A lot of people have asked me if the best gun holster is actually comfortable (and affordable). So here's my personal ranking, along with hands-on reviews.
FYI, Prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. ComfortTac - Ultimate Belly Band Holster for Concealed Carry
Highlight: Works with practically every single popular brand.
Helpful review: Before finally buying this, I used a holster that I slid inside of my pants to let me carry my gun with me wherever I went. I liked it enough, it was affordable and lightweight, but the biggest downside is that it was obvious. You just knew I was holding. And that wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want to have to constantly yank my pants up or tug my shirt down. I was pretty much getting panted with my own weapon haha. I especially didn’t want to worry about it being obvious.
Finally, I realized that I needed to invest in an actual carry holster, and I’m so happy I ended up getting this one. It’s everything I could have wanted and more, for real. Now when I wear it, I honestly forget that it’s even there. I can drive my car without even noticing that it’s there, it doesn’t even bother me.
I love that I look pretty good with in on whether I wear it with jeans or with sweats,. Yeah, it’s only been a week, but I’m definitely in one hundred percent on this thing. I’ve worn it for an entire day, like thirteen hours once, and had zero issues with it. I love it that much.
I really like how I can adjust the size of this, too. I’m planning to ditch my remaining quarantine weight, and I like knowing that I don’t have to buy an entire new one, and that I can end up using this one again.
Now, I can’t talk about what it’s like to wear this with a tighter shirt, I tend to wear looser clothing, so just keep that in mind, that if you’re wearing something tight on the skin, it might be obvious what you’re hiding under your shirt.
Overall, I just love this thing so much. It gives me zero pain throughout the day, no soreness or weird rubbing, and I don’t even sweat when I wear it. I’m so happy that I can wear this whenever I want. I love this enough to write this review, and I never write reviews, so that should tell you all you need to know! — Victoria Greenbaum
Get it from Amazon now: $36.99 & FREE Returns
2. Alien Gear - Shapeshift 4 in 1 Holster
Highlight: Adaptable to all situations and super versatile.
Helpful review: Honestly, I’m so impressed by this product! It was packaged super well, and I like that nothing gave it away, either. The box is definitely better than other ones I’ve seen in the past on holsters. The instructions and everything I needed was right on top when I opened it up. It has everything you need right there, and they’re packaged well in between foam pads.
Now that you can rest assured it will come well delivered, let's get to the actual product. The shell of the holster is super lightweight and you can tell it's just as durable as more expensive models.
It bends a tiny bit when you go to activate the release, but that could just be because I have a lot of practice to learn when using these things. The retention device works similarly to the finger released, and I like that the trigger guard is there to keep the latch in place.
It’s super easy to handle and I love how interchangeable it is. It’s so handy, I just can’t get over that. You can switch between different carry styles without issues at all.
It has a quick release that lets you take out the pistol while it’s still inside the holster, which is exactly what I wanted. It’s like the Black Hawk Holsters in that regard, and that’s what I wanted. With the Black Hawk ones though you have to remove two clips before you can remove the gun from the holster, whereas with this one you just push a button. Personally, I prefer this–makes it easier for high stakes situations, if you know what I mean. You do have to hit that button again when you’re putting the holster on the paddle, but that doesn’t bother me that much.
It’s also a bit more narrow than the Black Hawk one, but I’d say it’s equally as comfortable. Overall, it’s everything I wanted and more. The quality is great, the versatile options are exactly what I was hoping for and it’s really well worth the price. As long as you don’t mind the button part, you’re gonna like it. I definitely do! — David P. McGillivray
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns
3. Concealment Express - IWB KYDEX Holster
Highlight: Adjust without effort and experience all day comfort.
Helpful review: When this holster finally arrived, I was initially not happy. Might sound like this is gonna be a negative review at first, but hear me out. I wear my pants up super high, and while some people say that it might work for them, nope siree, not for me, bud. I tried a couple other options, and while a lot of people said I that it was just cheap, and that’s why it was the way it was, I just can’t justify dishing a hundred bucks to holster a gun three times that size.
I ended up adjusting this after a few attempts, and wow! I mean, I created the best holster I ever thought possible. And it was just as simple as making a few simple changes with measuring it.
No joke–I can jog, stand, run, and even squat (not that my squatting is great haha) but it doesn’t bother me or poke into my skin when I do that. I can even bend over and put my shoes on without feeling any pain, and I can seriously wear just about any piece of clothing without it bothering me. Seriously, I actually forgot that it was on me, which is freaking awesome. I’ve never had that happen before.
Now, this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ll let you know what I did with this, so if you’re wanting to stay affordable and play around with this thing, then try this out! Otherwise, good luck.
Here’s some pro tips for that!
– I used a drill to make some holes in the belt clip area, so I didn’t have to keep loosening and adjusting the belt clip up and down. The gun has these little screw backings to it, so doing it this way takes away the risk of scratching it.
–There’s this little rubber insert that lets you to kind of adjust the trigger retention. You do that with the insert thing on the belt clip, and you’re supposed to have it pretty tight, and I dunno about you, but I prefer my retention on tight anyways. So then you just add in the rubber insert where you want the screw, and it like pushes the butt of the weapon against your body, but reduces the printing. It makes more sense when you do it, trust me.
-Using sandpaper, you can brush down the material on the front sight. I think the sanding down helps and lets it go a good amount of way to make this holster the best it can be.
–This next one is just my personal preference, so keep that in mind!
Whatever pushes the inside of the belt and pulls the gun butt closer to your body, you’re gonna take like aluminum and and essentially attach it to the screw that controls the trigger retention - in order to allow extra comfort and concealment. Yeah, it might sound like a lot work, but I think it’s still worth the five stars if you ask me. The price definitely helps! But keep all those details in mind, maybe it won’t be for you. — Shawn Baumgartner
Get it from Amazon now: $41.95 & FREE Returns
4. Nehostertfy - Tactical Drop Leg Holster
Highlight: Allows complete adjustment on thing between nineteen and twenty seven inches.
Helpful review: All in all, I like this thing a lot, definitely better than my last holster. However, I wouldn’t necessarily depend on this to save your life lol. It’s pretty good for non life threatening activities like if you wanna use it for range shooting, firearm storage, or just having it around as an extra gun. What about competition use? Mehhhhh. I wouldn't count on it for that.
I do like that it has a cool tactical look, and yeah, it’s not terrible, but honestly just remember that it’s not designed for quick draws, and if you can accept that, you’ll probably like it. From my experience, it’s more of a storage solution for an extra pistol, like it’s not something that cops are going to use for work, you know what I mean?
The Velcro just isn’t strong enough for that to work, and I don’t think the material is really gonna hold up if you get into a tussle and end rolling around on the ground with someone. So yeah, if you’re a cop, you’re probably not gonna use this. But hey, if you’re in that line of work, you probably guessed that just from the price.
This holster is pretty universal, though. It uses Velcro to stick the different pieces together, which is cool cause it lets you fit it to almost any handgun. I adjusted it to fit mine, and it worked just fine. I mainly got it as a cheap way to carry a pistol as a backup to my rifle. You know, so I can essentially fend off those post apocalyptic mobs of post election rioting zombies or maybe the coronavirus raiders haha
In all seriousness, this is a solid holster for a good price. You’re getting good value as long as you know what it’s actually designed for. — Adam Clark
Get it from Amazon now: $16.99 & FREE Returns
5. LPV - Ankle Holster for Concealed Carry
Highlight: No-questions-asked lifetime warranty.
Helpful review: Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this. This is exactly what I needed and more! After spending almost a hundred books on some big name brands and being disappointed in the comfort and size, I decided to give this one a go. I really can’t be happier! It fits like a glove, and it holds my weapon securely and even holds an extra magazine comfortably. Also it doesn't print at all, and most importantly, it does NOT fall down!
I think the extra strap with the buckle around the top of the calf is definitely the key to keeping everything in place. I spend eight to ten hours a day on my feet and this ankle holster almost goes unnoticed.
I've worn ankle holsters before, and with the ones I used to have, the upper hook and loop became unstable, and my weapon would drift towards my ankle, which is not what you want. Not good at all. At one point, I was even using duct tape to reinforce the top strap haha. This new holster's simple nylon strap makes all the difference. It's comfortable, and I don't have to worry at all about it sliding down my leg. The only downside I have is that it gets smelly after weeks working outside, but that’s more about the weather than anything haha, so I ended up just buying two more to rotate it.
My wife ended up getting one for herself, too, after an attempted break in really scared her. She didn’t like how the shoulder holster felt, but found that the ankle holsters were the most comfortable. Seh could even wear it under her dresses, which makes her feel good. I like how the holster attaches in two places, right under the knee and just above the ankle.
Both of us also like that it has a retention strap, which gives it extra peace of mind. It can be a little finicky when tightening the velcro straps. My only complaint is the top strap doesn't fit super well around my larger calves, but the bottom part fits great. Despite this, neither of us had any issues with the gun slipping so that was nice! Overall, I really just think that this is great for concealed carry when a hip holster won't work. — Bill T. Bower
Get it from Amazon now: $39.99 & FREE Returns
6. AIKATE - Deep Concealment Shoulder/Underarm Holster
Highlight: Shoulder and underarm holster ideal for women and men and comes in dual sizes.
Helpful review: I've worn shoulder rigs for decades, (yeah, I’m old haha) and that goes way back to my Army days…so when I ordered this one, I had some hesitations, but that’s because I’ve seen a lot of what’s out there. First impressions? I knew it wouldn't be the best of the best, especially since I was comparing it to the military level products, but I was actually kinda shocked. And in a good way! And that’s a lot coming from me haha.
It actually met my expectations–and then some. Especially for the price. So no seriously negative complaints from me. I got it to carry my gun when I go around my property. It gets the job done, and I’m giving it four stars for that, and only taking off one star. And this is why.
THE BAD:
– It's a hassle to get on without it twisting around.
– Material isn't the best if you ask me.
– Rides a bit too high under the shoulder, but it is what it is, I may be a little picky.
THE GOOD:
– Material is stretchy which is nice.
– Velcro is of great quality, definitely comparable to top options.
– Price is awesome.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
Not only was I in the Army, but I ended up owning a gun shop, so yeah, I have experience with these things. So yeah, it’s not the highest quality rig, but it works and gets the job done and honestly, for the money, you’re not gonna find better than this. Trust me, I used to sell these things, I know haha. Had it been available when I owned my shop, I'd honestly have stocked it for customers and I think it would have sold pretty great. Definitely an affordable shoulder rig, and I recommend it–despite my pickiness. — Greg Linden
Get it from Amazon now: $18.99 & FREE Returns
7. Relentless Tactical - The Defender Leather IWB Holster
Highlight: Fits a variety of similar sized handguns for easy use.
Helpful review: I'll admit, I’m not big on reviews, but I have to say that I was definitely on the skeptical side when I first pulled this out of the package. It was a serious tight fit, so much so that I almost returned it right out the bag. My pistol didn’t even go in all the way, so that was annoying and definitely not a good first impression. I was fairly close to just turning it back right then and there haha.
But honestly leather is beneficial in that sense, it’s a natural material that breaks in over time and after sitting in a warehouse and then the delivery process, it’s likely going to go through different temperatures and be a lot more rigid right off the bat. It definitely loosened over time. Now I can tell that the leather is really high quality and you can see how solid the stitching is. I can tell it’s gonna last a long time. Also love how sturdy the belt clip seems, but time will tell on that, you know?
PROS:
– The G-19 fits really good (even though the muzzle sticks out a bit).
– Quality of leather is impressive.
– Great price.
– Stitching is durable and professional quality.
– Clip holds well especially with a stiffer leather belt.
– There's a hole in the bottom that lets the holster work with different sized guns.
– Leather feels better than other materials.
– Love how it doesn’t burn my skin after being in the car for a day.
CONS:
– The leather has a portion that sticks out, making drawing with the shield kinda not the most ideal situation.
– It’s a little thicker than other options.
– Double rim of leather rubs skin and can irritated it (hopefully this softens up).
– Not really waterproof.
– Not closed at bottom, and the barrel can ride up or loosen in the holster.
For the most part, I’m really happy with this thing. I’ll probably end up using this holster more than my other ones because even with those cons considered, it’s definitely more comfortable and that’s what I really wanted. However, keep in mind that the material is dependent on the weather, and I live in a place that rains a lot, so yeah, I’m gonna have to consider that so it will be a day by day experience. — Larry D. Cohen
Get it from Amazon now: $39.99 & FREE Returns
8. POLE.CRAFT - Glock 19, 23 and 32 IWB Kydex Holster
Highlight: Ideal for different types of Glock handguns.
Helpful review: Now, hear me out. I’ve dished out the dough on all the high end pieces on the market, and when I tell you that I’m essentially creating a collection of dusty holsters I never use, I mean it. Ask my wife. She did not want me to buy another because she was afraid it would just end up in "show pile."
I’m happy to report that this one is not the case. Since the day it arrived, I haven’t taken this thing off! It’s completely concealable, which is obviously the purpose, and while I wouldn’t exactly call it perfectly comfortable, that’s not really the point, if you ask me. Put it this way, I wouldn’t be wearing it every day if it irritated me. You’re aware it’s there, but it’s not painful to wear or anything.
High end options tend to sit above the waist, whereas this one dips just below, and I actually like that. Overall, it feels sturdy and super strong. I think this is definitely worth the purchase, and my wife finally agrees! I also don’t have to worry about it falling off when I ride my motorcycle–issues I’ve had believe it or not on the more expensive models. I do get a few marks on the side of my slide, but that’s about it. I can wipe it off with a rag, so no biggie.
It’s a solidly built, no frills model, and the fact that it’s priced this well is just an added benefit and super awesome.
The Kydex model is also molded around the mag release, which is awesome. Essentially that means that I can’t accidentally press the mag release button. I’d say in terms of actually using it, the force is right in the middle ground, just right. In other words, no one is just gonna reach over and yank it off you. It’s really only going to work if you are the one pulling it out. After eighteen months, I can officially say that this still hadn’t ended up in the show pile–aka trash pile. This is worth it! — John H. Dellone
Get it from Amazon now: $25.99 & FREE Returns
9. Gun & Flower - Taurus G2C / G3C Holster
Highlight: Tailor-made holster compatible with several Taurus models.
Helpful review: This is the best you’re gonna get, folks! If you’re perusing other models, well, HARD STOP. This is it. The one you’ve been looking for. Take this as your sign from the heavens! This is everything I needed and more. It fits great on my both jeans and sweat pants, and hugs my Taurus G3C like a glove. When you put the gun into the holster, you get a nice little click that tells you, that yep! You’re good to go. It’s not only cheaper than my previous model, but easier and simpler to use, too.
Now I feel fully comfortable wearing this thing wherever I go and I love that I have no issue clipping in my weapon and heading out. My older models annoyed me too much and I always found reason not to wear them. I’d say that it’s pretty adjustable in regards to the retention screws, which was nice. It clips pretty well over my belt, but you can even test it out without that, too.
Honestly, the only difference I’ve noticed between this holster and other ones that are far more expensive is the lack of a fancy logo–and I never liked those anyways! Really can’t identify any cons. It’s not made in the US of A, but honestly I can live with that for the price and for the fact that it keeps me feeling safe living in the US of A.
As a larger man, it’s the best I’ve ever worn and without a doubt, I plan to buy more products from this company, including more of these holsters, mainly because I want my whole family to appreciate and enjoy this the way I have! Oh, and did I mention that it arrived a day early? Great product and amazing customer service. Does it get any better than that? Happy customer here! Ten out of ten. — Jim Graves
Get it from Amazon now: $18.99 & FREE Returns