Best OWB Holster For Concealment

When considering how to conceal carry, you may think your only option is inside the waistband, or IWB, carry. However, outside the waistband, or OWB, carry can also be concealed. In this article, we’ll review five different holsters to help you decide which is the best OWB holster for concealment.

REVIEW OF THE BEST OWB HOLSTER FOR CONCEALMENT

Choosing the right OWB holster for concealment will depend upon what kind of gun you’re trying to conceal, as well as your usual attire. Below, you’ll find our list of the best OWB holsters for concealment. We’ll review the pros and cons of each so you can decide which will work best for you.

BRAVO CONCEALMENT OUTSIDE THE WAISTBAND BCA GUN HOLSTER

The outside the waistband BCA gun holster by Bravo is made of Kydex, a hard thermoplastic, and is molded perfectly for a variety of firearms. The custom fit of Kydex holsters, especially ones as well made as the Bravo holsters, do not require a retention strap to keep your firearm secured in the holster. This aids in a quicker, more seamless draw for many gun owners because they don’t have to fumble with unsnapping the retention.

The Bravo comes set with a 10” cant for an easier draw, but the cant is adjustable to your preferences. It can even be converted to an IWB holster if you remove the belt loops and attach belt clips instead. A major downside of this holster, though, is that it’s only available in a right-hand model.

The Bravo is a high to mid-ride holster, so the midline of the holster is centered with your belt. The Bravo comes pre-curved and with two belt loops, which holds it tight against your body. This holster design reduces movement and printing and rides high enough to be easily concealable.

The Bravo has a tall sweat shield, which protects your skin and the finish of your gun. It can accommodate barrel sights up to .355” and is even designed for some gun models with under barrel rails. The company also offers a lifetime warranty on its products.

Positives recap for this product:

• Comes with a 10” cant, but can be adjusted to suit your preference
• Pre-curved with two belt loops for a tighter fit and easier concealment
• Can accommodate under barrel rails for some gun models

Negatives recap for this product:

• Only comes in right-hand models
• Limited number of gun models that it can fit

BLACKHAWK! SERPA CQC CONCEALMENT HOLSTER

The Blackhawk SERPA CQC holster comes with Blackhawk’s patented SERPA auto-lock technology, so no strap retention is needed. Like the Bravo, this holster is made out of a molded thermoplastic, but it comes in a few more models than the Bravo. The custom fit of the thermoplastic will hold your gun snugly inside, and when you properly holster your weapon you’ll hear it click into place.

To draw your weapon, you press the SERPA auto-lock button with your forefinger as you pull it out of the holster. Blackhawk designed the SERPA button so that upon depressing it and drawing, your finger will be off the trigger but defensively ready in case you need to fire your weapon. Check out the company’s YouTube to see the release in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=170&v=N654ukzFpGo

In addition to the SERPA auto-lock, the holster has a passive retention screw that you can tighten to just the right level to keep your gun secure in the holster. Unlike the Bravo, the Blackhawk comes in either a right or left-hand option. The holster comes with a belt loop platform and a paddle platform so you can choose which you prefer to wear. The ride is high enough that it should be easy to conceal it under most shirts.

Positives recap for this product:

• Multiple levels of retention to keep your firearm secure in the holster
• Right and left-hand options
• Comes with belt loop platform and paddle platform

Negatives recap for this product:

• Mastering the SERPA release button may take some practice
• Not available for some gun models

RELENTLESS TACTICAL THE ULTIMATE 3 SLOT OWB LEATHER GUN BELT HOLSTER

Unlike our first two holster suggestions, this Relentless Tactical holster is made of high-quality leather. It has three belt slots so you can choose whether you want to wear it upright or with a forward cant. It’s also pre-curved, so it’ll fit tightly against your body right away and conform even better to you and your gun over time.

The Relentless Tactical holster will fit many more gun models than the Bravo or the Blackhawk. Like the first two, it does not have a retention strap. Leather holsters conform to the firearm and hold it snugly enough that no retention is needed.

This holster is a mid-ride holster, so the end of your gun barrel will likely sit around your pants pocket. It doesn’t ride as high as the Bravo, but should still be fairly easy to conceal with a jacket or a longer shirt.

The only downside with this holster is that it’s designed to be universal, so pistols with long barrels will poke through the open end of the holster. Depending on the type of sight on your barrel, you may struggle to draw your gun. It works seamlessly with ramped sights, but squared sights may catch on the leather.

Positives recap with this product:

• Fits nearly any pistol
• High-quality leather conforms to your body and your gun over time, becoming more comfortable with additional wear
• Can be worn vertically or with a forward cant

Negatives recap for this product:

• May be difficult to draw long-barreled guns
• Rides lower than other OWB holsters so may take more intention to conceal

DEPRING CONCEALED CARRY HOLSTER

The Depring holster is the most budget-friendly option on our list. It’s also the most versatile. It’s a universal holster, so it should fit nearly all pistols. The holster is sized to fit subcompact guns but comes with instructions to change the fit for larger guns. Like the Relentless Tactical universal fit holster, larger guns or those with longer barrels may extend past the end of the holster and be challenging to draw.

The Depring is ambidextrous so you can easily switch which side of your body you carry on. The holster has a loop on both sides, so simply switch the clip from one side to the other. This holster can be used for IWB or OWB carry and is the first on our list to feature a button-down retention strap.

The holster is made of a nylon material but is sturdy enough to stay open after you draw so you can easily reholster your gun. The ride of the Depring is similar to the Relentless Tactical holster so you may need to wear a longer shirt or jacket to conceal it.

A potential issue with this holster is that the belt clips are 2” long, which is much wider than most belts. This may cause the holster to shift a bit as you move about.

Positives recap for this product:

• Can be worn on the left or right side, and either IWB or OWB
• Very budget-friendly

Negatives recap for the product:

• Large belt clip may cause the holster to shift around as you move
• May be difficult to draw long-barreled guns
• Rides lower than other OWB holsters so may take more intention to conceal

R&R HOLSTERS: OWB KYDEX HOLSTER

Of the thermoplastic holsters on our list, the R&R holster can be used with the most pistol models by far. If the other two options don’t work for you preferred carry gun, check out the specifications for the R&R because your gun is likely to be on their list. R&R’s extensive list also comes in both left and right-hand varieties.

The R&R allows you to adjust both the ride and the cant of the holster. Like the Bravo, it has two belt loops to help it sit more tightly against your body. Of the options on our list, the R&R may offer the greatest number of variations that enhance your ability to conceal your weapon.

Like the other thermoplastic holsters on our list, this one does not have a retention strap. It has a partial sweat guard backing, so it should increase your comfort wearing it while protecting a portion of your gun’s finish. If a full sweat guard is essential for you though, this may not be your best option.

Like the Relentless Tactical and Depring holsters, the R&R has an open end so longer barrels may stick through, presenting a drawing issue.

Positives recap for this product:

• Available in both right and left varieties for a large number of pistol models
• Two belt loops for a tight fit to your body
• Adjustable ride and cant so you can perfect your concealment

Negatives recap for this product:

• Only has a partial sweat guard
• May be difficult to draw long-barreled guns

DECIDING BETWEEN IWB AND OWB CARRY

How you choose to carry is a very personal decision and whichever mode you choose needs to be comfortable for you, both physically and mentally. You’re more likely to carry consistently if you feel confident in your mode of concealment and the safety of your carry. IWB carry is very popular because it’s much easier to conceal than OWB, but there are some definite advantages to OWB carry.

First, OWB carry is usually much more comfortable than IWB. With OWB, you won’t have the barrel of your gun pressing against your leg or your stomach while you’re sitting, and the butt of your gun won’t be rubbing against your skin. You’ll still want to wear your holster and weapon tight to your body, but you’ll have a barrier of clothing between your skin and the holster.

With OWB carry, you won’t need to size up your pants to accommodate a holster and a weapon like you do with IWB carry. You may need to modify the type of shirt you wear though. With either mode of carry, you’ll want to make sure you have a good, sturdy gun belt.

One of the main reasons that people may choose to carry OWB is because it is much easier to draw your weapon. With IWB, your weapon is sandwiched between your skin and your pants. Depending on your style of dress, it can be cumbersome to access your gun. If you carry OWB, all you need to do is move your shirt and/or jacket aside and draw.

One of the main disadvantages of OWB carry is that you have to put more thought into concealing it. IWB is much easier because it’s tucked between your body and your clothes. Some IWB holsters are even designed to let you tuck your shirt over the holster. With OWB, you either need to dress in layers or be conscious to avoid any Marilyn Monroe moments that may give you away.

One downside of OWB is that the type of weapon you can conceal is a little more restricted. Guns with long barrels will be especially difficult to conceal.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE CHANGE TO OWB CONCEALMENT

If you’re used to concealing your gun IWB, it may take some time to get comfortable concealing OWB. A tip: move in phases. Concealing with a suit jacket or overcoat is easy so you may want to start there. As you become more comfortable, you can move to sweatshirts and eventually to button-up shirts and t-shirts. If you don’t already, you might begin carrying at your appendix or your kidney rather than your hip as both positions will make concealment easier.

During your transition, keep in mind that most people simply will not notice that you’re carrying a weapon, no matter how you carry it. If people do see a little printing, they’re more likely to suspect that you’re carrying a large cellphone than a gun anyway.

The weapon you choose to carry will have a big impact on your ability to successfully conceal it. Compacts and subcompacts, as well as single-stack guns, are going to be much easier to conceal. The thicker your gun and the longer its barrel, the more challenging it will be to conceal.

The type of holster you choose will impact what you can carry and how easily you can conceal. Just like IWB carry, you want your holster to sit tight to your body. An OWB holster that rides high will be much easier to conceal than a mid or low-ride holster. A high-ride holster will place the end of your barrel in line with the bottom of your belt. This will make it easier to keep the gun under your shirt, especially if it’s a shorter-barreled gun.

If the gun you prefer to carry has a longer barrel, you can compensate for that a little with a forward cant holster. Not only does a slight forward cant make drawing easier for many people, but it aids in concealing guns of various lengths.

Your style of dress can also help you more easily conceal your weapon. Choose shirts with a straight bottom hem rather than a curved hem like typical dress shirts. Some people find it beneficial to shop in the tall section of the store. This gives you a few more inches of material at the bottom, which helps with weapon concealment. If your work dress code mandates suits, then you already have it made.

Loose shirts, whether they be t-shirts or short-sleeved button-ups, can help conceal during warmer weather. Whatever you wear, try to remember to kneel or squat down rather than bend at the waist if you need to pick up something down low. Doing so will help keep your weapon concealed whether you use an IWB or OWB holster.

CONCLUSION

Choosing to concealed carry OWB might be the right choice for you if you value comfort and an easy draw. Depending on your current style of dress, the switch might be seamless. Even if you don’t typically wear a suit jacket, making OWB carry work only takes a little bit of intention.

The options on our list will suit nearly any pistol at any ride height or cant. Finding the best OWB holster for concealment given your body type and your attire preferences really comes down to choosing the right gun and holster combo. If you can find something that rides high and tight, OWB concealment will be a breeze, no matter what you wear.

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