Alright, ladies, let’s be honest with ourselves here. It can be more difficult for us to carry concealed than it can be for men. For us, tight clothes and a lack of bulky layers makes it harder to hide the bulge. It gets frustrating, doesn’t it, trying to find a way to conceal your firearm securely without compromising your fashion? Well, there is some good news. Appendix holsters can work well for us when we find the right ones. We The People Holsters is all about the variety of sizes and styles, which women want – and need – when looking for the right IWB holster that works for appendix carry.
Why choose appendix carry over a regular, good ol’ strongside carry? Isn’t that the way criminals usually carry their guns? Well, if you are wondering this, let’s talk body-type. Not everyone is built for appendix carry. But ladies, our body types typically leave more room between our waistbands and our skin for concealing a small firearm. Also, a high-quality bellyband holster offers one strong advantage: a good drawing point. The draw comes out more naturally, and there is a good chance you will aim and fire more quickly and accurately.
Standard IWB holsters are often well-tailored for appendix carry. They pack in a lot of versatility, but you will want to look for brands that aren’t too rigid and have a sweat guard. IWB holsters typically work the best at concealing larger handguns instead of belt holsters, which position lower and therefore require more drapey garments to be worn over them.
Just bear in mind that larger handguns aren’t exactly comfortable to carry in the appendix position. Carrying here also might limit your ability to bend and stoop, and wearing tight pants can make that even more restricted.
Part of carrying appendix style is knowing which guns work best for it. Then, of course, you can choose to pair your selected firearm with a well-fitted, high-quality IWB holster. Here are the holsters – and their respective firearms – that We The People Holsters think work best for women who want to appendix carry
1. Glock 19/19X IWB Holster
We really love the Glock 19 Gen 5 and can’t recommend it enough as an appendix carry model. Its ergonomics and accuracy of the newly designed Marksman barrel are vastly improved over Gen 4, and the trigger feel is vastly better on the Gen 5. Also gone are the finger grooves that didn’t really do much to improve grip.
The Glock 19/19X IWB Holster fits the new Gen 5 and works for Gens 3 and 4. It can accommodate any draw type, but it certainly works for appendix style. The waterproof Kydex means that the material will not rot and will keep your Glock 19 or 19X safe from wear-and-tear. It also makes re-holstering easy and is designed to keep your shirt from getting caught while trying to do so.
2. Sig Sauer P229 IWB Holster
Federal agencies swear by the Sig Sauer P229, but it is also a great concealed carry weapon for women. And it is one that can work well for appendix carry due to its size and shape. This 9mm Luger is compact and has a standard curved trigger and slim grip that feels comfortable in women’s hands. We also really like the Nitron slide finish with the stainless steel slide.
If you’re going to carry the P229 appendix style, this IWB Holster really works well for concealing it. Durability is key on this holster, which is made with .08-inch Kydex material. It is a fully adjustable holster, so you can adjust it to your preferred angle and height just by unscrewing the clip, adjusting it to where you want it, and screwing the clip back in.
3. Smith & Wesson M&P Shield M2.0 4″ 9mm/.40 Pro RDS Red Dot Optic Cut
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield M2.0 is an improvement over the original M&P, which was already a hit. The original’s ergonomics were magnificent, but the M2.0’s stippling was improved for a better grip when you need to rapid-fire. You also get 9+1 rounds of 9mm with the extended magazine, great sights, and it has S&W’s solid reliability behind it.
That’s why we recommend the Red Dot Optic Cut holster for women who want to appendix carry. It only adds three ounces of weight and keeps a thin profile while keeping your gun protected.
4. Glock 43/43X MOS RDS Red Dot Optic Cut IWB Holster
What isn’t to love about the Glock 43 or its tweaked version, the 43X? The G43 is one of the smallest 9mm concealed carry guns on the market. It is slim and easy to conceal beneath your clothing. On the 43, you get a short grip that can completely vanish when concealed inside the right holster.
The Glock 43/43X MOS Holster is our pick for appendix carry for the G43 or G43X. It won’t fit a 43 with a rail, but otherwise, it works superbly for re-holstering and can easily be concealed inside a waistband. Lightweight and discreet, it is easy to keep hidden when carrying appendix style.
5. Sig Sauer P365 Holster IWB
The Sig Sauer P365 is super compact but holds 10+1 rounds, compared to the standard 9mm’s 6+1 or 7+1. You can even get an extended mag for 12+1 rounds. Night sights come standard too. Not to mention how much grip you get and how comfortable this firearm can feel in a woman’s hands.
Thin and discreet, the Sig Sauer P365 IWB holster works well for appendix carry. Simply conceal it inside your waistband and quickly draw and re-holster without snagging your shirt or jacket on the holster.
Women have a harder time trying to conceal carry sometimes, but that’s why these subcompact firearms work so well for us. But we also need proper holsters to keep them safe. Appendix carry is a style that works well for women since it allows us to conceal easily and draw quickly. It might not always be the most comfortable for bending and stooping, but with the right holster equipped, comfort levels can be maximized.
Featured Image by Martin Redlin from Pixabay