Are thigh holsters better?

[RM]

Just wondering why Swat, Police, Military, etc. now usually wear their sidearm in a holster on their thigh rather than in a belt holster. Why is this better? Thank you!

 

[Croyance]

If you are wearing heavy body armor, it pushes anything on your belt out or covers the belt. So the thigh is the way to go.
It is more likely to snag, I think. But if you are about to serve a warrent on a violent criminal or are in another SWAT situation, it isn't so great a concern. I also believe it gets in the way of weapon retention.

I haven't seen that rank and file police "usually" carry their side arm this way, but they sometimes do.

 

[biggiesmalls]

some people draw faster from a thigh holster. i don't, but i've seen my friend draw and fire so fast from his tight holster that i was considering filming him doing it and posting it online. i think i will.

 

[Geronimo45]

Han Solo did it first, you know.

Have you noticed traditional belt holsters? Like the old leather Webley holster? Goes a few inches north of the belt. Can be annoying when seated in a chair with arms. Or a car's seat. Also allows for a 'cleaner' draw - the holster's less likely to stick to the gun when you're drawing when it's strapped to your leg.

That's how I see it, anyhow.

 

[Mortech]

For quick access in a hostile environment its very fast but for everyday carry in a low threat environment its a pain in the arse . The holster will tend to catch and hang up on everything from furniture to seat bealts while climbing in a vehicle to banging into door jambs while manuvering through tight crowds . And lets not talk about it hanging up in thick brush in the field (crossdraw is wonderful in this environ where you can easily ward off branches with your hand that might catch on your holster) . During the first trip to the sand box I prefered a tankers rig since I was always in an office or vehicle .

 

[BADUNAME13]

If you are wearing heavy body armor, it pushes anything on your belt out or covers the belt. So the thigh is the way to go

Yep

 

[TallPine]

Concealed under a kilt maybe...?

 

[Titan6]

Not just body armor but all the other gear as well. Even way back when we had just LBE I still used either a thigh holster or chest rig to keep it out of the way.

 

[marksman13]

I liked a drop leg holster for all the reasons mentioned, but when I was on the FOB the pistol went into a shoulder holster. It was much more convenient. Anybody ever had to take a crap while wearing a drop leg holster? It's impossible without removing the holster from your belt completely.

 

[Mortech]

LOL MArksman I forgot about that , but then in some circumstances the crap came involuntarily

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

also dont forget that a drop thigh holster isn't as good for weapon retention. with a regular belt holster you can normally drop your elbow and feel the butt of your gun, and if in a wrestling match you have better chances of retaining your weapon. in a drop thigh holster there is very little retention, other than what is built-in to the holster.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I had a Safariland thigh holster when I was a contractor overseas.

On the plus side, it dropped it out of the way of our armor....but I think a low-ride belt holster could've done the same.

On the minus, it stuck out WAY too far and was uncomfortable. It made your pant leg bunch up, and since it was attached to our gunbelts, not our pants belts, it tended to both pull the pant leg up and pull the belt down.

I prefer belt holsters. If I needed to wear armor again, I'd exhaust every option of getting the holster out of the way of the armor before going back to a thigh rig.

Contrary to how awesome and super sophisticated we of the 21st century like to think we are, the drop rig holster ain't exactly new...

EDIT: As if to prove me a liar, this thread got me thinking and I converted my Blade-Tech holster back to "thigh" configuration. I think I'll try it out like that for awhile. I don't use it for normal carry anyway.

 

[Thin Black Line]

I liked a drop leg holster for all the reasons mentioned, but when I was on the FOB the pistol went into a shoulder holster. It was much more convenient. Anybody ever had to take a crap while wearing a drop leg holster? It's impossible without removing the holster from your belt completely.

That's why there's a hook on the inside of the portajohn door. But, yes,
on a fobbit day go shoulder holster.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Another possible reason: the sidearm is exactly that, a backup to the carbine, shotgun or submachine gun that is the officer's primary weapon.

 

[RubenZ]

I like to use a drop holster when I'm out hunting because I'm usually carrying a backpack, and my Rem 700. So it gets annoying walking with a long gun and having a sidearm right there on your hip. Thigh Holster is the way to go. It's also easier to draw because you don't have to pick your arm up as high to grab it.

 

[Josh Aston]

Thigh rigs are high on cool factor, that's about it IMO. They aren't very comfortable for reasons already stated. Chest rigs are the better "tactical" holster. I would wear one on my body armor if it didn't have to be sanitized. But instead I use a Blackhawk Serpa with the paddle attachment, just slip the paddle into my pocket and It's good to go.

 

[trueblue1776]

It wasn't the armor that got in the way of my pistol, it was hanging up on my pack. The thigh holster is also more intimidating, which is a plus in many (not all) situations.

I like less weight on my belt too.

 

[AndyC]

I hate drop-holsters - I just used to tuck my BHP into one of the spare mag-pouches of my vest, seeing as nobody seems to make a decent just-below-waistlevel holsters.

Thigh holsters are for the wannabes trying to impress the never-beens.

 

[Josh Aston]

seeing as nobody seems to make a decent just-below-waistlevel holsters.

Use a paddle holster. Just put the paddle in the front pocket of your pants, works like a charm.

 

[trueblue1776]

Thigh holsters are for the wannabes trying to impress the never-beens.

For civilians I will agree. For military I firmly believe in users choice. I used a thigh holster for the last three years, it was comfortable and convenient for me, I never considered myself a wannabe or a never been. I started using a thigh holster when I went to Ecuador, less weight on belt = less sweat on toolbox = less jungle rot. You don't need to be an operator to appreciate not having sores on your nuts.

 

[marksman13]

AndyC, to be honest I found the drop leg holster to be the most comfortable option for me. It wasn't a matter of impressing anybody. My Safariland holster was great except when nature called. I wish it had a quick release just above the holster to facilitate a quick removal and reatatchment when visiting the john. Damn, how sad is it that this is my only complaint?

 

[Joe Demko]

I read recently that the Brits first issued a thigh holster in WWII to tankers. They were of the opinion that it made it easier to unass a burning vehicle through a hatch without getting stuck than did a belt holster.
The couple times I wore one, just fooling around, I thought it was rather awkward.

 

[AndyC]

Sorry, lads - I should have been a touch more specific and said that most people who wear them are wannabes - not every one

PS - I was forced to wear one myself for 2 years, so I have rather strong opinions on them.

 

[BADUNAME13]

You should have your holster on your regular belt and NOT on your gear or 'pistol belt'
-That whole 'first line gear thing'

It is not hard to 'drop trou' with a Safariland 6004.
Simply undo the 2 leg straps, and drop trou.

If you are carrying all your gear and are not a REMF, there will not be room on your gear to put your pistol on your chest.

 

[Cannonball888]

Definitely better.