Opinions on concealed carry holsters

[Orygun-fan]

I just got my Shield 9 for concealed carry. Never cc before. I need opinions on best options for carrying this gun concealed. I don't want to buy 1/2 dozen holsters before settling on one I like. Even considering Sneaky Pete. I like the concept.

 

[Htown]

Holsters are personal preference. I don't carry a Shield but I do carry an M&P 9c and like my Alien Gear clock tuck 3.0. Thinking about trying a Rawdog Tactical holster as well. There are sooooooo many to choose from.

 

[Mainsail]

I prefer a quality leather pancake style holster. With a good belt and holster my 1076 even feels light.

 

[My9]

Good luck in your choice.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/454542-holsters.html

 

[bigwheelzip]

Husband and I have CC the Shield for a year in the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck. Here in the hot and muggy southeast US, the waterproof neoprene backing is comfortable, protective, and durable.

 

[bert61]

I use the Alien Gear Cloak 3.0. Very comfortable and you forget the gun is there.

 

[PirateJim]

I've got an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3 and like it about as well as any of my other IWB holsters. However, I'm going to add my vote for a good quality pancake holster worn OWB. This option is FAR more comfortable for me and conceals as well as the IWB given that I never have figured out how to tuck a shirt in over a "tuckable" IWB where it didn't either look very obvious that I had something under there or have the shirt so bloused out that it looks sloppier than leaving the tail out altogether.

Here's my suggestion:
First get a good quality gun belt. Not a department store dress belt! A belt that is purposed to supporting a gun. The default width seems to be 1.5" and you'll find that most holsters are made with that in mind. This will fill the belt loops on most pants and the combo gives a solid foundation both for comfortable carry, better concealment and better ability to draw consistently. If you feel you really need a narrower belt, get a holster made to fit the size you choose.

Second, get a good IWB holster and a good OWB holster. There are times when you will want to use both. For IWB, I prefer the sort that have their belt clips offset from the gun since putting the clip on top of the gun makes the whole thing that much thicker and thus less concealable (IMO). The Alien Gear, Crossbreed, Galco King Tuck, and many others have this feature. For OWB, you really can't go wrong with a "pancake" style holster. Everyone that makes leather holsters makes a pancake (I think). I use a Lobo Gun Leather enhanced pancake that I'm very happy with.

As an aside, if you manage not to accumulate a drawer/box of "also ran" holsters you're a better man than most of us here. Good luck!

 

[B3500]

You might get lucky and find the right one for you the first time out the gate, but more likely you will need to try several since it does not appear you have a good idea how you want to carry let alone what criteria you need to satisfy so it's both concealed and comfortable enough for your needs. You may also find there is no one holster (type) which works for every carry situation.

I see several have already mentioned some brands and types and some of those would work ok for me and others mentioned do not work at all for me with something the size of a Shield. Remember this is about a Shield and IMO it does not actually require a massive rig to carry it comfortably like a larger piece might need.

A holster is a very personal decision and many factors come in to play, like how do you want to carry it (iwb, aiwb, owb, small of back, off-body and so on), your body size and shape as well as your tolerance level. What works for me or others may not even come close for you.

With each holster purchased and tried you will learn more about what your real holster requirements are and start to develop a more comprehensive list to apply to your next holster to see if it gets closer to your needs. This background is difficult to develop without trying a few different types of holsters.

Good luck getting to your holster nirvana.

 

[RobzGuns]

As a few have mentioned, there is NO one best holster. If there were, all the others would go out of business. You may get lucky and find a perfect fit in your 1st purchase, but if you're like most of us, you'll end up buying several.

1st thing, is figuring out which carry position will work better for you.
Some appendix carry (2 o'clock). I can't appendix carry while sitting, as my rib-to-belt distance is too short.
Many carry @ 4 o'clock with the grip canted forward to minimize printing.

A good FIRST holster, would be one similar to the Tagua Inside the waist holster, that lets you try various positions IWB, as well as between the belt & Pants, or OWB, to let you experiment.
@ $20-$30, it would let you experiment to find the right carry position for you. Once you figure out the best position for you, THEN you can start looking for the Best Every Day holster for you.

The Taqua IWB/OWB holster (The pic doesn't show the IWB Clip, but it has one): https://www.taguagunleather.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=1&product_id=728
The NRA Store sells a version of it as well.

 

[Lost Lake]

Every body is different and everybody carries differently. Over the past two years I have yo-yo'd my weight by 40lbs and what worked at one weight doesn't at the next. A holster where you can adjust ride height and depth would be most versatile to figure out which carry for your body works.

All leather is most comfortable for me. I have quite a few Lobo holsters that work well. I wish they had reinforced mouths though.

My best advise would be to get a 5.11 or similar reinforced adjustable belt. I find the utmost comfort being able to adjust my belt to the perfect snugness, which you just can't do when the adjustment holes are an inch apart.

 

[exdetsgt]

Get a D.M. Bullard (Aztle TX) 1 1/2"gun belt. You won't need another for ten years. I've worn mine every day for that long. I always carry OWB. I'm too skinny for IWB. Holster for the 9mm Shield is an Italian leather Blackhawk, size 19, made specifically for a 9/40 Shield. It's a thumbsnap. (I don't like thumbsnaps as I find re-holstering fiddly. So I cut the straps off. Works fine).

 

[rock_castle]

You likely can't avoid the dreaded box of holsters. Embrace it and enjoy the ride.

 

[kmanick]

You likely can't avoid the dreaded box of holsters. Embrace it and enjoy the ride.

unfortunately I find this to be true as well.
I currently have a N82 pro that I use with my M&P .40 full sized and it works great (even with a full sized gun)
it's very comfortable and conceals surprisingly well with a FS. I would think with a shield or a compact it would work really well.
also take a look a stealth gear IWB Onyx. That looks like a smarter version of the alien Cloak.

 

[Neumann]

A S&W Shield is nearly ideal for pocket carry. I have a Springfield XDs .45, is similar in size, which I carry in a Detroit Holster "John R" with a thumb tab and provision for a rail-mounted laser. IMO, it is a perfect combination for any occasion or style of dress.

If you carry a small pistol in a belt holster, make sure it extends enough above the belt line to let you wrap your hand around the grip.

For full-sized pistols and 3" revolvers, I prefer an IWB holster, specifically a Sparks VM2.

 

[shadow41]

I tried IWB for a while but never could get comfortable with it. I also didn't want to have to wear pants 2 sizes too big to carry it especially with my skinny legs. I've settled on a leather pancake style OWB for pretty much all my guns. For my Shield I use a DeSantis speed scabbard. Like others have said you have to find what's comfortable for you and how you want to carry. I would surely recommend a good gun belt too like others have. I used a regular ole belt when I first started carrying. When I bought a proper belt, it was like a night and day difference. Good luck with your search.

 

[NinjaMidget]

I use a DeSantis Pocket Shot with my 380 bodyguard. It works great for me since I work in an office environment that is a "weapon free zone", but has no way of screening for weapons, which is just stupid, so this just looks like a wallet in my back pocket. I use an Alien Gear holster for my full frame Sig SP2022 when I carry that. Those are really comfortable holsters that you can't go wrong with, imo. Like others have said, though, it depends on personal preference.

 

[Whitwabit]

I have probably 4-6 holsters for each of my pistols and unfortunately they aren't the same size so each need their own .. the number is for the different position I may be wearing it at the time .. during warmer months IWB but in the colder months where more clothing is covering the pistol I might carry OWB or IWB but in the 11 or 2 position instead of my normal 3 or 4 position ..

and each position a different holster is needed ..

So good luck with the one does it all Holster .. I really don't think they make one !!

 

[Orygun-fan]

Alright, I can appreciate a lot of what everyone of you has said. Thank you. I do understand that it will be a bit of trial and error. What a about the Sneaky Pete? Anyone use one of those? I'm an old guy and carrying a fairly large box on my belt would not seem too weird.

 

[BigDog48]

Alright, I can appreciate a lot of what everyone of you has said. Thank you. I do understand that it will be a bit of trial and error. What a about the Sneaky Pete? Anyone use one of those? I'm an old guy and carrying a fairly large box on my belt would not seem too weird.

I have the Sneaky Pete for a small pistol, and it is HUGE. If you don't mind people asking you what it is, get one. It's bigger than the average paperback novel.

I have the Stealthgear Onyx for my shield and it is very comfortable, but I most often carry in a Desantis ProStealth or Bladetech Nano, which is my favorite. Check out the Bladetech Nano (Blade-Tech Nano IWB Holster | Blade Tech | Holsters. It can be bought at Amazon for less than $50.

 

[wiz561]

I don't have my CCW yet, but I am going through the same thing too. I've read many positive things about the Crossbreed SuperTuck.

It takes a few weeks for them to come in, so I put my order in and hope that my CCW license(?) and holster come in about the same time.

It kind of sucks that you have to take a chance on it, it's about 90 bucks, and have to wait a few weeks, but I figured I would just try it. They also have a two week trial period too.