I want to carry, but...

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Not familiar with this. Can you provide more details?
It sounds complicated but in reality its really simple. Most guys wear their gun inside the waistband (IWB) and have a loose shirt over the top to conceal it. For me the holster against my bare skin rubs me in all the wrong ways. I put a white Hanes undershirt or tank top on first, tuck the holster into my belt, then put a second nicer shirt over the top to conceal everything. Works well for me.

I carry a Glock 19, Ruger EC9S, and a Kel Tec P-32 depending on the time of year and application. My holster setups are a Foxx hybrid holster (Glock), Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 (Ruger/Kel Tec). I prefer the older Alien Gear holsters over their new ones. They are much more comfortable and stick out way less. On a rare occasion I will ankle carry for things like weddings.
 
Goto an office supply and check on their daytimer type calendars with a zipper. Take out the binder mechanism and lay the pistol inside, zip up. I have one, brown, that is about 5" X 8". Kinda like a smaller version of a Bible cover. Just have to remember to not lay it down...to easy to forget and walk off.
I have a similar thing that came with my S&W Bodyguard .38. The down side with it is it has the S&W logo on it.
Pocket carry for a .38 snub or .380 (always with a holster), 4:00 on hip IWB or OWB, drawing normally are my recommendations.

On a rare occasion I will ankle carry for things like weddings.
Done that, too. Too much hugging, though I don't dance at them, except dollar dances, of course.
 
First, get a good holster and belt (sounds like you have).

Next, probably an unpopular suggestion, but I'll make it anyway. Suck it up.

Now I'll compound with my experience (and yours may differ).

Every time I have attempted to carry a new gun, holster, or changed my holster location including new magazine type and location, it has been quite uncomfortable for usually two weeks of daily carry until my body adjusts. Painful, can't wait until the day is over, discomfort. But once I gut it out for a couple weeks it becomes tolerable, then comfortable.

I think often people just give up on a gun/holster way too quickly and waste time and money chasing a comfort fit when really it is their own self that simply needs to adjust.

All that said, my magic best comfort and concealment is a Vedder light tuck in front of the hip at 2 o'clock, right over the pocket, IWB. I can carry even a Glock 21 under most t-shirts this way and find my 1911s or 226 a breeze.
 
I see everypne says a "belt"; I have found suspenders over a tee shirt and under an untucked outer shirt is the most comfortable of all. Gun can be worn IWB, OWB, any o'lock position.

Use the 2" wide clip on, not the skinney little ones that are meant to be seen when you take off your $1500 suit jacket. Got mine at Sportsmans Warehouse $20.
 
I see everypne says a "belt"; I have found suspenders over a tee shirt and under an untucked outer shirt is the most comfortable of all. Gun can be worn IWB, OWB, any o'lock position.

Use the 2" wide clip on, not the skinney little ones that are meant to be seen when you take off your $1500 suit jacket. Got mine at Sportsmans Warehouse $20.

I tried suspenders a few times when my heavy leather belts weren't cutting the weight of my full size 1911 or Sig 226.

Then I got one of those nylon/kydex belts, mines from RDR, and the stiffer belt holds up even a double stack 1911 very well. That's 41 oz before you add the mag and 15 rounds of ACP
 
+1 for leather. that's what finally made it comfortable for me to carry and then after i broke myself in on leather for almost a year i was able to carry IWB with kydex though i shtill prefer leather or at least a hybrid for IWB. kydex usually stays OWB. a suede inside panel with a full sweat guard makes a big difference.
 
It sounds complicated but in reality its really simple. Most guys wear their gun inside the waistband (IWB) and have a loose shirt over the top to conceal it. For me the holster against my bare skin rubs me in all the wrong ways. I put a white Hanes undershirt or tank top on first, tuck the holster into my belt, then put a second nicer shirt over the top to conceal everything. Works well for me.

I carry a Glock 19, Ruger EC9S, and a Kel Tec P-32 depending on the time of year and application. My holster setups are a Foxx hybrid holster (Glock), Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 (Ruger/Kel Tec). I prefer the older Alien Gear holsters over their new ones. They are much more comfortable and stick out way less. On a rare occasion I will ankle carry for things like weddings.

Oh, I thought in your original post you weee talking about a “special” type of shirt. I do exactly what you have described. Undershirt, then holster, then loose shirt. So far, still digs into my body. From posts I’ve read so far, it appears I need to experiment with just purchasing more holsters until I find the one that provides better comfort for me. Thanks for reply.
 
Thanks, but I’m not sure that’s true. Since I don’t like anything in my pockets at all, I’d rather continue to carry an IWB even if it is still uncomfortable.
Just curious. I see your male. Where do you put your wallet, keys, phone?
 
Just thinking a little out slide the box here but you may want to consider....

https://comforttac.com/collections/belly-band-holsters

https://www.undertechundercover.com/collections/mens-concealed-carry-shirts

https://www.sneakypeteholsters.com/

Maybe shoulder holsters? Cross draw?
I guarantee someone makes something you’ll like, theirs even thunder ware https://www.thunderwear.com/


But to be honest, trial and error is just part of the reality for most of us. We have drawers full of holsters we bought, tried and gave up on. It’s not cheap, but it’s basically the only way to find what really fits and is comfortable.

Nothing is perfect, compromises are made and to much money is spent.
And welcome to THR.

Thank you for the links and the welcome. I will check those out. From the posts so far, it would appear that I just haven’t purchased enough holsters yet (can’t believe I’m saying that). My brother still uses the very first holster he bought, so it never occurred to me I’d need to go through so many.
 
Could you list the gun you're using and the holsters you've tried.

This could give us a starting point to make recommendations for different holsters, or perhaps a different gun, to try.
 
What guns are you carrying? Which holsters have you tried?

MP9 2.0 3.6”
Taurus PT111 G2

Concealment Express
Clinger
Alien Gear

Have holsters for both. All Kydex. Alien gear most bulky and most uncomfortable for me, clinger small and pulls right to body but digs, concealment in-between for me.

I may go with a sub-compact, maybe that’s the issue for me.
 
Could you list the gun you're using and the holsters you've tried.

This could give us a starting point to make recommendations for different holsters, or perhaps a different gun, to try.

MP9 2.0 3.6”
Taurus PT111 G2

Concealment Express
Clinger
Alien Gear

Have holsters for both. All Kydex. Alien gear most bulky and most uncomfortable for me, clinger small and pulls right to body but digs, concealment in-between for me.
 
Maybe try a leather holster, they tend to flex with you better especially when you break them in. I like single point attachment. The two point hybrid types of holsters like the alien gear shapeshift always felt too big for me. If a leather holster don't fix your problem you may have to go to a single stack. It's better to be somewhat comfy and have a gun than to be so uncomfortable you don't want to carry any gun.

Sued holsters are also very comfy but you need a good belt to support them.
 
Have you tried a leather holster ? Kydex is hard and can be sharp.

No, not yet. Because for years I’ve been told that “leather will lose its shape and not hold your gun securely,” and because I live in the PNW all the folks I know only use Kydex because of our wet climate.
 
No, not yet. Because for years I’ve been told that “leather will lose its shape and not hold your gun securely,” and because I live in the PNW all the folks I know only use Kydex because of our wet climate.
I have leather holsters that I've been using for many, many decades and that still work just fine.

A nice Brauer Bros that I think I bought in the late 1960s:
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A Hunter from around the same period:
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Two Lou Alessi holsters that are over a quarter century old:
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Just curious. I see your male. Where do you put your wallet, keys, phone?

That's valid. Wallet has been carried since youth, so I'm used to that. And, keys are small so they go in pocket (but come out when I sit down), and I almost always usually carry my phone (non-shooting hand). I just don't like bulky items in my pockets is what I'm saying.
 
I have leather holsters that I've been using for many, many decades and that still work just fine.

A nice Brauer Bros that I think I bought in the late 1960s:
View attachment 844364

A Hunter from around the same period:
View attachment 844365

Two Lou Alessi holsters that are over a quarter century old:
View attachment 844366

View attachment 844367

I will look into leather for my next holster. But I may also look at a sub-compact just to reduce the overall bulk. Are there leather options that provide for an extra mag carry?
 
First, get a good holster and belt (sounds like you have).

Next, probably an unpopular suggestion, but I'll make it anyway. Suck it up.

Now I'll compound with my experience (and yours may differ).

Every time I have attempted to carry a new gun, holster, or changed my holster location including new magazine type and location, it has been quite uncomfortable for usually two weeks of daily carry until my body adjusts. Painful, can't wait until the day is over, discomfort. But once I gut it out for a couple weeks it becomes tolerable, then comfortable.

I think often people just give up on a gun/holster way too quickly and waste time and money chasing a comfort fit when really it is their own self that simply needs to adjust.

All that said, my magic best comfort and concealment is a Vedder light tuck in front of the hip at 2 o'clock, right over the pocket, IWB. I can carry even a Glock 21 under most t-shirts this way and find my 1911s or 226 a breeze.

Your point is valid about "sucking it up" and I admit to probably having quit too early on my holsters, but only because the shoulder bag proved an easy solution that I had no motivation to try again. Lately though, I've realized clear deficiencies in the bag at times, hence my post. I've received some good insight here. I will continue to explore and if needed tough it out.
 
Maybe try a leather holster, they tend to flex with you better especially when you break them in. I like single point attachment. The two point hybrid types of holsters like the alien gear shapeshift always felt too big for me. If a leather holster don't fix your problem you may have to go to a single stack. It's better to be somewhat comfy and have a gun than to be so uncomfortable you don't want to carry any gun.

Sued holsters are also very comfy but you need a good belt to support them.

Been getting the leather suggestion a lot. As I replied to someone else here, everyone I know that shoots uses Kydex, and they say it is because of our climate, and that leather will lose its shape over time. So, rather than experiment myself, I've just taken their word. And I agree on the Shapeshift, that was my first and going from nothing to that was like carrying a cantaloupe on my hip.
 
Your point is valid about "sucking it up" and I admit to probably having quit too early on my holsters, but only because the shoulder bag proved an easy solution that I had no motivation to try again. Lately though, I've realized clear deficiencies in the bag at times, hence my post. I've received some good insight here. I will continue to explore and if needed tough it out.

I do not intend to be harsh, but that's the realization I had that allowed me to finally stop trying a new gun or holster constantly, instead I was able to focus on holsters that carried how I preferred in terms of location and can't for concealability and just make my body deal with it.

Though I've often been described with phrases like "stubborn as a mule" and "work harder not smarter" or "do it the hard way", so there's probably better ways to do it.

I will say, in terms of comfort, my Comp-Tac Minotaur with the slick leather on the body side is probably my most comfortable holster, I just don't like how it carries the gun as much as the single clip Vedder
 
Since they each make a variety of models, identifying which one would be helpful.

Concealment Express https://www.concealmentexpress.com

Clinger https://clingerholsters.com

Alien Gear http://aliengearholsters.com

Don't know if concealment's holster actually has a model for my carry, I'd have to look. The Alien is the Shapeshift IWB (huge, imo), and the Clinger is the Stingray. Been getting lots of suggestions to explore leather, and I might pick up a sub-compact single stack, so long as I can find a holster with an extra mag option.
 
I'm still using a shoulder holster under a polo shirt. No getting trapped in armchairs, wedged in bucket seats, hassles with seat belts, or trying to figure out what to do with the gun in a bathroom.
 
The easiest carry is a Ruger LCP II in a desanti pocket holster. Kel-Tech and NAA also are great pocket holster guns. Or you can go old school and get a vest gun.

I might also take a look at shoulder holsters and appendix carry.
 
Since pocket seems to be out (it's not for me either) that leaves the obvious two options.

OWB will always be more comfortable than IWB no two ways about it. You will compromise a little on printing but depending your body type and what kind of shirts you wear that compromise can be extremely minimal.

I'm like everyone else that has a box of holsters and have been through several guns, I have gradually gone up size and to an extremely comfortable OWB set up. It's only slightly more noticeable than the IWB rigs I've tried.

Furthermore I have the same exact three holsters you have tried, except for more than one gun. I still use the CE occasionally for deep concealment, basically where I'm going someplace that has no guns signs but that are not legally binding. It's not comfortable but I deal with it, and have yet to be "made".

Leather is nice but I've personally had problems with squeaking so much so that I'm switching to a plastic or kydex OWB holster. There are some things that folks say you can do to prevent the squeaking but they have not worked for me. Others claim to never have a problem at all with that. Not trying to steer you away from leather but it's something to be aware of.

It's a process that most go through to find what works best for YOU. If you do end up with a few more holsters before you find the right one, you won't be any different than thousands of others of us.
 
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