safariland 7ts review

Today’s review is about the Safariland 7TS holster – truly a top-of-the-line holster, rather worthy of this evaluation.

The Safariland 7TS holster is one of the most popular holsters on the market today. It offers a secure fit and adjustable retention making it suitable for a variety of applications.

This holster also offers a range of customization options that make it perfect for individual needs. Whether you're looking for a comfortable carrying option or an effective tactical solution, the Safariland 7TS is an ideal choice.

With its ergonomic design and high-quality materials, it's no wonder why so many gun owners have made this holster their go-to accessory.

In this review, we'll discuss all the features that make the Safariland 7TS such an impressive choice for anyone looking for an ultra-concealable holster. Hope you enjoy reading this review as much as we enjoy writing about it.

Safariland 7TS – An Overview

History & Background

So, for the novice among you, the name “Safariland,” per se, is synonymous with tactical gear. For that matter, you may even go as far as saying that it is also synonymous with outstanding quality and craftsmanship as well.

The company was originally founded in Sierra Madre, California in 1964 by Neale Perkins, at his father’s request for a custom holster. Perkins named his new company after the African Safaris that he and his father took together in years past.

Safariland manufactures personal and other equipment principally focusing their designs around:

  • Law enforcement
  • Public Safety
  • Military
  • Recreational Markets

Safariland’s product line is as varied and as versatile as there is in today’s marketplace. Some of their most important product lines, include but are not limited to the following:

  • Body Armor
  • Armor Systems
  • Tactical Accessories
  • Protective Gear
  • “Less-Lethal” Weapons

Throughout the years, Safariland expanded the company exponentially by way of acquisitions, making it today a true powerhouse in the tactical gear universe.

With the expansions also came an immense diversification of their products and product lines, among them, a diverse line of holsters which includes the subject of today’s product evaluation, namely the Safariland 7TS holster, which we will be discussing at length in this review.

Safariland Retention Levels

For years now, Safariland has set the standard of how firearms are retained within a holster.

And, similarly, handgun owners from all walks of life know and understand that retention level has to be one of the most sought-after qualities in any holster system.

For Safariland duty holsters, these standards are defined as Retention Levels, rated as Levels I, II, III and IV. Each level, per se, subjects the holster with its single and/or security mechanisms and type of firearm release to specific tests that reflect the type of force that is expected of an adversary trying to release the firearm from the holster.

For each Level, a primary security device is defined, and then additional security systems are added to reach each subsequent Level of retention.

A simplified way to understand retention is by the number of required actions necessary to release a weapon.

Give you an example, a Level I retention, required for the operator to pull back on the ALS in a single or requiring only one action to release the weapon.

At Level II, the operator must push down on the strap button then flip the Self-Locking System [SLS] over, meaning 2 actions are required before the weapon is free.

A Level Three holster has an additional retention device installed.

A common design is thumb break or loop in addition to a trigger guard lock.

Finally, a Level IV holster has three retention devices in addition to passive retention for a total of four retention mechanisms. These are much rarer than Level III holsters and are essentially the ultimate in holster retention.

By way of summary, the following is a quick-glance review of Safariland’s Retention categories.

  • Level I - Retention™
    Moderate Retention
  • Level II - Retention™
    Good Retention
  • Level III - Retention™
    Enhanced Retention
  • Level IV - Retention™
    Optimal Retention

Safariland 7TS – Our Full Review

safariland 7ts

In the shortest, most straightforward, and unencumbered way I can think of, the Safariland 7TS is an incredibly strong, yet very affordable duty holster without any sacrifices in its performance.

The 7TS™ is the latest addition to Safariland's 7000 Series holster line. The 7TS holsters are injection molded with SafariSeven™, a proprietary DuPont Nylon blend, which is structurally sound and non-abrasive, tested from -50° degrees to 300° degrees Fahrenheit, making this holster impervious to all kinds of weather conditions.

Key Features

  • Automatic Locking System [ALS]
    One of the top features of the Safariland 7TS, is, without a doubt, their signature Automatic Locking System [ALS]. The ALS, often called a thumb release or lever, sits to the inside of the body of the holster against the user. The system, as suggested by the name, uses an internal locking mechanism that secures the gun in all directions upon re-holstering.
  • Smoothness of Draw
    The 7TS uses an internal riser system whereby internal contact points cradle the gun and truly little of the holster’s body actually comes into contact with the firearm. This feature accounts for the smoothness of the draw even in environments where debris or dust may be an issue as the gun will still draw freely.
     
    The Safariland 7TS Holster is relatively quiet on the draw and my Glock did not clatter in it. Matter of fact, this holster, I think, has a rather quick unlock where the gun flows into its presentation with literally no drag to the draw stroke whatsoever.
  • Subdued Finish
    Like I said earlier, the Safariland 7TS is a lightweight, high-tech holster that has a subtle finish to it that resists scratching and does not stain – as such it is easily cleaned or sterilized.

Pricing

The 7TS holster models are priced from $49.50 – $199.00, which I personally think are quite affordable given the high-quality you are getting in return. This price range with a is accessible to most all buyers.

Fastest System

While some may contest it, I dare say that the Safariland 7TS holsters may be one of [the], if not [the] fastest holsters in the world, having taken over the Safariland ALS, which I once thought to be [the] fastest in the world.

Summary of Key Features

So, if I were asked to provide you with a summary of all the key features that you will find in the Safariland 7TS, more likely than not, this is the list I would offer you:

  • ALS® (Automatic Locking System) secures weapons once holstered, simple straight up draw once release is deactivated.
  • Constructed of SafariSeven™, a proprietary nylon blend that is completely non-abrasive to a firearm’s finish.
  • Raised stand-off surfaces in the holster's interior creates air space around the weapon allowing dirt and moisture to quickly clear any contact with the firearm.
  • Extremely high heat and low cold tolerances; structurally sound from 300°F to -50°F.
  • Injection-molded belt loop is user adjustable for cant and can be worn cross draw.
  • Safariland 7TS – a very affordable holster.
  • One of [the] fastest holsters in the world.

System Variations and Fitment

In August 2014, Safariland® announced the expansion of their extremely popular 71TS Holster Series with new fits for the Glock 17/22 and 19/23 with the most popular lights, and new fits for the Sig Sauer P220R/P226R, P227 full-size/compact and the P229R.

Six Safariland models available for Glocks 17/22 and 19/23 accommodate the ITI M3, Streamlight TLR-1, and Surefire X200, X300, or X300U lights. These are the first fits introduced for firearms with lights in the 7TS series.

Additionally, Safariland released nineteen 7TS Series holster fits for the rail and non-railed Sig Sauer P220R/P226R, P227 full-size/compact and P229R firearms. These are offered in a variety of models with the ALS open-top, ALS/SLS, or SLS-only retention features.

To be sure, these holsters can be attached in a number of ways such as belt loops, paddles, leg rigs, shoulder holsters, etc.

I personally like the belt loops best for me. The nylon comes in many sizes, for different widths of belts and can be angled to your preference.

With the belt attachment, these holsters ride close to the body. While it is not the sort of holster that can be easily concealed by a t-shirt, it is easily concealed inside a jacket or coat.

Even with a Glock 19, which is wider than many concealed carry pistols these days, the width is non-obtrusive.

Summary and Conclusion

So, I have always contended that all products are as good as the company behind them. And the Safariland 7TS, is the perfect example of this assertion.

Put it to you this way, Safariland® has earned worldwide renown and a leadership position in the industry for their technologically advanced holsters and other tactical gear catering to law enforcement, military, and civilians as well. Safariland provides users only with high-quality systems that perform safely and effectively at the same time.

As far as this 7TS is concerned, you definitely are getting your money’s worth on this one. This holster can boast about all its features and has nothing really to be ashamed for.

If retention is what you are looking for in a holster, like many of us are, this is it. Need not go any further.

Then again, as we saw earlier in this review, retention alone just happens to be one of [the] many other attributes of the 7TS.

Key features such as the ALS system, the SafariSeven indestructible nylon construction, the draw fastness, and their very affordable prices, make the 7TS, an ideal tactical holster for novices as well as the more seasoned shooters out there.

Anytime I personally purchase a holster, I always consider how long it will last.

If you are like me, all my purchases anticipate that I will use my holsters for prolonged periods of time and I also try to assume that I will put them through extreme conditions and abuse. By doing so, I am actually raising the bar of expectations as high as possible of whichever system I am considering.

Invariably when you do so you will probably end up buying the best system that suits your particular needs and missions.

With a reputation for INNOVATION NOT IMITATION®, the Safariland brand continues its position as a worldwide leader in holster manufacturing. Safariland’s 7TS holster, a part of their 7000 Series, I think pays homage to Safariland’s reputation.

While I did not want to over-extended myself in his review, before parting, I must say Safariland holsters fit quite a diverse variety of platforms.

Again, I find that the Safariland 7TS Holsters enjoy one of the best applications of holster technology in the industry – bar none. As such, I can highly recommend this holster and urge you to definitely give it your utmost consideration before making your final purchasing decision.

Like I said earlier in this review, because the 7TS was designed to be impervious to extreme weather conditions, you can certainly assume this holster will, more likely than not, last you for a lifetime – not something that many other similar holsters can claim.

Bottom line friends, I would not hesitate to recommend you the Safariland 7TS. That said, however, as always, I leave it up to you to make that final purchasing decision, which is ultimately your choice not ours.

If you do, however, decide to purchase the Safariland 7TS, I just wish you lots of great times in using it.

I personally would always want to think that my review today just served to have made the difference in making the best possible decision for your particular needs. Lots of luck on your purchase!

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