Selecting Concealment Holsters For Men
Concealment Holsters for Men Options
I am often asked by new gun buyers what type of holster should they get. Lately I have seen more on an interest in this question with a gender specific twist. I am often asked about recommendations for CCW products for women and concealment holsters for men. In my nine years of selling concealment holsters for men, the four popular types I sell the most of are shoulder, in the pants (ITP), shoot through wallet (also called a billfold holster) and ankle. Each has its pros and cons.
The first item to consider is how do you want to carry your firearm.
Shoulder Holster 
Pro: Many selecting a concealment holster for men prefer shoulder holsters that allow you to carry horizontally or vertically beneath a shirt or jacket. The weight of the firearm is somewhat offset by carrying spare magazines on the opposite side. The entire shoulder holster or shoulder rig is usually held together using two straps forming an X across your back and adds a level of comfort by spreading the weight across your shoulders. Variations of this design use straps that act as suspenders and I have even see one that has one strap that goes across your body from the rear of your left side to the right on your front.
Con: You must wear a shirt or jacket to conceal the shoulder holster. It can take a little longer to access your firearm.
ITP Holster 
Pro: In the Pants (ITP) holsters are usually smaller than regular, side carry holsters and can be positioned on your left or right side and usually conceal most of the holster and firearm by hiding them between your body and the inside of your pants. The “universal models” allow for firearms of different sizes to use the same holster. They are made using a variety of materials, such as leather, nylon or neoprene. This is another excellent option as a concealment holster for men, but many women also carry using this type of holster.
Con: Depending on the size of the firearm, you may need to increase the pants waist size to accommodate the holster and firearm. Holsters made to fit only one firearm limit you to the single model.
Shoot Through Wallet Holster
Pro: Shoot through wallet holsters allow you to place your small firearm in a holster designed to look like a wallet. Holes are placed in the holster allowing you to pull the trigger, change the magazines, activate lasers, etc. while the firearm remains in the holster. They allow you to carry your firearm in any pocket and allow for quick access to your firearm depending on which pocket they are carried in.Most are made out of leather and the additional grip area gives you something to hang onto when shooting. This is where men have the advantage over women. Most men’s pants pockets are large and deep, allowing for better concealment.
Con: There is some debate on the legality of these holsters. The wallet holsters I sell have been approved by the ATF and it’s posted on my website.
Ankle Holster 
Ankle holsters are a love it or hate it type holster. I have been carrying my J-frame revolver on my ankle for years and before that, I carried my Glock 26.
Pro: Most are small, lightweight and are ambidextrous. They work as a good back up holster for your firearm and are inexpensive.
Con: It can take a few minutes to put on until you get the hang of it. The size of the handgun is limited to using smaller sized firearms and you may need pants with wide pant legs to fit around and conceal the firearm.
Once you’ve decided how you want to carry your firearm, there are a few other things to consider.
What is your body and firearm size?
The size of the firearm can be the deciding factor when selecting a concealment holster for men. It’s easy to conceal a light weight, 4” sub-compact .380 caliber semi-automatic but concealing a full size, 6 pound 7” Desert Eagle .50 caliber is a whole new ball game. It would be impossible to conceal the Desert Eagle on your ankle where a Beretta Nano might work perfectly.
Consider your overall body size and shape.
Most men can wear a shoulder concealment holster when packing a standard 4” barrel semi-automatic without much effort. The same goes for concealing the same firearm in an ITP holster. When dealing with larger guns, if you have a large body, it makes it easy to tuck a full size 1911 under your arm.
If you carry a sub-compact, such as a Glock 26, a Kahr P9 or smaller firearms, they are relatively easy to conceal using most if not all of the holsters listed above.
Are you right or left hand draw?
Let’s face it, right handed people are more common than left. This in no way is a slam on left handed people, it’s just they do not have the same variety of holsters that right handers have. Keep an eye out for the ambidextrous style of holsters. They allow for right hand, left hand and cross draw.