Smart Carry Holsters- Are they COMFORTABLE

[ridgewalker]

In the recent Belly Band thread a few people suggested the Smart Carry Holsters. I looked at the website and it looks interesting. But no one mentioned the obvious. Unless I misunderstand it, it looks like it hangs down in the front below the belt line. Bear with me here, while I try to word this correctly. Seems like this area is already occupied by sensitive male type organs. To those who have used the Smart Carry holsters, don't they rub, bump, compress, or irritate the sensitive male organs? You know what I mean.

 

[CoMF]

To those who have used the Smart Carry holsters, don't they rub, bump, compress, or irritate the sensitive male organs? You know what I mean.

Short answer: No, and this was with a pre-magnum M640 Centennial carried in their "Security" model.

ETA: Are they "comfortable"? Considering the design, it was for me. It may or may not work for you.

 

[Adk.IBO]

I saw them at the Syracuse Gun Show. Tried one on, very comfortable,... on the outside of my pants. The only pants they would work with for me would be my dress slacks, all others would need to be replaced with a larger waistline. Since I almost never wear dress slacks, that rules that out. Not cost effective for me. The salesman was a big man (heavy) with slacks, worked well for him. I don't think it would interfere with my "junk" with the right pants. Hope this was helpful. Seemed to ride more in the pubic area, with the dummy J frame I tried it with, kind of like a fanny pack inside the pants.

Stay safe, John

 

[B3500]

I use one a few times a month and prefer it over a low end belly band since it does not roll over. Have not used the belly band since getting the Smartcarry

Useful when wanting to tuck in my shirt since it does not have clips showing on my belt like the hybrids and especially good for those "hug fest" times like weddings, funerals and the like. If you need to conceal and it not be seen, this is one of the best ways I have found and it can be used year-round. The "cushmax" layer they talk about is not for cushioning, but rather is a goretex type of material to keep moisture from entering through the material and in to the holster.

No issues using it for me, but you will want to try sitting and seeing exactly where you want things to be positioned before heading out the door.

I use mine with a XDS45 most often and I position the grip right at/under the belt. I have used it with a cm9 and that can sit a bit lower below the belt. Body shape, pants cut and weapon size will dictate where you want it to be positioned.

They have a 60 day try-out period so you can give it a try and see if it works for you.

 

[Rugerista]

I tried one and it didn't work for me. With a J Frame it looked like I had a bonner all the time. IWB and pocket carry work better in my experience.

 

[Shooter6br]

Carry A Smith Mod 10 4in in one for 4 years. Very comfortable . Can wear shorts, jogging pants with no trouble.

 

[Harkrader]

I haven't tried this brand, but have tried similar predecessors. Perhaps for another body type, but I was slim.
Three problems, all significant.
1. They hold heat. Made me sweat a lot.
2. The bulge shows. I got "looks."
3. Sitting in a chair was OK, but getting in and out of cars with a Bersa Thunderer caused uncomfortable binding and associated shifting by hand.
I think there are better ways.

 

[CoMF]

The bulge shows. I got "looks."

Whoa, now. We need to keep it family-friendly around here.

 

[Rugerista]

Carry A Smith Mod 10 4in in one for 4 years. Very comfortable . Can wear shorts, jogging pants with no trouble.

How tall are you?

I am somewhat vertically challenged at 5'6"

Any tricks to make it work? Even a J frame printed badly for me.

 

[Dot_mdb]

I carried a Model 640 for 2 or more days a week for 5 years in a Smart Carry holster. I used safety pins to hold the gun in the holster at the exact angle I wanted and so that it would not move around.

It is possible to move in certain ways and get "pinched". For me the part that prints is the butt. I took care of that by usually wearing knit shirts that didn't get tucked in. But I also wore the holster with tucked in shirts and didn't get any looks. The revolver grip prints less than straight semi-auto grips.

This type of carry will print more on slim people than people with a stomach. I am slim. I could wear the holster under jeans. When you have it on and look down at the area you can see some bulge caused by the butt. However someone looking at you straight on will not likely see it. If I can't carry IWB, which I prefer, I use the Smart Carry. I have used mine enough to wear it out. Actually wore a hole through the material caused by the muzzle rubbing.

The holster has a perspiration shield and it works. However this causes your underwear behind the holster to get pretty wet. Also, the grip is not protected by the shield and it is necessary to clean under the grip frequently to prevent rust or corrosion even on stainless guns.

Bill

 

[sam3]

no not for me . it also bulged under my pants as a earlier poster described. mine got returned in short order. i was carrying a 642 in it.

 

[chief38]

I've never tried one, but if you are an active person I would not thing it would be comfortable or practical. Might impress the ladies though as long as it doesn't go off half cocked!

 

[B3500]

If it's printing it likely due to the cut of the pants or maybe worn too low. I use the same jeans used for IWB carry - they are next size up from what I could wear so that makes for a touch more room all around.

For a test I tried a Glock 30S and M&P compact (which are not thin by XDS standards) and was able to use the same Smartcarry holster I use for my XDS45 with no printing.

I think the key for me is positioning the grip the same as I do with the XDS, just underneath the belt line, not below it. It worked fine and gives me another carry option for those two pieces as well. It's good to have choices for those times when deeper concealment is needed.

 

[Rugerista]

I did not work for me. Even a J frame printed too much...

 

[vito]

In my never ending quest for the "perfect" holster I bought a SmartCarry and use it occasionally. I find it about as comfortable or uncomfortable as wearing an IWB holster, but in different ways. When using it for a tiny gun like my Ruger LCP it was less intrusive even than pocket carry. For my 642 it also works OK. My biggest concern, however, is that if you keep your pants tightly belted, so as to not have your pants sagging and having to pull up the pants frequently, then drawing your gun can be a bit of a challenge. Your pants have to be at least loose enough to slide your hand easily down into the holster to draw the gun, and for me, depending on what else is in my pockets, sometimes means I have to wear the pants too loosely to be really comfortable. But it does TOTALLY conceal a gun, even if you are wearing cotton shorts where pocket carry causes too big a bulge, and neither IWB nor OWB works easily.

I think it worthwhile to own a SmartCarry even if you only use it occasionally. If I ever decide to carry a second firearm, then I think I would be carrying it in the SmartCarry holster every day.

 

[Dot_mdb]

Smart Carry needs a two handed draw. One hand pulls the waist band away from the body while you pull in your gut with the muscles of your abdomen. The other hand reaches in to draw the gun from the holster. I find it more reliable than drawing from a pocket where my hand sometimes gets stuck while trying to exit the pocket.

 

[Erich]

I find I can knife-hand into my pants and draw. Single-hand draw is fine - at least it always has been for me.

Comfort of SmartCarry depends on your build, the pants you're wearing (rise, roominess, pleating), and the gun you're wearing. You'll have to unbuckle your belt and hoist the thing out of the way to take a leak at a urinal - I was surprised this didn't draw more attention, but (urinal etiquette, I suppose) it never has.

I'm sure there have been threads on this subject before here at Big Blue, because I've participated in them. A search might be of use to hear from more actual users. There was a time when I used my SmartCarry holster belts (I have three, in different sizes/configurations) a lot, but I have swiched to the rubbery neoprene off-center Trump Card by Pistol Wear for 99% of my under-the-pant-pistol-belt use.

My feeling is that the SmartCarry holsters can work . . . but you really have to pay attention to your pants and gun to make sure you're not looking . . . odd. I came to find that it worked (for me - I know Charlie has that 1911 thing on his site) really well with something the size of a Kahr CW9 or a J-frame- and notably less well with other stuff. It works better standing up than sitting down - bulges tend to define more when sitting down, and I'm pretty sure I've been made while doing so (sit close to a table or desk to minimize the issue). I've never had problems with the SmartCarry waterproofing material - it really does appear to be sweat-proof. One true benefit is that SmartCarry works fine (for me) with 3" barrels - but the gripframe length is a real limiting factor. Pleated pants help - so do "Mom jeans," if you're willing to go there.

Anyhow . . . feel free to ask if you have specific questions.