Top 3 Gun Holsters For Hikers/Hunters

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest was a dream come true for a curious kid with a love of animals and mountains. My father was in the Army and we were fortunate enough to spend 5 years in Ft. Lewis, Washington. During those 5 years, all I did was spend my time in the woods with the peaks of Mt. Rainer in the distance. The habits and love of the mountains I learned as a child have undoubtedly had a tremendous impact on me as an adult. I spend the majority of all my free time either hunting or hiking in the national forests and mountains all across the country. This blog is dedicated to the Americans, like me, that hike and hunt all over the country and need to carry for protection against bears, mountain lions, and anything or anyone else. Many people don’t know that there are holsters that are specifically made for people who are more active and need versatility in their holsters. 

1. Athletic Wear Tuckable IWB Holster

The Athletic Wear Tuckable IWB holster from Concealment Express is one of the best holsters on the market in conjunction with athletic wear. as you can see in the picture below, the holster is held to your waistband with the Concealment Express Ulti Clip 3+. One of the biggest issues I’ve faced while hiking is if I’m wearing athletic gear, the gun and clip sag on my shorts or pants and makes me feel less secure than I should feel. The Ulti Clip 3+ eliminates those feelings by securing as tight as possible without digging into my skin or sagging my waistband. 

Depending on the state I’m hunting or hiking in, I’m able to even tuck in my shirt and use it as an open carry or have my shirt over my pistol to use a CCW. Make sure you’re aware of your laws and have your permit before you walk around with a CCW. The holster is ambidextrous so we lefties are able to carry it without any type of modifications or added discomfort trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The carry angle of this holster can be manipulated to anything from -30 to 30 degrees, depending on if you’d like to conceal or open-carry.

Another great feature of Concealment Express holsters is the Posi-Click retention feature that gives you an audible click when your gun is set into your holster. This gives you the peace of mind that you deserve, especially when your hiking or hunting in rough terrain that forces you to be in compromising positions. There is nothing more embarrassing or unsafe than having your pistol fall out of your holster as you climb a rock cliff or have to slide on your butt down a steep hill. 

Which Guns Fit the Athletic Wear Tuckable IWB Holster?

• Bersa Thunder 380
• 1911
• Canik TP9SF
• FNH 509 Compact
• Glock 17/19/22/26/23/30/32/33/42/43/48
• H&K 45 Compact
• Kimber K6S
• Keltec PF9
• Ruger LC9
• Ruger LCP
• Ruger SR22
• SCCY CPX 12
• Springfield 911/Hellcat/XDS/XD3 Sub
• Sig p365/P365XL/320/P938
• S&W M&P M2.0
• S&W M&P Shield
• S&W SD9 VE
• Walther PPS M2

2. Comfort-Flex Pro Ankle Holster

I first wore an ankle holster as a police officer for a secondary pistol, just in case I needed more firepower. Luckily, I never had to use it or even consider using it, but I’m glad that I had that peace of mind. As every officer or soldier knows, fire superiority is the most important thing to gain and maintain in a firefight. An ankle holster allows you to conceal your firearm without having to wear it on your hip.

When I’m hiking, I have found that I like wearing an ankle holster because I feel it gives me more comfort, especially when I’m hiking a Colorado 14er. If you’re going up the entire way and you have a beer belly, as I do, it’s just not as comfortable, regardless of how nice the holster is. An ankle holster is a great way to avoid your belly from constantly pinching and getting chaffed all the way up the mountain. 

The Comfort-Flex PRO ankle holster is lightweight and features really soft and comfortable elastic edges all around the holster to ensure you never chafe or notice the holster rubbing your skin. The ankle holster is designed to be drawn really quickly with the reinforced thumb break for semi-auto pistols, whereas, the pull-through design is used in many revolvers, especially the J frame S&W. My favorite feature is the real sheepskin used as the internal fabric, instead of cutting corners with fake sheepskin (cheapskin is what most people call fake leather). Real sheepskin is expensive to process, but it’s worth it due to its natural wicking properties and ensures your holster doesn’t slide as you get sweaty from the climb uphill. 

Which Guns Fit the Comfort-Flex Pro Holster?

• Glock 26/27/42/43/43X
• H&K P2000/P2000SK
• Ruger LCP
• Springfield XDS (3.3")
• S&W M&P M2.0
• S&W M&P Shield
• S&W J Frame Revolvers

3. BH2.1 Carbon Fiber Open-Top Holster 2.1

1791 Gunleather is a company not as many people know about, but they’re just as good as any of the top holster companies on the market today. As their name suggests, they specialize in producing high-end gun holsters made of genuine leather. They recently put out a new holster that is made from the same genuine leather but incorporates carbon fiber into the design to cut down on weight and improve the durability of the holster.

This specific holster is made from 100% American steer hide leather and woven carbon fiber for a holster that conforms to your body the longer you wear it. Carbon Fiber is always going to be lighter and more durable than traditional fabric because it’s highly processed and has incredible tensile strength and wear resistance. The biggest issue with carbon fiber products is the cost is always higher than any other material used because of the time and effort it takes to create and incorporate into the holster.

The carbon fiber holster is the quietest holster in regards to the sound it makes when you holster and draw your weapon. It’s smoother, easier to draw, and is completely quiet for maintaining stealthy operations. That’s important if you’re trying to be ready to protect yourself, but don’t want to give your position away. I recommend using this holster with a thicker tactical belt to optimize its effectiveness. 

Which Guns Fit the 1791 Gunleather BH2.1 Carbon Fiber Holster?

• Bersa Thunder 380
• 1911
• Canik TP9SF
• FNH 509 Compact
• Glock19/23/25/27/28/29/30/32/33
• H&K 40 Compact
• Ruger SR9
• Springfield XDS
• Sig P228/P229
• S&W M&P 9
• S&W M&P Shield
• Walther P99/PPQ