Belly bands

[PWC]

I have an old Uncle Mikes holster that allows me to wear IWB or OWB just by switching the clip from side to side. Works well but...

Sometimes I would like to have cross draw from 11 o' clock.

I know nothing about the elastic belly bands, except they may help my profile.
Does any one here have experience using them for CCW? Thanks in advance.

 

[thomas15]

I know nothing about the elastic belly bands

That makes two of us.

Personally I'm not a fan of the cross draw but why not get one and take it for a spin?

 

[Jimster]

I have a Brave Response belly band holster. I only wear it when I wear my lounge pants or loose fitting gym shorts of some type. It allows me to carry a full sized 1911 under loose fitting clothing. It’s okay but gets a little hot and the Velcro edges can poke me a little. I’ve not worn it in cross draw fashion. I wear my Sticky Holster at the 3:30 position 99% of the time of just throw my LCP2 in my pocket with a Sticky Holster.

 

[herrwalther]

One of the good things about belly bands is they are all pretty much in the same price point. A cheap belly band will be around $30. And expensive ones will go for $90 or so. Not a big difference between the 2 when compared to cheap vs expensive other holsters.

I have a belly band made by Undertech. For awhile it was my primary means of carrying a firearm. Now it is down graded to a niche role. It is a pretty good way to carry crossdraw, when running, or when carrying 2 guns. Or if for some reason I don't want to use a belt. If for whatever reason I started, or needed to use a belly band more, I would buy a Galco Bellywraps holster. The leather holsters built into the Galco are much better reinforced than Undertech.

 

[Al-jim19]

I have a belly band holster and would not trust it to support a gun. I considered it but wound up using mine to hold a tourniquet, quickclot, and gloves with a multi tool.

My suggestion is to get a dedicated holster made of leather or kydex for cross draw. You will be happier in the long run even if you spend more money.

My last suggestion is to start buying holsters purposebuilt for the carry method. Even a $30 kydex holster from amazon will be miles better than any uncle mikes.

 

[PWC]

I wish I knew which Uncle Mike's I have; it's soft and I wear it at 3-3:30 IWB or OWB just by switching the clip. I like the idea of belly band for wearing sweats. I usually wear suspenders rather than a belt, but on semi formal occasions it dictates wearing a shirt OWB.

Kydez is plastic hard to wear IWB.

 

[red rick]

I don't like them , they make my skin sweat under the band .

 

[Al-jim19]

Kydex is plastic hard to wear IWB.

I find that the rigid material actually moves around less making it less of a hassle. It really offers a lot that most leather or nylon holsters cannot.

 

[JohnKSa]

I have used a bellyband for CCW for many years.

1. I use it ONLY when I can't conceal adequately with another method. Only a handful of times a year.
2. It is not comfortable. It's not like I am in continual pain when wearing it, but I would much rather carry OWB or IWB using a conventional holster. You get used to it, but you can tell by how good it feels to take it off at night how uncomfortable it was to wear it.
3. It is not fast. In the particular circumstances I use for bellyband carry, I would guess it takes about 3x as long to draw from as a more conventional holster. That's between getting to the gun and getting a good grip.
4. Practice is difficult as reholstering requires privacy. I can't reholster without taking my pants down at least partially.
5. A typical bellyband without a built-in hard holster is soft and does not protect the trigger. Also, getting hold of the gun is sort of a blind grab with the trigger unprotected. Therefore, when I carry in a bellyband, I will only do so with a pistol that has a manual safety.
6. I carry only a very small gun with this method. Carrying in front means that bending over can pinch things and that gets worse the larger the gun. I've also spent some time smoothing corners on this gun. Both for my own comfort and so it won't tear up clothes.

I'm glad I have the option, but I'm also glad I don't have to use it much.

It's great for when you need maximum concealment and can't wear a cover garment. In my opinion, that's the only real benefit.

 

[Dunross]

Get the type that has one or two over the shoulder straps (Kangaroo Carry, etc).

This will allow you to wear the band higher, up under your arm more, and takes some of the weight off the horizontal band so that you don't have to wear it quite so snug.

On the hot, sweaty days it's going to be hot and sweaty, but sometimes it's simply the best option given one's particular circumstances of the moment.

 

[Mauser lover]

Yes, I carry in a belly band. Mine is a Blue Stone Safety. It seems to work okay. The material is fairly stiff, so I can't fathom getting the trigger pulled accidentally. I don't like cross draw, so I don't use it like that. I carry in the same position I would carry IWB. Tuck the shirt in, and drawing is similar. I wear a t-shirt under the belly band to prevent too much sweating on the gun. Also, I've deleted the horrid Velcro retention strap. When the pistol is lower, like an IWB holster, I've found that it doesn't need the velcro strap; and it just slows down the draw.

Now, the important part. Make sure your pants are big enough not to compress your belly band and pinch that spot on the front of your hip (lots of experimentation talking here!)! The pistol goes at 4:00 or 4:30, so the flat spot ends up behind your right hip. Reholstering without tucking my shirt back in is easy enough without unzipping my pants. Tucking in the shirt again is as difficult as normal.

My pistol for the belly band is a S&W Shield .45. A fair bit bigger than the 9mm version, but still a pretty small single stack .45. The pocket (what passes for a "holster") on the band would swallow a Ruger LCP, resulting in an awkward (and slow) draw. So, make sure the "holster" on the band is not too big for your pistol.

 

[PWC]

I like the undershirt (sleeveless) between the bellyband and skin. I didn't know the band had a built in holster, I intended to use a stiffer soft holster in the "pouch" and have the grip high enough to grab.

I understand it won't be really comfortable. If I ever have to draw, I won't really be worried about reholstering.

Pant sizing is the hard part. That's why I wear suspenders now, cause the pistol pulls down the waistband. I wear shirts OTW.

Anyone use the "Untuck" shirts? I don't think they have tails; more like Hawiian shirts

 

[Mauser lover]

The "untuckit" shirts are just cut straight across, nothing new there. Just overpriced.

Here are some really good looking belly bands...
https://www.crossbreedholsters.com/modular-systems/modular-belly-band-package.html
These have real holsters. Haven't had the gumption to cough up that much money for a belly band... But as soon as my current one wears out...

And it doesn't have to be uncomfortable. If it is at the same height as your belt, and it isn't any tighter than your belt, it shouldn't be any more uncomfortable than carrying on your belt. The ONLY discomfort I have had if the pants fit... It does get warmer (in hot summer weather, otherwise, it is fine).

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Mine is a Desantis. I've had it for ages. Still use it for those winter days when you want to wear a sweater with a shirt underneath. Against bare skin sucks for me. Usually, I pop my Glock 26 in there, which is small enough that the band never moves, and it's quite comfortable, but many times it's been my HKUSPC. Trying to use it with a Redhawk or Desert Eagle would be a disaster.

 

[Drail]

For a Desert Eagle you have to double up with two bands and wear suspenders. And don't even think about running....... I thin Desert Eagles should come with a sling........

 

[Fiv3r]

I have a couple in the 20-30 dollar price point. I like them for specific roles. I wear mine up higher, more like a back/ab brace.

You CAN carry a full size gun, but its not very comfortable. Also, the thin fabric over the trigger gives me a bit of the willies when carrying a striker fired gun without a manual safety. I actually took a piece of scrap kydex and stitched it over where the guard rides to give it a bit of a buffer. I've carried my full size P320 in it cross draw under my winter coat a few times.

Where I find it shines the most is when I want to be mobile but dont feel the need to be heavily armed. My belly band has several pockets. There have been a number of times where I carried a single stack 9mm like the EC9S with a spare mag, a Leatherman Rebar, and my phone with one of those wallet attachments for an ID and a couple of credit cards. This was usually in summer where I was going on a light afternoon hike or a walk downtown or tourist trap where my CCW permit is legal and didn't want to kit up.

I'm a fairly broad 44 at the shoulders and 32 at the waist, so under an over shirt buttoned up to the chest I had all my needs covered and securely close to my body and they didnt stick out like a sore thumb if I kept the band mid-gut instead of iwb. I could get to my phone easily at it rides closely to shirt seam, the leatherman next to it, and the gun rides more at my ribs. Makes it nice because I will need my phone and cards several times a day. The gun not so much, but it's still a somewhat quick draw if I keep one button undone.

I dont like them on my bare skin, but actually I hate anything against my bare skin. 99% of the time I wear at least a tank top under my shirt regardless. That helps with the sweaty stickiness.

Like I said, they aren't perfect. There is a lot to not like about them, but they are cheap and give you different options over traditional holsters. I will say I find them more comfortable during long car rides because I can shimmy the band up or down or left or right if the gun finds a hotspot on my body.