted to the correct size of the hand, the draw is very smooth and efficient; and with some practice it can deliver a very quick pistol presentation. The retention mechanism doesn’t disengage if the weapon is pulled at the same time, for added protection and security for all duty applications.

The holster comes with two different injection molded belt attachments, a standard curved belt loop and a paddle. Once the preferred attachment system is bolted to the holster, the whole system is very solid and does not bend or loosens under the weight of the sidearm.

We have mainly used the standard belt loop because it can accommodate both larger tactical belts (works also with a Cobra buckle) as well as smaller standard leather belts, for which Blackhawk! does provide an attachment that eliminates any unwanted movement.
It is also possible to attach the belt loop with various angles for better efficiency with the draw or for some specific requirements.
Blackhawk has kindly given us the chance to try and test this product, and after two months of hard use, the rugged and tough nature of the holster comes to the surface. The finish and the injection-molded frame still hold their shape and detail even after some bad falls and the retention system is as crisp and consistent as when it was new.

In a world of expensive and custom-made tactical products, we appreciate how Blackhawk has successfully designed what is, in our opinion, a high quality, affordable and effective standardized system that is capable of delivering great performance for most users of different segments of this industry.

You can find more information on the Blackhawk! Omnivore holster at: blackhawk.com/omnivore