Tis the season for holiday festivities and of course, gift giving. If a holster is on your list of items to purchase, you could be in for one hectic shopping experience. And the reason for this is that not all holsters are created equal. On the contrary, they take on many different shapes, styles, and colors. It’s no wonder that finding the right one can be a daunting process.
A simple Google search yields countless options within the categories above and that search is likely to cause even the most seasoned gun owners to think twice about which holster to purchase.
So, before we took to navigating the web to find the perfect holster, we asked ourselves a few questions and focused on some details to help us zero in on the perfect one.
By taking the time to focus on these details, we can assure you that you too can find the perfect holster for everyone on your shopping list this holiday season.
Know Your Gun and How You’re Carrying
The first thing you’ll want to consider is what type of gun you’re buying the holster for. Most holsters fit a specific type of gun and are not interchangeable. If you carry a .45 you will not want to look at a holster for a .380 and vice versa. There are some firearm models, such as Glock, that one holster will work for multiple models of guns. However, in most situations, the holster is molded for a specific model gun.
The next option you’ll want to know is how you, or the person the holster is going to, will be carrying. For someone carrying on their body, you will want to know which of a variety of ways a person prefers—inside waistband (IWB) or outside waistband (OWB), ankle, shoulder and for women the added bra or garter option. For the person carrying off their body, there are numerous options as well. Today, holsters are made to fit in a variety of places: purses, backpacks, day planners, iPad cases amongst other options.
Questions to Consider
Before purchasing your desired holster, it’s important, to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you prefer to carry inside or outside your waistband?
- What position do you plan on carrying it in?
- How do you plan on carrying your spare magazines?
- How will your day-to-day attire affect your holster?
Three Words to Remember When Purchasing Holsters
Once you’ve answered the above questions, focus on these three words.
Accessibility. Concealment. Comfort.
When purchasing a holster, you need to consider the accessibility it will lend you when you’re in need of your weapon. This all comes down to preference. However, proper positioning could mean more easy and direct access.
You will also need to consider concealment. For example, say you choose to wear an outside waistband holster. You’re at the grocery store and trying to reach for an item on the top shelf. As you go to reach for the item, your shirt lifts and displays your gun. A shopper next to you may see this and become alarmed. Depending on what state you reside in, this may or may not be an issue. We encourage you to turn to our Independent Program Attorneys who can provide you with state-specific information.
Finally, you need to consider comfort. Your holster will play a big role in your day-to-day life. You’ll want to think about what you’ll be doing throughout the day. Will you be working out? How will it fit into your clothes? Some holsters will add extra width to your waist line, so your perfect pair of pants may not fit with the holster.
From there, you can consider what type of material your holster is made from and what position it will be in on your person. Consider whether you will you be sitting or standing for long periods of time. This will determine whether you purchase a leather holster or a Kydex holster. The decision is yours, but we do suggest you consider all your options.
Where to Buy and Get Deals
There are many online and big-box retailers that sell holsters. There are a couple of things you will want to consider before making your purchase. Be sure to check the return policy from the company. We have all been in the situation where something may have the right feel in the store, but after a couple of days of use, you know the holster is not for you. Make sure you know if you can return the item.
Something else to ask a store, do they provide the option to rent and test equipment? If this option exists, it will give you the opportunity to confirm your feel of the holster and if it is the right fit for you.
Put Your Member Perks to Work!
With your new-found knowledge on concealed carry holsters, you can now successfully navigate the shopping centers this holiday season. And, if you’re a member of U.S. & Texas LawShield®, we encourage you to take advantage of your 2A friendly Member Perks.
Through our Member Perks Program, our Member Family can shop at local stores, eat at local restaurants, and shoot at local gun ranges. All businesses are 2A friendly and many offer discounts to our members, with a valid U.S. & Texas LawShield member card.
For more information on these great deals, simply log into the member portal. Visit the Member Perks section and select a category to view your options.
As always, if you don’t see a 2A friendly business on our list, let us know! Our Brand Ambassador, Germaine Baur will do her absolute best to secure these Member Perks for our ever-growing list. You can email her at [email protected]
the perks never would load on my pc. also I asked for a new membership card this year. I got a bobble head Bear Arms but no membership card.
Hi Daniel. We are very sorry for this! I am contacting our Member Services team right now to ensure we handle this matter for you. Please keep an eye on your email. Thank you!
The article brought up an interesting point about carrying concealed outside the belt when reaching for an item the handgun is exposed. My understanding is that Pennsylvania is a Concealed as well as an Open carry state.
Does it matter if while carrying Concealed and the handgun is momentarily and accidentally, with no threatening intent, exposed (reaching for something on a shelf) in a state where both Open AND Concealed carry is permitted?
Hi Joseph. Thanks for your question! Please see the below response from one of our Independent Program Attorneys in Pennsylvania.
“There is no violation of the law if one legally carries concealed and then it unintentionally becomes revealed such as the case of bending over at the hardware store.”
I just joined, and can’t really use Perks, i live in the Cleveland Ohio area, most places i could use perks are a hour or more to use.sad to say by time i drive there i haven’t saved anything,i have spent more.hoping to see more perks in our area
Hi Gwendella. Thank you for sharing. We’re sorry to hear this! Our Brand Ambassador, Germaine Baur, works tirelessly to acquire more 2A friendly businesses to add to our growing list of Member Perks. If there is a 2A friendly business in your area that you would like to try and include, please email Germaine at [email protected] and she will do her absolute best to try to get a Member Perk with that business for the future. I have also emailed Germaine to let her know about this and she will be in contact with the rep in your state.