Thanks for tips, lots to think about.
When I was thinking about the gun belt, I wasn't thinking in addition to a trouser belt, but just the gun belt since I normally use suspenders. I see where it would be less secure and move around without the trousers to anchor the belt though.
I've seen holsters that use a clip rather than loops, but I'm a little skeptical of the security of the clip.
Summer will bring a new set of challenges...
I've been conceal carrying for 36 years and a I've used holsters with metal clips for about the last 20 years, not exclusively but primarily. I've only bent one clip in that time and the maker replaced it for free. I've also never had a holster come loose using metal clips.
I am not however a big fan of plastic clips. They work, they just don't work as well.
Holster wise, an IWB holster using loops can be attached by either threading the belt through the loops or sliding the loops around the belt once you have it on. That second method is a little too fiddly for my tastes.
The advantage of a holster with clips is that it is easy to remove the holster from the belt with the gun inside it if you need to remove it to go into a gun free zone. It's also a huge advantage if you carry a striker fired handgun with no manual safety. The Glock and similar style striker fired pistols were designed to be carried in an OWB duty style holster. And if you've watched things evolved over the years many of those duty holsters now have a spacer between belt and holster that leaves the pistol a bit farther out from the belt, which further reduces the potential for an intrusion into the trigger guard that could cause a negligent discharge while re holstering the pistol.
One of the primary ways that concealed carry folks who carry Glocks manage to shoot themselves in the leg is when holstering or reholstering the pistol. A wad of shirt, a pull cord on a jacket, or some similar obstruction ends up inside the trigger guard and presses the trigger as the pistol is inserted in the holster. It's a non issue on a pistol with a manual safety and much less of an issue on a DA pistol or revolver given the long, heavy trigger pull. But with the short and comparatively light trigger on a Glock where any intrusion in the trigger guard also disables the safety, the holster becomes a key safety feature.
Metal clips on the holster allow you to easily and quickly remove the holster and then insert the striker fired hand gun with it held out in front of you where you can visually confirm there is no obstruction. If you don't do that, you need to be extremely careful to visually confirm the lack of any obstruction as you reholster the handgun with the holster inside your waist belt.
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Below are a pair of holsters. The top one is a Desantis IWB holster with loops. There are some other features worth noting. The holster itself is wide with a fair amount of surface area. That helps stabilize the holster so it won't shift, slide down or rock forward or aft. That lets you leave the belt a little looser than would otherwise be necessary and that eases pressure on the opposite hip. On your strong side hip, it also lets spreads out any pressure from the belt making it more comfortable to wear.
The holster below it is a Wild Bills Concealment Covert Carry. The clip is mounted on a thick piece of leather under which a shirt can be tucked so it can be worn under a tucked shirt without a cover garment. That can be an advantage in the summer if you have to have a tucked dress short, etc.
The offset clip also keeps the holster thinner and easier to conceal than is the case if the clip or loops) are centered on the holster.
The down side of this design is that it has less surface area and is more prone to rock forward over the course of the day. It requires a little tighter belt to stay put and that can make it a bit less comfortable. There's never a free lunch, but it does work just fine for all day carry with a slightly smaller and lighter handgun - and provided you use a quality gun belt.
This holster is a Next Holster Guardian. This is my favorite design when I don't have to wear a tucked short without a cover garment. The design is very wide with lots of surface area making it very comfortable and the pair of clips make it very stable, while still keeping the profile thin. The holster will come flat when new, but within a week or so it'll shape itself to the curve of your hip and be very comfortable. It's the major reason as prefer this type of all leather design to a hybrid kydex/leather holster.
I'm normally an advocate for a double thickness mouth with a polymer or steel insert between the layers of leather (like the Wild Bills Holster above)to ensure the holster mouth doesn't collapse inside the belt. However, I've been using this holster for a couple years now and it's never shown any tendency to collapse even of the gun is out of the holster for a couple hours.
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A well made gun belt is an absolute must for comfortable IWB carry. My preference is a double thickness l leather belt made from two layers of 6-7 oz leather sewn together. You can also get a two thickness belt with a polymer strip between the two layers to add even more thickness.
Size wise, finding one with 6 adjustment holes rather than 5 is a plus as it gives you more size flexibility if you switch between IWB and OWB carry.
I also go with a 1 1/2" wide belt. It works fine with casual pants and jeans, and I've never had a pair of dress slacks that would not accommodate the 1 1/2" width. If you go with a narrower 1 1/4" belt you'll really need the polymer strip.
Plan on paying $70-80 for a good belt. You can get one for less, but you usually get what you pay for and it'll be much more likely to twist or sag over time.
