Topic: The Best Concealed Carry Holsters of 2023 (Read 43 times)
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The renewed acceptance of fanny packs as a somewhat normal clothing accessory coincides nicely with the irritation of carrying a handgun in an IWB holster when jogging, hiking, walking your dog, or simply wearing light clothing. It can be sweaty, unco*fortable, and easier to print or reveal your firearm unknowingly. The Fastrax Pac from Galco is a plain-looking, slender fanny pack with a rapid-access holster built into it. It incorporates a concealed carry holster that keeps your pistol at the ready, but in a more co*fortable manner.
The pouch itself is made in the USA. It’s got a mesh-padded cordura backer, and a neoprene front accessory pouch to hold your phone, keys, whatever. The main co*partment is zippered and houses a fit-adjustable leather holster that rotates 90 degrees upward when the activation cord is pulled. Mine fits Glock G19-sized pistols like the affordable PSA Dagger, and fits my Staccato CS wonderfully. To draw, simply pull the zipper back with your draw hand, pull on the activation cord with the other, then draw the pistol.
Despite the overwhelming popularity of Kydex and polymer holsters, there are lots of excellent all-leather holsters. The basic design of the Bianchi Black Widow Snaplock and holsters like it is the quintessential 1911 concealed carry holster. This OWB holster is worn on the belt, and can be worn with the belt passing inside or around the outside. The half-length shell grasps the gun, covering the trigger guard and ejection port, with the barrel extending below. The snaplock retention is favorable since the less rigid leather can’t be tightened down to hold the pistol’s trigger guard like a Kydex holster can. It can be quickly opened with the thumb as part of a smooth draw.
These holsters fit tight to the body and make it easy to carry a full-size 1911 under a loose shirt or jacket. The pistol rides high so that the muzzle doesn’t show under said shirt or jacket. The holster isn’t adjustable, but typically, the slight forward cant allows a secure grip and fast draw. The Black Widow marries utility and nostalgia, especially when it co*es to a classic fighting pistol like the 1911.
Safariland makes some excellent holsters, and they also have great holsters at affordable prices. The Species line of IWB holsters is one of the best concealed carry holsters for the price. The MSRP for most Species holsters is $45, but you can find them for closer to $35. co*paratively, most custom holsters co*e in at closer to $100. The species is rigidly constructed with a folded sheet of Kydex, and that’s lined with suede leather which facilitates a soft, quiet, secure fit. Many Kydex holsters will create wear marks on certain firearm finishes, but not this one.
The Species is designed as an IWB, and is perfectly suited as an appendix carry holster. The belt clip is slender and adjustable for both angle and depth of carry—meaning you can choose to have the pistol riding higher or lower in the waistband and select the angle that you can carry most co*fortably. The holster grips the pistol by the trigger guard, and both fit and tension are adjustable. These holsters are available for many popular models including the Sig P365 and Glock G19, and you’ll have a hard time finding a better concealed carry holster for the money.
Key Features
In the movies, everyone has always just stuffed their loaded blaster into their waistband and proceeded to kick ass. Reality is, that’s not a safe or smart way to carry a handgun. These minimalist holsters, however, provide a good balance between secure retention and the free-balling feel of not using a full-coverage holster. This holster is simple. It’s a couple molded sheets of Kydex that are pancaked together and grip the trigger guard and the middle portion of your pistol’s frame securely. It’s got a single thin belt clip that allows the pistol to ride low and out of sight. The concealment claw helps keep the butt of the pistol pressed against your flank so as not to show through your screen-print t-shirt. These really are cheap and effective holsters for some applications.
I’ve used them with Micro 9mm pistols as well as a full-size 10mm, and they’re a great option for someone that wants a safe, but minimally obtrusive holster. Most people will carry them in the appendix carry position, but you could also carry them on your strong side, tucked under a shirt.
Hybrid IWB holsters bring great balance of co*fort and concealment to the table. They typically have an inner layer of leather and an outer Kydex shell, with the gun sandwiched between. The Crossbreed Supertuck has a large leather backing with widely-set steel belt clips. The leather back plate prevents the pistol from rubbing or digging into your side. It has a molded Kydex sheet riveted to the leather back plate that holds the pistol securely by the trigger guard.
The Supertuck’s belt clips are adjustable for depth so that you can carry lower or higher depending on your needs. These holsters are big, and setting them up can be awkward. However, once they’re installed, they allow you to concealed carry quite co*fortably. This holster is intended for strong-size hip carry, and the belt clips do a good job of holding it securely in place. As you use the holster and soften the leather, it only beco*es more co*fortable.
Most appendix carry holsters are made of Kydex, which is a durable material. However, it’s not always the most co*fortable, and sometimes a better barrier between the pistol and your skin is ideal. I’ve used an Outlaw IWB holster from NW Retention systems for a few years for my Kimber Micro 9, and have found it to be ideal when carrying against my skin under a t-shirt. The trigger guard has co*plete Kydex coverage and a solid-click, adjustable retention—it’s not simply sandwiched between Kydex and leather. You have to custom order it, but you’ll have your choice of Kydex color patterns and other bonus options.
There are times when a hip or cross-draw concealed carry holster is your best option, and it’s hard to beat the durability and locking system of the Safariland ALS holsters. The 7378 Concealment Paddle Holster has a body-contoured paddle that secures your pistol tight to the body, and keeps it ready to access. Rather than just pressure retention like most Kydex holsters use, the ALS system locks the firearm into the holster via a lever that’s released with the thumb in a natural and safe drawing position. Many shooters don’t like some of the trigger finger retention release button holsters because the finger is being pressed towards the trigger. These concealed carry holsters are durable, affordable, and available for a variety of pistol and light co*binations.
One co*mon type of AIWB holster includes an attached extra magazine pouch. It’s never a bad idea to carry an extra magazine, and although many folks carry an individual mag pouch, it can sometimes be easier to conceal these co*bined-style holsters. They’re designed to be worn with the clips on either side of your belt buckle, and position the extra magazine across the buckle from your pistol. The thin clips on the Coreflex allow you to adjust the height and fine-tune your left-right carry position better than wider clips. The magazine carrier and holster are separate pieces connected by flexible cordage that allows some movement and isn’t as rigid and unco*fortable as some similarly-styled holsters. The holster side features a concealment claw, and the mag pouch has a molded-in wedge to press the magazine against your body and aid with concealment.
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