I've tried a bunch of different AIWB holster styles from JMCK, Raven, and CCC. It's taken me a long time to figure out what works and what doesn't for me. Below are holsters for Walther PPS and Glock 17. For reference I'm 6'5 230 and about a 35" pants size.
Image A:
#1: Walther PPS AIWB with extra tuck, extra length, minimal built-in wedge.
#2: Walther PPS AIWB Wing Claw 1.0 with soft loops, extra length, neoprene wedge.
#3: Glock 17 AIWB Wing Claw 1.0 with soft loops, neoprene wedge
Image B
#4 Walther PPS AIWB Wing Claw 2.5, no extra length, neoprene wedge
#5 Walther PPS AIWB Wing Claw 1.0, extra length, 1.5" clip (same holster as #3 with clip installed.)
Image C
View of changes to the claw angle, pictured are #3 Glock 17 AIWB Wing Claw 1.0, and #5 PPS AIWB Wing Claw 1.0.
Image D
Comparison of both claw solutions, stacked.
I've also tried the AIWB Wing Claw 2.0 and 2.5 and these findings apply to those as well.
On me there are three problems a holster needs to solve:
1) The grip printing
2) The front of the belt attachment (loop or clip) printing
3) The back of the slide printing
Holster designs that I've found to -not- help with these:
1) Holsters with a lot of surface area. The wider the holster the more restrictive the position in the waistband. A wide holster requires that I position the front of the holster closer to 12:00, and the width also increases the leverage of the claw and pops out the front belt attachment which is a bad combination. Narrower profile allows for better positioning on my body (closer to 1:00), which has a positive impact.
2) The newer claw vs older claw. The newer strut of the newer claw essentially creates a wider platform below the belt, requiring me to push the holster forward (same issue as #1). The narrower below-the-belt profile of the older claw (no strut or strut mounting position) allows for optimal placement on the belt.
3) Shorter vs longer holsters. Longer holsters provide more leverage against the gun rolling out, and provide a more effective mounting point for wedges. I don't find that adding a wedge to a standard length holster is as comfortable or effective as adding a wedge to an extended-length holster. Although I carry a G19 I always order the G17 length holster. On me I think a G34 length holster would be too long.
4) More claw vs less claw. Sometimes grinding down a claw can provide the sweet spot amount of leverage. I don't know what's changed in terms of claw mounting but in Image C below you see my older G17 AIWB wing claw has the claw mounted at an angle, whereas the new PPS AIWB Wing Claw has the claw mounted flat. It doesn't look like much difference but angling the claw on the G17 version results in a solution that conforms to my body's curves much better.
5) Rear belt attachment location. The holsters that conceal the best on me have the rear belt loop (or back of the clip) positioned right over the trigger guard. I assume this is more in line with my body curve, and provides some grip tuck. And of course if the rear belt attachment is further to the rear, that means the front can be further to the the rear as well -- less front printing.
Of all these holsters, the G17 AIWB Wing Claw 1.0 conceals better than any of the other options I've tried for the Glock. The 2.0 and 2.5 were too wide.
Of all the PPS holsters, the standard AIWB with a wedge conceals the best on me. The 2.5 was too wide. The AIWB Wing Claw 1.0 I thought would conceal better than the AIWB with clip -- Nom! Note the belt attachment location is very different than the rest, not sure why.
Image A:
Image B:
Image C:
Image D: