I can’t tell you how many holsters I have tried or own, but what I can tell you is that not all are made equal. Holsters should always have proper retention, whether the retention is set around the trigger guard or a weapon light model. With this in mind, I took a closer look at the Nidhogg Level II holster from ANR Design. Here is what I found.
The NIDHOGG Level II Holster from ANR Design
These days, holsters should default to compatibility with red dot optics or suppressor-height sights. They need to be made from high-quality materials that won’t deform in extreme environments. And, of course, they should be made to order with a mounting option that works for your belt setup.
I have been disappointed by plenty of manufacturers over the years with poor or faulty designs. This is a significant issue when you’re dealing with loaded firearms.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
As a competitive shooter in extreme shooting sports that require a lot of movement, I demand excellence in a holster to keep my loaded pistol from falling out. And for competition specifically, I won’t use anything less than a Level II holster. This is why it’s extra challenging to find a manufacturer that meets my high expectations for their product.
One such brand that has not failed me when it comes to concealed carry or competition holsters is ANR Design. The company’s About Us page is worth reading. The comparison analogy of a holster to a scabbard is spot on.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Nidhogg Initial Impressions
ANR sent me a Nidhogg Level II Holster to review for my Walther PDP full-size 4.5-inch Professional ACRO. It has the SureFire X300U-A light mounted on it.
The Nidhogg is a very unique holster design with a patented, light-specific locking active retention mechanism. It is designed with a large, texturized, push-button release that, when depressed, allows the gun to clear the holster. The push-button release doesn’t feel like a hindrance or a challenge to depress because the thumb naturally lands on this spot when you go to grip and draw the pistol.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
ANR designed this holster with competitive shooters in mind, especially those who compete in the Tactical Games, PCSL 2 Gun, and 3 Gun competitions. This release adds that retention without needing a hood over the backstrap of the pistol.
“With our unique patented design, this holster was created to be the fastest draw from an active retention holster, ever. It is an extremely insurmountable task to compete against some of the largest names in the business with a competitively functioning holster that also offers a high level of safety,” said Alex Costa, CEO/Owner, ANR DESIGN LLC.
He continued, “It does take a bit of dry fire, especially if you’re coming from other platforms. You simply need to master the grip of the firearm, naturally, as if to draw from a normal friction holster, and the gun comes out. If you prematurely draw, the mechanism binds by design. This prevents someone from conveniently disarming you during a struggle. Because of these features, the Nidhogg II was awarded a SOCOM contract and will see field use very soon.”
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Ordering Your Nidhogg Holster
One thing newer gun owners or new competitors get wrong is in the ordering process. There’s a reason ANR Design has drop-down options when ordering a Nidhogg holster. These are what make a holster as custom as possible, ensuring the right fit, functionality, and meeting your needs with the appropriate belt setup and hardware.
To start, you choose the model firearm you want a holster for. Then, select either the SureFire X300U-B or X300U-A. Next, something not every holster manufacturer offers is the option of a right-handed or left-handed holster. The final “easy” selection is the holster color, which is always a personal preference.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
The Nidhogg Level II holster is available in two quick disconnect options: the Safariland QLS system or a G-Code RTI Style Hanger. If you plan to compete in multigun-style or several types of shooting sports, I recommend getting a Safariland Equipment Locking System (ELS) belt and opting for the Quick Locking System (QLS). The reason for this is two-fold.
ELS and QLS allow you to detach and attach holsters and magazine pouches quickly. This enables you to swap setups in seconds. I use the same belt for AK, PCSL 2 Gun, and 3 Gun competitions, and any sport with a PCC division. I swap the magazine carriers depending on which match I’m going to.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
The second reason I recommend the Safariland ELS system is that most multi-gun shooters also use it. So, borrowing gear is an option. This is what I did when I was first getting into 3 Gun shooting, as I didn’t have a ton of my own gear. However, many of my squadmates and friends did.
Holster Review
The Nidhogg Level II holster is as solid as they come. Testing conducted by ANR Design showed that the holster withstood 400 pounds of hanging weight and 30,000 presses under various conditions without failure.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
While I might not have done any of that testing, I did conduct my own tests on the range to see if I could trust this holster to keep up with me. It always sounds silly to share this, but my “testing” looks like me running around the range with all my gear on, with the gun holstered and chamber empty, to see if there’s any chance of it flying out.
I’ll run, do lunges, lie prone, and test various shooting positions as if I were shooting a rifle or shotgun with my pistol holstered. There was just no chance of the Walther coming out of the ANR holster.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Be Prepared to Dry Fire
Anytime you move to a Level II or Level III retention holster, you’ll need to spend some time dry-firing. That’s also true for any new holster. However, it’s especially important with holsters that require the added step of deactivating the retention to draw the firearm.
I probably had to complete at least 20 reps to understand the design’s simplicity and stop focusing on finding the push-button release. The less I thought about the release and the more I focused on getting a good grip on the gun, the smoother the process was.
The release is genuinely part of the natural draw when your thumb wraps around the pistol’s backstrap. I think this design is a lot more intuitive and easier than a hooded holster.
The Nidhogg Level II Keeps Up with Action Shooting Sports
If you’re looking for a holster that can keep up with the demands of action shooting sports, the Nidhogg Level II holster from ANR is an excellent option. The patented light-specific locking active retention mechanism is one of the coolest designs I’ve seen in a Level II holster. And it’s one you can trust to perform when you need it to.
WHY OUR ARTICLES/REVIEWS DO NOT HAVE AFFILIATE LINKS
Affiliate links create a financial incentive for writers to promote certain products, which can lead to biased recommendations. This blurs the line between genuine advice and marketing, reducing trust in the content.