I’m doing this post as a response to a friend on here, also for people who may not understand or have experience with different carry methods and practices that have advanced in the past few years. I’m not a expert but have made enough good and bad purchases to talk authoritatively on the matter.
The magic of holsters and belts:
Let’s start of with holsters. First off, I do not suggest or endorse leather holsters unless we’re talking “milt sparks”. Reason being, leather holsters over time will wear out, and with newer pistol designs, possibly become unsafe when re-holstering, sometimes the lip of the holster can get caught in the trigger guard and accidentally set off the trigger, or not cover the trigger guard entirely.
Here we see a holster with improper coverage and one with good coverage
When choosing a kydex or hybrid(leather back /kydex retention) holster, the main things To consider are:
Type of carry: inside waistband/ outside/ appendix. The right rig for the right job.
Wearing an appendix rig with a claw at 3-4 o’clock it pokes and digs into your side in an uncomfortable way, Same when you carry a regular IWB rig appendix style, there’s nothing to keep the pistol firmly against your body and better concealed, appendix rigs have a stabilizing claw that push against the belt and keeps pressure on the pistol against your body, aiding in concealment and comfort.
Here we see the “claw” in use to help with conceal ability.
Quality: choosing a quality well made holster is important because the better construction and design, the better it will conceal and more comfortable it will seat. This also includes the level of retention the holster provides the pistol, the fit and finish as to not poke and scrape the user, also the height and placement of the belt clip or loops, how high or low the holster sits, better holsters usually have adjustable features to help customize these features to the user to aid in comfort and fit.
Regardless of the type of carry.(12,3,4 o’clock)
Belts: I’m a fan of Good leather gun belts: Mean Gene, Milt Sparks, Bigfoot gun leather,Etc
The more mainstream “riggers” nylon belt with the cobra buckle are fantastic for rigidity, but I find are less comfortable. They’re very stiff but if you carry a 1911 or bigger full size gun, it may be the way to go.
Below I have an example of a Walmart belt and my Bigfoot leather gun belt. The importance of a good gun Belt is it will help evenly displace the weight of the gun on your hips, and remove the burden of weight on your dominant side, creating hot spots and possibly contributing to back issues or general discomfort with a weaker less rigid belt. When you have 1-2 lbs weighing on one side of your body, that will unnaturally add stress to your back and hips, offsetting your natural centerline and spinal balance.
Where to carry: I prefer 3-4 o’clock carry as far as comfort is considered but there are more things in play here. Carrying on your dominant side hip will again add weight and a unnatural imbalance from your spine, Appendix carry is more centered with your spine, is a MUCH faster draw, and provides easier weapon retention should someone try to take your firearm. ( if someone comes up from behind and notices a pistol sticking out from your side, it’s easier to take it unnoticed until it’s too late, while the pistol sitting in front of you, it rests on a flatter portion of your body, not to mention most people aren’t staring or looking at that part of your body) I have transitioned to mainly appendix carry for the reasons. It took a long time for me to get used to it.
The final consideration is clothing and how you dress. I usually size all shirts or jackets one size up to help conceal better. Obviously in fall or winter that’s easier. In summertime I have no issues carrying a G19 size gun with a baggy t shirt or Hawaiian button up. I prefer shirts with a plaid or checkered pattern or even Hawaiian shirts to break up the lines of a firearm to make it less noticeable.
In general, I would say a good holster should cost $60-$120 and the same for a belt. I’m not made of money and have to save for such expenditures, but the less quality holsters don’t carry the gun as comfy and lesser belts can’t hold the weight.
For size context. I’m 5’8 and 190lbs: Glock 19 and USP45
Short legs larger shoulders and long arms for my height.
Below I have multiple examples of different styles of holsters and belts and positions, clothing, Etc.
Also we have guest carriers: @Foothills_edc (taller and thinner than me) USPcompact and sig MK25
@KhyberPass 6ft, 215lbs (Glock 34 appendix
The magic of holsters and belts:
Let’s start of with holsters. First off, I do not suggest or endorse leather holsters unless we’re talking “milt sparks”. Reason being, leather holsters over time will wear out, and with newer pistol designs, possibly become unsafe when re-holstering, sometimes the lip of the holster can get caught in the trigger guard and accidentally set off the trigger, or not cover the trigger guard entirely.
Here we see a holster with improper coverage and one with good coverage
When choosing a kydex or hybrid(leather back /kydex retention) holster, the main things To consider are:
Type of carry: inside waistband/ outside/ appendix. The right rig for the right job.
Wearing an appendix rig with a claw at 3-4 o’clock it pokes and digs into your side in an uncomfortable way, Same when you carry a regular IWB rig appendix style, there’s nothing to keep the pistol firmly against your body and better concealed, appendix rigs have a stabilizing claw that push against the belt and keeps pressure on the pistol against your body, aiding in concealment and comfort.
Here we see the “claw” in use to help with conceal ability.
Quality: choosing a quality well made holster is important because the better construction and design, the better it will conceal and more comfortable it will seat. This also includes the level of retention the holster provides the pistol, the fit and finish as to not poke and scrape the user, also the height and placement of the belt clip or loops, how high or low the holster sits, better holsters usually have adjustable features to help customize these features to the user to aid in comfort and fit.
Regardless of the type of carry.(12,3,4 o’clock)
Belts: I’m a fan of Good leather gun belts: Mean Gene, Milt Sparks, Bigfoot gun leather,Etc
The more mainstream “riggers” nylon belt with the cobra buckle are fantastic for rigidity, but I find are less comfortable. They’re very stiff but if you carry a 1911 or bigger full size gun, it may be the way to go.
Below I have an example of a Walmart belt and my Bigfoot leather gun belt. The importance of a good gun Belt is it will help evenly displace the weight of the gun on your hips, and remove the burden of weight on your dominant side, creating hot spots and possibly contributing to back issues or general discomfort with a weaker less rigid belt. When you have 1-2 lbs weighing on one side of your body, that will unnaturally add stress to your back and hips, offsetting your natural centerline and spinal balance.
Where to carry: I prefer 3-4 o’clock carry as far as comfort is considered but there are more things in play here. Carrying on your dominant side hip will again add weight and a unnatural imbalance from your spine, Appendix carry is more centered with your spine, is a MUCH faster draw, and provides easier weapon retention should someone try to take your firearm. ( if someone comes up from behind and notices a pistol sticking out from your side, it’s easier to take it unnoticed until it’s too late, while the pistol sitting in front of you, it rests on a flatter portion of your body, not to mention most people aren’t staring or looking at that part of your body) I have transitioned to mainly appendix carry for the reasons. It took a long time for me to get used to it.
The final consideration is clothing and how you dress. I usually size all shirts or jackets one size up to help conceal better. Obviously in fall or winter that’s easier. In summertime I have no issues carrying a G19 size gun with a baggy t shirt or Hawaiian button up. I prefer shirts with a plaid or checkered pattern or even Hawaiian shirts to break up the lines of a firearm to make it less noticeable.
In general, I would say a good holster should cost $60-$120 and the same for a belt. I’m not made of money and have to save for such expenditures, but the less quality holsters don’t carry the gun as comfy and lesser belts can’t hold the weight.
For size context. I’m 5’8 and 190lbs: Glock 19 and USP45
Short legs larger shoulders and long arms for my height.
Below I have multiple examples of different styles of holsters and belts and positions, clothing, Etc.
Also we have guest carriers: @Foothills_edc (taller and thinner than me) USPcompact and sig MK25
@KhyberPass 6ft, 215lbs (Glock 34 appendix
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