Buying pants with a waist that is 1-2 inches larger than you would normally buy helps.
I'll second this.
1. Should I abandon OWB Carry? I'm not totally convinced that it's that noticeable to most people even if I'm bending (which I don't do a lot of), but now I'm worried about it.
Not yet, as another poster said, maybe longer shirts are all that is required. If you live in an open carry state, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Most people today walk around in lala land all day long, completely oblivious to their surroundings. I know I print if I bend over a certain way. It bothered me a little at first, but I don't really give a crap anymore
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2. Can you recommend a good IWB holster, something that is comfortable and well constructed?
First off, I'm not a big Kydex fan, so all of my holsters are leather. The two that I've had the best success with are the FIST #20 and Lobo Gunleather IWB rigs. The big thing is to find a holster that does NOT have the loops situated directly on top of the gun, which makes the whole package even thicker and less comfortable. Additionally, I have found that a sweat shield makes a big difference in comfort, as it smooths out the sharp edge of the holster opening from digging into your side. Something that one of my FIST holsters without the sweat shield does from time-to-time.
3. What do you see as the benefits of OWB vs. IWB carry?
The biggest benefit is that which you've discovered for yourself: comfort. Plus you don't have to invest in pants with a larger waistline. The drawback of OWB carry is that all things being equal, an IWB will conceal better.
Some folks will tell you that they can conceal a desert eagle while wearing a sequined thong and doing Ty-Bo on the rear wing of a F1 car during qualifying. And it is comfy too.
More power to them.
There's some imagery for you!
Guilty as charged. Generally speaking, I think that those that prefer IWB tend to be thinner, while those that are heftier lean more towards OWB. Not always true, but there does seem to be a fair correlation.
I am about 6'7" and 210 lbs, and with a good stiff belt (important for either IWB or OWB) and nice holsters, I don't have any issues with IWB carry. At first, it did take a while to get used to; a lot of experimentation was needed to find the right spot to carry. I've found that 2:30 - 3:30 works best for me, depending on the gun.
But IWB isn't for everyone, but it certainly doesn't hurt to try it to see for yourself either. If you don't like it, you can always advertise the holster for sale right here on THR.
Going back to my gear, I wear a 1.5" bullhide belt from thebeltman.com. Paid about $70 for it.
Pictured below are the 3 guns and holsters I most frequently carry IWB. The first is a S&W Model 66 2.5", carried in a FIST #20 IWB that I paid about $65 for.
I use another FIST #20 to carry this 4" Ruger Police Service Six with nary an issue.
Lastly, I carry a 4" S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman in a Lobo Gunleather IWB holster. This might be the best holster I've found thus far, as carrying the fat butt Model 28 is only slightly less comfortable than carrying the slim Ruger or S&W 66. It is big though, and I do have to dress around the gun so it doesn't get carried every day, but it is quite doable for me nonetheless.
This one definitely isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially IWB.
