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Retention levels are the most misquoted spec in the holster world. Here is what they mean in practice.

Level I — passive

Friction and body shape hold the pistol. A tug from an unexpected direction can defeat it. Fine for concealed carry, where the holster is under a garment and the threat of a grab is low.

Level II — one active device

Passive retention plus one mechanical lock — a thumb release, a rotating hood, a trigger-guard catch — that must be defeated before the pistol comes out. This is the floor for open duty carry in most agencies, and it is where our RHS system starts.

Level III — two active devices

Two independent locks. A grab must defeat both, in the right order. Draw time goes up, and so does the training time to make that draw automatic. Required by some agencies for patrol; overkill for most civilian carry.

The cost

Every device adds tenths of a second to a draw until it is trained out. Buy the level your policy requires, then train with it until the release is a reflex — not the level that sounds most serious.