Concealed Carry OWB Holsters

Be aware that these Concealment OWB holsters are made to maximize concealment. What you may sacrifice in training is comfortability and accessibility. 

 

Bravo Concealment BCA

Bravo Concealment makes great budget concealed carry holsters. Their BCA OWB Holster is a great budget holster that hugs the body tight and provides great concealment. They apply the same principles of concealment technology to their magazine pouches. 

 

T-Rex Arms Ironside

T-Rex Arms’ Ironside Holster was made to ride close to your body. It’s customizable and conceals very well. Their Ironside line of products can meet a variety of your concealment needs. Pair this holster with some of their Ironside gear pouches and you will be able to conceal all the gear you need. 

 

Tier 1 Concealed Spara

Tier 1 Concealed makes great quality holsters. They offer options to customize the color of your holster. Their Spara holster is worn close to the body like a “pancake” holster maximizing concealment. This is Angelo’s belt-mounted holster for when he is dressed in a suit along with their Double Magazine Carrier. 

 

Inside the Waistband 

 

T-Rex Arms Sidecar

Although their original Sidecar holster was an AIWB holster with a spare magazine, the Sidecar holster is now customizable so that you may be able to wear it alone AIWB or IWB, just behind the point of the hip in the commonly in between the 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock positions (for right handers). If you’re going back-and-forth in between carrying IWB or AIWB, this is a great option.

 

Black Arch Holsters

Many holster companies produce a “hybrid” holster that is half leather and half kydex, however, many of these holsters do not meet the criteria for a proper holster. We only recommend one “hybrid” type of holster. 

 

Black Arch Holsters produces a “3/4 Hybrid” holster that allows consistent, adjustable retention not seen on traditional hybrid holsters. We recommend their Dual Clip Protos-M and their Protos Heritage holsters.

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AIWB (Appendix-Inside-the-Waistband) Holsters

In line with our philosophy that you should “train as close to how you actually carry,” we do indeed allow students to run AIWB holsters in our Defensive Handgun Skills Program. We believe that AIWB carry is safe so long as you ingrain safe gun handling and practice safe holstering methods. We recommend the following AIWB holsters for training and every day carry (EDC).  

 

Tier 1 Concealed Axis Elite & Xiphos Elite

Tier 1 Concealed makes great quality holsters. They offer options to customize the color of your holster. What differs the Tier 1 Concealed’s Axis Elite holster from other “sidecar” holsters is the shock cord they use in between the holster and the magazine pouch allowing for flex. This makes wearing the holster very comfortable. This is Angelo’s belt-mounted everyday carry (EDC) holster when he’s casually dressed. 

 

If you find that the spare magazine is too bulky for you, their Xiphos Elite holster offers the same quality, concealability and customization as their Axis Elite holster. 

 

T-Rex Arms Sidecar

T-Rex Arms is known to have pioneered the “sidecar” type holster, an AIWB holster with a spare magazine. Their original Sidecar holster is now customizable so that you may be able to wear it alone or with a variety of other gear pouch attachments including a spare handgun magazine or a tourniquet and many other options. 

 

TXC Holsters X1 

TXC Holsters makes a great standalone holster with no additional gear pouches. Their X1 holster comes with a built-in wedge that tilts the top of the gun more into you, maximizing concealment.  

 

Phlster Enigma

The Phlster Enigma is a revolutionary beltless holster chassis system that divorces the gun from your belt line. This holster system can be worn with shorts, sweats and yoga pants. The Enima is the only non-belt-mounted holster system Higher Purpose Training allows in classes. This is the EDC holster system that Angelo wears when he is wearing athletic gear or shorts with no belt loops. 

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Pocket Holsters

Compared to guns carried in belt mounted holsters, pocket carry is slower and is a totally different draw stroke. It’s important to carry in a quality kydex that hooks on the inside of your pocket so it does not come out with the gun when you draw. We recommend the Vedder Holsters Pocket Locker Holster. 

 

Ankle Holsters 

Compared to guns carried in belt mounted holsters, ankle carry is slower and is a totally different draw stroke. It may be a way to carry a gun while keeping the beltline free. It obviously requires that you wear pants and that your pants are loose enough to conceal the gun. If you choose to carry in an ankle holster, we recommend the Galco Ankle Glove.

 

Beltless Holster Systems 

 

Phlster Enigma

The Phlster Enigma is a revolutionary beltless holster chassis system that divorces the gun from your belt line. This holster system can be worn with shorts, sweats and yoga pants. The Enima is the only non-belt-mounted holster system Higher Purpose Training allows in classes. This is the EDC holster system that Angelo wears when he is wearing athletic gear or shorts with no belt loops. 

 

Crossbreed Modular Belly Band

Most belly band holsters lack the criteria for a proper holster including trigger protection, retention and consistent access to the gun. They are made of cheap neoprene and velcro. We recommend the Crossbreed Modular Belly Band. Crossbreed sells kydex holsters, fit specifically to your gun model, that velcro to the belly band. There are several holsters for a variety of models so holsters can be switched out to carry different guns. 

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Ulticlip

The Ulticlip replaces the standard belt clip that comes on most holsters. It functions much like a suspender clip, clipping directly to the pants. The clips can be worn behind the belt. They can also be tuckable, allowing a shirt to be tucked into the pants.

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Women Specific Methods

Women have specific challenges when it relates to concealed carry. Many women don’t regularly wear belts. This presents a challenge as most methods of beltline carry depend on a solid belt. Many women also prefer to wear leggings. Most leggings provide no support to carry the weight of a loaded handgun on the waistline. Compared to men, women wear a variety of outfits that don’t lend themselves to the traditional methods of carry. To remedy these challenges, there are several products on the market that we recommend. These holsters give women options for carrying on their body.

 

Beltless Holster Options

Beltless options such as the Phlster Enigma, the Crossbreed Modular Belly Band and the Ulticlip are all great options for women to use for on-body carry. These are worn on the waistline, inside the waistband. These are the most preferred alternate methods of carry because they are independent of the beltline and put the gun in the most accessible positions such as IWB or AIWB. 

 

Concealed Carry Leggings, Shorts and Skirts

For women who practically live in leggings day to day, there are several companies that produce leggings, shorts and skirts specifically designed with concealed carry in mind. They have reinforced waistlines with belt loops so that a belt can be worn. We recommend Alexo Athletica and Vakandi Apparel.

 

Flashbang Holsters

A holster that takes advantage of natural female anatomy is the Flashbang Holster. Flashbang’s flagship product is a clamshell holster shaped like an upside down taco shell and is tucked up under the front of your bra band. To draw your gun, pull your shirt up, just high enough to expose the grip of your gun, and acquire a firing grip. As you draw your firearm, the strap keeps the holster from coming along with your gun. 

 

Flashbang also makes their Marilyn model holster. It’s designed to be worn in a dress or exercise apparel. The holster is worn on the side of the bra and the gun is drawn through the neckline of a dress or blouse. 

 

We recommend both the Flashbang holster and the Marilyn holster. 

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Off-Body Carry

For some, off-body carry is the only way to consistently carry a handgun everyday, however, it is suboptimal and strongly discouraged. In many cases, defensive shootings happen so fast that a defender cannot draw the gun fast enough off-body to affect the outcome of the gunfight. In cases of a surreptitious draw, when the defender already has a hand on the gun, off-body carry can be useful. It is best to carry on your person.

 

Gun Tote’n Mamas 

For ladies, if you’re going to carry your handgun in a purse, get a dedicated concealed carry purse or set up your purse specifically so you can easily access your gun. We recommend Gun Tote’n Mamas. They make dedicated concealed carry purses with dedicated pockets for the gun. These pockets are designed so that a holster can be attached inside. We recommend attaching a rigid plastic holster so that the trigger of your gun is covered and the gun is kept in a consistent orientation allowing reliable access. 

 

Crossbreed Purse Defender 

Another purse option we recommend is an insert for your purse called the “Purse Defender” from Crossbreed Holsters. It is a hard L-shaped velcro-sided panel insert that goes into an existing purse you already own. The insert is made of kydex and keeps the gun and purse stabilized. This helps the purse from falling over. It utilizes the same holsters as the Crossbreed Modular Belly Band that velcro to the insert. 

 

Vertx Fanny Packs and Bags 

Avoid bags with big logos from known tactical brands such as 5.11 Tactical and bags that are tactical black, desert tan or camouflage with molle webbing that resembles military gear. These features can cause people to suspect you are carrying a gun.

 

Vertx manufactures fanny packs, sling bags and backpacks that are also optimized for concealed carry. They make all these products with specialty pockets and attachment points that allow you to mount a proper holster and access the gun quickly. Attaching a dedicated holster protects the trigger of your gun and keeps it in a consistent orientation.

 

We recommend the Vertx SOCP Tactical Fanny Pack, Navigator, Dead Letter Sling and Keryx Sling bags.