Which IWB Holster for a Kimber Gun is Right for You?

If you intend to carry a handgun discreetly, the first thing you need is a top-quality concealed carry holster. There is a wide variety of holsters available on the market, but when your life depends on your ability to carry your weapon securely and draw it effectively, not all holsters rise to the occasion.

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IWB Carry

IWB stands for inside the waistband, which means exactly what you’d think — rather than attaching to your belt with loops or clips on the outside of your pants, this type sits on the inside. This provides unprecedented all-weather concealment relative to OWB (outside the waistband), allowing you to carry your firearm with nothing covering it other than a T-shirt.

This carry method’s primary downside is that it may require that you buy pants one size larger than normal to accommodate the increased bulk, especially when carrying a full-size handgun.

Waistband IWB holsters are suitable for a variety of handguns, including full-size  Kimber 1911 pistols. However, when you carry subcompact handguns, such as the diminutive Kimber Micro, IWB holsters are the best option.

One of the company’s most concealable firearms is the Kimber Micro, a subcompact semi-automatic pistol chambered in .380 ACP and 9mm, based on the 1911 platform.

Kimber Micro

The Micro is a fraction of its full-size counterpart’s weight, substituting an aluminum frame for traditional steel. However, it’s also much smaller, which means that it’s far less likely to print through clothing.

Despite its diminutive design, the Micro series still provides you with 6 rounds of .380 or 9mm in a compact, single-stack package. If you want an extra round, Kimber also offers an extended magazine that holds 7.

If you decide that a capacity of 6+1 or 7+1 is not sufficient, consider pairing your IWB holster with a  magazine carrier. While those who carry high-capacity handguns often choose to carry spare magazines for additional firepower, it’s even more essential when carrying a low-capacity, single-stack weapon.

The 1911

The 1911 pistol is still a highly popular self-defense weapon almost 110 years after its adoption by the U.S. Army, thanks to a century’s service at home and abroad. Reliable, ergonomic, and accurate, 1911 pistols also boast excellent stock triggers.

Leather Holsters

Leather gun holsters have a dedicated following in the firearms community, and it’s not hard to see why. Leather is stylish, featuring a classic appearance, and is known for being comfortable. However, leather is not without its faults.

While softer to the touch than more modern materials, leather is also likely to suffer damage from harsh use. It can also warp and swell when wet, necessitating chemical treatments. Even a rigid mouth can flare with enough use.

Kydex Holsters

Kydex is a flat, thin, and durable thermoplastic molded to the specifications of a particular firearm. While generally black, Kydex is available in a wide range of colors and camouflage patterns according to your preferences.

Many Kydex holsters feature a type of passive retention, relying on friction to keep your firearm secure. This is often adjustable using a series of screws. Tighten the screws, and you tighten the holster’s grip on your gun, increasing the resistance when you draw. Loosen them, and you encounter less. This lets you decide the perfect level of retention to keep your weapon where it needs to be.

The Ideal IWB Holster

If you’ve decided to carry IWB, you need a holster you can adequately conceal. Aside from concealability, the optimal holster should also have the following features:

Comfort

A holster that you find uncomfortable to wear will be left behind, either at home or in your vehicle. In either case, it’s not where it needs to be. Because you wear an  IWB holster in your pants, the way it curves and distributes the weight is critical. A holster that uses 2 belt clips, spaced far apart, is ideal.

Aside from being stable, the holster should also cover the weapon’s slide. A hot slide or charging serrations pressed against your skin can be painful during a fast draw. This covering is called a sweat shield or guard and protects the pistol’s finish from perspiration’s corrosive effects.

Safety

Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target — the trigger guard should remain covered. While this is your responsibility, holster design can assist you in keeping your finger straight. It also helps prevent an assailant from gripping and firing your weapon while it’s still holstered.

Security

Another way of referring to retention, the holster should keep your weapon firmly in place until you decide to draw it. This means that your gun won’t fall out whether you’re running, sitting, standing, or crouching. Some holsters rely on active-retention systems that require you to manipulate a snap closure, lever, button, or another mechanism to unlock your weapon.

While these can help prevent unauthorized access, they also slow and complicate your draw. No matter how much you practice, there’s always a risk that you’ll fail to hit that button or break that closure, costing you time. These retention systems are more necessary for open-carry rigs, such as those worn by police officers, since they’re more fully exposed.

Passive, adjustable retention, which uses friction, offers a faster and more reliable alternative.

Ruggedness

Your holster’s job is vital — it provides you with a secure and safe way of carrying and drawing your weapon. As a result, it needs to be able to endure regular, rough handling, practice drills, and use under a variety of conditions. Your holster doesn’t need to be as tough if you spend most of your day sitting behind a desk, but it pays to have the best when the situation calls for it.

In addition to these features, your holster should conform to the curvature of your body if possible. This adds to the comfort and keeps any printing of the firearm to a minimum.

Final Thoughts

At Incognito Concealment, we take concealed carry as seriously as you do. That’s why we make the highest quality Kydex gun holsters on the market. Whether you carry OWB or IWB, you need a holster that performs without fail.

If you need help choosing the best holster for your Kimber firearm, give us a call at  (586) 999-5820. We offer holsters in a wide range of weapons, from Colt to SIG Sauer. If we don’t currently stock a holster to fit your model, we can make one.