Pancake holsters were initially designed by Roy Baker nearly 60 years ago as a flat-style carry holster that holds a handgun close to the body. Intended to be worn on the belt, either strong side or cross draw, Baker’s three-slot design is incredibly versatile allowing the wearer to position the pistol at differing angles depending on where the holster is worn. Two slot pancake holsters also are manufactured, but unlike three slot designs limit the angle and position at which the pistol can be carried. Most two slot pancake designs position the pistol best when worn on the strong side hip position.

A number of pancake designs exist on the market, most notably Safariland’s two slot pancake holster with thumb break retention strap and Bianchi’s Model 77 Piranha three slot pancake holster. The thumb-break retention strap on both of these models is reinforced for additional stiffness to help ensure an easy, clean and consistent break. Both models also feature custom boning specific to your model handgun which gives the holster enhanced retention. If you choose to go with a leather model that does not have a thumb-break retention strap, make sure that the holster is custom fitted for your particular firearm. Pancake holsters constructed of nylon instead of leather should always fit the pistol snugly and incorporate the use of a thumb-break strap.

How well a pancake holster fits depends largely on your body type, and like all concealed carry holsters, the pancake style is a compromise between comfort and concealability. In general, individuals with larger waistlines will find that pancake holsters suit them more than slimmer individuals. The design of the holster is intended to bring keep the pistol tight against your body, reducing the chance of “printing” and keeping the holster snugly in place. Pants that fit loosely will cause the holster to sag and the butt of the gun to be angled away from the body. Individuals with slimmer waistlines should look for pancake holsters that have the belt loops up high, bringing the butt of the gun in closer to the body while hanging the pistol barrel lower. Cover garments for these type holsters will need to be slightly longer in order to conceal the lower hanging pistol.

Pancake holsters are not without their drawbacks. First among these is the fact that donning or removing the holster requires that you remove your belt: there is no quick and easy way to take it on and off. Some manufacturers are beginning to make pancake holsters that have snap belt loops which allow the holster to be removed without taking off your belt, but these holsters are not yet readily available.

If you’re uncomfortable wearing IWB holsters and are looking for a different style of carry for your full size, compact, or sub-compact handgun, consider a pancake holster. They are available to fit most pistols and come in a variety of materials and colors.

Paddle holsters are very popular due to their comfort and the ease with which you can take them on and off. But they do have drawbacks. Paddle holsters rely on friction between the paddle and your pants and undergarments to remain in place.

Paddle holsters are a compromise between comfort and retention. Because of this, they should never be worn open, only concealed. Undercover or plain-clothes officers who use paddle holsters should only use ones that have belt guides or hooks that catch on the belt and help prevent the holster from being detached too easily. The weak point of the paddle holster is the link between the holster and the paddle. Early models could literally have the holster ripped away from the paddle in a disarming attempt by a bad guy, leaving the criminal with the gun and holster and the paddle still securely held in the trousers of the person who was previously wearing the gun.

Modern paddle holsters have a reinforced section between the paddle and the holster, and most feature hooks or other devices to help the holster grip onto a belt preventing the entire thing from being pulled out while drawing the weapon. The Blackhawk! SERPA paddle holsters for example have a plastic tab that secures the holster in place. Others like the Fobus Roto Paddle Holster use a small ledge on the outside of the paddle that engages the belt or waistband to prevent the paddle from being inadvertently dislodged.

Comfort is often a deciding factor for people who carry concealed handguns. If a holster isn’t comfortable, it’s all too easy to just decide to leave your pistol at home. As everyone knows, a pistol on the nightstand does you no good if you find yourself in an encounter while out and about. If you decide to go with the comfort of a paddle holster, you simply need to be aware that this holster design is for concealed carry only, as paddle holsters do not have the same retention ability of other types of holsters. As always, practice using your holster frequently, and most of all, stay safe out there!

One of the frequent questions we get here at Cheaper Than Dirt! comes from customers seeking ways to carry their pistols. There are quite literally dozens of ways to securely carry a firearm, but today we’re going to address one of the most common: the Inside the Waistband Holster.

Inside the waistband holsters (often referred to as an IWB holster) are holsters that, as the name implies, keep the pistiol tucked inside your pants or shorts, between your waistband and your body. They usually have some sort of belt clip that keeps the holster attached to your belt or waistband in order to prevent the holster from slipping down.

IWB holster users generally fall into two categories: Love ‘em or Hate ‘em. Not many people are ambivalent about them. Of those who despise IWB holsters, the comfort factor tends to play a big role. These users just can’t abide having the holster digging into their side for the better part of a day. Comfort is a huge factor when choosing a holster. If it’s uncomfortable, most people will stop using it or stop carrying their firearm all together. Obviously, a firearm is useless if you don’t have it with you. Fans of the IWB holster tend to laud the concealability of firearms carried in this manner. They also love the fact that, being so closely carried to the body, it is more difficult for any potential bad guy to disarm you.

There are three main types of IWB holsters: Leather, Kydex or Plastic, and Nylon. Leather and nylon tend to be the most comfortable of the three, but they have the disadvantage of collapsing after the pistol is drawn, making reholstering more difficult. Kydex and plastic holsters are rigid and hold their shape even when the gun is drawn, but can become uncomfortable during extended use due to the firm unyielding material. Depending on your body type, IWB holsters can be even more uncomfortable due to the the way it is held so close to your body and the pressure of your waistband and belt.

Leather holsters are often the most comfortable of IWB holsters. Holsters such as Bianchi’s Professional Inside-the-Pants holster are immensely popular with undercover law enforcement, private investigators, and civilians who conceal on a regular bases. It does an excellent job of concealment by carrying the pistol low with the butt of the gun barely peeking above the waistline. If you choose to wear a leather IWB holster, be aware that extended use during the heat and humidity of summer can cause the holster to retain moisture from sweat, possibly damaging the pistol. Because of the proximity of the firearm to your body, you will want to clean and oil your handgun more often, usually once a week or more, in order to clean out salts, lint, rust, and to re-oil.

Despite their drawbacks, IWB holsters are one of the easiest ways to carry concealed. Many are even known as “tuckable” holsters and have features that allow you to carry your pistol in the IWB holster and tuck in your shirt at the same time. Our Ace Case Tuckable holster is one of these. It features a leather panel that has a belt clip attached to it that allows the wearer to tuck their shirt in between the panel and the main body of the holster, as illustrated by the photo at left. As you can see from the photo, the belt clip is still visible, but the firearm itself is neatly concealed.

If you choose to use an IWB holster, there are a few things you can do to make it work better for you. First, select pants slightly larger than your normal size. This provides the extra room for your firearm, and decreases stretching and wear and tear on the garment. Make sure your shirt, vest, or jacket you use to conceal the firearm is cut a little long. The bottom of your cover garment should hang at least 6 inches below your belt.

Whether you go with leather, nylon, or kydex, an IWB holster will provide you with an efficient way to carry concealed. IWB holsters may not be for everybody, but that’s just the nature of holsters in general. Ask any old gunny, and they’ll tell you that somewhere they’ve got a box of old holsters that they ended up not liking for some reason or another. Me? I’ve carried in a kydex IWB holster for the better part of a decade. Obviously IWB works for me. It just might work for you too.