We are not talking about anybody’s belly-button, but rather we are posing the question of what is your preferred method of carry? Do you like Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) carry? Or do you favor Outside-the-Waistband (OWB) carry? There are a multitude of reasons people may lean towards one or the other. Sometimes that decision is tipped a certain way because of your occupation. Other times it could be because of your hobbies. The most important part of choosing whether to carry IWB or OWB is to make a conscious act of choosing one or the other. Assess your lifestyle and what will benefit you the most. Do not simply grab a clearance holster from your local gun store and assume that is good enough. Weigh the positives and negatives for you!
With IWB carry, there are a bevy of benefits that drives many concealed carry advocates to this style of carry. For one, it affords you the greatest level of concealment of your firearm. Typically, your firearm of choice and your holster will be between your briefs and your pants, either clipped in on a sturdy belt or the pant itself. Being that close to your body means it will exhibit very minimal printing. Another benefit is that there is a less likelihood of your firearm being taken from you. There is a one-in-a-million chance anyone would be errantly foolish enough to attempt to take your firearm from you, but being hidden and that close to your body makes it exponentially less likely even still. Speaking of being hidden, you have the advantage and element of surprise if you are thrust into a situation where you must defend yourself. All in all, many people choose to do IWB carry as to not broadcast they are carrying a firearm and to put themselves at an advantage with the element of surprise.
Your other option for carry would be OWB, but that is much less popular because of the tremendous pitfalls of losing the element of surprise and leaving your sidearm open to be taken from you. Even still, many people like and appreciate OWB carry for their own reasons. Some people will choose an OWB holster because of their occupation. They might work in law enforcement, be a school resources officer, or some other type of security detail. Other people like to have an OWB holster for when they are walking their dogs, out hiking in nature, or are hunting and want their secondary firearm readily available to them. OWB carry is valuable in all of those capacities because of the easy access it allows you. In the horrific event you need to protect yourself, you want it to be easy to summon your firearm.
For myself personally, I choose to carry both ways. My day job is managing a gun store so I open carry. I also often go for walks with my dog and am an avid hunter so I choose to open carry during those activities as well. If I am out and about in my community running errands though I will conceal-and-carry with an IWB holster. It is all about tailoring your holster to how you live your life on a daily basis. There is no singular, perfect holster. That is why so many of us have boxes and desk drawers of them. So, the next time you are with some friends, crack open a “can of worms” and ask them whether they carry IWB or OWB, and why? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!
