recommendations on shoulder holster for concealed carry

[rod5591]

I've never worn a shoulder holster before, but want to get one to wear around the house and out in the yard in the summer. Summer clothing is too light for my normal pocket carry, so I want to give a shoulder holster a try. What is the best budget shoulder holster, in your opinion, and the best full priced one? For a big guy carrying a Glock 26 Gen 3. Opinions are welcome!

Also, what considerations would one experienced with shoulder holster carry recommend one consider?

 

[drobs]

Do you have a high stress job that you can feel in your neck and shoulders?
If so - don't wear a shoulder holster - it will make you neck / shoulders feel even worse.

Learned that a couple years ago.
Now that I'm retired, I might give it a try again.

 

[Obturation]

Shoulder holsters are good in the right circumstances. I like to carry my g20 in a vertical crossdraw shoulder holster made by weapons education (that goofy guy Tom from youtube) . the holster is excellent but it took like a year to get it and I had to threaten to cancel my order more than once because he wouldn't communicate . all turned out well and I would recommend him if you don't mind a looooong wait.
I've also got a horizontal galco holster that I bought off the shelf. It is comfortable but bulky , makes you look 50# heavier if you wear under a sweatshirt . it too is good and I have that one set up with a fixed blade knife on my right side instead of a double mag pouch.
It's best if it attaches to your belt to help hold it all in place and proper adjustment is crucial or else you'll feel constrained . it isn't the carefree and easy method many think it is but you do get used to it. I only use a shoulder holster if I'll be driving a long distance or in the winter if I'll be wearing heavy clothes, then it conceals a full size gun well and is my best option. Illinois winter lasts 6 months, so half the year I will use a shoulder holster for going out and about

 

[hotshot357]

I chose a Stoner Stormer Vertical shoulder rig. When drawing the pistol, the holster swivels horizontal and returns to vertical for easy reholstering. They use a very good grade of leather and it is a little thicker than most other brands. It also fastens to your belt on both sides to spread the weight out and take alot of the weight off of your shoulders.They are very comfortable and very well priced ( I paid $250.00 for mine).Best of all it's made in the USA (Ohio)!!!!

 

[JTQ]

From High Noon Holsters...

High end, Under Taker https://www.highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/shoulder-rigs/under-taker

Low end, Under Armor https://www.highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/shoulder-rigs/under-armor




Andrews Custom Leather has some high end offerings http://www.andrewsleather.com/traditional.htm



Mitch Rosen, another high end maker https://mitchrosen.com/products/holsters/shoulder-holsters/

Here's a video review of a Rosen dual Stylemaster with a pair of G27's so you can see what it looks like

 

[JTQ]

Good shoulder holsters will be significantly more expensive than just a belt holster. However, realize when pricing shoulder holsters, they typically come with the equivalent of a belt (the shoulder harness), holster, and mag pouch.

If you compare a shoulder holster cost with buying a gun belt, holster, and mag pouch, the price will be in line with the full rig, which is what you get with most shoulder holsters.

 

[billtool]

Only buy a good shoulder holster. I wear a Bianchi Miami Classic. Only when I wear a suit coat, though. If you need to carry outside or around the house, I recommend a fanny pack. Might not be the most attractive look, but it kicks the hell out of a sweaty shoulder rig for your purposes.

 

[GBExpat]

I've never worn a shoulder holster before, but want to get one to wear around the house and out in the yard in the summer. ... <snip> ... Opinions are welcome!

FWIW, that sounds hot & uncomfortable to me.

When I lived & worked at the beach in the '70s, I decided to try a Bianchi shoulder rig for my .357. Up until then, I was always carrying in leather pancake holsters.

I never could get comfortable with that Bianchi rig although I tried mightily for several months. I found it to be cumbersome, "intrusive" and hot. Too much leather covering skin, I suppose. The pancakes at ~4 o'clock quickly "disappeared".

Around the house and doing work outside I usually have a DeSantis Nemesis holster in my right-rear pocket ... yes, the grip protrudes from the pocket. I can carry even when I am not wearing a belt, all I need is to be wearing a pair of my 501 cutoffs.

If I need more positive retention, I may add a belt and one of those inexpensive plastic Glock "sports" holsters.

Good Luck with finding what best suits your need!

 

[bearcreek]

I've never used a shoulder holster but something to consider in your search is the type of leather used. I believe you want vegetable tanned as opposed to chrome tanned. It's what's normally used to make saddles and that sort of thing that needs to hold up to sweat. Tends to be more expensive but worth it for something like that, IMO.

 

[Jim Watson]

I once had a Galco Miami Vice that I could not get comfortable in. Made me feel like a pack horse.

I fondly remember a friend's Rogers shoulder holster. It was a combination of nylon and thin hard boned leather that was comfortable for as long as I could borrow it.

I was looking at the Galco Classic Lite in suede (Bond, James Bond) and then found an economy copy. Just have to figure out what gun I am comfortable with in horizontal carry.

 

[JTQ]

I believe you want vegetable tanned as opposed to chrome tanned. It's what's normally used to make saddles and that sort of thing that needs to hold up to sweat.

I think US holster makers only use vegetable tanned leather.

 

[Jimster]

Have you considered a belly band style holster?

 

[rod5591]

Problem is, the G26 is heavy when loaded with 10 + 1 rounds--and that's OK in Winter or Fall when I wear jeans with a leather belt and suspenders that carries the extra weight well. In summer, it's hot as heck here in TN and when I go outside to feed the livestock and/tend to the garden, I wear athletic shorts/or running pants, no belt, and the weight of my piece drags the waist down--not practical, so I wind up leaving my piece in the house, where it wont do me much good if I need it quickly. Someone mentioned a fanny pack--I think I will give that a try, good advice, it might work.

 

[GBExpat]

... when I go outside to feed the livestock and/tend to the garden, I wear athletic shorts/or running pants, no belt, ...

Whoa! Tough setup for carry.

Actually, though, that does bring something to mind. It is not a shoulder holster rig, but akin.

~15+ years ago one of the interesting milsurp items to come out of Europe (advertised as Austrian, IIRC) was a leather flap holster attached to a single leather shoulder strap. Easy on, easy off.

Perhaps a bit of a Hail Mary, but you might try some of the remaining online sources for such gear.

 

[JTQ]

For a big guy carrying a Glock 26 Gen 3.

... the G26 is heavy when loaded with 10 + 1 rounds...

Whew, I don't know how you manage.

Someone mentioned a fanny pack--I think I will give that a try, good advice, it might work.

The Wilderness Tactical "Safepacker" is another option

https://www.thewilderness.com/safep...afepacker-holster-various-colors-and-options/

 

[Iggy]

Do you have a box containing other holsters that haven’t worked out?
If not you will need one for your shoulder holster.

 

[billtool]

Do you have a box containing other holsters that haven’t worked out?
If not you will need one for your shoulder holster.

That is funny. I wear mine twice a year whether I need to or not...

 

[rod5591]

Whew, I don't know how you manage.

/QUOTE]

LOL, by "heavy" I meant heavy enough to drag an elastic waistband south.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

People love to look down on shoulder rigs, but if you find yourself in a situation where they are the only option, you can get used to one pretty fast. I suspect some of the resistance comes from the fact that Miami Vice / goofy 80s movies turned them into sort of a fad.

Another thing to note is that the straps will see hundreds of cycles of full sweat saturation and drying. It can be hard on most straps, but they seem to hold up. Also, no reasonable person will find themselves in a situation where they will need two backup mags, but it's the only way to balance the rig without tiedowns. Finally, one big drawback is that they aren't welcome on most ranges due to draw motion.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I prefer them for hunting and hiking where I dont like extra weight on my belt. It also helps when I have a long gun over my right shoulder so it doesn't hit against my revolver stocks. I dont recommend them for work where you will be lifting and exerting muscles all day. They're also particularly useful for long road trips, easier to carry, better access then strongside as well. Why don't you just try wearing cargo shorts even in the Texas summer I still carry an n frame 629 smith IWB in this LoboGunLeather holster

 

[ExtremeSquared]

I occasionally lexol the straps on my pure leather shoulder holster, and I ignore the bonded leather straps on my High Noon. The latter have delaminated and someday I'll probably become annoyed and strip off the "skin". It hasn't prevented near-daily use.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

In outdoors situations, it sometimes stays sweat-saturated for over 24 hours straight. Who knows. Leather shouldn't put up with that treatment, but it's surviving.

 

[OneFreeTexan]

I wore a shoulder holster for over 30 yrs, mostly a Gould, I love them,, they work fine,

 

[Tallinar]

Not sure how big you are, but I found that shoulder holsters are pretty build-sensitive. If you are long torso’d and/or overweight, I think you’re going to have a hell of a time trying to fit a shoulder holster in any way that would be comfortable.

Do you have a box containing other holsters that haven’t worked out?
If not you will need one for your shoulder holster.

This quote really hits the nail on the head. I bought a Bianchi X15 a few years ago, and was pretty excited about it. Ultimately, I decided it’s really just too much of a hassle to get the dang thing on and situated the way I want it, and I am always cognizant of bending down or to the side, or reaching up or something and needing to readjust. Just simply not comfortable, and too much of a hassle. And what that ultimately translates into is: you won’t use the thing.

Bro, take it from one who has been where you are now. Your solution really is simpler than your overactive mind wants you to believe right now. Just wear jean shorts or cargo shorts and call it good.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

Off-Topic: I love Lexol. Been using it for 50 years. (My God, am I that old?) But last month, I put a bunch of Obenauf's on some leather jackets. PM me if you want details.

Both of those smell unfortunately good. I limit the frequency with which I condition less for the sake of the leather and more because I worry I could develop a leather-sniffing neurosis.

Not sure how big you are, but I found that shoulder holsters are pretty build-sensitive. If you are long torso’d and/or overweight, I think you’re going to have a hell of a time trying to fit a shoulder holster in any way that would be comfortable....

Maybe manufacturers are going overboard with strap contouring. A plastic compact -- let alone a g26 -- doesn't need more than constant-width 1 inch straps for support. As long as the manufacturer doesn't skimp on adjustment range, I'd be surprised at anyone maxing this range. I am not far from the midpoint of adjustment range on my High Noon, and I'm probably 99th percentile on torso size -- 6'6", 300lb, shaped like a tube.