Best Concealed Carry Holsters [2024 Expert Tested]
Bryan Hill / July 19 2024
This man thought he didn't need a holster for pocket carry.
He got up from the toilet, and...BAM!
Do you want to be like him?
Good holsters prevent you from shooting yourself in your day to day life, like when going to the bathroom.
And they protect you when you draw or holster the pistol.
They also give you the fastest draw possible.
In a self defense shooting, the first person to get a good hit usually wins. Fractions of a second make the difference.
There are hundreds of holsters for sale today. Most are crap.
How do you tell what's good? Which one is right for you?
On this Page:
- Concealed Carry vs. Open Carry
- Pistol Holster Positions
- Pistol Holster Types
- Holster Angle (Cant)
- What Makes a Good Holster?
- Kydex Holsters Poke Me. What to Do?
- 7 Best Concealed Carry Holsters
- References
Concealed Carry vs. Open Carry
Unless you must openly carry for your job, we recommend concealed carry. Why?
Concealed carry gives you the element of surprise. Surprise buys you a few seconds in a gunfight by disrupting your opponents' OODA loop.
[1]
How long are most real gunfights? A few seconds.
A review of real-world gunfights showed some patterns.
Successful concealed carriers delayed drawing their pistol until the assailant(s) were distracted.
They also used a hidden draw.
Onlookers couldn't see the draw, or couldn't see that it was a gun being drawn until it was too late.
There are many cases where criminals saw an open carrier's pistol and ambushed them.
[2]
If you must open carry:
-
Wear armor.
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Keep people at least 6ft. away from you.
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Have a partner
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Use a duty holster to prevent others from unholstering your pistol.
Duty holsters have Retention Levels:
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Level 1: Only the tightness of the holster keeps the pistol inside.
-
Level 2: One must disengage 1 "lock" on the holster to draw.
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Level 3: One must disengage 2 "locks" on the holster to draw.
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Level 4: One must disengage 3 "locks" on the holster to draw.
The higher the Retention Level, the less likely an attacker can unholster your pistol.
But a higher level also means a longer draw, and more practice to keep it consistent under pressure.
What's the right level? That's up to you, but I recommend at least level 2.
Pistol Holster Positions
Where you carry your pistol decides:
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Which holster to pick.
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What clothes to wear.
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Which pistol to carry.
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Position
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Clothing
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Pistol Type
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Hip / Appendix
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Shirt + pants or skirt
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Any
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Pocket
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Pants or jacket pocket
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Pocket
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Fannypack
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Workout clothes
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Pocket
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Off-body
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Purse / messenger bag
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Any
|
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Chest
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Jacket or Bra
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Concealed carry: Pocket
Open carry: Any
|
Other Carry Positions
We don't recommend the following positions:
Shoulder
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Can pre-stage the draw.
Like a pocket holster, you might be able to get one hand on your pistol without anyone realizing it.
-
Same comfort level, seated or standing.
If you sit all day for your job and don't interact with people face to face, this can be the most comfortable way to carry.
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Same draw, seated or standing.
Again, if you're a professional driver, shoulder carry might be the right choice for you.
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Draw is slow unless it's pre-staged.
Your hand must travel more distance to reach a shoulder holster than a belt or pocket holster.
-
Draw takes extra movement to be safe.
If you draw a shoulder holster right-handed, you'll sweep your left arm as you draw.
To prevent that, you must raise your left arm, but that delays you from building a full grip.
If your left hand is already raised (like on a steering wheel), this is less of an issue.
-
Easier for attackers to disarm you.
If they find out you have a pistol, it's easier for them to draw it than it is for you.
If you wrestle with someone, this could easily happen.
They'll have a major advantage in controlling the pistol.
Why? You have to reach your hand across your body to get the pistol, while they don't.
You're pinning one of your arms for the attacker.
-
Only works with a jacket. If you can only wear a shirt or blouse, this won't work.
Still considering shoulder carry?
First check whether hip, appendix, or pocket carry would be better.
Ankle
This works OK while sitting or kneeling, but has severe weaknesses while standing:
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Can't do an obscured draw while standing.
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Draw takes 3-5 seconds. That's too long unless you're already behind cover or concealment.
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Can only carry pocket-size pistols.
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Doesn't work for shorts, dresses, etc.
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Gun must be under 1 lb. loaded, or you'll have knee injuries after years of carry.
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Crossing your legs can be an issue while seated.
Anytime you would ankle carry, check whether pocket carry would be better.
Holster Types
Pocket
Fits in a pants, jacket, or dress pocket of minimum size:
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Fits nearly any outfit.
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Conceals with your waist exposed.
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Can pre-stage the draw, by putting your hand in your pocket.
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A pre-staged draw is fast, about 1/2 sec faster than hip carry.
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Draw is about 1/2 sec slower than hip carry when not pre-staged.
-
Can make wear marks on your pants in the pocket area if your pants are too tight or don't have any stretch material.
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Causes hip pain when sitting if your pants pocket isn't deep enough.
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Pocket pistols have more recoil, less ammo capacity, less power, and worse sights than compact or full-size pistols.
Inside the Waistband (IWB)
Mounts onto a
gun belt. The holster tucks into your pants. If you had no shirt or jacket, people could see the pistol's grip.
Designed to be worn at the 3:00-4:00 or 8:00-9:00 positions (your belt buckle is 12:00).
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Works with nearly any type of pistol.
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Good draw speed (with a good holster and config).
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Needs a gun belt to mount.
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Needs a shirt or jacket to conceal.
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Slow and hard to draw when sitting.
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Uncomfortable when sitting.
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The pistol's grip can mess up your chair/car seat after a few years.
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Draw risks getting tangled with winter clothes.
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Doesn't work well with a hiking backpack.
When going #2 in the bathroom, loosen your belt instead of totally undoing it.
As you sit, spread your knees so they provide tension on the belt and keep it up.
That way, your pistol stays accessible and off the ground. It's easier with a good gun belt.
Appendix (AIWB)
Like an IWB holster, but designed to be worn at the 11:00-1:00 position (your belt buckle is 12:00).
-
Works with nearly any type of pistol.
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Best draw speed (with a good holster and config): 1/2 second faster than standard IWB.
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Least risk of joint or tendon injury from long-term use.
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Easy to draw while sitting.
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Easy to draw while in hand-to-hand combat.
-
Can be converted into an IWB holster.
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Takes the most tinkering to get it comfortable when sitting.
Cheaper holsters are not as adjustable.
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Draw risks getting tangled with winter clothes.
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Not for all body types.
-
Men: in the event of a negligent discharge, you may punch a hole in your junk.
When going #2 with an appendix holster, it's the same as an IWB holster.
Loosen your belt instead of totally undoing it. As you sit, spread your knees so they provide tension on the belt and keep it up. That way, your pistol stays accessible and off the ground.
Just take more time to set yourself up. It's easier with a good gun belt.
Chest
There are two types: open carry and concealed carry.
Open Carry Chest Holster
Designed for carry when backpacking.
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Works with nearly any type of pistol.
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Doesn't interfere with a backpack's straps.
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Draw may need your support hand to either hold the holster steady as you draw, or unbuckle the safety.
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Not designed for concealed carry, but doable with a jacket.
Concealed Carry Chest Holster
Holsters specially made to attach to bras can be the best option for some outfits.
-
Can work well for women's outfits.
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Requires a bra and blouse/shirt, or a jacket.
-
Draw may need your support hand to either hold the holster steady as you draw, or unbuckle the safety.
-
Only works with pocket pistols (for most).
Holster Angle (Cant)
Holster cant refers to the angle of a holster relative to what it's attached to, usually a belt.
On a hip or appendix holster, canting the holster forward can conceal the pistol better.
Why? That makes its grip more in line with the body.
Above, the pistol's grip pokes out behind the body, but as it rotates forward, it doesn't.
This makes the draw slower, as you have to crane your wrist more to reach the pistol's grip.
On an appendix holster, this can also be uncomfortable with longer pistols.
If you cant too far in either direction, the pistol's muzzle (front) will poke into your leg when you sit.
You can adjust the pistol's position from 12:00 to 11:00 or 1:00 to prevent that.
If you cant the pistol's grip too far into the belt, like at -30º above, you won't get a good draw.
You'll need a holster that can raise the height of the holster on the belt to make room for your fingers to get a good grip.
If you cant the pistol's grip too far away from the belt, like at 30º above, you'll have to crane your wrist to draw the pistol.
Again, the draw will be slower. You may also have to raise the holster's ride height to keep the muzzle from poking you.
What Makes a Good Holster?
Not all holsters are equal. Poor quality holsters can endanger you or bystanders:
Here's what to look for to tell the good from the bad (most are bad):
Signs of a Good Pocket Holster
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Covers the trigger guard, to prevent negligent discharges.
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Has enough friction so it stays in your pocket even if you're running or doing any other athletics.
Leather beats nylon. Silicone panels are also great.
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Has a thumb tab to push the holster off of the pistol as you draw it, to keep you from drawing the holster with the gun:
As you can see, drawing your holster with your gun adds seconds to your draw. Had he fired the pistol with the holster on it, it would have jammed after the first shot. The defender here was very lucky that the perps didn't want to shoot him.
Signs of a Good IWB Holster
All-kydex Construction
The leather backing on "Hybrid" holsters can get softer over time.
If you try to re-holster and that leather backing collapses, you have a problem.
You must point the muzzle into your body to open up the holster, or dig in with your support hand.
Neither is safe.
That said, a hybrid holster can be the best choice if you just can't get all-kydex holsters to be comfortable for you.
Enough Space for Your Middle Finger
When you first draw the gun, one of the index points is to get your middle finger up underneath the trigger guard.
See it in action:
With plenty of room, your hand can get the proper grip on the pistol.
That's the first step to a fast draw, and fast and accurate shots on target.
Any material that gets in the way of that crucial spot slows your draw.
It also scrapes up your fingers when practicing.
If your middle finger bumps into the holster as yo go for the pistol, modify your holster, or get a different one.
If your middle finger bumps into your belt, set the holster's ride height higher.
Mounting Clips Match Your Belt Width
Wearing a 1.5" wide belt? Get 1.5" wide clips. Wider clips, like 1.75" ones, will cause your holster to wiggle and rotate, causing an inconsistent draw.
Inconsistent draws are slow, and can even block your hand from getting a proper grip.
Adjustable Ride Height and Angle
Ride height is how far the holster sits above your belt. Look for multiple mounting holes for the belt clips:
Holsters must be set high enough to keep your belt from getting in the way of a full grip, but low enough to conceal.
Change the holster angle (or cant) by having one clip higher than the other.
This can make or break your holster's comfort and concealment.
No "Sweat Guard", "Sweat Shield", etc.
A sweat guard/shield is a piece between you and the pistol that keeps your sweat from getting on it.
Why is it bad? It can poke you when you bend down.
Quality pistols have treatments to prevent rust on the outside.
Instead of a sweat shield, wear a cotton or performance undershirt with some elastic:
Tuck the shirt into your underwear.
That prevents the shirt from getting in the way of your draw, and no one will see it.
It'll be a secret between you and me.
An "Optics Cut"
Even if you never use optics on your pistol, an optics cut makes your draw faster.
It lets you draw your pistol as soon as it clears your belt, shaving an inch or two of movement off of your draw.
A fast draw is economy of motion.
Signs of a Good Appendix (AIWB) Holster
As IWB, but:
A Spacer (Claw, Wing, Wedge, etc.)
A spacer pushes the holster into your body.
Without it, an appendix holster can cause your pistol's grip to jut out from your stomach.
It looks like some abomination trying to burst out of you.
At Least 2 Anchor Points
An anchor point is a screw connecting a clip into the holster body.
You can have one clip, but it needs at least 2 screws anchoring it.
It must also fit just right for your belt - no wiggle room.
Just one anchor point causes the holster to tilt as you wear it.
What happens if the holster tilts down?
Your middle finger can't reach its rightful place under the trigger guard.
Instead, your middle finger gets blocked by the grip, your belt, and your pants.
If you have a holster that tilts down like that, your draw will be hobbled before it even begins. Not good for a life-saving tool!
When ordering a holster with one clip and two screws, find out if their clips run larger than advertised.
If they do, you'll need a second clip, a different clip that's sized right, or a different holster.
Signs of a Good Chest Holster
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4 straps, with one from the bottom of the holster that hooks onto your belt.
Why? If you have to pull up at all when you draw the pistol, the holster can flop up if it's not secured by that bottom strap.
The holster can also move when you run, crouch, jump, etc.
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Space for your middle finger to get a full grip under the trigger guard, with no holster material in the way.
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Covers the trigger guard, to prevent negligent discharges.
Kydex Holsters Poke Me. What to Do?
Two options:
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Put a Moleskin adhesive bandage on the spot that pokes you.
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Use a Dremel to sand down the part poking you.
Wear a dust mask and eye protection when doing this!
7 Best Concealed Carry Holsters
The best concealed carry holster depends on the size of your pistol and how you carry it.
Everyone has different body types and wardrobes.
Below are the best options I've found for different pistol sizes and carry positions.
- Concealed Carry Pocket Holsters
- Best Women's Holster for Pocket Pistols
- IWB Concealed Carry Holsters
- Universal IWB Holsters
- Best Concealed Carry Purse
Concealed Carry Pocket Holsters
What you need
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Pants, shorts, or a dress with big enough pockets (recommended: 4-way stretch fabric).
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The pocket that holds the gun & holster must have nothing else in it. Otherwise you risk a negligent discharge.
A pocket holster can be the most comfortable concealed carry holster.
Your pants pockets just need to be big enough.
It helps if they let the pistol ride more on the side of your hip than the front of your leg.
A pocket holster is also the best concealed carry holster for sitting if you want comfort over draw speed.
A pocket pistol in a pocket holster can go with you anywhere, like a secret companion:
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At home.
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Doing yard work.
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At the computer.
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On the toilet.
Get a pocket holster and join the pants-on, gun-on lifestyle.
Bear Creek Pocket Holster
This is a leather holster. It's thicker, so it doesn't conceal as well.
It takes slightly larger pockets to fit the same pistol as a kydex pocket holster.
It will wear out sooner than kydex.
The push-draw is too short for those with short thumbs. See how the Bear Creek holster doesn't let you push it away as far:
Keep in mind that these holsters are made to be drawn from a well-fit pocket.
If you push the thumb ledge as you draw from a pocket, the gun will come out and the holster will stay in your pocket.
Despite the drawbacks, this holster is more comfortable.
And if your pocket is sized right for the holster, it won't wear out your pants as fast as kydex.
Alabama Front Pocket Holster
This is your performance choice.
The thumb-push is easy to reach. It has a ledge that also makes it easy to push, so the holster stays in your pocket as you draw.
But it can poke you if you lay on your stomach.
If you choose the Optics Cut option, the thumb-push is harder to reach at first, but it won't poke you when you lay down.
And once you get it started, the Optics Cut thumb push works great.
Your pocket doesn't have to be as tight as the Bear Creek holster for everything to work right.
This holster isn't perfect. Kydex will wear out your pants pocket faster, especially if it's a tight fit.
Which is Best for You?
Get the Bear Creek for max comfort.
Get the Alabama if you have small hands, or find more comfort in knowing the holster will work as designed in worse conditions.
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Bear Creek Pocket Holster
$65 @ Bear Creek Holsters
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Alabama Front Pocket Holster
$40 @ Alabama Holster
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Thumb tab helps holster stay in your pocket when drawing the pistol, no matter your pocket size.
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Specify what light or laser you have on your pistol when ordering.
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Leather holsters mold more to the gun over time. After a few years, this can make it tougher to draw the gun properly. Replace the holster when this starts happening.
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Thumb tab doesn't work as well if you have small hands.
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All-kydex construction gives a safe, fast, consistent draw and longer lifetime than leather.
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Thumb tab helps holster stay in your pocket when drawing the pistol, no matter your pocket size.
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Specify what light or laser you have on your pistol when ordering.
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Kydex is stiffer, so your pants/shorts will wear out faster if they're tight against any edges of the holster. Applying Moleskin on contact points can help.
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Best Women's Holsters for Pocket Pistols
What you need
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The right body type
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A bra
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Untucked sports shirt, T-shirt, polo, blouse, or dress shirt
FlashBang Teddy Bra Holster
Sadly, most women's clothes have tiny or nonexistant pockets.
If you have the right body type, though, try bra carry.
See if the Flashbang might work for you:
The Flashbang Teddy has a suede lining for more comfort.
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Flashbang Teddy Bra Holster
$70 @ Flashbang Holsters
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For when your outfit doesn't work with other holsters.
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Specify what light or laser you have on your pistol when ordering.
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Gets in the way when holding large boxes, etc.
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Usually have to change straps when changing from a standard bra to a sports bra.
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If you wear an A-cup bra, you may need to wear a padded bra to conceal your pistol.
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IWB Concealed Carry Holsters
What you need
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A gun belt and (pick one):
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Untucked T-shirt, polo, blouse, or dress shirt
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Tucked-in dress shirt
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Jacket
With an IWB holster, you can conceal anything up to a full-size pistol.
An appendix IWB holster (AIWB) is the best concealed carry holster for sitting if you value draw speed.
AIWB holsters can be comfortable while sitting, but take more adjusting to get there.
AIWB may not work for all body types.
BraDeC Inside Waistband Holster
This is a good, not great holster.
It doesn't let you change its ride height, but the ride height is good.
It comes with a full sweat guard. I'm not a fan, but trimming that is quick and easy.
You can change its angle.
And it's available for a huge variety of pistols.
The value is excellent. You'll pay double or more with other brands.
This is a great starter holster to find out what works and what doesn't for your body type.
A few mandatory options:
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Optic Cut
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Include Mod Wing/Claw
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BraDeC Inside Waistband Holster
Check price @ BraDeC
|
|
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Compatible with spacers/claws for better appendix carry.
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Has adjustable cant (angle).
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Always get the Optics Cut.
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Always Include Mod Wing/Claw.
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Can't adjust holster's ride height.
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Universal IWB Holsters
Can't find a holster for your pistol? Or, do you want one holster that works with many guns?
The PHLster Floodlight 2 fits a huge variety of pistols.
The catch? You need a weapon light (WML).
Attach the correct light to your gun, and the holster will fit about as well as a holster made just for your gun.
It's also reversible for lefties. If you take out the spacer, it converts to a standard IWB holster.
Why the Floodlight 2 vs others? It's more comfortable and causes less sweat than other universal holsters.
PHLster Floodlight 2 (TLR-1)
This is made for any pistol with a Streamlight TLR-1 series light attached to it.
Most pistols work great with it. One exception though is the Walther PDP.
Its slide is too chunky for this holster. Try the Werkz Outlier for the PDP instead.
PHLster Floodlight 2 (X-300)
This is made for any pistol with a SureFire X-300 series light attached to it.
Otherwise it's just like the one for the TLR-1.
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PHLster Floodlight 2 (Surefire x300)
Check price @ PHLster
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PHLster Floodlight 2 (Streamlight TLR-1)
Check price @ PHLster
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Fits nearly any compact or full-size pistol as long as you use a Surefire x300 pistol light
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Can be reversed into a left-handed holster.
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The "bare shell" option comes with no belt mounting clips. It's a way to save money if you already have clips, or if you're mounting it to a PHLster Enigma.
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Full-size pistol holster. You can use a compact pistol in this holster, but why not carry a full-size instead (or use a threaded barrel + compensator)?
|
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Fits nearly any compact or full-size pistol as long as you use a Streamlight TLR-1 pistol light
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Can be reversed into a left-handed holster.
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The "bare shell" option comes with no belt mounting clips. It's a way to save money if you already have clips, or if you're mounting it to a PHLster Enigma.
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Full-size pistol holster. You can use a compact pistol in this holster, but why not carry a full-size instead (or use a threaded barrel + compensator)?
|
Best Concealed Carry Purse
What you need
This seems like a no-brainer.
Concealed carry purses can go with any outfit.
You can comfortably carry larger pistols than you can with a holster on your body.
But please, hear me out:
Do you ever leave your purse unattended?
Do you ever forget where it is?
When you use a purse for concealed carry, everything changes.
Anytime that purse is not on you, you've created a dangerous situation.
Your purse now has something in it that can be used to kill you or those around you.
Every year, there are a few news stories of mothers driving with their kids in the car. One of them gets into her concealed carry purse, and it ends in tragedy.
It's rare, but do you want to be one of those mothers?
There are other stories of careless women carrying in their purse.
Someone gets into it in a public bathroom, or someone steals their purse, etc.
Again, these incidents are rare, but do you want to be that woman?
Before committing to concealed carry purses, take a moment and ask yourself: Can I keep my purse on me or a trusted person 100% of the time? Do I want to live like that?
If you're very neat, always on time, and enjoy routines like flossing, the answer is probably yes. The less you fit that description, the more risky purse carry is for you and your loved ones.
A concealed carry purse may seem convenient, but it's not something to take lightly.
Purse Holster
There are lots of purses made with a holster built into it.
To fit many pistols, that holster has to be soft.
That means there's more risk of something getting into the trigger guard and firing the gun.
That also means your draw will be slower. The fit to the gun won't be quite right.
And to keep the gun from coming out, they usually add a retention strap.
Removing that strap takes time. When you need your gun, you need every fraction of a second you can get.
Other purses have soft velcro in a pocket, so you can attach your own kydex holster.
This offers a safer holster and a faster draw.
I recommend the soft velcro with a flat-backed kydex holster. Put hard velcro on the back of the holster and you're good to go.
If you have a purse that you can see yourself drawing from, all you have to do is go to your local tailor and have them attach soft velcro to it.
Crossbreed Purse Defender
The Crossbreed Purse Defender is a rigid panel covered in soft velcro.
Attach your holster to it, and you can set up any purse as a conceal carry purse.
With velcro, you can change the holster height and angle to exactly what you want.
The downside? The panel can move around in your purse.
Again, a tailor can attach soft velcro to all your purses instead of using the Purse Defender.
That will cost you more upfront, but it's the best long-term choice in my opinion.
The Purse Defender can help you test things out before you commit.
Or, it may be the right choice if you have a ton of purses you cycle through.
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Purse Holster
Check price @ Amazon
|
Crossbreed Purse Defender
$16.95 (Reg) @ Crossbreed Holsters
$13.95 (Sml) @ Crossbreed Holsters
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Can go with nearly any outfit.
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Cross-body purses recommended (more secure on your person).
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Built-in holster quality tends to be poor. Attach a kydex holster instead.
Here's a good pick:
Gun Goddess Flat Back Holster ($40)
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When carrying this way, you must always keep your purse on your person or you risk death or grievous bodily harm to yourself and those around you.
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Panel insert can be put into nearly any purse with a compartment at least:
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9" wide x 6" tall x 3" wide (Regular)
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7.25" wide x x 4.75" tall x 2" wide (Small)
Attach a Velcro-backed holster to the panel.
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Can go with nearly any outfit.
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Recommended for cross-body purses (more secure on your person).
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Crossbreed's hybrid Velcro holster needs trimming on the leather and kydex to allow a full grip on the pistol when drawing. Instead, consider a better-designed, all-kydex velcro holster:
Gun Goddess Flat Back Holster ($40)
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When carrying this way, you must always keep your purse on your person or you risk death or grievous bodily harm to yourself and those around you.
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References
-
OODA Loop (2020)
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Friends Don’t Let Friends Open Carry: A Roundup of Real Incidents and Articles by Top Firearms Instructors (2018)
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Sticky Holsters/Remora: Just Say NO | Active Self Protection Extra (2019)
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Man Shoots Himself in Leg While Reholstering His Firearm (2018)
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Let the thighs jiggle, not the gun (2023)
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Gun Owners Mistake ( NO POCKET HOLSTER) Accidental Discharge Firearm Shooting Self in Leg | GUNS (2019)
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Pocket carry of a tool without the use of a properly designed holster is always a bad idea. (2022)
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Officer applies a tourniquet after an accidental discharge in the bathroom! (2021)
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Armed Tulsa Homeowner Confronts Robbery Suspects (2019)
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Female police officer shoots thief in front of a school in Brazil (2022)
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Robo a mano armada a plena luz del día. (2016)
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CARRYING A GUN IN ATHLETIC SHORTS (2024)