Need a new "active" holster

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DFWTT
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Need a new "active" holster

Post by DFWTT »

So I'm looking for a comfortable holster to wear while jogging, 10min miles. I've worn cargo shorts with a G22 in a couple of holsters, the latest is a Blackhawk Serpa with paddle, not the cheap "sportsman". It's comfortable and doesn't bounce around but I really want to ditch the full size AND the cargo shorts. 2 reasons, bulky shorts and muzzle length. As the weather warms up, I'd like to move toward athletic shorts with a draw string OR any experience you can share regarding the quick dry, lighter fabric cargos would be helpful as I feel the draw string shorts my hinder my carry ability and holster options. I have smaller options, a stainless 2" snubbie or a Kahr PM9, both stainless. IWB options are plenty, maybe too plenty. Definitly want a good solid metal clip and a low ride position. It will get sweaty so maybe leather is not my best option, willing to explore. No Uncle Mike's for sure. I am aware of the products like Pistolwear but chaffing due to sensitive skin is an issue so don't really want to go that route. Other option is OWB. I can wear longer tech tees and printing is not a real issue because I run after dark in a relatively quiet neighborhood. If I go this way I'm more inclined to wear paddles. I would like to make the change soon so lead times and product availability would be considered. The floor is open.

:coolgleamA:
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Excaliber
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by Excaliber »

DFWTT wrote:So I'm looking for a comfortable holster to wear while jogging, 10min miles. I've worn cargo shorts with a G22 in a couple of holsters, the latest is a Blackhawk Serpa with paddle, not the cheap "sportsman". It's comfortable and doesn't bounce around but I really want to ditch the full size AND the cargo shorts. 2 reasons, bulky shorts and muzzle length. As the weather warms up, I'd like to move toward athletic shorts with a draw string OR any experience you can share regarding the quick dry, lighter fabric cargos would be helpful as I feel the draw string shorts my hinder my carry ability and holster options. I have smaller options, a stainless 2" snubbie or a Kahr PM9, both stainless. IWB options are plenty, maybe too plenty. Definitly want a good solid metal clip and a low ride position. It will get sweaty so maybe leather is not my best option, willing to explore. No Uncle Mike's for sure. I am aware of the products like Pistolwear but chaffing due to sensitive skin is an issue so don't really want to go that route. Other option is OWB. I can wear longer tech tees and printing is not a real issue because I run after dark in a relatively quiet neighborhood. If I go this way I'm more inclined to wear paddles. I would like to make the change soon so lead times and product availability would be considered. The floor is open.

:coolgleamA:
An elastic bellyband holster might be a good solution.
Excaliber

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The Annoyed Man
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by The Annoyed Man »

DFWTT wrote:The floor is open.
Quit running? :mrgreen:
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

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DFWTT
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by DFWTT »

Chaffing issues with the belly band and similar products :oops:

Just started back about a month ago from an 7 month hietus. Can't stop now cause the dirty 30's have added a few pounds and I'm only half way through them. Mother Nature and Father Time are cruel and unusual pranksters.
:cup:
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pnctar
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by pnctar »

DFWTT wrote:Chaffing issues with the belly band and similar products :oops:

Just started back about a month ago from an 7 month hietus. Can't stop now cause the dirty 30's have added a few pounds and I'm only half way through them. Mother Nature and Father Time are cruel and unusual pranksters.
:cup:
Otta try the fifties ... "rlol"
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Pug
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by Pug »

Some will nay-say the idea, but I love my Merlin Pack (yes, it's a fanny pack) for occasional outings in my shorts.
:thumbs2:
Katygunnut
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by Katygunnut »

The Annoyed Man wrote:
DFWTT wrote:The floor is open.
Quit running? :mrgreen:
Agreed. A good, used car can be had for fairly cheap. No need to wear yourself out by running around.
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C-dub
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by C-dub »

I have considered this dilemma myself and not found anything I like. I haven't looked that hard, but just thinking about it leads me to believe that some type of fanny pack like thing worn over the shoulder might be a more comfortable way to carry while jogging. Something like from Maxpedition may be a good option. A few people around here use something from them and are pretty happy with what they got.
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03Lightningrocks
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

The Annoyed Man wrote:
DFWTT wrote:The floor is open.
Quit running? :mrgreen:
"rlol" "rlol" "rlol" That was the advice I was going to give when I saw the original post.
clarionite
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by clarionite »

Check out the Kangaroo at http://www.kangaroocarry.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've got one. And while I hardly ever use it anymore (I've got something I think is more comfortable) I also don't jog.
They're realatively inexpensive, and as far as sweat goes just throw it in the washer. Make sure to get the model with
the retention strap if you're going to jog. I don't have it on mine, and it stays in but again I'm not jogging.
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by speedsix »

...Wilderness Products makes a strong, comfortable nylon(reinforced) belt that's velcro/buckle adjustable...I'd wear it snugly with your running shorts...and use an iwb or owb clip-on holster from 10-2...loose shirt to cover it...I wear pocket ts...the belt will keep it from moving around...no need for belt loops on shorts...
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A-R
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by A-R »

speedsix wrote:...Wilderness Products makes a strong, comfortable nylon(reinforced) belt that's velcro/buckle adjustable...I'd wear it snugly with your running shorts...and use an iwb or owb clip-on holster from 10-2...loose shirt to cover it...I wear pocket ts...the belt will keep it from moving around...no need for belt loops on shorts...
I've started using a similar setup for walking/light jogging (trying to get my fat rear into a different shape :anamatedbanana ), but I'm using the most basic 5.11 Tactical BDU belt with plastic buckle (what many use to avoid setting off metal detectors at airport without having to remove belt) because it's more comfortable than big ol' heavy-duty Wilderness belt. And I'm only carrying my little LCP in a homemade hybrid ABS plastic & leather belt-slide holster plus a spare mag in an old leatherman pouch. I put on my "bicycle shorts" (whatever you call those skin-tight undershorts made of stretchy material), then the belt/holster setup, then tighten my jogging shorts over that (sorta like IWB). This helps hold the gun in the holster (open top, no retention strap). I also like how this setup keeps the gun in the same general strong-side draw area as what I wear regularly. With fanny packs, kangaroo carry, and others you have to learn/practice a new draw stroke.

Since I started trying to get some exercise about a month ago, I've tried it all

1. 5.11 fanny pack with full-size and compact guns (too big/bulky/heavy) and with my LCP (zipper opened itself somehow while walking and little Elsie Pea made a face-plant onto the concrete sidewalk :eek6 )

2. Kangaroo Carry - this is still a possibility, still trying it out, but as weather warms I like jogging in sleeveless shirts and thus the gun is exposed right there under my arm in the big sleeve hole in the shirt ... not a perfect solution

3. a homemade "shoulder holster" for my LCP - again, homemade holster from ABS plastic (roughly same as kydex) and strung together with paracord. This idea started off as a copy of the Comp Tac "Centerline" holster ... http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .... but I didn't care for the lil LCP bouncing around on my chest and thought it printed a lot unless I wore a really big shirt over it. So I added more paracord and a opposite side plastic mag pouch and it became a redneck-engineered jogging shoulder holster set up. The paracord knot "how to" link in the above Comp Tac product page works great for building a paracord holster rig. This whole contraption works OK, not as uncomfortable as it looks, but again has the problem of being unusable while wearing a sleeveless shirt in hot weather and like while draw is improved a bit over Kangaroo Carry, it's still not ideal (strong hand up under shirt, under weak arm, cross draw)

4. Even tried a light-duty back brace with LCP in a small IWB holster secured by a big elastic/velcro strap ... didn't like that at all, constricting and hot - like what I imagine it would feel like to wear a girdle or corset (notice I said "what I imagine it would feel like" ... so no J. Edgar Hoover jokes :nono: :biggrinjester: )

Anyway, nothing is ideal but so far the belt + belt-slide holster and lightweight gun seem to work best. Just remember, if using this especially with a heavier gun and a holster with some retention, you can tighten the belt enough to hold the gun/holster in place, but on the draw there are no belt loops to keep the entire belt/holster rig from rising up with the gun. So you need to work out all retention issues at home BEFORE taking out a cobbled together rig like this. Just because a gun/holster/belt combo works while wearing regular pants doesn't mean it will work while wearing it without regular pants/belt loops.

As for the little LCP, again not ideal (would prefer a Glock). But my goal is getting exercise, and the heavier guns were hampering that goal (bouncing around too much in fanny pack, actually causing me to seemingly lean a bit to one side, and really only usable in an unorthodox cross-draw position ... I can't jog while having all that weight bobbing up and down at noon position - that's where my beer belly bobs up and down :smilelol5: )

Besides, if the LCP is good enough for a jogging governor to take out a coyote, it's good enough for me :thumbs2: :txflag:
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DFWTT
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by DFWTT »

Thanks AR. I think I have decided on the lightweight wicking fabric cargos. I checked out a few brands and was pleased enough with some $35 shorts. They have 1.25" loops and if I can do IWB relatively.. :grumble .. comfortably with a fullsize while running then I can do a sub compact or snubbie with a 1.25" IWB with ease. I have to decide on a holster and I've liked what I've seen in the Galco full kydex IWB's for longevity over leather. I'll repost with an update once everything is together. If all else fails, I can always go with another Blackhawk Serpa paddle for one of those options. That worked really well for the G22 just too long of a slide. Consequently, in my search, I've been drawn to the Bianchi professional 100 for my snubbie for a grab and go...$50 bucks just fell out of that charred hole in the bottom of my front pocket. :roll:
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Re: Need a new "active" holster

Post by 40khammer »

Check out some of the shirt holsters on the NRA store. The shirts are skintight undershirts with built in holsters that keep the gun snug against your body. You can wear a short sleaved button up shirt to conceal it. I think the NRA store also sells some of those with magnetic buttons for easy access.
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