Holster Review: Pager Pal vs Smartcarry

[drjoker]

Smartcarry

Advantages; Can draw seated in car with seat belt on. Very discreet, not obvious you have a gun at all. One-handed draw possible. Weight distributed evenly and you won't even notice that it's there if you're standing.

Disadvantages; You have to suck in your gut to draw, unless you want to buy a new wardrobe of pants that are one size too large. The draw is a bit more difficult than the Pager Pal. It stretches your pants uncomfortably when you sit. It obstructs your running as the gun is in front of your upper thigh. You can run, but it will be uncomfortable. Although it does not print a gun shape, it will make it look like you're wearing adult diapers. The top of the gun's grip prints like it is the top of an adult diaper. It is very difficult to reholster as you have to take off your pants in order to reholster safely.

Pager Pal

Advantages; Slightly easier to draw than Smartcarry due to the pager/phone giving you leverage to yank the gun out of your pants. Due to this leverage, you do not have to buy pants that are a size too large nor do you have to suck in your gut to draw. It is slightly easier to run than with the Smartcarry. It prints like you have something big in your pocket, but it does not print a gun shape. It is easy to sit (unlike Smartcarry). It is easier to sit down than with the Smartcarry. You may spontaneously decide to carry a gun and just slip it quickly into your pants.

Disadvantages; The fake pager. It will snag on your belt unless you are wearing a thick leather gunbelt. This fake pager will also dig into your gut. Regular thickness belts will snag your draw. The J hook to hook the gun onto your belt tends to dig itself into the leather holster, wearing out the holster. The cell phone holder is not made of gunleather. It is made of crap leather so it FALLS off often and easily. The seat belt in your car will snag the fake pager or your cell phone so that it is impossible to draw from inside a car.

Conclusion

If I need deep concealment, then I'll wear the Smartcarry. If I suddenly want to pack a gun but don't have enough time to take off my pants to put on the Smartcarry, then I will use the Pager Pal. I prefer the Smartcarry. Although the Pager Pal is a faster draw, the deciding factor is that I can do a one-handed draw with the Smartcarry. Therefore, I can draw a tactical light with the left hand. A light is essential to shooting safety as many gun tragedies happen because the shooter can't see what he/she is shooting at. The Smartcarry can also be drawn from a seated position with seat belts on while the Pager Pal is difficult to draw while seated and impossible to draw while seated with seat belts on in a car. Sitting is uncomfortable for both modes of carry. Running is awkward for both modes of carry.

Do not be dumb and try to re-holster your gun with your pants on when using Smartcarry or the trigger will snag on your clothes resulting in an accidental discharge. Always reholster the gun with your pants down with the Smartcarry.

[AEA]

Ummm.........

Or just buy a real holster.......

[Mike1951]

There appear to be some satisfied users of Smartcarry. I've never heard of a satisfied user of a Pager Pal.

In the early days, '96-'97, I bought a holster similar to a Pager Pal. I can only describe the leather as luxurious, so it is much more comfortable. The fasteners are not snaps, but magnetic. The pouch holds a lockblade knife instead of a pager. I consider it vastly superior to the Pager Pal, but I still never wear it.

I've bought a couple of Pager Pals when they were in the $10 clearance boxes.

It's an awkward draw requiring extra motion. We all talk about how vests and fanny packs scream gun, whether they do or not. But how long has it been since you saw someone wearing a pager?

Best advice you'll get, but don't scrimp!

Ummm.........

Or just buy a real holster.......

[chabouk]

Smartcarry
Advantages; Can draw seated in car with seat belt on.

I suspect this depends very much on one's individual body type.

I could barely draw from a Smartcarry if you gave me a five minute head start.

[mrvmax]

Ummm.........

Or just buy a real holster.......

To each his own. I like the smarcarry for different applications, it works well in some areas but not others....like any other holster. My buddy can draw from his Smartcarry as fast as from an IWB or other holster, you would be surprised.

[drjoker]

Update
I bought the Pager Pal and Smartcarry so that I could wear just about anything I want and still carry a full size service pistol. I did not want to change the way I dress. However, I did not want to stink up my Smartcarry with sweat, so I have to start wearing boxers instead of tighty whities. With tighty whities, my inner thigh sweats and rubs off the sweat on the Smartcarry. This could cause it to stink, requiring frequent laundering and shortened product life. Therefore, I am going to have to change my wardrobe a little by wearing boxers.

I carry a Glock 19 once a week. It is a full size service pistol. If you carry a smaller gun, you might have an easier time. I think that compact full size service pistols are the limit in size for concealed carry. Such pistols would be; Kimber CDP/Ultra, Glock 19, and 38 caliber snub nosed revolver. I don't think that the Smarcarry can carry anything bigger unless you wear baggy pants such as cargo pants as my Glock 19 stretches my pants to the limit when I am seated. I like wearing tight clothes with my shirt tucked in. I do not want to look like a slob.

I re-read my original post and it seems like I am complaining, but I am not. I really like the Smartcarry, but I do want to point out its faults as ALL concealed carry holsters have faults. That way, you could make an informed purchase decision.

chabouk: The secret to drawing effectively from a Smartcarry is to suck in your gut while you draw.


AEA: A"real" holster would require you to change your mode of dress. In other words, you'd have to wear different clothes. I am not a gun hobbyist. I do not think that I should work around a tool (the gun). I think that a tool should work for you. Therefore, you should be able to wear anything you want and still be able to use the holster. The Smartcarry allows me to wear anything I want and still be able to use the same holster all the time to carry a full size service pistol (a "real" gun). That's why, despite my complaints, the Smartcarry is what I use most of the time.

P.S. Next month, I will buy a Wilderness Tactical Safepacker concealed carry holster and then write up a review for you guys. I think it offers a very comfortable way to carry concealed with just about any clothes.

[Carrots]

Ummm.........

Or just buy a real holster.......

Bootiful

[drjoker]

Smartcarry Holster:


Pagerpal Holster:


P.S. Just google for their websites (I'm too lazy to do anymore cutting and pasting).

[chabouk]

Smartcarry Holster:

Is it just me, or does that look like a transvestite from 1986?

[Dudley]

Is it just me, or does that look like a transvestite from 1986?

I don't know. Is that you?

[Beiruty]

Not the prestiest girtl, at least she needs:
1) A new hair dresser
2) An OKay model photographer. A Semi-pro at least.

That pic just sucks big time.

[drjoker]

Update
I've been fiddling with the Smartcarry and although it is still my favorite mode of carry, I must warn you that you MUST practice a lot with an UNLOADED weapon before actual carry/use because if you draw the weapon incorrectly, you could have an accidental discharge that will roast your family jewels (if you're a man)! With the Pager Pal, you draw the weapon out with the fake pager and then unholster the weapon with the gun pointed away from you, so you could use it from the get-go with little practice. I keep the Pager Pal in the car just in case I unexpectedly encounter a 30.06 sign. When I come back to my car, I want to reholster my weapon without having to take my pants off in a public parking lot. You have to take your pants off to safely reholster with the Smartcarry, but you can reholster without taking your pants off with the Pager Pal. The Smartcarry is great, but you MUST PRACTICE A LOT before actual use.

The trick is to;
1. suck in your gut
1.a. optional step: if you have a fat gut or really tight pants, you may use your non-gun hand to pull your pants forward while sucking in your gut
2. stick your hand in your pants
3. keep your finger off the trigger
4. pull out your gun
5. still keep finger off trigger
6. point gun at assailant/BG
7. now, put your finger on trigger

I am going to work out and lost a couple of pounds so that I may draw my weapon out of the Smartcarry faster. You can use Smartcarry if you're overweight (I am), but the draw will not be as fast. I can draw in 1 sec, but if I didn't have the belly, I know I could draw much faster. It is still my favorite mode of carry as it is very discrete and can be used with any article of clothing except spandex.

They also say you could use smartcarry while riding a bicycle, I confirm that it is POSSIBLE, but uncomfortable (at least with a Glock 19). With a smaller weapon, you may have a different experience. I am probably going to use a Wilderness Tactical Safepacker for use with Spandex clothing and also for use as a hip holster under my suit. It would be as comfortable as a hip holster, but in case you have to take off the jacket (hot in Texas), it is still concealed. However, this test will have to be next month as it is out of my budget for this month to purchase it.

Mike 1951:
Lots of doctors still wear pagers, so it's no big deal. Pagers are great. You don't have to talk to them right away, so it won't disturb your life as much as a cell call. They'll page me first and if I don't call back in 15 min, then they'll call the cell.