ok, paddle holsters for concealment, why?

[MJRW]

I don't understand it. To begin with, I generally dislike paddle holsters. I don't understand why people use them for concealment. It seems like a very poor system to me. I want as little weight and width as I can get in my rig and I want it well secured and close to my body. Paddle holsters accomplish none of these. Other than "weeeee doggy! Holster on. Holster off. Holster on. Holster off. Look, Thelma, I can do this all day!" what is the point of the paddle holster?

 

[Tamara]

For those who may actually need to take the holster on & off multiple times during the day, they are the bee's knees.

 

[BerettaNut92]

If you carry but travel often to a place you can't carry (work, post office, schools, etc).

Some are adaptable to crossdraw in the car, then switch it to FBI cant when carrying outside the car.

 

[Mute]

They are convenient, though if I needed to take my holster on and off constantly, I'd opt for something like the Alessi CQC/S. Much more secure than a paddle holster.

 

[Jack T.]

I tire of seeing this question asked.

I typically wear Wranglers, which are not especially suited to IWB carry.
Fobus paddles are cheap, give good retention, and I don't mind beating them up.
Since I normally wear an unbuttoned shirt over a T-Shirt, the paddle isn't really seen.
For me, the paddle doesn't move around as much as other types.

And before you tell me to try a good holster, I have several hundred dollars woth of leather: shoulder, IWB, OWB, Sparks, Galco, Gould, you name it. Unless I want a "dress" holster, they collect dust.

The only other POSSIBLE holster I am interested in trying is a Sidearmor IWB. They seem like they may be the best of both worlds

 

[MJRW]

Jack,

Ornery fellow, aren't we?

 

[Oracle]

Sidearmor IWB's do work extremely well. I wear a Wranglers often as well, and my Sidearmor IWB works well, when I want to carry IWB. Their OWB holsters are very nice as well. If you're looking to be able to use an IWB and take it on and off as needed, get the Sidearmor with J-hooks.

As for paddle holsters, the best I've used has been the Uncle Mike's kydex one. It's cheap, but it works, and works well.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

weeeee doggy! Holster on. Holster off. Holster on. Holster off.

I like paddle holsters, and that is exactly the reason why.

MJRW, why do you care why other people like them?

 

[C.R.Sam]

Different folks has different druthers.
If sumpin works well for you, do it.
If not, don't.
Easy.

Sam

 

[Loaded]

I don't own any Wranglers and never have. Hell, I aint even put a pair on in my whole life. Makes my legs look like they's 8 feet long. And why does everyone wear them so tight?

I bought one of them thar Fobus paddle holsters. They're great for the range, fartin around in the woods, mountains, etc. But for concealment they are a joke. They rattle, they print BIG TIME, and they hurt after a small amount of time wearing it. Yep, mine hasn't seen any daylight for quite some time. I'll hang on to it for a good laugh now and then whenever I go through my junk. For me it's leather or nothing.

 

[MiniZ]

I like them because they are easily removable, I have found it to be a stable platform, regardless of the belt worn, and I don't like the way pants that are 1-2 inches bigger in the waist to accomodate IWB look-I try not to advertise that I am carrying. And I guess finally, they are comfortable for me.

 

[Preacherman]

When I'm not carrying IWB or in a pocket, I'm carrying in a paddle holster. They're easy to remove when one has to (and I have to, several times a day, depending on where I'm going): they're convenient; the Fobus units (which I mostly use) are very tough (I've taken them through two Thunder Ranch, one Chapman Academy, and three LFI courses, and they've stood up to literally thousands of draws and re-holsters without any problems), and are very low-cost too! No complaints from me...

 

[Spieler]

This thread has saved me from posting my own asking about paddles as I have been seriously contemplating trying the FOBUS offerings. You guys have convinced me to give them a try, and if I don't like it, oh well it's only $20.00. Thanks.

 

[Rock45]

Ah, Yes...the Fobus paddle..

I first bought a Fobus paddle for my Bersa Thunder 380...as an option to the pancake holster for convenience. Sometimes I knew I would have to disarm while packing, so the paddle made sense.

I have since bought a Fobus paddle for every handgun I own, and couldn't be more pleased. This does not rule out the need or desire for "good leather", it just provides another option!

 

[Oracle]

If you're going to try the Fobus, try out the Uncle Mike's kydex if it comes in a model that fits your gun. I've found that it's much higher quality than the Fobus, at about the same price. The Uncle Mikes also has a tension adjuster, something the Fobus paddles don't.

 

[Rock45]

I never had any complaints about retention with the fobus...but many have stated that there are better kydex holsters on the market.
I personally like the way the Fobus paddle hooks under the belt, seems very stable to me, could have something to do with the way I'm built...

 

[Quartus]

they are the bee's knees.

Must be a Tennesseeism!



As for why paddle holsters, uh, maybe because they work well for some of us?


Nah, that couldn't be it.


BTW, I've heard a few complaints about Fobus holding on TOO tight at the wrong time. No problems myself, but I like the idea of a tension adjustment, though I havn't tried one.

 

[Preacherman]

Oracle, I agree that the Uncle Mike's holsters are very nice - but their paddle retention system is awful! I'd love to see someone combine the Uncle Mike's holster with the Fobus paddle, with its double retention "bumps" on either side. That would be a great combination!

 

[V-fib]

Recently purchased an Uncle Mike's sidekick paddle holster. It is able to be adjusted for any number of positions and is very comfortable to wear.

http://www.red-diamond-unif.com/UMpaddle_holster.htm

 

[PCRCCW]

Regarding Paddles.....generally, I carry with other styles of holster. But do have a couple of drawers full of paddles. Yep....drawers. Anyway...they do have their place and they do very well IN THAT PLACE!
If you are taking your gun on and off all day...which I have to do at times and you can cover it...long, heavier cover garment..its a good choice.

Heres my take on the plastic versions...I have many of both the Fobus and U.Mikes.........

The Fobus is much more flexible being thinner plastic. For carry this is the better choice...Ill explain why. Being thinner it will flex and take the abuse that guns get in a daily carry situation. I dont care how careful you think you are....you WILL bump into the corner or wall, sometime. The flexibility of the Fobus offers a more forgiving carry than the U.Mikes...........
Better CCW holster

The Uncle Mikes is a better Competition holster than the Fobus ever will be.
The Fobus has no adjustments like the UM's has and has more of a cant....FBI @ 15 degrees...the UM's can be adjusted to a couple of different rakes that are more Comp. friendly. Try to draw a gun at 3.00 thats carried at a 15 deg cant....good luck. Anyway.....the UM's is much thicker and harder plastic..much more rigid and slick in its construction..thus makes for a better "cheapo speed holster"......
The downer for the UM's is it is so hard, when carrying with this holster...If you even bump a wall..not even that hard..you can break them. Ive replaced 5-6 of the paddles because of this reason.........

Both are good...just different.......


Shoot well

 

[Ky Larry]

If you had on a pair of slacks/pants that didn't have a belt, a paddle would work. This would seem especially useful to ladies since a lot of their slacks don't have belt loops.