Best Holsters For M&P Shield And Shield Plus (2024) | Concealed Carry Society (2024)

The S&W Shield has long been one of the most popular handguns in the United States. With the release of the Shield 2.0 and the Shield Plus, that popularity has grown even further. Holsters for these pistols can been found everywhere, but finding a good quality holster takes some understanding and research.

Holsters made for the original Shield and the Shield 2.0 should also work with the Shield Plus. In this article we will help you find one that works best for your needs. We will also help you learn what to look for in a holster for your gun.

Read Ultimate Guide To Concealed Carry

Best Holsters For The Shield And Shield Plus

Below we list many different holsters. These will vary in budget, carry style, and material used. This list is not a “be all, end all” list of holsters to choose from, but rather a jumping off point. The selections on this list are all quality, well made holsters, and will work for anyone wanting to carry every day.

1. Tulster Profile Holster

Save 15% atTulster.comwith Code: CCS15

The Tulster Profile holster has long been one of our favorite holsters for its quality, well made design, at a lower price point. This is the perfect holster for anyone wanting to carry a Shield pistol IWB. It offers adjustability for tension and cant so you can get the perfect fit.

I use this holster when I want to carry at the 3:00 to 4:30 position. With this holster and the thin profile of the Shield Plus, carrying daily is no problem.

One thing you must know is this holster doesn’t fit red dot optics. If you are choosing to carry your Shield Plus with a red dot, then I suggest the next option on the list…the Tulster Oath.

2. Tulster Oath Holster

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The Tulster Oath is a step up from the Profile version. You still get a high quality kydex cut to minimize the edges, and you get a few added features.

The Oath comes made ambidextrous so you can carry right or left handed. You only need to move the clip from one side to the other to change to left handed carry.

You also can use a red dot optic with the Oath. Red dots are becoming more and more popular, and with the Shield Plus having the option to add the red dot is there.

The last two added features are the tuckable clip, which allows you to tuck in a shirt while carrying, and the mod wing that allows the pistol grip to remain up tight to the body to prevent printing.

Many people choose to upgrade from the Profile holster to the Oath because it is only about $10 more. However, some prefer the wider clip from the Profile…it all depends on your needs.

3. We The People Holster

Save 15% atWeThePeopleHolsters.comwith Code: CCS15

Do you want a budget priced holster, with high quality design and materials? We The People Holsters are great for any budget and provide enough for safe, effective carry.

One thing that stands out about the kydex holsters that We The People offer is the designs. There are many different designs for a variety of people. You will easily find one that fits your personality and your Shield Plus.

Even with the low price of these holsters, you still save 15% with our code listed above. That deal works across the website, not just on this holster version.

4. CrossBreed MiniTuck Holster

Save 15% at CrossBreedHolsters.com with Code: CCS15

If you carry behind the hip, this holster is ideal. It offers great comfort, style, and function. The MiniTuck is made from premium leather backers with a molded and mounted kydex pocket.

One of the features that makes the MiniTuck stand out is the ability to tuck in a shirt while wearing the holster. The clips that attach to the belt are made to allow the shirt material to be tucked down into the pants and cover the firearm.

This holster is perfect for 3:30 to 5 o’clock carry for right hand draw or 7 to 8:30 for left hand draw. CrossBreed also offers many other options for concealed carry holsters and belts.

5. Relentless Tactical Defender Leather Holster

If you like the leather aspect of the MiniTuck, but don’t want the kydex…then the Relentless Tactical Defender Leather holster is for you.

While you get a premium leather holster that provides a rigid trigger protection, you don’t end up paying the high price usually associated with leather holsters.

This holster comes in three colors…Charred Oak, Midnight Black, and my favorite Whiskey Barrel Brown. It also comes with a sturdy metal clip to keep it firmly in place inside your waistband.

6. Tulster Contour Holster (OWB)

Save 15% atTulster.comwith Code: CCS15

If you want an OWB holster that will still allow you to conceal carry, then we recommend the Tulster Contour. This holster is one of the best ways to carry outside the waistband.

The Contour uses the same quality materials and build that other Tulster holsters are famous for, and expands the Tulster line to include most forms of carry.

The “molded-in” asymmetrical wings of the Contour’s Kydex shell angle the firearm’s grip towards your body, eliminating the visible print. The streamlined design features no unnecessary material and a sleek, curved shell, which conforms the holster and firearm to the contour of your waistline for maximum concealment.

-Tulster

Tulster designed this holster to be able to be carried concealed with comfort. If you really want to carry your M&P Shield Plus concealed, but just can’t get used to the comfort level, this might be the holster you have been looking for. Just understand that you will need to dress around the holster in order to hide it and prevent printing.

7. We The People Independence OWB Leather Holster

Save 15% atWeThePeopleHolsters.comwith Code: CCS15

If you like leather and want an OWB holster, then you probably want a quality product. The Independence OWB Leather holster allows you to carry outside the waistband and do so in style.

This beautiful holster is hand made in the USA using premium full grain leather. While I usually avoid some leather holsters due to preferring a more snug fit, this holster also provides that.

Designed by a master leather craftsman, 20 year Navy veteran, and IDPA competitive shooter, our premium leather holsters are hand-crafted in the USA using the highest quality vegetable-tanned leather from patriotic cows. Each leather holster is custom-tailored to your specific handgun for perfect fit and strong retention. The Independence uses a proprietary design to maximize retention, comfort, and ease of use.

We The People

While the kydex holsters that We The People offer will fit any budget, this leather holster is understandably a little higher in price. However, you can still use our coupon code to save some money. This holster is a great investment for anyone wanting to carry OWB.

8. CrossBreed The Reckoning Holster

Save 15% at CrossBreedHolsters.com with Code: CCS15

Like the CrossBreed MiniTuck, the Reckoning offers a great combo of leather and kydex. This holster is a smaller package than the MiniTuck and allows you to carry at any IWB position including appendix carry.

You can also convert this to OWB with simple hardware from CrossBreed. This makes this holster one of the most versatile on the list. If you are not sure which way you want to carry your Shield Plus, this may allow you to try them all out and see for yourself what works.

9. ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band Holster

Many people find the belly band holsters the perfect fit for their active lifestyle. These holsters allow you to carry while running, jogging, exercising, or even just a quick trip to the store.

The great thing about the ComfortTac belly band holster is that it has a hard plastic trigger guard cover to help with safety. It also offers an extra magazine pouch that comes in handy with the Shield Plus to carry your extra mag.

10. CrossBreed Holsters Small Purse Defender

Save 15% at CrossBreedHolsters.com with Code: CCS15

For those of you that carry your Shield Plus in your purse, you still need a holster. The CrossBreed Small Purse Defender holster is built for purse carry. There are many concealed carry purses out there that come with a holster, but this allows you to turn your current purse, or one of your choosing, into a concealed carry purse.

If you haven’t checked out our article Best Purses for Concealed Carry, I recommend doing so. We give you some great options, as well as advise on what to look for in a purse.

M&P Shield Plus Holster Buyer’s Guide

The Smith and Wesson Shield Plus is one of the best concealed carry handguns on the market, and it deserves a great holster. In this section we will let you know what to look for while shopping for your holster. Using this quick guide, you will find something to live up to the greatness of your firearm.

I advise on getting a holster from a well known and reputable holster company. Any on this list will work great, but if you are searching off this list, ask around to learn more about the company.

Concealable

If you are going to conceal carry, then finding a holster that is built to function that way is a must. The Shield Plus is a very small firearm for the amount of rounds it will carry, so lets make sure we use that to our advantage.

Find a holster that offers features that keep the firearm up against the body. You also want your Shield holster using as little of material as possible. This will keep the weight down, keep the draw smooth, and allow very little printing.

Safe and Functional

Basically you will want to find a kydex, leather, or hybrid holster from a well known company. Avoid the cheap Walmart nylon holsters and you should be fine.

What I usually look for in a holster is that my firearm locks into it firmly, but also allows me to draw smooth. I also want to avoid any holsters that don’t protect the trigger area of the gun. If you get those two qualities in a holster, you should be on your way to safe and functional concealed carry.

Carry Position

If you are going to being carrying concealed, then you need to decide what your carry position will be. Most carry inside the waistband (IWB). However, appendix carry (AIWB) is becoming extremely popular and may require certain holsters.

There is also outside the waist band (OWB) carry. If you plan on carrying your M&P Shield Plus OWB then we have listed some options on our list, but there are many others out there that can work as well.

Off body carry is a little controversial. Many experts advise to avoid this type of carry as it takes much longer to get to your gun and allows for more ways to lose your firearm. However, I would rather someone carries off body than not at all. The most common off body carry is in purses or packs. We have articles on each of these if you are interested.

Read our article Best Concealed Carry Holsters!

M&P Shield Plus Holster FAQ

Conclusion

Congratulations you own a M&P Shield…one of the most popular, and effective concealed carry guns. You also have been researching holsters and now have a good idea of what you need to carry safe and comfortable. The last piece of equipment you need to complete your setup is a quality concealed carry belt.

But you are not finished. It is important to get training and practice with your carry gun and equipment. When you practice, be sure you also use your self defense ammo for a portion of the time. It may cost a little extra, but you need to make sure your gun works well with your ammo.

With all of the above, you will be all set. Continue training, practicing, and carrying your firearm. As we like to say…Carry Safe, Carry Smart, and Carry Daily!