Best IWB Holster

Concealing your handgun can be problematic if you don’t have the right holster. For maximum concealment most people go with an IWB (Inside Waist Band) holster. It’s a great choice when you want to be discreet with your carry. In many states that’s the only way a civilian is allowed to carry a firearm. It’s no wonder that IWB holsters are so popular.

So, what’s the best IWB holster you should buy?

It’s almost impossible to point one holster as the best. People have different tastes, needs, and body types. The perfect one for others may not be so for you. You just need to get the ones that fit your situations well.

Holsters are made of various materials. Some are made from leather, hybrids of leather backing with Kydex shell, or full Kydex. Leather holsters are generally more comfortable to wear for prolonged time because the leather follows your body contour. They made need some break-in, though. The same thing can be said for the ones with leather backing. That doesn’t mean Kydex holsters can’t be comfy. It really boils down to the design.

If you are left-handed you should pay attention if the IWB holster you’re buying are for left-hand use. Some holster makers can’t be bothered in making a left-hand version for their products. Of course, you can always get one of those ambidextrous design. Size matters too. When you buy an IWB holster, make sure you get right size. Some holsters are made to fit a variety of handguns and some are made to fit just one or two.

To attach the holster to the belt you can choose between clips or loops. With clips you can get quickly attach the holster and be on your way. Not so much with the loops. You don’t need to overthink about which one is better. What you need to pay attention to is the spacing between the clips or loops. You want them to be spaced out wide enough to spread the weight of the gun. That way it won’t sag your trousers and cause a quite visible imprint on your shirt. By the way, you will also need a good belt. A bad belt can turn an awesome holster into a terrible one. The two need to support each other.

Another important issue with the clips and loops is the ability to adjust cant and ride height. Before you buy a holster make sure you know if it has fixed cant and ride height or are they adjustable.

Replacement parts availability is also an important point to consider when picking a holster. Nobody likes buying a new holster just because one clip gone bad. Some manufacturers offer lifetime warranty on parts which is a very nice touch.

Last but not least, is the price. There are plenty of great holsters priced way above $100 but you don’t need to spend that much. A quality holster doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg.  For your convenience we have compiled ten of the best IWB holsters in the market for you and they all have reasonable price tag.

Best IWB Holster Reviews 

Galco King Tuk Tuckable Inside the Waistband Holster

The Galco King Tuk has a small footprint which is good for smaller men and women. Even big people who prefer to be discreet with their concealed carry weapon will appreciate its small size. This holster feels comfortable to wear even when the weather is hot. The leather backing kind of mold with your body.  With adjustable metal belt clip, the holster can be adjusted in several carry height and angle. The fit and finish are also top notch.

This holster is designed to fit nine different gun models so it’s a great choice if you have several guns for your everyday carry. The Kydex holster shell grips the pistol securely. Once the metal belt clip is secured, the holster stays firm and doesn’t shift around. The gun stays put even when you move a lot in your line of work or when you’re having your morning jog. When you draw the gun, it feels easy and smooth.

One minor gripe is the Kydex doesn’t fully cover the trigger on some guns like the Glock G19. It’s not a big deal because it’s still very difficult to accidentally pull the trigger while the gun is fully inserted. For its price, this is a very good holster.

BLACKHAWK! Leather Inside-the-Pants Black Holster

If you want a leather holster that doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet this is the one you should get. Yes, this holster is made with quality Italian leather with high-quality machine stitching. The leather covers the trigger completely so it’s pretty safe. The belt loop is adjustable and easy to use. It’s great for appendix, cross-draw, strong-side, and middle-of-the-back carry.

Just because it’s leather doesn’t mean it’s any less sturdy that a Kydex one. This one is sturdy yet smooth enough not to cause blisters or rashes on your skin even when you wear this for hours. Even more important it won’t wear your gun quickly. After letting the leather to break in this holster holds the gun snugly. Drawing and holstering feel smooth. You can adjust the retention using the tension-screw.

This Blackhawk leather holster feels almost perfect. Sure, the belt loop bulges too much but it’s nothing a good clamp can’t fix. And while there’s a problem with the color of the leather worn off after a month it really doesn’t make it less comfortable to wear. And finally, people may argue you should use Kydex holsters that are slimmer than this. Guess what? If you wear loose shirt the extra thickness doesn’t matter.

Comp-Tac MTAC Holster

With two belt clips instead of one, this MTAC holster stays feels more secure on your waist. It doesn’t move around horizontally or vertically when you draw your pistol. There’s plenty of fine-tuning you can do. For example, the clips are adjustable to allow different ride height and angle. These clips are interchangeable and you can switch them to match your color taste or to match your belt width.

The Kydex half-shell grip your gun securely. Just like the clips, the Kydex half-shell is also interchangeable. There’s a half-shell for whatever handgun you may have. Holstering and drawing your gun feels consistent without any feeling of loose sideways movement.

Replacement parts for this holster are readily available in the market. That’s a huge plus because we sometimes abuse our holsters. When something break, you won’t need to buy a whole new holster.

Its slim profile doesn’t leave imprint on your shirt and make concealed carry remains concealed. The small size lets you move around freely. You will forget that it’s there. This MTAC holster works well with various gun sizes and hand orientation. The cowhide backing feels smooth on your skin. It’s comfortable enough out of the box but if you want to make it more comfortable you can tune it easily.

Glock 19/23/32 Blue Alpha Aero IWB Kydex Holster

The Blue Alpha Aero is a lightweight IWB holster that leaves no, or very minimal, imprint on your shirt. The Kydex shell has good fit and finish. It has no rough edges that will wear down your gun quickly. The shell has a cool Hexcamo patterns. The carbon fiber version isn’t too shabby also. If patterned shell isn’t your thing, just get the solid black version.

This comfortable and reliable holster holds your gun snugly yet still easy to draw. When you re-holster the gun there’s a solid click that tells you that the gun is correctly and safely holstered. Trigger is completely covered along with the magazine release.

Just like any good holster, this one has adjustable angle and retention. Belt clip is sturdy and rides perfectly. It fits belts up to 1.75-inch and easy to attach. It’s great for appendix as well as 4 o’clock carry.

Out of the box, the retention is a bit loose. Just use the retention screws to adjust how solid you want the retention to be. You only need a basic Philips head screwdriver to adjust it. The Blue Alpha Aero comes with a lifetime warranty. If you think you got a lemon just send it back to get a replacement. No questions asked.

Blade-Tech Total Eclipse Gun Holster IWB/OWB Ambidextrous

This is a low profile OWB holster that works well for IWB too. It’s a good choice for those who are still unsure what their preferred carry method is. Adjusting it from OWB to IWB is simple using the screws. It sits tight and close to the body but leaves no imprint under shirt or jacket on vertical cant. On FBI cant you’ll notice slight imprint but nothing too obvious. It’s made of Kydex but still comfortable for daily wear.

Left handed person will find this handy thanks to its ambidextrous design. Good holsters for lefties don’t come around too often.The clips are designed for 1.5-inch belt. With wide spacing between the belt clips the weight of the gun is more evenly distributed so it doesn’t snag on one point.

When you re-holster the gun, there’s a firm click letting you know that it’s secured. The gun sits still in the holster even when you’re actively moving around. Yet, it still allows for full grip on the gun and a smooth draw.

Despite all the good things this holster have it has one major con;  it comes in parts. You need to spend some time putting it together. The assembly manual doesn’t help much either. If you’re looking for a holster that’s ready to use out of the box get the MTAC holster reviewed above.

DeSantis Cozy Partner

DeSantis is a family-owned business that cares a lot about the quality of their product. The Cozy Partner is no exception. It’s a high-quality holster with a reasonable price tag. It’s made of thick genuine leather with perfect stitching. This holster is really comfortable to wear all day long.

The Cozy Partner is an excellent choice for carrying  SIG P230, and SIG P232. It has retention screw to adjust the retention. It hugs the gun snugly but you can still draw easily with one hand. Re-holstering made easy because of the memory band that helps the holster keeps its shape.

It’s available in tan and black. Frankly, the color won’t be much of a problem in a conceal carry situation but if the choice is there if you care about wearing matching colors.

The Cozy Partner uses two loops instead of clips to attach to your belt. The loop size is 1 3/4 inch and it’s not adjustable nor available in other sizes.  It does keep the holster stay in place and it won’t slide when you move around. Please note that this holster is only good for right-hand use. Left-handed people will be better off with the ambidextrous holster from Blade-Tech.

Alien Gear Holster

Alien Gear’s Warranty for their holsters is unmatched. You can try it for 30 days and if you don’t like it you can ask for your money back. They also give lifetime warranty on the parts that effect functionality. Got a new gun and the shell doesn’t fit?  Contact Alien Gear and they will send you a replacement that fits.

Even without the outrageously amazing guarantee Alien Gear’s holster still made a fine choice. The holster molds well to the body. People can’t tell if you have a handgun on you even if you don’t wear an over-sized shirt to conceal it. With adjustable cant and height ride, you can tune it to your favorite carrying method.

This holster is ready to use right out of the box. No need for break in time or anything. The clips are positioned perfectly to distribute the weight of the gun across a wide area. Instead of plastic, the Alien Gear holster uses spring-steel core that acts as the backbone. It has great durability and also retention.  The holster becomes less flexible, more stable, and the gun won’t dig into you when you sit. It also makes sure the holster will be in good condition for years to come.

Ronin OWB Holster

This holster has belt loops that are not attached using screws but hard riveted making sure they never come loose. The downside is you can adjust neither the ride height nor the cant. It sits almost vertically with only ten degrees forward cant to minimize print. Inside the loop there’s a friction tape so it cannot freely move along your belt as you do your daily activities.

The Ronin has perfect retention. Hold the holster upside down with the gun in it and it won’t slide down under its own weight. There are no rough edges on the holster to wear your belt or gun.

With its slim design, the holster plus the firearm it carries are barely noticeable even under a normal-sized plain t-shirt. It will never compare to an IWB in the concealability department, though. As far as comfort goes, the Ronin is as comfortable as an OWB holster can get.

Ergonomics are well-thought of. The Kydex is contoured to your waist and doesn’t hinder you when you sit, walk, or run. Excellent fit and finish too. Sweat shield is good enough so you can carry it under hot summer days. It’s a recommended holster for Glock 43 but fits Glock 19 and FNS-9C well too.

Desantis Mad Max Holster

This another of Desantis full-leather holster.  It’s made of very thick leather but it doesn’t leave apparent print even when you wear form-fitting shirt. As long as the shirt’s material isn’t too thin, people won’t notice you carry a firearm.

With the provided J-hooks you can turn this holster into a tuckable holster. Swapping out the loops with the hooks may take quite an effort but it’s worth it if you go after maximum concealement.

The Mad Max has good retention. The gun doesn’t slide off even when you hold the holster upside down but it still allows for a quick and clean draw. Leather holster needs some break-in period. A couple of draws and reholsters should make the gun fit more snugly.

Full-leather holster is comfortable to wear all day long. The leather will conform with your waist when you wear it.

While the forward cant is preferable for some, many will appreciate adjustable cant the Mad Max lacks.  The loops are spaced out perfectly to distribute the weight of the handgun. Your trousers won’t sag under the weight. The loops are very hard to open initially but get easier after a while. Overall it’s a great holster for M1911A1 which is hard to be properly concealed.

Glock 43 With Streamlight TLR-6 IWB Holster

There are many holsters for the popular Glock43 but finding good holsters that can carry a Glock 43 fitted with Streamlight TLR-6 is very difficult. Luckily for you, this one from Badger Concealment fit the bill really well.

This holster is made fully from Kydex. It’s very lightweight and sits close to your body enabling maximum concealment without leaving print on your shirt. It’s also comfortable to wear. It is molded specifically to house Glock 43 with the TLR-6 attached. But even if you remove the light the gun will still fit in perfectly.

There’s only  one clip on this thing. The wide clip fits 1.75-inch belt but you can also clip it right on to your jeans if you prefer. The clip is made of plastic but it’s very solid. The plastic helps keep the overall weight down.

Retention is adjustable with the retention screws. You may need to adjust it at first to make drawing and re-holstering the gun match your preference.

In short, this is a perfect fit for the Glock 43 equipped with Streamlight TLR-6. Light and red dot lover will love this very much. It’s still very usable for Glock 42, though. Just make sure you adjust the retention so it doesn’t move around from the extra space.

Conclusion

That’s it for our top ten of IWB (Inside Waist Band) holsters. All of them have their pros and cons. You just need to find the one that ticks the most boxes and compromise on its minor flaws. In the end, what matters most is what you need from the holster as well as your personal preference. If you need adjustable cant and ride height you can pick the Galco King Tuck or the Comp-Tac MTAC holster. If you like all-leather then get the one from Desantis or Blackhawk.