If you are a new gun owner or you have recently earned your concealed weapon permit, you may find yourself in the market for a new concealed weapon carry holster. If you are new to the world of concealed weapons, you may not know what type of holster you should buy. The short answer is, get what ever feels good for you. But this might not be very helpful if you don’t know what options there are and what advantages and disadvantages each type of holster offers. The main things you should consider when choosing a concealed carry holster are comfort, accessibility, and the type of dress needed to prevent printing. This article is to help you understand what your options are and help you decide which type of concealed carry holster is best for you.

Outside Waistband Holsters (OWB) – These holsters are worn on the outside on a belt. These holsters are very comfortable because you can carry them anywhere on your waist and you don’t feel your gun there like you do with other types of holsters. OWB holsters are also very convenient for quick drawing and accessibility. On the other hand, OWB holsters are very difficult to conceal. These holsters are normally used for open carry purposes, but can be concealed if you are wearing a heavy coat or very baggy clothes. Otherwise, printing is almost inevitable. Printing means that the shape of the gun can be seen through the clothing which defeats the purpose of concealment. Another drawback to OWB holsters is that they normally require a thumb break to protect the gun and keep it in the holster. This can be inconvenient because you have to undo the thumb break in order to get the gun out.

Inside Waistband Holsters (IWB) – This type of holster is worn on the inside of the pants and hang on to the belt. These are probably the most common type of concealed carry holsters used. Because it is held inside the belt line, the gun will not stick out except for the grip of the gun. Because IWB holsters can be held in the same place as an OWB holster, they provide a very natural, quick draw. IWB holsters allow for very good concealment even if you tuck in your shirt. They also allow for a range of customization as to where you carry it and a cant can be used to point the gun forward or backward. Another advantage with IWB holsters is that there is no need for a thumb break to keep the gun in place. On the other hand, there are a few drawbacks to IWB holsters. First of all is that they can be uncomfortable, especially when sitting down or bending over. There is also a chance of printing, again mainly when sitting down or bending over. Moreover, wearing an IWB holster may require a larger pant waist size, about ½ to 1 inch larger.

Shoulder Holsters – Shoulder holsters are very comfortable to wear, because they distribute the weight of the gun over both of the shoulders, and they are very easy to conceal if you wear a jacket. Shoulder holsters also allow for a very quick and easy draw, if the jacket is open. Unfortunately, if your jacket is zipped up, you have to unzip the jacket in order to draw your gun, whereas, with an IWB or OWB holster, the jacket can simply be lifted up to reveal the gun. Another drawback is that you must wear a jacket to conceal your gun. If you only wear a shirt over it, there will be very obvious printing.

Pocket Holsters – Pocket holsters are also a very common method of concealing a handgun. In order to safely carry a gun in your pocket, a high quality pocket holster is necessary. Pocket holsters will prevent the gun from getting hung on the draw and protect the trigger guard. They also disguise the shape of the gun in your pocket so printing isn’t much of an issue. Pocket holsters are very comfortable and allow for a quick and easy draw without drawing attention, like you may when reaching in your jacket or lifting up your shirt to get your gun. The drawbacks to pocket holsters are that you can’t have a larger caliber gun, for obvious reasons, you are limited to fewer rounds, and you will need a hammerless gun to prevent the gun from getting hung on the draw.

Ankle Holsters – These holsters are great for carrying a small, lighter gun and offer very high concealment. Ankle holsters are ideal to wear with dress clothes whereas other holster types would print too easily. They are also very comfortable to wear, as long as the carry rig doesn’t tend to ride down. Unfortunately, ankle holsters offer possibly the slowest draw. You are limited to smaller caliber guns and you can’t wear shorts with an ankle holster, for obvious reasons.

Smartcarry Holsters – This type of holster is similar to the IWB holsters except that it is more like a “gun pouch” that sits in the front of your pants without showing the grip of the gun at all. They don’t require a larger pant size to be worn or even a gun belt. They are normally very comfortable and offer very good concealment. There are a few drawbacks to Smartcarry holsters though. First of all, because the gun is completely concealed, the ease of draw is hindered. Also, Smartcarry holsters offer little retention meaning the gun can move around a little bit. Printing can be a minor issue until you are able to find the right height for the holster. Finally, because of the location of the holster, going to the restroom can be a little more of a challenge as adjustments have to be made.

With so many types of holsters available, it can be difficult to find one that works best for you. You must also choose between leather, nylon, or Kydex holsters. Leather and Kydex (thermoplastic) holsters must be molded to the exact gun model and make of your gun to provide good retention. Nylon holsters can normally hold a variety of guns of similar barrel length but require a thumb break to ensure proper retention. The best thing for you to do to choose a good holster for you is to go and try on a bunch of them and get the one that feels best to you.