Concealed Carry Corner: Popular Alternative Carry Methods

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at the top items you should stop carrying with you. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. Hop in the comment sections as well, since last week we had some passionate discussions about FMJ versus JHP rounds! This week, I want to take a look at some of the best alternative carry setups that people may know about but have never tried before. I’ll be honest and admit that I wrote some of these off and had no interest in trying them out until I actually started carrying a different way. Let's take a closer look at some of the popular alternative carry methods.

Shoulder Holsters

One of the most underrated carry methods for a concealed handgun is the trusty shoulder rig. Whether you carry a small frame revolver or a full-size 1911, a shoulder holster will take the weight off your waistband and allow you to carry comfortably by distributing the weight of your handgun on your shoulders and back. If you carry a smaller handgun on your body, shoulder holsters can easily be used with a light cover shirt, while not having to deal with hot spots on your belt line like you would with an IWB style holster. During the winter months, with multiple layers, it can make life easier carrying in a shoulder holster as well, since you can unzip your coat and have immediate access to your handgun. Probably the most overlooked reason to carry a shoulder holster, though, is having access while in the seated position.

If you're the type that loves to hit the road and drive for hours, an IWB style holster can start to dig in and become a real bother after a couple of hours on the road. If I'm headed on a 10-12-hour car ride, I typically will carry a shoulder rig instead of a belt-mounted holster for easier access while sitting as well as overall comfort on a long trip. It's not impossible to draw from an IWB holster while sitting, but a shoulder holster is much faster right off the bat, with no need to practice reps to become proficient with it. If you haven't looked at a shoulder holster option, I highly suggest you check it out!

Belly Bands

If I’m completely honest with you, this carry method is one that I never dreamt of considering. I thought it was a gimmick, but once I tried it, I really started to see the reason why people swear by belly bands. I will be the first to warn you, though, that they really work well with certain body types and not so well with others. If you have love handles or you have a bit of a stomach, it may be tricky to use a belly band, but for individuals who have a slim build, where they don't have areas where their body curves on their waistline, it’s a great option.

Belly band holsters are also great for women who struggle to use an IWB holster due to their body type or high waistline and hip structure. Having the holster higher up on their side allows them to comfortably carry without changing out firearms or dramatically changing how they carry. When I first started out and was a bit overweight, belly bands were not an option for me, but after slimming down, they are some of the best holster options for exercising outside or going to the gym, and not relying on a floppy drawstring securement point with an IWB style holster. Belly bands may not be the mainstream carry method, but it's a great option if you need a way to comfortably carry without using a belt or tucking a handgun in your waistline.

This creates an easy, low-stress way to carry a concealed handgun without constantly worrying about printing or being uncomfortable with hot spotting all day long. It's as simple as throwing a holstered pocket gun into your front pocket and going on with your day. I see this method being used mostly by new carriers or retired older individuals who still want to carry a handgun but don't want to deal with a larger handgun in an IWB style holster. The biggest downside to pocket carrying is the natural size restraint of your pants pocket. Typically, you'll be limited to a single-stack handgun or a very small double-stack like the P365 or Glock 43. While you are limited in size, the trade-off is how easy it is to simply drop a handgun in your pocket and go on with your day.

Overall Thoughts

I struggled to pick the right carry methods for this article since there are a number of other popular alternative carry methods like off-body carry, ankle carry and small of the back carry. If you guys want a second part of this article, let me know in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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