Beltless Carry Solved - Mastermind Specialist Covert Belt and Multi-Purpose Pouches

[Larry T]

Beltless carry in gym shorts, sweats, track pants, joggers, or just plain pants with no belt continues to be a hot topic. Strong metal clips that not only hold but hold so tight that they tear the clothes have been an option. Draw strings that can't support the weight of anything worth carrying. New devices that accommodate special holster shells that are fairly expensive and inventory-challenged have been promoted as "The Game Changer" in belt-free carry, though it still wraps around you... like a belt.

I had sort of forgotten about the Specialist Covert. It's a belt. I had carried "beltless with a belt" with other regular gun belts over gym shorts but under cover garments before. It worked ok but there was a good amount of movement with the belt. The Covert is different. It has a rubbery grippy texture that holds and sticks when you get it set where you want it. The hook and loop is a combo setup with both hook and loop mixed together making it more versatile than the hook and loop system of regular belts. It's light, flexible, and almost forgettable when wearing it. At about $30 it's worth every penny. If my cover is long enough to hide the bottom of my holster, I wear the belt over my gym shorts. If not, I wear the gym shorts over the belt. I always wear a t-shirt or beater between my skin and the belt.

Another issue I had was putting phone, keys, and wallet in pockets. I was always concerned that something would fall out of my pocket while on a long walk and I wouldn't notice. The Mastermind Multi-Purpose Pouch is designed to be worn IWB but I use them OWB. I put my phone (Samsung Note 10 Plus in an Otterbox Commuter) in one pouch at 9 o'clock. It's a tight fit but doable. My wallet and keys go in a 2nd pouch at 3 o'clock.

This setup may not be what everyone is looking for, but for $30 plus the cost of the pouches ($16 each), I can use any gun in any holster that I already own. I'm pretty tired of the over-used term "game changer" but this comes pretty close for me.

https://www.mastermindtactics.com/sh...cialist-covert
https://www.mastermindtactics.com/sh...ipurpose-pouch

[blues]

Pretty much "ditto" for all of the above since I got mine a few months ago. A very convenient solution for flimsy gym (or similar) attire.

I generally use it with one multi-purpose pouch to carry my credentials, in addition to the chosen holster.

Like you, I have worn it over as well as under gym shorts, with "under" being less likely to hike up the shorts (in my experience)...making it a bit more "covert".

It's proven to be a solid piece of kit.

[JCS]

Does the belt ride up when going from sitting to standing?

Also what about when you draw the gun?

[Cheap Shot]

Would the belt be secure enough to remain in place with a G19 during a slow clumsy jog?

[blues]

Does the belt ride up when going from sitting to standing?

Also what about when you draw the gun?

It doesn't for me...but I only carry a S&W J frame (642-1) with it.

If I have one of my Glocks on, I'm wearing pants and a different Mastermind belt.

[Larry T]

Does the belt ride up when going from sitting to standing?

Also what about when you draw the gun?

I don't do a lot of sitting when using it but the rubbery texture holds pretty well against whatever undershirt I wear (tee or beater). As for drawing, I find it holds just fine assuming you don't have retention set to a ridiculous level. I usually carry a Glock 26 or sometimes a Glock 19 in a JMCK 2.0 17-length holster.

[Larry T]

Would the belt be secure enough to remain in place with a G19 during a slow clumsy jog?

I carry either a 26 or 19 in a JMCK 2.0 and mainly am walking when using this belt but unless you're doing full sprints I think based on the texture it will hold fine.

[Doc_Glock]

Thank you @Larry T I have to agree in that I find my Enigma uncomfortable and futzy compared to just a belt. I can't seem to get around to listing it for sale but I should given the lack of inventory.

Thanks for the tips on the little pouches as I have been running with a soft belly band in addition to a belt to hold phone. That pouch may make a belt all I need.

[SAWBONES]

I got one several months ago.
Mine stays put (belt and gun both) with moderate movement, but I don't run with it.

[p1090]

I have both the Specialist Covert and an Enigma. I'm sure many others here do as well. My opinion is that they both generally fill the same role for me, which is for when my attire will not support a regular belt-mounted holster. I can wear both lower on my body and more easily conceal a full size gun than with a regular belt holster. My non-expert, work-from-home-white-collar-desk-job thoughts follow.

My main complaints with the Mastermind Specialist Covert are the thickness of the belt, the hook and loop attachment method, and the wear it was starting to show after ~4 months of almost daily use. Mind you, daily use is not what the belt was intended for (I don't think), and the folding over of the belt and wear likely would not occur if I weren't wearing a Beretta 92 with CCC clips. Any hook & loop always seems to wear out quickly for me, so I am not a fan, but I did not have any issues with the Specialist Covert on that end, just personal preferences. I recently moved from the Specialist Covert (at least for the time being) to the Enigma because of how thick the Specialist Covert is compared the the Enigma. I can simply wear the Enigma with more clothes. My pants more easily button with the Enigma.

The biggest selling point for me of the Specialist Covert over the Enigma is that it works with any belt holster, while the Enigma requires certain types of holsters and semi-permanent attachment of that holster. The Specialist Covert also more easily supports an extra magazine pouch or other pouch. I could take any holster off my regular belt, attach it to the Specialist Covert, wear it for a time, and go back to the regular belt very quickly. It is phenomenal for that use. I never noticed shifting issues for the Specialist Covert, but I also have a fairly sedentary lifestyle and didn't do much more activity than ~45 minute walks with the belt on.

For the total price (~$40) investment required, the Specialist Covert is good to go, in my opinion, and beats the Enigma for money to value comparisons. If money is not an issue, an Enigma with a dedicated shell is more discreet and more secure holster mount, though it offers less options for pouch attachment. I am still working on a comparable way to carry and extra magazine with the Enigma as easily as with the Specialist Covert.

For reference, both the Specialist Covert and Enigma were/are used with a JMCK AIWB for a full size Beretta 92, either a 92FS or an M9A3, and a spare magazine so my bulges around the waist are even.