The 5 Best IWB Holsters (Inside the Waistband for Concealed Carry)

The best inside the waistband holster is going to allow you to carry your gun and have it on you when the moment comes that you need it.

This is serious business. No other purchase, beside the tax on your concealed carry permit, is going to contribute more to your ability to carry a firearm then choosing the best IWB holster for your method of concealed carry. Make sure it’s comfortable and concealable!

Comfort & Thinness

You may immediately assume that the thinnest holster is always going to be the best. After all, thinner guns are always more concealable, right?

Not quite.

I would recommend that everyone thinking that thinner is always better to try on a holster made of the thinnest kydex available. A holster needs to support and distribute the weight of a gun, not just protect the trigger guard. Otherwise, all the weight from your gun and ammunition is going to be at one central point and make your pants drift down on one side. Nothing is more annoying than having your pants fall down as you walk!

Small differences in how far clips are placed make a difference.

The 5 Best IWB Holsters for Concealed Carry

Here are five holsters that are excellent and not only supporting but distributing the weight of carrying guns effectively making them some the best inside the waistband holster for concealed carry.

1. Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 IWB Holster

Best IWB Holster for Concealment​

Almost every holster on the market is a compromise. Each holster design has its advantages and disadvantages as does the material holsters are made from. Inside the waistband holsters offer the best concealability but can lack with comfort depending on the material they are made from.

To combat this Alien Gear combined the three best holster making materials and one excellent piece of equipment. They took the durability and structural characteristics of center cut steer hide leather, combined it with the rigidity and retention of kydex, and wrapped it in comfortable neoprene. This gives you an exceptionally comfortable holster right out of the box.

The only downside to this holster is a slight increase in weight and bulk you get from having such a feature-rich design. There’s no getting around three-layer construction or the slightly bulky belt clips. However, if you can get away with having to put up with a little bit of printing here and there you can enjoy the benefits of a full-length waterproof sweat guard and the weight distribution of an oversized leather backer.

The adjustable ride height, cant and retention of this holster make it fully adjustable for your body shape and draw stroke and the virtually maintenance free design mean that you can use it every day with confidence. The holster comes with a lifetime warranty and a 30 day trial period. The Cloak Tuck 3.0 is proudly made in America and is one of the best concealed carry holsters on the market.

2. Concealment Express Kydex IWB Holster

Best Inside the Waistband Holster​

The basic, plain Jane Kydex holster will always be one of the best inside the waistband holsters available. No other holster comes close in concealability, durability, and minimal weight in bulk. This holster from Concealment Express offers the most refined and advanced design of this type of holster.

This holster is made from genuine .08-inch kydex and is custom molded to a perfect fit. It weighs only 2.5 ounces and comes with a 1.5-inch plastic belt clip. That plastic belt clip is plenty to hold your holster on while you draw and won’t chew up your clothing, furniture or car. Included is a phillips head screw that adjusts the retention for perfect draw stroke.

The simple folded over one-piece design securely cases the trigger guard and forward section of your barrel. It is completely safe to carry your gun with such a minimalist design and is one of the most comfortable ways to do so.

Available in left and right-hand configurations in three different colors this holster is 100% handmade in the United States and carries an unconditional lifetime warranty, with free returns. This holster is in stock and ready to ship year round, without the need to wait for a custom shop to make you a holster. If you have a new gun and want to get a holster for it as soon as possible, then these can usually be had within a day or two. Perfect for a first time concealed carrier or someone wanting a backup holster quickly.

3. Galco Stow-N-Go Inside The Pant Holster

Most Comfortable IWB Holster​

There’s isn't a holster company in the world that produces quality holsters on the same level as Galco Concealment. They make a ton of different holsters all of which are made to a professional standard that you can bet your life on. This is their most popular model by far, a simple IWB tuckable holster made to be cost efficient and comfortable.

This holster is made to be low profile covering only the trigger guard in the forward section of your firearms barrel. The low-profile design is made from a single piece of genuine suede leather and a low-profile all metal belt clip. Made using the best materials Galco can get their hands on it is used and trusted by law enforcement, military and millions of concealed carriers.

Made in both left and right-handed configurations this holster is available for a ton of different firearms including all the most popular concealed carry pieces. If you’re looking for an exceptionally comfortable and cost-effective inside the waistband holster for concealed carry, consider this IWB “Stow-N-Go” holster from Galco.

4. BLACKHAWK Ambidextrous Appendix Reversible Carry Inside the Pants Holster

Best IWB Holster for XDS​

For most people wanting a simple inside the waistband holster for concealed carry of the Springfield XDS they're going to turn to either a kydex or injection molded plastic design. This is the best of both worlds. Most kydex holsters lack body that distributes the weight of the gun being carried. Most injection molded plastic designs degrade quickly and are bulky.

Blackhawk, a company best known for hard use nylon equipment, has produced this holster to be used anywhere inside the waistband for Springfield XDS and a ton of different pistols. The great thing about this holster is that not only can it be used on strong side hip or appendix carry, this holster is fully adjustable to be used anywhere inside the waistband.

The low price point combined with the rugged construction makes it an ideal backup holster or an introduction to carrying inside the waistband or appendix. The Springfield XDS is often chosen for its extra safeties in this holster while being extremely low profile, in both thin and overall size, covers the trigger guard and safely carries a Springfield XDS.

The adjustable retention works extremely well since you can dial in the audible click of your gun when you draw and re-holster it. This is an excellent holster for anyone looking for a cheap option or for a backup. Don’t be fooled by the low-price point or the reputation of previous generation injection molded plastic designs. This holster will serve you well.

5. Q-Series IWB Minimalist Concealed Carry Stealth Holster

Best IWB Holster for Glock 19​

The Glock 19 is the ubiquitous carry pistol. It ushered in the current generation of concealed carriers and convinced people that anyone can carry a gun for self-defense. That doesn’t change the fact that you still have to safely carry it, holsters have evolved just as quickly as well.

The smallest most refined pistol holster on the market several years ago amounted to little more than a folded over piece of kydex that attached to your belt with a length of paracord to prevent you from shooting yourself.

The Q-Series inside the waistband minimalist concealed carry stealth holster is the new generation of these minimalist holsters. An injection molded nylon design secures the trigger guard to prevent you from having a negligent discharge a single all steel clip secures the gun to your belt or waistband.

This is fantastic because it adds zero bulk and less than 2 ounces of weight to your carry set up and is an extremely low-profile minimalist design. It sits extremely close to the body and virtually eliminates printing. Without a belt on, the clip is designed to snap over the waistband of your pants keeping the holster in place when you draw your firearm.

This becomes one of the best IWB holster for Glock 19 because the lightweight Glock is easy to carry, and the extremely low-profile design of this holster complements the carry anywhere nature of the gun.

​Bottom Line

The ubiquitous inside the waistband holster is certainly here to stay. The enormous number of choices you have access to on the internet these days means that choosing the correct holster is incredibly difficult. You can’t go wrong with any of the five on this list but you still need to make sure that you read reviews of the top IWB holsters out there and decide on one that will be right for you.