There are many reasons which make people conceal carrying a firearm.
Concealed Carry is when individuals carry a firearm on them without it being visible to people they interact with or come in the vicinity. Concealed carry usually requires a CCW permit or class.
Carrying a concealed weapon is very difficult if you donโt have a proper concealed carry holster to hold it safely and comfortably. There are a few places on the body where a holster can be attached for the purpose of convenient concealed carry of a firearm, like the waist, shoulder, ankle, etc.
So, we have explored the Internet for the best concealed carry holsters we could find, so you donโt have to.
Letโs discover them!
Concealed Carry Holsters
Good holsters are made of durable materials like leather or synthetic and will keep the weapon tightly attached to your body without it being able to move or fall out.
Each type of holster has its pros and cons, and the choice of holster will mostly depend on the type of firearm you possess.
In Waistband holsters (IWB)
IWB holsters are worn on the waistband of pants and even skirts. This type of holster is strapped with clips and loops on the belt and is well-positioned for easy access.
They are discreet and secure, which is why they are popular among people who conceal carry.
Vedder Holsters IWB
Vedder Holsters Light Tuck model is a great "light weight" holster that can work for all body types.
This holster can be customized to fit your pistol. It is fully adjustable without the need to use any tools. It is comfortable and with a small footprint, while the soft neoprene backing can move and shift with your body.
The neoprene backing is sweat-resistant and doesnโt cause irritation when carried for longer periods.
Vedder Holsters IWB
Vedder Holsters Light Tuck model is a great "light weight" holster that can work for all body types.
Vedder Holsters is a brand specializing in gun holsters. They have custom holsters to accommodate over 450 gun models(these are great with Glocks), and you can search their website for a holster that would fit your specific firearm.
Their best-selling IWB holsters are LightTuck Kydex IWB, RapidTuck IWB, and ComfortTuck IWB.
Crossbreed Holsters
If you like leather, Crossbreed Holsters has you covered & not to mention their decades in the holster business.
Crossbreed is a popular brand specializing in the manufacturing of holsters. Their products are created from quality leather and are 100% made in the USA.
Crossbreed Holsters have products to accommodate most guns, and their highest-selling IWB holsters include SuperTuck IWB, MiniTuck IWB, Modular Belly Band Package 2.0, and Freedom Carry IWB.
We The People Holsters
One of the sharpest looking IWB holster with a matte black finish and a sturdy paddle.
Best-selling IWB holsters from We The People Holsters include Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Super Carry, Glock 19 IWB, Glock 43 IWB, and Sig Sauer P365 IWB.
They are made from quality materials and are discreet for IWB carry. They also have cool designs. WTP holsters offer a lifetime warranty for their products.
Shoulder holsters
A shoulder holster helps carry the weapon on the side of the body by being strapped over the shoulder and across the torso. Law enforcement, military, and private citizens all use this type of holster for concealed carry because itโs comfortable and discreet.
This type of holster requires wearing some type of cover clothing like a jacket for easy concealing.
Gun & Flower Universal Leather Holster
If you want to channel 1980s Miami Vice or even James Bond, Gun & Flower makes beautiful leather shoulder holsters.
A handmade leather holster designed for comfort and security. Itโs compatible with a wide range of handguns, like Glock, M1911, Taurus, S&W, Beretta M9, and similar-sized pistols. The Mag holder fits a single and double stack.
Velcro and brass snap makes for easy detachment and attachment and fit chest sizes of up to 47″. It can be discreetly worn under a t-shirt.
Pvnoocy Shoulder Holster
Pvnoocy focuses on offering leather shoulder rigs at a budget price everyone can afford.
This is a left-hand draw holster made of premium materials, designed to fit standard Glock, Sig Sauer, Ruger, Beretta, and other similar-sized pistols. It can fit chest sizes up to 57″.
It has a secure design, and you can easily conceal it, as the holster enables a good range of motion. Removing it requires unbuttoning the strap that holds it securely in place.
Other Concealed Carry Holsters
Custom design holsters sometimes cannot be categorized into a specific group because of their quirky design and unique placement on the body.
DegeTMVe Sling Bag
From the subway to the gym DegeTMVe Sling Bags make it a cinch to pack heat wherever you go.
Itโs a dual pistol chest bag holster made of waterproof nylon fabric. It is lightweight and with ergonomic design for comfortable carry.
Itโs got three compartments lined up with velcro, providing enough room to neatly arrange your items. The main bag has a mezzanine for an iPad plus a few other pockets to store phones and other items.
If you are more of a backpack person, check out our best concealed carry backpacks of 2023.
Overall, itโs a very good holster/bag which can also be used as a handbag and backpack by adjusting the shoulder strap.
ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band Gun Holster
The ComfortTac Belly Band holster is our #1 pick for those who like to stay strapped while running or working out.
Designed to wrap around the abdomen, the ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band is a seriously good way to conceal carry. It is available for a left and right-hand draw, and is compatible with standard sizes of Glock, S&W, Bodyguard, Sig Sauer, Ruger, Beretta, and similar pistols.
It isnโt grouped in the IWBs because it differs by design, and the holster is designed to keep the pistol in a slightly different position. It comes with a plastic trigger guard and metal snap retention as safety features.
Clip & Carry STRAPT-TAC
Clip & Carry makes great form-fitting belly band holsters that work particularly well for women.
Another interesting design thatโs based around the belly area. With this holster, the gun can be carried in the appendix area, the back, the sides, or the upper torso.
A very versatile product for the positioning of the weapon and for the number of models it can accommodate safely. It can hold pistols like Glocks, Sig Sauer, Springfield Hellcat, S&W, Ruger, and other weapons of similar size.
It is made from comfortable material and is suitable for men and women, as well as left and right-hand draw.
Ankle concealed carry holsters
Ankle holsters are most commonly used by people who need a backup pistol or to go with an even more discreet concealed carry. Holsters designed for this usage are usually light and made from materials that prevent sweating.
Ankle holsters tend to be designed for guns of subcompact type because normal pistols would cause inconvenience when worn in such a manner.
Alien Gear Shapeshift Ankle Holster
Once again Alien Gear come out on top with a very robust and usable ankle holster.
Made from neoprene, itโs light, comfortable, and moisture-resistant. It can be custom-fit specifically to your pistol to ensure retention, and you can adjust the fit by hand.
Itโs available in one size, as itโs strapped around the ankle by one of its elastic bands, while the other goes under the heel. You can tell the Shapeshift Ankle Holster has been designed to offer different features to the competition and to find a solution to the inconvenience that ankle holsters tend to carry with them.
BUGBite Concealment Calf Holster
Wraps tight and snug around your calf with a cozy material that you can wear all day.
If you are right-handed, the BUGBite Calf Holster is used on the left leg and vice versa. The holster is made with a pocket for your gun and is drawn from the inside of your leg for a cross-draw.
A much tighter holster that allows for more movement, and after a while, you forget that itโs even there. Because this holster doesnโt have loud items such as velcro or snaps, it allows for much more stealth when drawing.
Summary
Concealed carry requires a good holster for the firearm that allows for discretion and comfort. There are various concealed carry holsters, like IWBs, shoulder, ankle, and others.
Choosing the best way to carry a concealed firearm depends on your lifestyle, gun type, and needs. IWB holsters are carried around the waist, shoulder holsters are strapped around the shoulders, and ankle holsters are strapped around the ankles.
Also, be sure to consider picking up concealed carry insurance along with your new holster just to be safe.
With IWBs and shoulder holsters, you can carry the standard pistol sizes, and with ankle holsters, you can carry subcompact pistols. Various other designs allow you to carry your weapon in a handbag or on a belly strap.
What is your favorite holster to carry every day? Let us know in the comments down below!