i am 5'5 abt 165lbs. a lil tire around the waist.....lol. Looking for some feed back on the type of IWB holsters you all use. Im new to the game and will be carrying a 9mm Shield. I like Alien Gear and Theis.....thoughts?

One of the secrets we don't often let out is the holster problem. Simply put, no one seems to ever find the perfect one on the first try. Worse, the market for used holsters is very weak. It seems if you buy one and pay the $100, give or take, when you try to sell it the prospective buyer wants to know why. If you're honest, the new guy wonders if he'll have the same problem. With concealed carry holsters, often the problem relates to how it rides on your side.

Many of us just give up and throw the holster in the deal when we sell the gun. It generates a nice loss, but its better than keeping it and take up room. I have a tub full of holsters and the like.

And its not just cheap holsters that prove unsatisfactory. Even Galco and the like sometimes turn in a lemon. Might not be their fault as we all have different sizes and shape bodies. What works for you might not work for me. It would be nice if we all had friends who would loan them back and forth. The problem is we don't have the same guns.

And some guns just don't have holsters available. One of my favorite guns is a 45 year old P210 SIG. Its a rare enough gun that I've never seen a holster other than the clunky military junk. I did buy a Galco for a 1911 that I've tried to modify to work. It would have been great, except the rubber tension screw froze in its earlier life. I've not figured out how to break it loose. I do have a sewing awl and think I can put a couple of stitches to make it work.

So my advice would be for the OP or anyone to haunt the boxes of old holsters we often see at gun shows. I've heard that gun shops sometimes have those, too. If I ever see one, I'll look with an open mind.

But chances are, the first style you select won't please you very much. And you'd be really lucky if the second one works too. I hate shopping but I'm afraid its the only way for someone to find a good one. That isn't a guarantee because even well stocked gun shops don't have more than one or two styles for each gun. It reduces you to guessing. You might help your chances by trying on styles for other brands of guns. Then maybe you can make an educated guess that it might work for yours...

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Dick Burg

Dick, that is the best explanation I've seen in a good long time.
Yep, there's no substitute for buyin' and tryin'.

The hardest part to "the buy and try" method is it gets pretty spendy, especially so if a person has no idea what parameters they need filled for themselves to be comfortable ahead of time.

For IWB I suggest using a remora or sticky holster to figure out exactly how you want to wear an IWB holster to see what works best for you. You will likely want a good belt, too.

These pouches are easy to change position and location on the belt over and over and gives you a chance to give it a solid try for as many times as you need to fill in your own personal checklist of what you like or don't like about a particular set up.

Once you have it figured out and if you decide you still want a another IWB holster (for some the remora or sticky is enough for them), then it's time to put a strip of tape right at the top of the belt line to capture the ride height and cant that worked for you. Next find a maker who makes something that rides in a similar way. A photo of their holster with the similar model of gun in it is usually pretty easy to tell if the height and cant are similar to what you found worked for you using the pouch method.

Wishing you well on your journey to IWB holster nirvana.

Never really understood how complicated the choice could be. But If I plan to get the right fit for me I must do my homework and first buy a box to put the disliked holsters in....lol!

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned how important a good belt is, no matter the style of holster.

When I carry IWB, I use the offset clip model from Lobo leather, and I'm happy with that.

I will use a desantis pocket-tuk. But I will also do a search in this forum to find out what everyone else is using.

Well, yes, it is spendy, but you save them up over time. Either that or cruise eBay for bargains in the "vintage holsters" category. I stopped giving holsters away with guns I sold long ago because I found that I ended up buying them a second time.

My husband and I both carry the Shield in an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck holster on Galco SB2 belts. Used them for just over a year.
They are cheap, returnable if not liked, and they will swap the Kydex shells if you change guns.

Holster's , especially inside the waistband, are like shoe's. Make a guesstimate of what you might like , buy it and wear it for a few weeks.....some are comfortable and the others aren't.
My favorite IWB is one made by Bianchi . It has an adjustable ratchet like mechanism that allows you to change the angle of the gun, great for sitting and standing , you can reposition it so it doesn't dig in when sitting.
It's called the model 3S inside concealment holster. I really like it. And it doesn't cost a lot.
Gary

Oh, it's not complicated, just pull out the CC and buy another. I think you'll find that you will want different holsters for different situations and dress. I carry IWB most of the time but sometimes OWB works better or pocket carry is best. I have only been carrying for a couple years and this is what I have so far and counting. (this is for 3 different guns)

And this...

Speaking of belts? I have researched quite a bit, but really no choice yet. Anything or any particular makers to look out for?

Holster recommendations are like . . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I, too, have a shelf full of holsters.
As for belts, its different.
Have two heavy duty belts.
A Galco and one from El Paso.
All I.ve ever needed.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I have two Lobo belts. One tapered and one straight. Very sturdy belts and an excellent value.

I would tell you which one is the best but then I would deprive you of owning a box or draw full of useless holsters like many of us here - - - -

Nah, it won't be a box of useless holsters. A lot will be marginally useful, many others will be useful for certain situations, just not the ones you intended when you bought them.

I make holsters, and the conclusion I have reached is there are three types of people. First, those who will spend years trying to find the perfect holster. Then there's the people that try two or three and pick one that works. Then there's the ones that can put on any holster that's suited to their preferances (Cant, sweat guard, material) and off they go.

Some of the newer Kydex holster places offer an unconditional warranty on holsters - if it doesn't work for you, full refund... it's how I play. I would hate any of my holsters to end up in that damn box.