Ultimate Carry Set Up - Finally

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Welding Rod

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After many years I found the ultimate carry setup... for me.

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The key is the Hickman Suspenders (made in Idaho http://hickmansuspenders.com)

If you look close you will see the belt goes through the loops in the suspender ends, and also through the belt loop at the same time. I love it - been looking for something like this for decades and I just stubbled across it recently by accident.

After going through a large box of holsters from Hume, Bianchi, Kirkpatrick, etc, I find I really like the Galco Fletch the best for carry in public.

Worn slightly in front of the hip it is comfortable to draw standing or sitting, to sit, and in my car, my seat belt doesn't even hit it. I can draw sitting and buckled in my Jeep no problem.

I favor a retention strap as I am very active, and find my self sitting, kneeling, and on my back or belly a lot.

I have owned many dozens of hand guns over the years, and the 1911 is my favorite for pistol sporting events, carried in a Gunsite open top holster.

However my favorite carry piece I have found to be the Sig P220 or P226.

Great reliable gun, always ready to shoot, and easy to carry with a retention strap.

Anyhow I am so thrilled with my current setup after many years of never really being satisfied with anything else, and throwing away thousands of dollars in pursuit of something I would really like, I thought I would pass the info on.
 
Interesting. I've been kicking around the suspender concept for a while. That attachment method looks like a winner to me.

Comfort matters, it affects how your entire day goes.
 
I took up wearing suspenders in revolt against 67 years of constantly having to hitch up my pants and retuck my shirt every time I bend my slim frame over or stretch too far. Well, maybe 60 years as I wore them for the same reasons as a very young lad.

Right now I wear Dickies / Perry with sturdy, tight fitting plastic J hooks that go over the belt, purchased at Walmart. http://www.perrysuspenders.com/persus.html

Those leather loops on yours look interesting. I would prefer to have standard straps and adjustment, though.
 
Nice. Those are some serious suspenders!!! Gonna have to share this with a friend of mine that likes suspenders.
 
Guy B. Meredith said:
I would prefer to have standard straps and adjustment, though.
Click to expand...

That's cool - though these suspenders you order sized, they are NOT "one size fits all" like most others. You measure from the top of your back belt loop, over the shoulder to the top of your front belt loop. They make 7 different sizes, and each size has 4 inches of adjustment available on the lower front buckles. Mine fit like they were built just for me, which they essentially were, and with no metal adjusters up on my chest.

BTW, I wore this setup for over 14 hours today, including while doing high power match practice, all in total comfort - still wearing it now laying on the couch. It was great shooting from the prone position today without clips sticking me in the belt line. Love 'em.
 
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If you get a properly made Kydex rig, or a leather rig with an adjustable tension welt, you don't need the retention strap. You might as well open carry with sucn a setup, cause everyone will know why you are wearing suspenders. Just more hassle every morning and evening, looks like.
 
Thanks for the link. I might try some of those. If so, they will just like the ones you have that the belt goes through.

I have some with the plastic hook that fit under the belt...don't like them. The plastic is not comfortable and they constantly unhook on the back.

The standard clip on style eventually tear the fabric they are clipped to.
 
Isn't it a bit cumbersome wearing a belt and suspenders at the same time? Kinda looks like one can't keep their drawers up, so both options kick in ! Sorry, just had to throw that out there.
 
Haha, no to the contrary, not cumbersome at all. With suspenders you can load up the belt with weight (or not), and still wear it loose, which is way more comfortable. And you can be as active as you like and NEVER have to monkey with pants that are falling down.

Suspenders are the ticket for seriously active people that have their hands busy, that is why you see loggers, ironworkers, millwrights, welders, etc wearing them (or bibs). But suspenders don't hold up a holster, service pistol, mag pouch, leatherman, and flashlight without a belt too!
 
I have never had mine come unhooked in the back unless I did it and I have never felt the plastic hooks but I might give these new ones a try. I like the looks of them. Something different.
 
Back in the days when gent's carried six-shooters in "scabards" and wore cartridge belts filled with heavy ammunition; it wasn't unusual to find a pair of suspenders hooked to the cartridge belt. :cool:
 
I used to use Perry suspenders from Walmart in similar manner, but that was in bad old days. Today I rely on R9 which does not require "carry harness".
 
since it's unnecessary to even fire, the great majority of the time, and misses change a lot of minds, there's no way on this green earth that I'm going to lug around something that requires suspenders. I'd sooner put a carbon 15 on an assault sling. At least then I'd have a gun when I needed one, instead of kidding myself that a handgun amounts to much.
 
Now, I see why Hickman suspenders are so well-regarded. Thanks for posting the photos!
 
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