How to choose a concealed carry position that best suits your lifestyle
There are a few different places on your body that will allow you to carry comfortably and discreetly. The carry position that is best for you will depend on your body type, your clothing choices, and your lifestyle. Here we’ll review your options as well as the holsters that will best suit them.
Appendix Carry: This refers to carrying your firearm along the inside of the front of your waistband near where your appendix organ is located. If you think of your body like a clock, 12:00 being your belly button and 6:00 being your spine, Appendix carry is generally anywhere between 11:00 and 1:00 and can look slightly different for left vs right-handed shooters.
PROS:
-Appendix carry is widely considered to be the fastest and most effective way to carry because it is easiest to access a firearm quickly in this position. This can be one of the easier places to conceal a firearm for women and people with athletic builds.
CONS:
-Some people find this position uncomfortable depending on body type. Foam wedges and comfort pads can help with this problem.
-Others may find it difficult to conceal a firearm in this position because the grip sticks out. The Concealment claw (a little plastic piece that attaches to the side of an appendix specific holster) can help mitigate this problem by turning the firearm inward so the grip stays closer to the body.
Belts like the ones from Comfort Concealment, Blackhawk Tactical and Concealment Labs allow you to move the position of the firearm up or down on your body to accommodate a wider variety of clothing options.
You can find the Concealment claw on the Appendix MKII, Krieger, Genesis, and Vapor holster models from L.A.G. Tactical.
3:00 Carry AKA Hip Carry (9:00 for left handed shooters):
If you find that your body type or clothing makes Appendix carry uncomfortable, or perhaps you’re lifting heavy objects throughout the day and find your firearm getting in the way, consider carrying at the 3:00 position on the side of your hip.
PROS:
-Many people who wear blazers, cardigans, or loose untucked shirts and hoodies love this carry position because the holster can be worn outside the waistband and still be concealed by putting a jacket or loose item of clothing over it.
-This is one of the most comfortable carry positions for a wide variety of body types.
-Firearm stays out of the way for ease of movement during physical activities.
CONS:
-Some people may find this uncomfortable (particularly women with hips) and may prefer to shift the pistol slightly back to the 4:00 position. A slight cant forward will help make the firearm easier to access in the 4:00 position.
-Generally, slightly more difficult and slower to access than appendix carry.
The Defender, Warrior, and Liberator or modular Bag Carry holsters (paired with OWB paddle attachment) from L.A.G. Tactical are all great options for 3/4:00 carry.
SOB (small of back) AKA 6:00 carry:
Carrying SOB is carrying with the firearm tucked into the very back of your waistband at the base of your spine.
PROS:
-It is extremely comfortable and easy to conceal a firearm in this position.
CONS:
-Accessibility: Because the firearm is all the way behind you, carrying at the 6:00 small of back may make it more difficult for you to access your firearm AND easier for an unauthorized person to take control of your firearm.
-Ease of the draw: Many people prefer to carry a holster that is for the opposite hand in the SOB position so that the grip faces out. This is not recommended because it will cause you to point the muzzle of the firearm towards your body during the draw and is widely considered unsafe. It is better to stick with a holster that is meant for your dominant hand and train your wrist to turn so that your thumb goes in between your body and the pistol during the draw, this way you can safely avoid flagging yourself.
-Turning the wrist to achieve a safe draw from the SOB position may be difficult for those with wrist or arm mobility issues.
The Liberator MKII holster from L.A.G. Tactical is the best option for small of back carry.
Off body carry:
Off body carry refers to any carry position where the firearm is not directly affixed to your clothing such as inside a bag or fanny pack.
PROS:
-Extremely easy, comfortable, and can be worn with any outfit. Just grab a bag and go!
-Lots of stylish and functional options available. Cakes Concealed, Incline Tactical and Grab Bag Gear are some of my favorites.
CONS:
-Typically requires more training and more advanced technique to master a quick and effective draw.
-Some bags (specifically those that are not directly intended for concealed carry) do not offer the support for a proper draw and safe trigger protection (AKA your holster).
-In order to be a safe and responsible carrier of a concealed weapon, you must be extremely mindful not to let the bag leave your body. The bag must always be worn around the front of the body where it can be kept away from unauthorized hands. This is why I only recommend cross body or fanny pack style bags for off body carry, because bags with longer straps such as messenger or briefcase style bags are more tempting to set down and are easier for someone to take off of you.
The Bag Carry – Off Body Solutions holster from L.A.G. Tactical attaches securely to the inside of your CCW bag with a hook and loop panel.
You can also purchase a hook and loop adapter (sometimes called a nylon trigger guard) to attach your regular IWB holster securely to the inside of a concealed carry bag, however we do not recommend using these adapters on their own as a holster because they do not provide adequate trigger protection. Some bags like Cakes Concealed come with an adapter!
Other considerations:
The options listed in this blog are for concealed carry. Please see our “Outside the waistband carry options” post for OWB recommendations.
Thigh carry: Brands like Sticky Holsters and CanCan concealment make garter bands that can be worn around the thigh for use with dresses. Dene Adams makes shorts with a concealed carry pocket between the legs. We recommend getting an Ulticlip attachment for your IWB holster so that you can clamp it onto any one of these accessories.
One of the easiest ways to make carry more comfortable is to add a variety of natural fiber undergarments such as cotton or wool tank tops to your wardrobe to add a layer of cloth between your skin and your firearm.