Leather or Kydex sheaths

Is it the smell and feel of leather that calls your name or the lightweight practicality of kydex that you prefer?

The jury’s out on the sheath of choice - digging around and doing my own research though I’ve found that the decision making process is not as clean-cut as first expected.

Leather

There is something about leather that people can’t ignore. Trawling through comments in an online knife forum, one member admitted that he knew kydex was the better option, but still preferred his leather sheath. It’s the memory that is reignited by the smell or feel of leather against ones skin and that squeak when the knife enters the sheath. Many knife collectors discuss the importance of aesthetic appeal and describe how the traditional, outdoorsy look, that leather has, simply suits one’s style and kit over and above any other.

When buying leather one does need to consider a small amount of maintenance and care. Additionally, those who use their knives in high humidity areas should take caution. While some moisture is actually good to keep your sheath soft and supple, higher degrees of it means that your sheath may start disintegrating over time.

Kydex

Kydex on the other hand has many pro’s to consider. It’s an easy, no maintenance option which dries quickly and seems indestructible to everyday use. It’s lightweight profile allows for multiple carry configurations and optional features.

It seems that both the advantage and disadvantage of a kydex sheath is that it is not leather.