Nylon IWB Holster “Inside the Waistband”
There are lots and lots of holster styles out there. A lot of first time carriers will gravitate towards the lower end of the price spectrum first. That tends to be a Nylon IWB Holster. Lets face it, who wants to spend a hundred bucks on something that turns out to suck rocks?
One of the most basic holster designs for concealed carry work is the Nylon IWB Holster. These are usually inexpensive and offer an option for those first getting started. Some people will stay with this style, most will eventually find something more suitable.
Size “00” IWB nylon holster
Holster Features
This holster is ambidextrous, in that you can move the mounting clip to either side. It comes from the factory set up to go “right handed”. You can move the clip from that position to the other side, allowing left handed use. You can do this with simple tools, such as a tongue depressor. I use a “tactical butterknife” that I keep in my tool kit at the shows.
This design does not need a good gun belt to operate. However, I strongly recommend a good gun belt for any waist mounted holster, inside or outside. The better the belt, the better your experience will be.
Retention
This holster design actually has a crude form of retention on it, the strap going up over the top is actually two strips of Velcro that attach together. You put the gun in, you press the Velcro closed over it. When you need to draw the gun, you simply pull the gun quickly out of the holster. This separates the Velcro and releases the gun.
Adjustments
The Velcro strip, as it comes from the factory, is a bit long. This needs to be adjusted before use. By adjusted, I mean trimmed down short enough to not be so much of an annoyance while carrying, while still long enough to hold the gun in place when you aren’t trying to draw it.
Clip Notes
The metal clip on this holster isn’t especially tight. If you aren’t wearing it on a belt, especially if you don’t trim up the retention strap, you may draw the entire rig (gun and holster) when you attempt to draw the gun. This is not a good thing. You should take the time to adjust the length of the retention strap before you actually use it. Be sure to practice drawing (with an unloaded gun for safety in this instance) until you are confident that you have the right adjustment.
Please don’t try to just trim it short right off the bat, as you can’t “cut it longer” if you get too short.
Pros:
The Nylon IWB Holster are inexpensive compared to many options. Price can vary wildly depending on manufacturer.
Ambidextrous design means you don’t have to buy another one to, say, try out Small of Back carry. You just move the clip to the other side and give it a try.
It’s not as “picky” as many holster designs are, in that one size can fit a number of different guns. However, you will still want to pay attention and get the correct size.
Cons:
This is by no means a “buy it for life” type option. A holster like this is going to have a limited lifespan.
Materials like this can become “broken in” and softer. If the opening of the holster is feeling “soft” or malleable, you need to be careful with it in use. A broken in / soft holster can bow inwards upon insertion of the gun. In Extreme cases, this can cause an accidental discharge of the gun. You should always pay close attention when holstering your weapon.
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