Photo by Ibro Palic / CC BY
Without getting too brand specific, we’ll try to hash out what you should look for and what makes a holster the best for YOU (a skinny guy/gal).
High Ride Holsters
A high ride holster keeps your weapon higher than normal and a majority of it above your waistline. These holsters work best, much like most holsters, when worn in conjunction with a loose shirt.
The largest benefit of the high ride holster is there will be little to no firearm printing in your pants. Only a portion of the barrel will be between you and your pants, and you won’t be getting poked by a barrel nearly as much. Also, this can be a lot more comfortable in most positions if you find yourself sitting most of the day and won’t have to adjust for comfort as often as such.
The downside is if you’re packing a heavier gun or something with a double-stacked magazine, and therefore more weight in the handle, you run the risk of your weapon possibly flopping over if your belt isn’t tight enough.
With a high-quality high riding holster that keeps your weapon pressed against your body and a sturdy belt these can be successfully worn by a skinny guy or gal comfortably.
Belly Band Holsters
Bands that wrap around your midsection can be extremely versatile. If you’re planning on wearing something akin to gym shorts, there’s really no better option. These holsters can also be adjusted and worn either around your waist or up higher on the torso like your belly or even around the chest area serving as a shoulder type holster.
The biggest downside to these types of holsters is how warm they can sometimes become either from a lot of activity or in hotter weather. Belly holsters are usually constructed with neoprene and velcro closures that don’t offer much in the way of ventilation so you may notice a bit of extra perspiration. This increased warmth may be nice for colder climates and seasons, but as you can imagine, they aren’t ideal for warmer times. If you’re going to be inside with some nice air conditioning, this may not be an issue.
On the subject of comfort some people may not like the feeling of being hugged nonstop, but these are definitely an option you should have in your collection.
Shoulder Holsters
Shoulder holsters aren’t just for gritty old school detectives and the VICE squad and, of course, Dirty freaking Harry. They are an extremely viable option for concealing a weapon for people lacking the general mass to hide a handgun elsewhere on their person.
Shoulder holsters that store the gun vertically along your torso free you from having to worry about printing against your clothing. The weight of your weapon is also removed from your belt increasing your comfort level significantly. You also won’t have to worry about certain movements like bending over or reaching up, causing your clothes to reveal your weapon accidentally.
When deciding to carry your concealed carry firearm in a shoulder holster, watch out to make sure the height of your gun, from bottom on the mag to top of the rear sights, isn’t too tall. If your gun is taller than the width of your torso it will most definitely stick out and print.
Something else to keep in mind is the added draw time if you’ll be using a shoulder holster under your shirt.
Ankle Holsters
If the pants you’re wearing have some extra room around the ankle then an ankle holster will work wonders concealing your handgun for you. Of course, this is less feasible for larger firearms and should be reserved for subcompacts and smaller.
The advantages of an ankle holster are similar to that of a shoulder holster. You don’t have to worry so much about accidentally revealing your gun because your shirt hikes up exposing your midsection or you’re printing against your pants and the waist area.
As the advantages are similar, so are the disadvantages. Your draw time is increased as you’ll have to bend over to draw your weapon.
Pocket Holsters
There’s really not much to say about pocket holsters other than they are an extremely convenient holster solution if you’re using a “pocket” pistol. As long as your pants are not super tight and your gun is the right size, these holsters are not only convenient but also comfortable and quick on the draw with practice. You can, after all, always keep your hand on your gun as you navigate through potentially dangerous situations.
Final Thoughts
In my experience as a skinny guy myself, I’ve tried just about every type of holster trying to find what works best with my body type. The above options are what have worked best for me for various firearms.
My go-to for quick and no fuss is a high ride IWB. If I’m going for a run or just feel like wearing gym shorts that day, the belly band comes into play. For the pocket with a smaller gun—say, a .380 subcompact or a very lightweight snubnose revolver—obviously the pocket holster. Having multiple holsters at your disposal makes it easier to work around your plans and clothing. If you have to only choose one to start out with, I suggest starting with something that will work with the majority of your daily routine.
Holsters that I’ve had the most trouble with are ones that sit directly on the hip, whether they be OWB or IWB. Inside waistband holsters (that are not high-riding ones) push your pants out regardless of position and look unnatural while outside waistband holsters will get caught on your shirt and very noticeably print.
The most successful IWB holsters I’ve used other than the high riding ones have been ones that secure the entirety of the weapon below my belt but even then, they cause issues drawing and still tend to print pretty bad unless I’m wearing really baggy pants. So stick to the ones I recommend, especially if you’re on the skinny side: high ride IWB holsters, belly band holsters, and pocket holsters. Good luck!
