Concealed Carry with an OWB Holster

While concealed carry is most often done with an IWB, shoulder, ankle, thigh, or purse holster, it is very possible to concealed carry with an OWB holster. The key is to find the right gun, holster, and clothing to complement your body type and the profile of the gun. When these elements are combined, your OWB holster can be nearly-invisible to outside observers.

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Benefits of OWB Holsters for Concealed Carry

While it may sound counterintuitive, wearing an OWB holster can actually be more beneficial than using other concealed carry holster styles. One of the biggest issues with carrying a firearm inside the waistband is the time it takes to clear a garment out of the way.

This is especially true for those who tuck in their shirts and IWB carry. With OWB concealed carry, you have a loose-fitting garment that can be quickly moved so you can draw.

Another benefit of OWB holsters is the lack of chafing and poking that  IWB holsters can sometimes cause throughout your day of movement. While some people get around this by wearing a tight-fitting undershirt or cami, it’s not always practical. With an OWB holster, you can still get the benefits of concealed carry without the unpleasant feel of a holster flush up against your waist.

Choosing the Right Pistol

While it’s possible to concealed carry a  Glock 17 with an OWB holster, you usually need very bulky clothing to hide the full-sized frame. If you live in a very warm climate or don’t want to wear a long jacket, the G17 might be too big for concealed carry with an OWB.

Instead, search out pistols with compact or subcompact frames. These pistols, especially if they are 9mm, can still carry several rounds of ammunition using a double-stacked mag.

Some of the most popular concealable handguns include:

• Glock 19
• Glock 26
• Glock 43
• Ruger LC9S
• SIG Sauer P229
• SIG Sauer P320 Compact
• SIG Sauer P365
• Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0
• Walther CCP M2
• Beretta PX4 Compact
• CZ P-10C
• HK VP

Choosing Your Concealed Carry Position

Outside-the-waistband holsters are a convenient way to carry your pistol throughout your day. For many gun owners, it’s the preferred method instead of having their handgun against their skin, where the holster and gun grip can feel hot and sticky.

OWB holsters are secured using a strong gun belt. The gun belt helps support the weight of your pistol, preventing your pants or holster from sagging.

Most gun owners sit their firearm on the side of their dominant hand. This allows for a quick draw, target acquisition, and trigger pull movement. You can also choose to carry with a cross-draw, where you draw your pistol from your non-dominant side using your dominant hand.

Still, others choose to carry their pistol against the small of their backs, which can be trickier to reach quickly for an easy draw.

You may find that you have to position your holster further back on your hip if you are using an OWB holster since you’ll need to keep it covered by a long garment. If so, get used to carrying and drawing this way at the gun range first so you’ll get accustomed to the new position.

You’ll also need to wear your holster higher and tighter than you would with an IWB or other concealed style. This is so your clothing can conceal your holster, even if you move around a lot. The barrel of your pistol in the holster will also  stick out a bit more than with IWB carry, and wearing the holster higher can help reduce this profile.

OWB Holster Carry Options

At Incognito Concealment, we offer two options for OWB holsters: OWB and paddle holsters. OWB holsters function much like IWB holsters because they slide through the gun belt and sit wherever you position it on your waist. They are secured to your side so no one can grab your holster.

Paddle holsters have a slightly different design and are the most preferred style by police officers. Paddle holsters secure to your waist with the use of a concave-shaped piece of Kydex. This paddle sits flush against your body on the inside of your waistband.

A paddle holster offers more flexibility for quickly removing your gun if you want to sit down or if you need to remove your firearm often, like those who work in a courthouse. The gun and holster detach from the paddle, whereas with an OWB holster, the holster remains secured to your belt.

The paddle holster can provide more of a profile, so you’ll need to look for either subcompact pistols for lightweight clothing, or bulkier clothes for larger-framed pistols.

All of Incognito Concealment’s paddle, IWB, and OWB holsters come in 30 color schemes and patterns, which you can customize according to your wardrobe and preferences. For light-colored clothing, choose Desert Tan, or Desert Digital Camo to help with concealment. For dark clothing, Tactical Black, Gun Metal Grey, Armour Black, Night Stalker Camo, and Typhon Camo are excellent choices.

Mix-and-match our colors and patterns according to your attire.

Our holsters are also designed in either right- or left-handed orientation so you can situate your pistol wherever is most comfortable.

Choosing Your Cover Garments

The most obvious way to cover an OWB holster is to use a long jacket or bulky shirt, like a sweatshirt or hoodie, that conceals the profile of the gun and prevents the shirt from revealing your holster if you bend over or raise your arms. While this is the ideal garment style, it’s not always practical, especially if you live in a warm climate.

In the summertime, you can compromise by wearing a lightweight button-down shirt that is open over a light, tight T-shirt or tank top. The button-down shirt is long enough to conceal the profile of the gun but still allows air to flow through to your short-sleeved shirt or tank.

If you are wearing a sport coat or suit jacket regularly, you will find that you won’t have any issues trying to conceal your OWB holster. Just ensure the length of the coat is sufficient to prevent revealing your holster if you lift your arms.

For breezy days down by the water, a windbreaker can make an excellent cover garment as well.

The best way to tell if your holster is fully concealed is to try different garments on in front of a full-length mirror and enlist the help of a friend or family member. Don’t be afraid to move: Raise your arms high, bend down and touch your toes, twist from side-to-side, and stand up and sit down.

If at any point your holster and gun are visible, you need to adjust the ride height of the holster, size or length of your attire, or carry position of the holster.

In Sum

Whether you want to open carry or concealed carry, Incognito Concealment has the perfect OWB holsters for all of your needs. Carry a gun in style throughout your daily routine, and rest assured that our  Kydex holster keeps you and your gun comfortable and safe.

For more information on our holsters, call us at (586) 333-4240.