Jim,
I need to get some concealed holsters for myself and my wife for our Glock [1]s. What do you guys recommend? Thanks, – SF in Hawaii
JWR Replies: For concealment, I generally prefer Milt Sparks brand holsters [2]. However, in your high-humidity climate, anything made of leather is probably a mistake, especially for everyday wear. High humidity means a constant battle against rusty guns and moldy leather. (In Hawaii, nothing ever seems to get really “dry.”) So in your circumstances, I recommend Kydex.
We have been very happy with the Blade-Tech brand [3] Kydex holsters and magazine pouches. We use them extensively here at the Rawles Ranch [4] for our M1911 [5]s. We started using them about two years ago, soon after we saw how prevalent they were, when The Memsahib [6] and I went to take a four day defensive handgun course at Front Sight. [7]
See this SurvivalBlog post from March of 2007 [8] for more about holsters in general, and Blade-Tech in particular. Their Inside the Waistband (IWB [9]) model is probably best for concealment. Although their standard holster with a paddle conversion might work too. I have found that people either immediately love or hate paddles, but most folks like IWBs. Remember to get a thick, stiff, and fairly wide belt, regardless of your choice of holster. The belt that you use is crucial for keeping a holstered pistol stable and secure. you don’t want to have it flopping around. When I shop for clothes, one of the first things that I now look for is large belt loops to accommodate a thick, wide belt.
And, FWIW, I’m a big believer in getting stainless steel pistols for everyday carry, especially in humid climates.