Today, we wanted to give you an alternative to the other holsters my illustrious colleague wrote in July, called “Readers Choice| Best Concealed Carry Holsters.” As she was able to go into great detail about the different types and capabilities of hosters, I want to focus on the holsters that I like to use. These 3 holsters fit my lifestyle that includes a lot of hunting, hiking, running, and being outdoors most of my free time.
How Did I Grade Each Holster?
Each one of these holsters is one that I have carried either on duty as a police officer or for my personal protection in an ever-unpredictable public. Each holster needs to be durable, affordable, comfortable, reliable, and versatile for me to consider it a great holster. If a holster can’t last for a month with the weight of a pistol or it pinches your skin or pulls your body hair (Most concealed carry pistols do this to me), it’s not worth spending the money and the effort to trust it as your concealed carry holster.
ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band Holster for Concealed Carry
One of my favorite concealed carry pistols is made by ComfortTac because it’s one of the most versatile concealed carry holsters I’ve ever used. The difference is the neoprene used to make this holster gives with your body to stay comfortable, rather than the elastic that a lot of other companies use. Neoprene is used in most of your knee and back braces because it can handle moisture and stay functional and comfortable while moving.
Specs
| ComfortTec Belly Band Holster | |
| Size Waist | One size fits all – neoprene material stretches to fit up to a 44″ belly. |
| Where Do I wear this holster? | It can be worn inside the waistband, outside the waistband, cross body, appendix position, 5 O’clock position (behind hip), small of the back, and even high up like a shoulder holster under your shirt. |
| Is it Ambidextrous? | Yes! Bellyband Holster is available in right and left-hand draw. As a lefty, I can’t stress enough the importance of getting a holster designed for lefties specifically. |
| What Guns Does it Fit? | Glock, M&P Shield, Sig Sauer, Ruger, Kahr, Beretta, Springfield, Taurus, Kimber, Rock Island, Bersa, Kel Tec, Walther, and more. |
| Can It Fit Full-Sized Pistols? | Yes! The holster will stretch out to fit a 380, 9mm, 40 auto, 45 ACP, 38 special, 357, and 10mm full size pistol or revolver. |
| Does it Have a Magazine Pouch? | Yes! A Spare magazine pocket and optional use retention strap provided. (you can cut off the retention strap if you prefer speed over extra retention support). I would recommend keeping the support strap to give you optimal comfort, but I do understand in some situations where speed is paramount. |
| MSRP | $19.90 |
Why Should I Buy the ComfortTec Belly Band Holster?
If you live in the mountains, whether you’re in the Rockies, Cascades, or the Sierra Nevadas, you could easily run into animals that can kill you within seconds if you catch them in the wrong situation. I love to run in the mountains in Colorado in Rocky Mountain National Park, and I always have to worry about running into a Mountain Lion or Black Bear in the middle of a trail while they are trying to feed or travel with their young. I wear this exact holster when I visit Montan, Wyoming, or Colorado while hiking or running. It’s incredibly comfortable, it breathes great, doesn’t slip or slide when I’m working out.
If You Answer all these Questions With a Yes, you should Consider the Belly Band Holster:
– Are you sick of uncomfortable holsters?
– Does your current holster require you to wear a belt and limit your wardrobe?
– Do you want to carry concealed and be comfortable?
– Do you want to be able to carry different guns for different situations?
Rykr Concealed Carry Calf Sleeve
This concealed carry holster fits incredibly snug to your calf and doesn’t slide around if you’re running or hiking. Many other ankle holsters can be too tight for your calf and can cut off blood circulation to your foot. Rykr uses some kind of advanced breathable neoprene that prevents skin irritation. If you’re really thin or just skip leg day, this holster can slip a little, but I’d just raise it higher up your calf, if possible. My favorite part of this holster is the compression it offers with the sleeve to increase circulation and remove inflammation in your ankle and foot.
Specs
| Rykr Concealed Carry Calf Sleeve | |
| Sizing? | One Size Fits Most people, both men and women. |
| Where Do I wear this holster? | Adjustable Flexible Fit on Calf or Ankle, Provides Compression Improving Blood Flow and Circulation
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| Is it Ambidextrous? | Yes! Secure Concealed Carry Calf Sleeve with Left and Right Adjustable Pockets Included, Sleeve and Pockets Easily Attach with Quality Hook and Loop |
| What Guns Does it Fit? | Glock, M&P Shield, Sig Sauer, Ruger, Kahr, Beretta, Springfield, Taurus, Kimber, Rock Island, Bersa, Kel Tec, Walther, and more. |
| Can It Fit Full-Sized Pistols? | No |
| Does it Have a Magazine Pouch? | Yes, it comes with 2 adjustable pockets for one magazine to fit in the pocket you’re not using for your pistol or revolver. |
| MSRP | $19.90 |
Why Should I Buy The Rykr Calf Sleeve?
The calf sleeve is the most comfortable of any concealed carry holster I’ve worn because of the compression element added to it. This holster is great for law enforcement as a secondary pistol holder because it’s out of the way and comfortable. I wear this when I’m going hunting in the Rockies in Montana or Wyoming as an emergency against the apex predators of the mountains. The draw from this holster is quick and easy enough to draw down within seconds of an emergency.
BUGBite Concealment Calf Holster
The BuGBite Concealment Calf Holster is made of the same type of breathable neoprene as the Rkyr calf holster and comes with a velcro strap for adjustment on the fly. The biggest difference between this holster and the Rykr is the silicone grip dots that are located inside the holster that grips to your leg. At first, I thought it would make them uncomfortable, but I was completely wrong. I have used this on hikes as far as 15 miles in the mountains, and I have not had any slippage or discomfort. The BUGBite comes with a zipper that is placed in the neoprene, so it doesn’t pinch your leg hair or skin and helps place the holster on and take it off with ease. This is one ankle holster that I would be comfortable carrying for everyday use due to the comfort and ease of concealment.
Specs
| BugBite Concealment Calf Holster | |
| Sizing | A- 11.5 to 13.5″ B- 13.5 to 15.5″ C- 15.5.17.5″ D- 17.5-19.5 E- 19.5-21.5″ |
| Where Do I wear this holster? | Adjustable Flexible Fit on Calf or Ankle with the zipper and velcro strap
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| Is it Ambidextrous? | No. This holster is designed for right-handed shooters, but you can buy it directly from their website if you want a left-handed holster. |
| What Guns Does it Fit? | Glock, M&P Shield, Sig Sauer, Ruger, Kahr, Beretta, Springfield, Taurus, and Kimber. |
| Can It Fit Full-Sized Pistols? | No |
| Does it Have a Magazine Pouch? | Yes, it comes with an extra pouch to fit a knife, magazine, and flashlight |
| MSRP | $39.99 |
Why Should I Buy The BUGBite Calf Holster?
The BUGBite Calf Holster is comfortable and makes me feel like my gun is secure enough to withstand rapid movement, such as running, jumping, and hiking up a hill. It’s more expensive than the Ryker but adds a few attributes that the Ryker doesn’t have. The zipper is great if you have hairy legs that stick to everything when it’s hot, and you’re sweaty, but it also helps to adjust the grip with ease. The silicone grip dots that are on the inside of the neoprene keeps your holster exactly where it is supposed to be for the whole day.
Why Would I not Buy the BUGBite Calf Holster?
As an independent writer, I don’t have to hold back on some of the issues from products, since I don’t get paid by these companies. Personally, I have never had any problem with my BUGBite Concealment Calf Holster, but I have seen many issues reported about the quality of the holster. The main complaint is the holster doesn’t feel sturdy enough to hold the gun in place. Many people have accurately reported the seem for the neoprene separating from the holster, which could create a very precarious position if your pistol falls out and you don’t know it. My recommendation would be to use the warranty they offer if you notice any problems or go with the Ryker for a calf holster.
Conclusion
These 3 concealment holsters are the ones that I use when I decide to conceal carry in public spaces, but in no way am I saying these are the best for everyone. I’d rather not carry on my hip because it tends to be too bulky and uncomfortable to me, so I chose holsters that fit my body and are easy to conceal. The Belly Band from ComfortTec is my favorite of the 3 because of the comfort and the customization that it offers. For those that want to wear pants and have your pistol completely concealed, should go with the Ryker or BUGBite calf holsters. These calf holsters provide optimal concealment and comfort for people who are active in the outdoors or LE professionals who need a secondary pistol.
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