What is the most comfortable holster?
A very good friend of mine, let’s call him “Michael” recently asked me “What is the most comfortable holster?” We were having a few beers and talking guns (of course we were not carrying in the bar). He said he was struggling with finding a holster that was comfortable. “Michael” told me he has had many different kinds but can’t find the right one.
My response sadly was “a carried pistol is not supposed to be comfortable, but comforting.” Now that being said it shouldn’t be so uncomfortable that you don’t want to carry. I mean how comfortable can a big hunk of metal with sharp edges and grooves be when pressed up against your body? It is heavy, awkward, digs into you, and that is just standing with it.
I’m a big guy, not morbidly obese or anything but let’s just say I ain’t showing ribs. I like to carry appendix, which is in the front. It is easier to access my pistol, easier to conceal, and gives me more options. That’s my preference. There isn’t really a right answer to this question unfortunately.
I’ve bought no less than a half dozen different holsters over the past year alone. There are literally hundreds of different holsters out there. I have yet to find the perfect one, but I can share some tips for you to think about when you purchase one.
One thing I can say is no matter how big you are, you need some extra room in your pants if you plan on carrying inside the waistband and jamming a big hunk of metal between them and your body. I can fit into 36’s without being too bunched up, but I walk around in 38s when I carry. Go up a size in pants. It makes it more comfortable.
Some people like the belly band type holsters. I bought one and loved the way it felt, but I was printing really bad. That for me was a no go. Part of that is my preference in clothing I wear. I live in Texas and wear a lot of t-shirts and shorts. It was also a little harder for me to get a proper grip from the draw position. I bet there is one out there that works, but I didn’t like the one I bought. (For more on the proper grip check out this article) How to Grip a Semi-automatic Pistol the Right Way (12thgun.com)
Next, I tried a neoprene IWB (inside the waistband) holster. I liked it but I always needed to wear a belt with it because it liked to hug the pistol on the draw. Nothing screams DOH! Like pulling a pistol out and the holster is still attached. Plus, the cut on it wasn’t high enough. I found the textured part of the pistol slide from digging into me bad when seated. It was easier to get a good grip on the draw though. Pro tip – if you have a little extra cushion in the gut area pull the pistol forward just before you sit. It will give you extra room and doesn’t dig in as bad.
The absolutely most comfortable holster I found was a shoulder holster. Remember what I said about living in Texas? It is too damn hot here to walk around in a jacket for about 10 months out of the year. So, for me that was a no go for everyday carry. I will say that when I am at church or dressed nice, I carry a full-sized double stack Taurus 40 cal in that same holster. No issues at all there.
I was walking through my local sporting goods store a few months back. They had cool looking American Flag Kydex holsters on sale that fit my EDC. $9 was enough to get me to jump, especially for a proud USA flag one. M’ERICA!!! This one was better. Allowed me a full grip, was easy to conceal, but still dug in a bit. There just wasn’t enough plastic on the inside to keep it off my body.
Check out the holster I’m talking about here
Better overall, but still not as comfortable as I wanted. If the pistol wasn’t digging in the holster itself was. The cool thing about the holster was that it had the ability to add a paddle. Now that meant carrying OWB. (Outside the Waistband)
WOW! A lot more comfortable because the paddle itself kept the holster from digging in. The paddle is also curved a bit, so it fits my *ahem* “curves” much better than a straight piece of plastic with 90◦ angle. It also pushed the pistol out a bit and didn’t dig in as much. Downside was it printed a bit more, but that was much more doable.
I tinkered around in my head a bit and decided to try something new. To install the paddle, you have to use the hardware from the IWB clip. I went to the hardware store and bought matching hardware. I installed the IWB clip while leaving the paddle installed on the opposite side. To quote the German guy in Inglorious Bastards “THAT’S A BINGO!!!”
The paddle on the inside kept the pistol and the holster off my body a bit. The IWB clip kept the printing to a minimum and I was still able to fully grip on the draw. A perfect match for me and my body type.
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Y’all stay safe out there!
