The Blackhawk Omnivore | A Universal Holster That Doesn’t Suck

I’ve written more than one article in the vein of holster guidance for new shooters. Typically one of my first pieces of advice is to ignore universal holsters.

They typically suck. Retention sucks, size sucks, comfort sucks, and they are usually quite cheaply made for an educated audience.

As with anything, there are exceptions and with holsters, it’s the Omnivore. The Omnivore is one of the few multi-use holsters that doesn’t suck.

The Blackhawk Omnivore isn’t a true universal holster, but neither is any other design. You’ll eventually find one that won’t fit. The Omnivore comes in two varieties one is a standard and the other is light-bearing.

The standard attaches a small block to your Picatinny rail, this block locks the gun into the holster. My light-bearing model builds retention around the light itself. Blackhawk makes the Omnivore for both the Streamlight TLR 1 and Surefire X300. Mine is the Streamlight model.

The Omnivore is all polymer and somewhat bulky. This won’t be a concealed carry holster. It’s better suited for range use and just having a holster for a multitude of guns.

I own tons of unusual guns that can wear a light and the Omnivore gives me a holster for them all. It’s currently sitting on my Wilder Tactical Battle belt set up where it houses my 80% lower Polymer 80 Glock.

Breaking Down the Omnivore

The Omnivore works with 150 different handguns, including favorites like Glock, M&Ps, and 1911s. I use it for my Walther P99, my CZ P10C, and CZ P09. As long as they have the TLR 1 strapped to it they fit.

The holster body is bulky because it doesn’t contact the body of the gun. This ensures both a proper fit and that your gun won’t get scratched or worn in the holster.

The Omnivore is a level 2 security holster and requires you to defeat an active retention device to draw your weapon. The device here is a thumb release.

You simply press it down and pull your weapon straight up. The thumb release comes in multiple sizes for different sized hands as well.

The Omnivore uses attachment components and comes with a paddle and belt loop. It can also fit all Serpa platforms including MOLLE rigs, shoulder rigs, and thigh holsters.

The Blackhawk in Action

The Omnivore is huge, way too big for concealed carry, but at the range, it’s a surprisingly good holster. It has solid retention and won’t let the gun loose without a fight. Press the button or break the holster is your only option.

Pressing the thumb release down is easy and frees the gun without protest. Drawing straight up and pointing outward is simple and intuitive. The Omnivore holds the gun rather high, so some adjustments in your draw stroke may be required.

The Omnivore does hold the weapon quite far from the body and this also allows for a clean draw.

It’s also comfortable and keeps the gun from bumping into you or rubbing and chafing. This further reduces your ability to conceal the weapon, but with a holster this big you might as well go whole hog.

I love it on my Battle Belt because I can swap guns at will. Just attach the TLR 1 to the gun and it will likely fit. For someone who tests and reviews guns this rig is perfect. I’ve owned this holster for a few years now and for the last 6 months have left it abandoned without good use. The Wilder Tactical Battle Belt has brought the Blackhawk Omnivore back in regular use. It’s an excellent and best of all affordable option for your light-bearing holster question.

It’s perfect for shooting, hunting, hiking, or even open carry if that floats your boat. Give it a look and let us know what you think.