A good holster and belt combination can dramatically improve the effectiveness of police officers, and may even save their lives. Correctly evaluating and testing a holster is critically important and, as such, the authors describe how holsters (the focus is on duty holsters with retention systems) should be selected and evaluated. There is no “right” type of holster; the holster should fit the duty assignment of the officer. Operational protocols conducted by the end users can help officers select the best holster for their job. There are many ways to evaluate a holster; the authors present an explanation of their method of evaluation which involves retention and access testing. The Tree Pull Test and the Officer Pull Test are outlined for retention testing and access testing is recommended from a variety of positions, including while sitting in a patrol vehicle. Advice on when to change holsters is offered and a training regime is described and recommended for officers who are transitioning to a new holster. Textboxes present a selection of different types of holsters, a description of holster retention levels, and the story of an officer who was mortally wounded after she could not free her gun from her holster. Exhibits