My Favorite Appendix Carry Holsters
When carrying a concealed pistol, your holster is as important as the gun. A solid holster not only keeps your pistol in place, but it can also aid in your ability to remain concealed. I’ve tried many holsters over the years, and in this article, I’ll share my favorite Appendix Inside the Waistband (AIWB) holsters.
My Favorite AIWB Holster: Black Arch Entrada
The Black Arch Entrada has been my primary concealed carry holster for about three years. I use it to carry my Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro. The Entrada is a dedicated appendix holster that also has a carrier for a spare magazine. With my Hellcat Pro, that means I have 31 rounds on me everywhere I go.
The Entrada is also available for pistols with lights, though the options are limited. The clips being on opposite sides of the holster also help to spread the weight along your belt line, increasing long-term comfort. The major downside of this type of holster is that your uses are limited.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Appendix Carry Holster
There are three factors to consider when selecting a holster. You need to find a balance between comfort, concealability, and access, as well as keeping some additional features in mind.
Comfort
If your carry rig isn’t comfortable, you’re not going to carry it. Do people claim to carry a 42-ounce .45 ACP 1911 every day? Yes. Do they actually carry it every day? No. We’ve all heard someone say that carrying a gun should be comforting, not comfortable, but the truth is that we are not living in a war zone. We’re going about our daily lives. If your carry system doesn’t fit into your routine, it’s going to get left behind.
When it comes to AIWB, I’ve found the most important factor in your comfort is ride height. If you’re uncomfortable, try bringing the gun up, so the muzzle sits in the crease between your legs and torso.
Concealability
Keeping your pistol concealed is the cornerstone of concealed carry. Your holster mustn’t place your pistol in a position where others can see that you’re armed. AIWB holsters that bend in the middle (Black Arch Entrada, T.Rex Arms Sidecar) will wrap around your body, keeping them very tight to your FUPA.
Accessibility and Draw Speed
What’s the point of having a defensive firearm if you can’t get to it? Some carry methods make access very difficult, but appendix carry is one of the most accessible positions. Not only does it promote access by you, the person who should have access, but it also takes access away from others. Always having my gun in front of me means I always have awareness of who can see or grab at it. The draw from AIWB is unmatched in the concealment world, as are reloads from the same position. The pistol is already on your centerline, making it quick to the target. One consideration is tuckable holsters. If you tuck your shirt in, these are great! However, you will have a little bit of a tougher time accessing that pistol.
Retention and Security
I already touched on this in accessibility, but keeping unauthorized people from accessing your firearm is important, and that responsibility falls on you. Kydex holsters will provide you with some passive retention, so you should feel pretty secure. If you would like a little more security, systems like the Safariland GLS make it so a button or switch must be activated for the gun to be taken from the holster. If this is a choice you make, be sure to train with the active retention system, as they are very easy to fumble if you’re not practiced.
Adjustability and Versatility
Like all things in the gun world, a good holster is not cheap. That’s why we sometimes look for products that can fill multiple roles. There are dedicated appendix inside-the-waistband holsters that work very well for their intended purpose but are limited to that position. However, some “appendix holsters” can easily serve at the 3 or 4 o’clock positions.
Material and Durability
The same material options that are available for other types of holsters will also be available for your AIWB needs. Kydex is king, giving you passive retention, as well as a shelf life of approximately 1.5 billion years. Well, maybe not quite, but the thermoplastic is incredibly durable. Leather is still an option, but can be a little bulky for AIWB, especially for a slimmer guy like me. Hybrids are also a great choice if you can find someone who makes one for AIWB (spoiler: there’s one on the list).
Sweat Protection
Where I live, the climate is pretty mild, so I’m not concerned with sweat. However, if you live someplace where sweat is a constant worry, this is something to look closely at. Excess sweat can not only lower your chances with the ladies but can affect the finish on your firearm.
Top Appendix Carry Holsters
T.Rex Arms Raptor
T.Rex is known for the sidecar, which is a great holster, but I want to focus on the Raptor. It’s made from .093 Kydex. My Raptor uses a single clip to attach to your belt, but these have been updated to use two clips.
Compared to the Sidecar, the Raptor loses the ability to carry a spare mag. What it does give you is the ability to carry in a different position on your belt. It also includes a wing for added concealability. Honestly, I’m pretty shocked to see AIWB holsters still being offered without a wing. The single point of attachment means that a portion of your belt is taking all the weight of your firearm, so a sturdy belt is required. A sturdy belt is always recommended regardless of how you carry. These are pretty customizable from the manufacturer, and allow you to choose different clips and backers to add to your comfort.
Falco Holsters A909 – $139.95
Full disclosure, I create media for Falco Holsters, but I typically don’t carry in a leather holster. I don’t think leather is bad, but at this point in time, I’d say that Kydex is the best material option. Hybrids are a different story, though. Most hybrids can be shifted on the belt, but the A909 is a dedicated AIWB rig that follows similar lines to the Sidecar and Entrada.
The biggest benefit here is the addition of the soft, leather backing. This helps protect your finish from sweat, as well as protect your skin from your firearm. Comfort is the biggest goal of a hybrid design, and that leads to some compromises. There is a degree of retention from the Kydex shell, but it isn’t at the same level as a fully Kydex holster. Some important features are present, such as the inclusion of a wing.
Slim Fit Holsters Phalanx
My Hellcat Pro is my go-to, but when I’m looking for something a little smaller, I’ll grab my wife’s Sig Sauer P365X. Whenever I carry the Sig, I always use the Phalanx. Slim Fit Holsters is local to me, which increases the likeability of this holster, but aside from origin, it’s a feature-rich AIWB holster. The sweat guard extends up, keeping that New Hampshire steel off my skin.
It runs two clips on either side of the holster. The one on the belly button side has a slight angle to it, which gives me a similar wrap-around effect to some previously mentioned holsters. A wing is attached, of course. On the body side of the Phalanx, Slim Fit attaches a wedge. If a wing is angling the pistol on the X axis, a wedge provides some more concealable angles along the Y axis. It can feel bulky at times, but it never prints, so I’m good with it.
BlackPoint Tactical DualPoint 2.0
The DualPoint 2.0 is only available for the Hellcat Pro, so if that’s not your jam, then this is a list of the top four AIWB holsters. That said, if this holster is indicative of the quality across their whole lineup, I’d recommend anything from BlackPoint. This is a no B.S., holster. Nothing fancy, nothing flashy, but a well designed piece of equipment nonetheless. While it doesn’t include a wing, it does include a strategically placed “bump”. The trigger bump presses against your belt, giving you a flatter profile along the front of your body.
The two clips are metal and are also tuckable, making this a great choice for business people doing business things with businesses. The clips are also recessed at the bottom of the holster, giving you a wedge-ish shape. My only complaint is with the clips. This is a clip-specific issue, not a BlackPoint one, but I find metal clips like these to be very sharp and uncomfortable when donning or doffing.
Comparison of Top Appendix Carry Holsters
All of these holsters are very comfortable, but I personally find the sidecar style to be the most comfortable. The Entrada still remains my favorite. They’re also all concealable, but I find that the A909 from Falco Holsters is the most likely to print. Hybrids are a give and take. These all have good retention, and I see no need for an active retention holster unless it’s a job requirement.
Prices vary, of course, with the most expensive costing $139.95 and the least hovering around $80. These are base prices, of course. With all the bells and whistles, the Entrada jumps from $120 to $190.
How to Choose the Right Appendix Carry Holster?
Before dropping cold cash on one of these holsters, make sure that AIWB is what you want. A lot of people, especially men, are uncomfortable with the idea of a loaded gun pointing at their crotch. If that’s something you can’t look past, consider another position. It’s a good idea to try a few different positions before committing fully. As I mentioned earlier, ride height is big with appendix carry, and is a prominent reason why people think it’s uncomfortable. Take the time to adjust your holster to fit you.
Consider your environment. I used to wear a lot of untucked button-up shirts. It’s windy ‘round these parts, and the wind will lift the front of my shirt, partially exposing my carry rig. So, I’ve started wearing more T-shirts. Say goodbye to using your shirt to clean your sunglasses in public, and I recommend gathering fruit and veggie bags at the grocery store before reaching for anything above shoulder height.
Appendix Carry Tips and Best Practices
Appendix carry, unfortunately, is often misunderstood and is taught as being dangerous by the fudds. I can’t even count the number of CCW instructors that I’ve heard warn students about shooting their junk off. This means that finding trainers who will allow you to run AIWB may be more difficult. Modern Samurai Project is one of the best AIWB instructors out there. I also highly recommend Raven Wing Limited. They’re all performance-based and care less about what you run, as long as you can be safe and effective.
Regardless of your carry method or position, practice is non-negotiable. The wrong time to work out the kinks is while looking down the barrel of a rifle in your local grocery store. Dry fire. Like, a lot. Maintaining your skills is important, as is maintaining your holsters. Leather is organic and will break down over time. Kydex won’t, but screws find a way of walking out over time. Be sure to inspect your holster from time to time.
Conclusion
If you’re reading this, you probably already carry AIWB, or at least have an interest in starting. I hope that these recommendations will give you a good place to start. Make sure your training is intentional, and each movement is done with purpose. A failure to do this is why my local range no longer allows AIWB, and one of their members is minus his…member. When you get your holster, wear it around the house for the day to find any weak points or just to solve any issues that you might not have considered.
My personal recommendation is the Black Arch Entrada. It has been everywhere with me over the past few years, and I’ve never once wished I was using something else. Well, except for during bathroom emergencies. If you’re looking for a more streamlined holster, I’d recommend the Slim Fit Phalanx. It has almost all the same capabilities as the Entrada, and I feel like $80 is about what you should be spending on this style of holster. The price and features are both right for me.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re being safe, and a good example of how people with guns act. Thank you all for reading.