I have a dumb ? Paddle vs belt holster

[JAH 3rd]

Have worn many owb holsters over the years. Never worn a paddle holster. My question: Lets take a Glock 19 for example. With owb holster the weight of the holster/pistol is on the belt. With a paddle holster, is it lighter in perceived weight since the belt is holding the paddle to the against hip? Just curious. Thanks in advance.....Jesse

[Ivantheterrible]

In my personal experience, a belt holster normally requires the belt to be tight (VERY tight if using a thin belt) to hold the holster securely. No so tight with a good paddle holster BUT you will have the pressure of the paddle against your hip bone if you're thin (as I am). Just remember that not all paddle holsters are created equally. The cheap ones are flimsy and the pistol will still flop around making you feel the weight. Good ones, like the Safarilands, will be very secure.

Body build will have a lot to do with it. I'm 6'2" 185lbs so my experience may be different from someone heavier.

[Borderland]

Paddle holsters aren't very popular for some reason. I have a few Fobus holsters but normally just use a regular OWB leather holster and a wide belt. The paddle holsters work well if you need to remove the firearm from your person to enter a restricted area or to drive for long distances. Easy on, easy off.

[O4L]

Paddle holsters will get you killed in the streets!

[Wendell]

I like the feeling and ride of Safariland's 568BL (https://safariland.com/collections/holster-attachments/products/model-568bl-injection-molded-paddle-for-safariland-3-hole-pattern-holsters-23172) paddle, but for one thing - the fixed 'FBI' cant; it's just too much; my wrist doesn't want to work that way. The 571BL (https://safariland.com/collections/holster-attachments/products/model-571bl-injection-molded-small-paddle-1198591) does offer some cant adjustment, but it doesn't ride as well as does the larger (568BL) paddle.

If Safariland gets around to releasing a new paddle with adjustability for cant - a ('C' for 'cantable') C568BL, for example - it'll prove to be extremely popular (or at least it will with me).

[RJ]

Have worn many owb holsters over the years. Never worn a paddle holster. My question: Lets take a Glock 19 for example. With owb holster the weight of the holster/pistol is on the belt. With a paddle holster, is it lighter in perceived weight since the belt is holding the paddle to the against hip? Just curious. Thanks in advance.....Jesse

No experience with paddles, just spit balling here, but: I can't see a paddle having anything remotely to do with perceived weight. All things being otherwise equal, both (paddle, belt loop) the pistol is going to rest in the holster against the belt pretty much the same.

Just curious, why are you considering a paddle? Ease in putting on/off?

[Bucky]

I don’t feel the paddle holsters stay as tight to the body as a good belt holster. Therefore, it is not as concealable. I like the idea of quick on and off, but there are other alternatives. There are outside the waistband holster’s with loops and snaps, which I prefer.

[JAH 3rd]

Just looking for opinions on the paddle holster since I’ve never used one. Advantage vs disadvantage. By the time I’m ready for the day, I am looking for options to lighten my load. Suspenders could be an option for weight mitigation. If I cinch up my belt any further, I may split in half.

[RJ]

Just looking for opinions on the paddle holster since I’ve never used one. Advantage vs disadvantage. By the time I’m ready for the day, I am looking for options to lighten my load. Suspenders could be an option for weight mitigation. If I cinch up my belt any further, I may split in half.

I am completely with you.

When I carried my G19 OWB strong side behind the hip, drag and weight was a constant battle. I found I had to cinch up my belt so much to get the gun not to drop off my butt, that it bordered on being really very comfortable. I used JM CK IWB holsters but never really felt happy with how they sat on me.

I don't know if it's an option, but I discovered carrying AOWB (appendix, but outside the waistband) to be much more doable than behind the hip. I used two holsters; one was a high riding leather OWB from Mitch Rosen called the "Upper Limit" (credit to GJM for suggesting it), the other was RCS's Perun. The Perun was slightly lighter being a polymer. These both use belt loops.

The only disadvantage for AOWB was that the bottom of the slide of the holster could peek out from my cover garment getting in and out of the truck, so I had to watch that. Otherwise I carried that way for the majority of the time I was on the road in an RV for extended travel. It worked well.

I've since transitioned over to a G48 AIWB, which I vastly prefer these days.

[HeavyDuty]

I’ve used paddles on and off over the years, and have noticed one thing - a sensation of rotation when I move. It’s small and probably doesn’t affect anything, but it’s one of those things that once you feel it…

My biggest issue with paddles is that they generally don’t ride as closely as a well designed belt loop holster, especially for the Safariland ALS models that make up all of my paddles. I do have one oddball Safariland that isn’t as bad, it’s a 7TS ALS for the Glock 43 that has a small, tight paddle - but I’m sure gun size is playing a major part here.

[entropy]

I actually like them. Go figure. Over the years I’ve used several from different manufacturers, mostly Safariland. The current is a 7TS. I never had the issue with any of the Safariland models shifting. Quite the opposite. I found the wider, curved paddle on the Safariland, along with the “retention hook” on the bottom of the paddle, makes it very secure. I wear a 1.5” double thickness bull hide belt with it (same belt for years over the various models/manufacturers) which I think is the key. It supports the paddle, and also keeps it from shifting. In addition, I have NEVER had the holster shift or remove itself from my person while training or drawing from the holster. I have witnessed others have the identical holster/gun “move around” in a training environment but on every occasion, the belt they were wearing appeared to be cheap junk that wouldn’t support and Airweight.

I have come to like them so much that I had Frike set one up for me for a HK USP 45. Not a small gun. No problems whatsoever. It rides high enough and close enough to be adequately covered by a light jacket or flannel shirt when bumming around up north. Dale made the holster, but I’m using a spare Safariland paddle.

To answer directly the question asked, I find that to be EXACTLY the case. The paddle spreads the weight of the gun across the entire top of the belt in addition to being supported by the paddle against the hip. I have experimented with the belt attachment on the Safariland and have found that not only does the gun ride further away from my hip, but it also droops a lot more and creates hot spots from where the weight of the gun pulls the whole shebang away from my waist.

Your mileage may vary!

[JCN]

Just looking for opinions on the paddle holster since I’ve never used one. Advantage vs disadvantage. By the time I’m ready for the day, I am looking for options to lighten my load. Suspenders could be an option for weight mitigation. If I cinch up my belt any further, I may split in half.

You might consider the Phlster Enigma as it is independent of the pants belt and can be looser (the leg leash helps prevent lift).

If you’ve already considered it, disregard the advice.

[JAH 3rd]

Earlier today I saw that holster on YouTube when I was looking at Safariland videos. Interesting concept that certainly gives me an option that I never knew existed. Thanks for the info!!

[jd950]

I find that it varies a lot depending on size/weight of gun and the specific holster.

I have had a lot of success with Kramer MSP horsehide holsters for many years. Any paddle has the potential to move around a bit, but I find a horsehide paddle is thin enough and firm enough to give rigidity without bulk, but will also conform enough to the body that it takes a"set" unlike a plastic or kydex paddle and is more comfortable and stable.

One added benefit is that you don't have to work around belt loops. I don't wear crotch holsters, so I cannot compare them. I assume they work best if you have a lot of spare room down there. (Just kidding!)

Paddles are great when you work in a secure place with other armed folks and can take the gun and holster off and stick them in a drawer while at the desk/in the office, but put it on quickly without undressing or being a contortionist when you need to head out on short notice. They can also be nice when you have to go in and out of places like jails, holding areas and sometimes interview rooms where the gun has to come off anyway.

Generally, you still need a belt and it needs to be fairly snug, but I don't get that "flop" kind of thing like happens with some belt holsters with a poor belt or one too loose.

Just for consideration, I have also like some of the holsters that have snap belt loops and thus go on and off quickly like a paddle, but they are dependent on belt quality and fit.

[Jamesa]

I have a G-Code paddle for Glock 19 and 17's. It has a taller or longer paddle than the Safariland's. It is also cant adjustable. I cut out and glued a Dr Scholl's memory foam insole to the inside of the paddle. That soften's the load and eliminates the slip. I'm a pretty "round" kind of guy so with it sitting right on the equator, it doesn't conceal very well.

[medmo]

It depends on the holster, maker and design. I have two Kramer Leather MSP Paddle Holsters that are perfect for me. Gun is tucked in close to the body, stays put in position and is comfortable to wear all day. I think most of the mass produced inexpensive kydex/plastic paddle offerings aren't thoughtfully designed or manufactured. It's just a standard holster with a paddle type device bolted onto it.

https://www.kramerleather.com/collections/paddle-gun-holsters/products/msp-paddle-holster

Image from their website:

[Tabasco]

I have two Safariland ALS paddle holsters, they are easy on, not so easy off. This is a good thing, as the ALS is designed for retention. To get the damn thing off, I usually have to unbuckle my belt and undo my pants. The hook thing that secures it to your pants does it's job really well.