Gear Review: Alien Gear’s Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg Holster Rig

By • • 5 Comments • 5 minutes of reading • Gear Review, Open Carry, Training and Technique

Alien Gear drop leg holster

I’m not sure where it came from, probably John Wayne movies, but I have always liked the idea of a drop leg holster.

In all those famous westerns the Duke’s holster always sat low down his leg and never high up on his hip. He looked cool. He was cool. And how he carried his gun was the epitome of cool. So, naturally, I’ve always wanted a modern drop leg holster.

Back in late 2023 Alien Gear Holsters introduced their Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg holster platform. Around this same time Alien Gear also came out with their Taq-Strap integrated tourniquet. I was more interested in the drop leg holster, but would later learn that I also really wanted a Taq-Strap.

Alien Gear’s Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg rig is a minimalist design, but with an expanded leg plate for the addition of accessories. (Photo courtesy Alien Gear)

During the 2023 National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers Expo I stopped by the Alien Gear booth to get a closer look at the Rapid Force Dynamic drop leg rig. They sent me one along with their Rapid Force Taq-Strap, which I initially passed on because I hadn’t quite figured yet the value of having one. I’m apparently a slow learner.

When I finally followed up and contacted Alien Gear, I opted not for the Rapid Force Holster, which is a duty-style holster available in Level II or Level III, but for the Cloak Holster.

I was looking specifically for a range setup, so the Cloak, which doesn’t include the hood and thumb release retention features of the Rapid Force duty line, but can be paired with the Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg rig through Alien Gear’s Quick Disconnect System, was the right choice for me.

The Cloak holsters can be used with the Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg through the use of Alien Gear’s QDS components seen here. (Photo courtesy Alien Gear)

The Cloak line includes a Cloak Swivel Drop Leg rig. This is an older, but certainly very solid design. The Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg was just the latest/greatest option that incorporates an accessory mounting platform on the drop leg plate.

When I spoke to Alien Gear they suggested I get the Taq-Strap added to the Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg and sent me a link to a video that explained how this integrated tourniquet works.

To this point I had only seen the press release and it wasn’t until I watched the video that the light turned on for me and I understood the Taq-Strap’s value and how to properly use it. So, I opted to include the Taq-Strap.

The Tac-Strap is a great piece of gear and can be used alone, as seen here, or integrated into the Dynamic Drop Leg system. (Photo courtesy Alien Gear)

You know how on Christmas Day when kids open a present like a football helmet or other piece of sports gear, and immediately have to suit up despite still being in pajamas? Well, that was me when I received the package from Alien Gear.

I’m not ashamed to say that I may have set a new land speed record opening the box and gearing up with the Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg. And I’m not at all ashamed to say I really like this rig. I particularly like the integrated Taq-Strap.

The fit of the rig is excellent and since it offers two points of articulation between the belt and holster it gives you an increased range of motion. With the Taq-Strap running through the leg plate you can adjust to tension to the fit you prefer.

Of course, the beauty of the Taq-Strap is that it’s there, where you may likely need it, in an emergency situation. You can order a second one and deploy it on your off-holster leg, which isn’t a bad idea at all.

The Taq-Strap, available in Tan as well as Black, was designed for military and law enforcement personnel and its ratcheting system allows for fast, one-handed use in the event of an upper leg or femoral artery wound. (Photo courtesy Alien Gear)
The Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg and Taq-Strap combo is a winning once. At least for me. As for on-the-range use, it took just a couple minutes to get used to drawing from the lower position on the thigh than from the hip. I found it quite natural, but I had also been visualizing it and had a good sense of how I needed to adjust my draw movements.
It would probably be a bit different for someone asked to switch out without notice in the middle of a range session, but for those with good eye-hand coordination it’s a smooth learning curve.
I can’t give you an exact time differential between my draw from an outside the waistband holster and that from the drop leg rig. I know it wasn’t too far off as I was holding my own in timed drills, but it is a greater distance to transition the firearm.
What I noticed was that with increased repetition, my draw got smoother and my ability to pick up the sights while presenting the gun improved. And my shot placement remained solid versus using an OWB holster at past range sessions. I suspect that with more time – and a lot more time running against a shot timer – my draw will continue to improve. 
Obviously for those who only conceal carry the Dynamic Drop Leg isn’t an option, unless dressing up like Neo from the Matrix is your jam. Here in Arizona those long leather coats don’t see a lot of use, even amongst the most diehard emo and goth gun owners.
If you’ve always wanted to run and gun in a drop leg rig, Alien Gear’s Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg setup is an excellent option you should look into. And I would definitely recommend the addition of the Taq-Strap. You really won’t notice as it seamlessly integrates with the leg plate, but should you find yourself in need of a tourniquet, you’ll be glad it’s there.

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5 thoughts on “Gear Review: Alien Gear’s Rapid Force Dynamic Drop Leg Holster Rig”

  1. .40 cal Booger

    John Wayne used a few different holsters during his ‘western’ movie career. In his very early western movies he used a holster that was just what ever the prop department had. But later decided on having a sort of signature holster type that was his favorite style called ‘half breed’ which was realized with what the prop department called ‘holster #44’ – and when pared with gun belts he liked the combination of gun belt and holster was referred to as the ‘holster #44 Outfit’. Later a company called ‘El Paso Saddlery’ made a custom rig for Wayne for use in the 1976 movie ‘The Shootist’ – it was a holster in his favorite style on a 2 1/2 inch wide ‘money belt’ style gun belt they called the ‘#44 Outfit’ (and it also became known as The Shootist Rig’) – they still make that today for the public market > https://epsaddlery.com/product/44-outfit-holster-and-belt/.

    He wore his holsters on a belt that was canted to his right side where it was either on the hip bone or slightly below it (the waist is above the hip bone). This gave the appearance that the holster was more down on his upper thigh. Here is what this style of wear looked like > https://pictures.gunauction.com/626/17276263/eldor2.jpg (note: the pic shows the rig he wore for the movie ‘El Dorodo’, but to show the way he wore his gun belts…this rig became known as ‘The El Dorodo Rig’)

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    1. Darkman

      Many gunfighters in the old westerns wore the gun in this fashion. Low under the waste line and canted in favor of the gun hand. They did so to precipitate a faster draw as it allowed the gun to clear the holster sooner. Most everyone in todays fast draw competitions wear their guns similarly for the same reason.

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      1. .40 cal Booger

        yes, they did. But it looked better on Wayne and the style actually fit his ‘character persona’ and looked ‘natural and inherent’.

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