Versatile and well-built, Crossbreed’s N8 MultiFlex may be the only EDC holster you need
by Brad Fitzpatrick
Choosing the right holster is an essential component of personal defense. When holsters work properly, we sometimes forget we’re wearing them because they’re comfortable and secure; however, if you’ve ever carried a firearm in an ill-fitting or poorly made holster, it is a never-ending distraction. You spend your day being prodded, adjusting to avoid pinching and pressure, or fearing that your gun is printing.
The Crossbreed N8 MultiFlex is a holster that is easy to forget about, and I mean that as a sincere compliment. Even better, the multi-fit design means that the Crossbreed works with multiple firearms, so you don’t have to buy a new holster for every gun you carry. I’ve been impressed with what the MultiFlex has to offer, and so have many other guns owners and firearm writers.
Here’s a look at why the MultiFlex might be the last holster you ever buy.
Flexible Fit
The standard procedure for manufacturing polypropylene holsters is to create a mold that matches a specific firearm. The result is a tight, one-of-a-kind fit, but it means your holster will only fit just one firearm model. Crossbreed MultiFlex holsters, by contrast, fit over 275 handguns.
How is this possible? The MultiFlex’s rugged polypropylene shell can be loosened or tightened for a near-perfect fit with most firearms. What’s more, you can adjust the holster to your desired level of retention.
Many shooters prefer strong retention so that a great deal of direct force is required to draw their weapon. Other gun owners may lack the arm strength to overcome heavy retention or simply prefer an easier draw. Many polymer holsters offer some adjustment, but the MultiFlex offers an almost infinite amount of retention adjustment. Best of all, to adjust holster fit and retention, all you’ll need is a Phillips screwdriver. The MultiFlex also accommodates red dot sights and suppressor-height sights.
Is the MultiFlex the first multi-fit holster? Not hardly. But so many of those other holsters offered such a generic fit that they weren’t very practical. The MultiFlex, though, offers a truly customizable fit that makes it feel as though it was designed for your firearm while remaining light and slim, making it an effective one-size-fits-most holster option.
Quality Construction
I’m a bit fanatical about the components and construction of my carry holsters, but my preoccupation with holster quality is a byproduct of seeing holsters break down or fail over time. Holster bodies seldom fail (it’s difficult to screw up molding polypropylene shells), but I’ve seen plenty of screws loosen and back out.
That’s why I check my holster screw tension at least once a week. I have two MultiFlex holsters that I carry (I could get by with one, but I like them so much that I bought a second) and I rarely need to adjust screw tension to correct retention or fit. Once the screws are tightened properly, the holster maintains proper tension, and I have never had the screws back out even slightly.
That’s due in part to quality hardware. The durable screws hold up well to multiple adjustment cycles and the rubber inserts between the front and rear portions of the holster do not dry rot or become stiff. Even the small retention adjustment screw at the rear of the holster is robust enough that you can adjust it multiple times without issue.
The attachment points are also quite rugged. The included metal IWB clips are sturdy and hold the firearm firmly in place. OWB clips are made from the same rugged polypropylene material used for the holster body, and the clips are rigid enough so the holster stays in position on your hip even when running. This solid construction means that you’ll be able to wear this holster every day for years without worrying that it will fail.
IWB/OWB Versatility
During the warm summer months, I carry my firearm IWB virtually all the time; however, when fall and winter arrive, I prefer to wear an OWB holster with a cover garment. The beauty of the MultiFlex is that it functions as both an IWB and OWB holster, making it versatile enough for year-round carry.
Each MultiFlex holster ships with both IWB and OWB clips. Once you’re familiar with the process for switching the holster from IWB to OWB configuration (there’s a video on the Crossbreed website that explains the entire process), you can convert the MultiFlex in less than two minutes.
I love the simplicity, and I appreciate having a holster that can do everything I want. During the warm months, I prefer to carry IWB for concealment, but that’s also when I spend the most time at a shooting range practicing with an OWB holster. I shoot IDPA matches during the summer, and I do so wearing an OWB holster with a loose cover garment. By late fall, I’m carrying OWB under a jacket — unless, of course, it happens to be a warm day when I’m in a T-shirt and carrying IWB.
New shooters oftentimes flip between IWB and OWB carry until they find the method that suits them best. With a MultiFlex, you’re allowed to change your mind about carry positions and your firearm over and over again without buying a new holster.
Comfortable Ride
This is vital. Uncomfortable holsters cause gun owners to leave their firearm behind, and a gun that’s locked in a bedroom safe isn’t going to do much good if you’re involved in a violent confrontation in a parking lot. The first step toward surviving an armed encounter is having your gun on you, and that likely won’t happen unless you find a comfortable holster.
Years ago, I started pitching any holster that was uncomfortable in the garbage, but the MultiFlex has never been unpleasant to wear. The wraparound design fits the contours of the body and doesn’t dig into your skin. Run your hand across the back of the holster and you won’t find any sharp edges or points. It is comfortable enough to wear against the skin, although I do still prefer an undershirt.
If you do find the MultiFlex to be uncomfortable, you can purchase Crossbreed’s breathable neoprene comfort backer for under $10. The backer attaches to the holster and offers a soft-touch surface that doesn’t trap heat and moisture against the body.
Security
Security is an essential consideration when selecting a holster. Your firearm should be accessible, but it should also stay within the holster until you’re ready to draw. Oftentimes, confrontations involve close fighting, and it isn’t unusual to end up tussling on your feet or back.
Ideally, your carry holster allows you to instantly access the gun without the risk that your firearm goes skittering across the ground while you’re in a life-and-death fight. Some firearm-specific molded holsters offer this level of retention, but not so with most multi-fit holsters. The MultiFlex is an exception.
Multiple adjustment points allow you to fine-tune the retention, tightening in the slide and trigger guard until you get that just-right fit. Some shooters want their firearm to rest with little retention while others want their pistol virtually locked in the holster. The MultiFlex’s nearly infinite adjustability allows you to adjust retention to your tastes, but it also allows you to adjust the holster for different carry situations.
For example, if you’re wearing light clothes or are using a standard dress belt to hold your holster in position, then you’ll need to adjust retention accordingly. I’ve seen students in firearms classes wrenching on their guns while giving themselves one whale of a wedgie. A holster with adjustable retention helps prevent such embarrassing moments.
American-Made Quality and Value
Air Force veteran Mark Craighead started Crossbreed holsters in 2005. Mark’s first foray into holster making involved forming polymer holsters in his wife Carol’s kitchen oven, which did not suit Carol at all.
Eventually, Mark expanded beyond the kitchen oven and Crossbreed was born. Mark, unfortunately, passed away in 2012, and his wife Carol was faced with either selling the business or moving forward in Mark’s absence. She chose the latter. Today, Carol and her children all work at the company that Mark founded, and Crossbreed Holsters is truly an American manufacturing success story.
The number of holster manufacturers in the United States has grown substantially over the last 20 years, but few of those companies have enjoyed the success that Crossbreed has experienced. One reason that Crossbreed has been so successful is that they offer quality products at an excellent price point. The MultiFlex is an example of this “more bang for your buck” philosophy. The molding is excellent, the hardware used in construction is high quality, and the MSRP of the MultiFlex is just $49.95.
One of the other reasons Crossbreed has remained relevant in the face of overwhelming competition is the company’s ability to meet the needs of their consumer, and the MultiFlex is a great example. Previous multi-fit holsters from other brands have largely failed, and that alone should be enough for executives to remain leery of launching a new multi-fit. Carol and her team at Crossbreed, though, were willing to take a gamble with the MultiFlex for one reason: the company understands gun owners. Multi-fit holsters failed for a familiar reason: they didn’t live up to the hype and overpromised and underperformed. The MultiFlex was built right from the start, giving EDC folks the flexible holster design they had been wanting for years.
Many of my holsters have found their way to the garbage heap since the arrival of the MultiFlex. Crossbreed’s one-and-done design lives up to its claim to be the one-size-fits-most solution to concealed carry, and it’s a great value.
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