T.Rex Arms Sidecar Review
Updated 12.15.2023 with a reflection on two years of carrying.
If you’ve been concealed carrying for any amount of time, you probably have a a collection of various holsters in different combinations for lights, guns, belts, sidecar setups, etc… When I saw T.Rex Arms had come up with a new Sidecar setup using a flexible spine, I figured it was time to add to the collection. What makes the T.Rex Arms sidecar flexible spine interesting, apart from how it fits, is that it allows for adding additional sidecar attachments like a tourniquet holder, a knife sheath, or the oddly impractical AR Mag holder1.
A Comfortable Fit With Good Adjustment
I have a few sidecar setups and this is by far my favorite when it comes to comfort. The flexibility takes the pressure of the belt and the wearer’s body to make a more comfortable setup than either the bungee cord or hard molded ones I have. The adjustability out of the box is also good with multiple mounting holes for both the holster and sidecar and I never felt the need to take a drill to it in order to get it to fit right. After a bit of trial and error, I found that height that works for me with the right mix of concealment and access. The clips are also better quality than many other holsters I have and I’ve had no issues with them bending or losing their spring over time. I don’t know if they make them in house or source them from somewhere else, but wherever they come from, they are good.
One point to be aware of is the concealment wing (theirs is called a claw) prioritizes access over concealment. The claw comes on the back of the holster, but even moving it to the front, it has less pressure on the belt, and thus less concealment then some other wing options. I’ve not had an issue with it, but I know some students who have.
The Spine Sets This Sidecar Apart
The spine is obviously the unique point on this holster. It is completely flexible and allows for swapping out attachments. They even open sourced the spine designs so manufacturers can make their own attachments or you can 3D print your own. I think this is a great move and I’d like to see more manufacturers taking a similar approach to their setups. The attachment points for magazines, cuffs, flashlights, knives, tourniquets, or anything else you can think of and print is a cool feature, albeit one I suspect most people wont utilize to its fullest. For most people, I think the comfort of the spine system is the real selling point here, and having the option to add on cool additions is a nice bonus.
Two Years In, Carrying
I’ve carried this setup regularly for about two years as of the update to this article. First, let’s get a downside out of the way. About a year and a half into carrying this holster, a crack developed along the right side by the concealment wing. You can see where it cracked would be a high stress point in the bend of the Kydex. Despite this issue, I still recommend this holster for two reasons: First and most importantly, I believe they have fixed the underlying issue. Right around the time the holster failed, T.Rex Arms announced an upgrade to all their holsters using thicker Kydex. Second, and almost as importantly, the warranty process was quick and easy. I filled out a form with some basic details and within 6 days of contacting them, I had a replacement holster shipped. They also made it easy to specify new colors or add-ons if I wanted to try something new.
Ideally, a holster shouldn’t fail within a couple years of purchase, but given the issue appears to be fixed and was easily remedied, I can’t complain. This does underscore the importance of having backups: holsters, guns, lights, etc… that can go in the rotation. Gear will fail, and you should be prepared when it does.
With the failure out of the way, what has carrying this holster for two years been like? It’s the most comfortable every day holster I have. I find that it fits my body well, conceals easily, and stays out of the way. Some holsters can get obtrusive when carrying them, they become the focus of the carry experience, which is almost always a bad thing. Retention is good on the holster, and with a bit of blue Loctite, everything stays where it should. I’ve run it both with the spare mag attachment, as well as with the dual clip and both work well.
I’ve found the clips hold up well over time. I’ve had other holsters that after a year or two, the clips will deform or get bent in such a way that they are no longer usable. I’ve not had that issue with these holsters, despite daily use and thousands of draw & re-holster reps. I’ve also found I’m not a huge fan of the concealment claw they use, I much prefer a traditional offering like a Darkwing or Tier 1 Concealed Claw.
Other Reviews from Wolfbee
Limited Models are a Bummer
The holster is a solid, comfortable sidecar at a competitive price. The only real downside I see is from the relatively small number of firearms models supported. When they launched the holsters, the list was small and while they’ve done a good job expanding it, if you carry anything that isn’t one of the most popular models, you wont find a holster for it. They’ve made clear this is a business decision based on their production process and it doesn’t make financial sense to support every gun produced in the past 30 years, but I guess I’m still angsty that they don’t plan to support my HK P30. I am glad that they’ve expanded support of Gen 3 Glock clones like the Shadow Systems and PSA Dagger. It’s encouraging to see the list of supported models continue to grow.
Good Ordering, Fast Shipping
That decision to support more limited models has allowed them much quicker turnaround times, which is a nice change from the wait times you see for other completely custom holsters. It also makes their ordering process much more simple. Instead of a wall of options that can be inscrutable if you aren’t familiar with that manufacturer’s setup, the order process is a simple make, model, light, and handedness. They’ve also built in the cost for lights into all their holsters, so you don’t feel like you are spending more to add a light; having a light feels like more of a default option. While that means people who don’t have lights on their carry guns are “paying more,” seriously, just get a light. You can get a TLR-7A from Streamlight for just over $100, they are great lights, and it can’t hurt to have the option to ID something in the dark if need be.
After a couple years of running this holster every day, I still recommend T.Rex Arms sidecar if they support the gun you carry. If they don’t, email them and they’ll actually recommend competitors that do.
1 Lucas has said that people do have a use for these, and if you don’t just don’t buy one. Fair enough, but I have yet to speak to someone who knows what that use case is, and I can’t think of one. I guess my imagination is a bit small brained.
Any gear mentioned in this post was purchased for my personal use. I have not been compensated or incentivized by any company for any product reviews, highlights, or opinions.
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