A good inside-the-waistband, or IWB, holster is an essential piece of equipment for any gun owner. If you own a gun, chances are you’re also going to have, or at least hoping to obtain, a concealed-carry gun permit. After all, what good is a gun without also getting the piece of mind of knowing you have it with you at all times, if the worst should happen and you need to use it?
Well, inside the waistband holsters make it incredibly easy to conceal your weapon. As the name suggests, you slot the the holster inside your waistband at whatever part of your body feels most comfortable for you, and then you clip it to your belt.
The gun must be clipped to your belt in order keep it nice and secure, and it should also be close to the skin so there’s less chance of your printing, which is when the outline of our firearm shows through yours shirt.
Inside-the-waistband holsters come in all sorts of makes and models. There are number of factors you ought to consider, the most important of which is probably going to be personal comfort level Guns are bulky, intrusive objects. In fact, personal discomfort is one of the main reasons why people quit wearing their holsters. But a gun is only useful when you have it on you, so your main priority when picking out a holster should be finding one you will actually be alright with wearing every day.
Many, but not all holsters are also tuckable, meaning that you can tuck your shirt over the entire pistol and holster. If you spend most of your days at a desk job where you are required to have your shirt tucked in, make sure you are getting a tuckable holster.
Another major factor to consider is security, both in terms of how securely the holster stays attached to you after you put it on, and how securely the gun remains in the holster (this is referred to as the retention rate).
After all, you don’t want your firearm to slip off of you and accidentally fire, or to reach for it in an emergency and find that is isn’t there. Other major factors include how easy the holster is to conceal, and of course the price of the holster.
Ultimately, the best holster option for you is going to be down to personal preference, as well as the specific type of firearm you use. Nonetheless we have reviewed some of the best inside the waistband holsters for nine millimeter handguns currently on the market for you to consider.
Review of the Best IBW Holsters
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Cloak Tuck 3.0 XDS Holster
Editor’s Choice
Alien Gear Holsters boasts one of the best nine millimeter concealed carry-on weapon holsters on the market. This holster is really popular among those who own Glocks, Springfield XDs and Smith and Wesson M&Ps.
Since this is the 3.0 version of their XDS inside the waistband holster you know they have taken the time to work out the kinks in their previous models. One of the signature aspects of this holster is that it comes with a specially designed back piece made of neoprene.
This provides a layer of soft, amazing fabric between your body and the gun in order to create as comfortable of a holster wearing experience as possible. A number of customers have mentioned how much more comfortable this holster is to use than others; making this holster ideal for everyday use.
The holster also comes with two clips to keep it as secure on your body as possible. It works well for all body types and this xds inside the waistband holster can be positioned anywhere on the body and is tuckable.
The holster itself is built around a stainless spring steel-band that acts as the spine of the product. The material is designed to be long lasting, and Alien Gear Holsters is confident enough in their product to provide a lifetime warranty. The holster itself is incredibly secure, the vast majority of customers have praised it for how securely their gun remains in place and how easy it is to access their firearm in the unfortunate event it should be necessary.
Plus, some users have found that it takes a bit longer to put on than other holsters, so be prepared to add a minute to your morning routine. Also, at nearly 50 dollars it will run you a bit more than the rest of the holsters on this list. Still, especially if cost is not an issue, you would be hard-pressed to find a better holster on the market.
Another common complaint about the holster is that the screws holding which hold it together can come loose easily, so this holster may require a bit of regular check-up and maintenance.
All things considered, however, the Cloak Tuck 3.0 is a perfect blend of security and comfort, and one of the best nine millimeter holsters you can buy.
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Concealment Express
One of the best inside the waistband holsters, made especially for the XDS nine millimeter firearm. This compact holster is made out of kydex, an amazingly sturdy material. The use of kydex also gives this holster a sleek, modern look. This holsters seems to draw especially enthusiastic reviews from owners of the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield firearm.
This holster is quite small, as the makers have taken a minimalist approach to the design of this holster. They are also designed to protect your firearm from moisture, as well as being durable yet still lightweight. It also features a cant that can be adjusted from zero to 15 degrees.
The main benefit of this holster’s small design and overall light weight-it weighs only two ounces- is that it makes it easy to carry around, and to carry around without drawing attention. Fortunately, it remains nice and secure when you’re wearing it and the Kydex frame does a good job of keeping your holster in place. Another highlight of this product is that Concealment Express is so confident in it they offer a lifetime warranty, and customers have generally praised the company’s customer service and response to complaints or issues with the product.
Another, possibly related issue is that the retention on this holster is apparently relatively high, at least higher than other holsters that customers have used. Lastly, and this is an admittedly less minor issue, is that the carbon fiber isn’t always the most comfortable product to have brushing up on your skin. Also, take note that this holster is intended to be worn with an untucked shirt.
All told, while this holster’s lightweight nature makes it convenient for the “concealed” part of concealed carry-on, the potential damage to your firearm and high tension is a good reason to be wary of this product.
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OUTBAGS
Editor’s Choice
Another great, tuckable holster made specifically for inside the waistband carry for the XDS nine millimeter firearm. This holster is made of fine leather and is hand dyed to preserve those nice leather qualities, in particular that rich brown leather look. It is also tuckable and comes with a lifetime warranty.
For starters, the leather material used for this holster makes it very easy on the eye. The leather is also quite comfortable on the skin. Most customers say it keeps their firearm nice and secure. And for whatever it’s worth, a few customers have said they even like the smell of it. This holster is small and light, so it is fairly easy to conceal, easy to carry around and can be worn at just about any position on the waist.
It also stays securely on your body really well, and the leather is generally sturdy and holds the firearm in place well.
In general, you don’t need to worry about this holster collapsing on itself, but some customers have complained that it loses a bit of its shape and so you have to re-holster it.
Furthermore, some customers have complained that the belt clip gets too tight, while others say they like the added security that brings, so consider your own comfort level with belt clips when evaluating this product. It is also a bit bulkier than, say, the Concealment Express.
Lastly, the OutBags is the cheapest XDS nine millimeter holster on this least, if cost is a major issue.
All things considered, if you are really worried about the cost of your firearm’s holster than this product is one the best nine millimeter holster’s you can go for, as it is affordable yet still reliable.
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Defender Leather IWB Holster
One of the top inside the waistband holsters for XDS nine millimeter firearms on the market. This holster is also made of genuine bullhide leather, and is designed to be both sturdy yet comfortable. It works well with Glocks, Smith and Wesson M&Ps, and XD style guns.
By and large this product is similar to the OutBags leather holster. This is another holster with a small, easy to conceal frame.
The leather is strong and secure and holds the firearm well, and stays securely on your body. Plus, customers say the leather makes this a very comfortable holster to carry around.
The bullhide leather is sturdier and should be longer lasting than traditional leather, and as an added bonus it is pretty stylish as well. As with an any leather holster, it takes a few days to break in. Fortunately, this holster does appear to be better at retaining its shape than the OutBags holster. It also comes with a special mouth reinforcement that allows for quick and easy reholstering.
It is about ten dollars more expensive than the OutBags holster. Relentless Tactical describes itself as a small business, and claims that all of its products are made by hand,
which is likely where the extra dollars come from, in case supporting small businesses is something that matters to you. And there customer service has drawn praise from those who have found this holster to be unsatisfactory.
All told, this holster is a good option if you want a fine, carefully crafted leather holster.
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Coclusion on the best IWB holster
Any one of these holsters will remain secure inside your waistband, and keep your firearm nice and secure.
However, we believe that while it may be the most expensive holster on this list, the Cloak Tuck 3.0 is the way to go.
A good inside the waistband concealed carry holster is an incredibly important investment and not something you should try to cut costs on.
The Cloak Tuck 3.0 offers the best combination of security for your firearm and personal comfort of all the holsters on this list. So go spring for the Clock Tuck 3.0 and get yourself on the best holsters on the market.
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