Almost ubiquitously taught: get a complete grip on the gun before you draw it. So why do people still develop holsters with sweat guards that block you from getting as high a grip as you can? I see something like this and I don’t even need to try the holster. It was obviously crafted by folks who have a different set of priorities than I do.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
That sweat guard is there to keep one’s belly fat from rolling over onto the gun. 😉
Lets not forget the clips that will snap off the belt and have you drawing the holster out with the gun.
I must be singular amongst the fat guys… I figure a sweat guard will dig in as much as the gun would… I always have no or minimal sweat guard.
Uh, yeah. This is dumb. This is one of the reasons why the Raven is so great. Positions the gun nice and high. You can grab it. Easily the fastest IWB holster I’ve tried.
I’ve ditched all my hybrid holsters because they prevent a good grip, and they come out with the gun.
I think a lot of this is poor design or lazy manufacturing. I have a Milt Sparks Executive companion which is one of the most comfortable IWB holster going. It has a guard but it is shaped properly and does not interfere with a high grip.
JMB — I’m with you. I’ve used the #EX for many guns before switching to AIWB carry and it was always well made. Exactly what you’d expect from Tony and his crew at Milt Sparks.
Ulticlips will solve that problem
The coming out with the gun problem that is…
The priority is making money of course… FWIW, I had a comp-tac minatour holster – hands down most comfortable holster ever. It was great to wear, I could draw fast (so their SS was at least out of the way)…the only negative was if not wearing it there was no retention. For car trip carry… Then one day the kydex broke. When I called CT they were pleased it lasted as long and thanked me for purchasing. Then referred me back to their web page to buy another 🙁 (y’know, since it was broken and all????)
I hate “sweat guards” period, for the exact reason the one shown in this post is criticized. They all interfere with establishing the grip for me. I either ask to have the holster made without one, or cut them off.
I have a couple of holsters in the style depicted in the illustration, but from a quality manufacture. In is “cut” for a better grip, and one is not. The “cut” version is better than the full sweat shield, but neither are what you would call fast because they both keep the pistol tucked close the body. These types of holsters conceal a pistol very well with minimal printing, but there is the obvious trade-off of not being able to employ the pistol as fast. I normally use them for carrying a subcompact double stack semi. I used to carry a full sized pistol in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II, complete with sweat guard. The guard was never a problem, and the SSII is the fastest IWB I have ever used. I should have ordered another when I switched guns, but didn’t feel like dealing with the six month wait. A well-crafted leather holster still beats synthetic in almost any situation.
You can’t just say don’t bother buying this without recommending something ?
To answer the above posts about holsters “coming out with the gun” and utiliclips. The reason holsters come out with the gun is improper draw. Your kydex or hybrid holsters require a smart “SNAP” of a draw and not a slow, lumbering one.
A slow, stealthy draw from kydex in most cases can be achieved by using your thumb to apply force downward on the holster as you use your fingers to pull up on the pistol grip to “break the seal” so to speak. Then get a good purchase with your hand and draw slowly the rest of the way.
Utliclips (or clips that fully enclose the belt) do provide a purpose in certain situations. One might have a slow, less than perfect draw while wrestling and might have no choice but barely getting his hand to the weapon for a good draw.
YMMV
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