Not so long ago, I was a big guy. Really big. I found it easy to hide a gun and mag carriers on me before - this is now no longer the case. Now several friends in the last month have told me I look gaunt, and I’m having to wear baggy pullovers and hoodies to conceal my pistol and mags because they print like crazy otherwise. I’d prefer to wear decent-fitting clothes that still conceal my carry gun.

What I’ve been using:
Glock 19 in a Stealthgear Ventcore Mini.
Two DeSantis OWB mag carriers.
Hank’s Amish belt.

My 34x32’s are falling off me, and cinching up my belt to keep everything tight is bruising my hip. The mag carriers bulge out quite noticeably, to the point where I look strangely lopsided at my waist (which is at my navel and elbows, not my knees - so a more traditional fit is what I’m going for). I used to carry my pistol at about 2:000-2:30, and now it’s working it’s way back to closer to 3:30-4:00 naturally on its own through the day, which leads to the pistol butt poking out pretty obviously if I have to bend over for stuff, which at work, is all the time.

How much of this is simply “the way it is” and how much of it can be alleviated with different or better gear? I’m guessing a much sturdier belt would help with having to cinch and smash the gun up against my hip. The mag carriers, I won in a karma here about ten years ago, and they were used when I got them, so they’re basically done and I HAVE to replace them and want to do so with something that carries the magazine closer to my body. The holster works pretty well, I have no complaints. As the weather gets nicer, I think I might start carrying my Glock 42 when I can’t get the 19 to conceal well enough.

I know very well the platitudes that “carrying is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable” and “you dress around the gun,” so let’s please dispense with those. I have been doing this effectively for ten years as a fat guy, I just need some pointers on how to do this as skinny guy.

I lost a little weight myself and am needing to get some different clothes to help. I tend to carry my G42, as it is a smooth gun to shoot and easier to hide/conceal. I switch between that and my P365,which is also comfortable to carry with slight weight/size difference. I carry them in a kydex holster,which I find is easier and less bulky than some of the leather holsters I have.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: patw,

In the long ago days of my youth, I was 32 waist and 36 inseam. I carried a wide variety of artillery, including fat guns like a Beretta 92 Compact and N Frame S&W Revolvers. I found that the pancake style of holster kept the gun close to my body enough to allow me to cover it with a loose T-shirt. If I went IWB, I carried a full size 1911 in a Milt Sparks Summer Special. My spare magazine holder was a knife sheath pouch of various makes with the knife logo on it, which blended in well and I was not concerned with people seeing it. My pancake holsters were made by El Paso Saddelry. It is the model 77 "Tortilla" model. Which they still make. And I still have them and use them occasionally. In jacket weather I wore a Jackass shoulder rig. Now that I am old and fat, I conceal with a vest.

I'm 5'9 175. I gave up worrying about printing awhile ago. I shoot mostly full size guns 4" barrel minimum because that's what I shoot well. I use Garrett kydex/leather holsters which aren't the best conceal type holster either. Maybe I scream gun to people but I never noticed anyone overtly staring where my gun is. I don't have a complete don't give a shit attitude towards it but I don't spend a lot of extra time worrying and or money on clothes in order not to print. IWB is probably you're best bet but I can't stand carrying that way and that means a whole new wardrobe of pants.

I've never been able to make IWB carry work. The dreaded small-of-back position works best for me if I must, otherwise its OWB 3'o clock for a full sized gun.

Most of the time I ankle carry a G26. That won't work for skinny jean guys, but it works for me and yes I can run without losing my gun.

These are personal choices, and how I abide rule #1 of gunfighting...

First off you need some new pants! I'm a huge fan of pants/shorts that have elastic waistbands. They always fit snug, but not tight. They work for both OWB and IWB carry. You can find styles that are subtle enough they don't scream tactical, not that I think the average shmoe would even notice. I typically only carry one extra mag, most often in my weak side front pocket via Snagmag. I just can't make an OWB mag carrier work for me. My BlackHawk carry pants actually have elastic bands in the cargo pockets that will hold magazines vertically, so I'll use those too.

For the gun(s) I mostly carry IWB in a kydex holster. I've used Bladetech, Comp tac, and a couple others. My go to is a P320 Compact, before that was a P229 9mm. Never had an issue concealing either under just a slightly loose fitting t shirt. A properly fitting setup will hardly print, wearing dark colored shirts seems to help. If you can avoid bending as much and try more squatting when picking things up that would also be helpful.

6'0" 165lbs here.
31x34 pants & typically IWB at about 4 o'clock, to get the grip to tuck back a bit. Carrying at 3, the grip pokes out too much & puts pressure on the hip bone.

EDC a 357Sig P320C in an OHC IWB. No mag carrier at the moment, need to remedy that.
Might look i to Vedder for my next, my dad & both in laws like theirs.

Body shape is more of a deciding factor than waist size. If you were cut horizontally across the waist, you are either round, oval or a flat oval. Round can do OWB at 3:00 much easier than someone that has a flat oval body shape. Anything but round, have better luck carrying appendix or 4:30-5:00.

P220 Smudge.
If you're carrying IWB whether you're large or small, suggest bending at the knees to pick up anything if you're worried about the gun printing when you bend. Don't bend from the waist, keep your back as straight as you can and bend at the knees. The P.T. people and orthopedists will tell you that is the proper way to bend and lift anyway.

I'm 69, 6'3" and 210 lbs. I use Sparks VM II holsters for just about all my different size guns. The offset belt loops distribute gun weight better than a clip or loops directly over the body of the holster, don't print as much and hold the rig closer to your body as well. I am not a Kydex guy. Leather is a lot more comfortable if you are carrying all day. I carry IWB at 3 O'clock. and when I bend the suggested way, none of my guns print noticeably or at all, even under loose, dark colored T shirts.

I also use 1 1/2" dedicated gun belts only. Either Sparks or Kramer horsehide belts. Both are great.

Nick raises a good point. Having always been a tall thin guy, any type of belt holster worked very well for me, but different body types will affect how well various concealment holsters work for different folks.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Glock 26 in a Crossbreed Supertuck with pants a little loose in the waist have served me well for many years. I have a huge drawer of holsters I’ve tried and always come back to this.

A good stiff gun belt is a must. And a loose fitting shirt in the summer.

ETA- I just bought a Springfield Hellcat a few weeks ago and shot it this morning in a casual steel plate match and it rides in your waistband beautifully, shoots straight and is very slim for summer carry in a Crossbreed.

Skinny people who wear pants high on the waist were pretty much custom built for appendix carry. Give that a try.
( I am short fat and wear my pants lower on my torso making appendix pretty much impossible.

I find this method of carry one of the most polarizing subjects in handguns !
Some hate it others love it. I think whatever works for you is best, but don’t try to push others into it, or claim other methods are bad.

I’m 6’, and have a 34” waist. My standard dress is a tucked in T-shirt and an untucked button down shirt.
Short sleeve in summer, long sleeve in winter.
And Wrangler jeans.
I usually carry OWB at about 3:30-4:00. Smallest gun I carry is a G19. Biggest is a G41 or full size 1911.
Due to a hip issue I’ve been using a vertical shoulder holster quite a bit, lately.

I’m 5’9” 34 waist 30 inseam but wear 36’s and weigh 180. I switched back to appendix with a real gun belt and I can hide most of my full-size guns. HK USP .40 has been working nicely with two spare 16 round mags. As far as mag carriers I have a couple but have been using 2 single iwb on my opposite side of my appendix up front. I don’t wear tight close but not huge clothes either. I have used a t-Rex side car with my P226 with a TLR1 with no problem concealing it. Good luck buy a good holster and real gun belt stay away from the cheap stuff.

Everyone says the Super Tuck and similar are the way to go. I'm pretty slim at 5'8" 160 and I've hated them all. A big flat uncomfortable spot for me. I've stuck with Remora or Sticky type holster or a soft one with a clip like Uncle Mike's for handguns with a longer shirt.

My first suggestion would be a Glock 48 or 43X with Shield 15rd mags, same amount of firepower as the 19 but slimmer.

Tigher pants, proper belt, maybe a new holster. I used to carry a G26 and G19 (not simultaneously) in a similar holster and once I went to AIWB, I'd never go back for IWB.

For me, the belt works wonders and button downs and wicking polos offer my build enough concealment. I do not carry a back up mag on my person though.

Following this with interest. I’m 5’7 with a 32” waist in South Florid and struggle. I can get away with a Kydex IWB and SW Shield 4:00 and a shit that is not tucked in...but if a good fitting T-Shirt or button down no good, need to go up a size or two.

No good solution, less with shorts. Pocket carry of my backup has become more common when cannot or will not dress to CCW.

Actually I found when I was younger and skinny, it was easy to carry a pistol in just about any position easily. Carried guns DA/SA like the Makarov left side front without a holster for years.

Now being older ,but not really that larger, my body changed. My hips have narrowed, and my pants fit different. I'm smaller, 5'9" 160 lbs.

My pant size is unusual and hard to find. 34 waist is too small, 36 waist is too loose. Carhartt pants offer a 35 waist which fits me perfect. 30 inseams.

Finding the right size pants will address half of your search. I wear Tee shirts mostly with button down shirts over them in the winter.

If you are tugging on your pants all day, no form of holster is going to work for you.

quote:

Originally posted by FlyingScot:
Following this with interest. I’m 5’7 with a 32” waist in South Florid and struggle. I can get away with a Kydex IWB and SW Shield 4:00 and a shit that is not tucked in...but if a good fitting T-Shirt or button down no good, need to go up a size or two.

No good solution, less with shorts. Pocket carry of my backup has become more common when cannot or will not dress to CCW.

Where in South Florida? I'm down there from time to time for work, we should meet up.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
I used to carry my pistol at about 2:000-2:30, and now it’s working it’s way back to closer to 3:30-4:00 naturally on its own through the day,

Are you saying that the holster will gradually slide on its own on your belt line?
At 2:00, that is basically in AIWB territory, maybe find a suitable holster for AIWB, or try better clips, or a holster with a better clip retention.

6’1” 175, skinny but I have a little belly(mostly whiskey fat), I wear jeans and untucked shirts button down, iZod, camp shirts or tee shirts. Use an inside the waistband kydex holster for a G19, no extra mags, just a cell phone-and usually clipped to the left front pocket not the belt.

I’ve been skinny my whole life , but put on weight after retiring and I didn’t get as much exercise as when I was a cop...gained ten to fifteen pounds....just put a slight layer of fat all over. I have carried a 1911 and a M9 in the waistband and everything in between....the loose shirt is the key.

Also not carrying extra mags or OC or the like makes the difference...if my pistol prints, most people think it’s a cell phone and never bat an eye...I have never been asked about it or what I carry.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,