Holsters and Gear Recommendations
Deep Concealment Holster Guide: How to Carry So Nothing Prints
Quick answer: A deep concealment holster keeps a handgun hidden under light or fitted clothing. Look for a slim inside-the-waistband holster that rides low, worn appendix or just behind the hip, with a claw or wedge that turns the grip into your body and a stiff gun belt. Gun size matters too: the smaller the gun, the less there is to hide. Holster size counts as well; a minimalist holster trims the shell down to the trigger guard and a retention point.
What Is a Deep Concealment Holster?
“Deep concealment” isn’t a single holster type. It describes a carry setup built so nothing shows, even under a T-shirt or fitted clothes. Holster maker Alien Gear explains that how much of a gun’s outline shows through clothing (printing) depends on the handgun’s dimensions, the holster’s position and the clothing covering it. A deep concealment holster works on all three, mostly inside the waistband.
Two terms get mixed up:
- Low-profile means a slim shell with little extra material around the gun.
- Low-ride means the gun sits lower relative to the waistband. Alien Gear notes that a slim holster does not necessarily put the whole handgun below the waistband, so compare ride height separately from thickness.
What Makes a Deep Concealment Holster Work?
| Factor | What it does for concealment |
|---|---|
| Gun size | A smaller gun leaves less to cover. With IWB carry, the grip is the part clothing has to hide. |
| Inside the waistband | The holster body sits inside the pants, so only the grip needs covering. |
| Ride height | The lower the gun rides, the less grip stands above the belt (balanced against reaching it to draw). |
| Slim shell | Less material around the gun means a smaller outline. |
| Position | Appendix or just behind the hip; where the gun sits changes how it prints. |
| Claw | Pushes against the belt and rotates the grip in toward the body. |
| Wedge | A pad on the back of the holster that angles the grip in, and cushions the holster against you. |
| Cant | A forward tilt tucks the grip into your side at the hip; appendix holsters usually run straight up. |
| Gun belt | A stiff belt holds the holster tight so the grip can’t tip out. |
| Clothing | What covers the gun changes how much shows; a tuckable holster lets a shirt go over the grip. |
Sources: holster makers Alien Gear, Rounded Gear, Tagua Gunleather and Just In Case Holsters, the Cloudster Pillow product page, and the USCCA’s IWB vs OWB guide.
Which Carry Position Is Best for Deep Concealment?
Most deep concealment setups are inside the waistband, worn either appendix (in front, beside the buckle) or strong side just behind the hip. Alien Gear describes its low-profile holsters as ideal for appendix carry and tuckable setups, and the USCCA notes many modern IWB holsters are “tuckable”, so a shirt can go over the grip and into the pants.
Each position has a known trade-off. Rounded Gear and Just In Case Holsters both describe appendix holsters as running straight up (neutral cant) with a claw, and strong-side holsters with a little forward cant. In one USCCA community thread on deep concealment, the poster described appendix holsters that pinch when sitting and strong-side carry that prints at 3 to 4 o’clock. Our AIWB holster guide and the IWB vs OWB comparison go into both.
Pocket carry is a separate route to deep concealment for small guns, with its own holster rules; see our pocket holster guide. This page covers waistband setups.
How Do You Stop the Grip From Printing?
For most people the grip is what gives a deep concealment holster away: it tips out from the body above the belt. Three things pull it back in:
- A claw (or wing) on the holster presses against the inside of the belt and rotates the grip toward your body (Rounded Gear).
- A holster wedge on the back of the holster pushes the lower part of the holster away from your body so the grip angles in. Our claw vs wedge vs pillow guide compares them.
- A stiff gun belt keeps the whole rig tight to the body. Tagua Gunleather says neither IWB nor OWB holsters perform without a proper gun belt to anchor the holster and fight sag.
For more printing fixes by clothing and body type, see which holster setup prints least.
How to Make Deep Concealment Comfortable
Hiding a gun deep usually means pulling it tighter into your body, which is where the discomfort comes from. A hard wedge adds pressure; a soft one spreads it.
The Cloudster Pillow holster wedge is filled with adjustable shredded cooling gel memory foam under a breathable cover. Add fill for more tilt and concealment, take some out for less, and it attaches to the back of any IWB holster with hook-and-loop. Because it is soft, it conforms to both your body and the holster instead of pressing a hard edge into you.
Two customers describe what it did for printing:
“The pillow keeps the gun oriented straight up and down, as opposed to angled 45 degrees outwards above your belt. Super comfortable to wear and now I can carry the guns I want (G19, G45) without printing.” (David H., AIWB carry)
“The comfort that this gives you, especially when crouching or sitting, can’t be praised enough. … On top of the comfort, the pillow pushes the grip in and makes you print even less.” (Logan J., White Bear Lake, MN)
Which size? Pick between two sizes for your holster:
- Subcompact and micro-compact pistols without a light or sidecar (Glock 43X, Glock 26, Sig P365, Hellcat, Shield Plus): Standard or Deluxe.
- Larger holsters, light-bearing setups or wider sidecars: Deluxe or Monster.
- Full-size pistols such as a Glock 17 or 1911: Deluxe or Monster. Keith, the founder, says that when he carries a Glock 17 or a 1911, “the monster is the only way that’s comfortable for me.”
For larger body frames we recommend sizing up: a larger pillow can always be made to feel smaller (take some fill out), but a smaller pillow can’t be made to feel bigger. The Cloudster Pillow size guide walks through it by gun, light and sidecar.
What Belt Works for Deep Concealment?
A 1.5″ gun belt with a stiff core. The Kore gun belts we carry are 1.5″ wide and 5 mm thick with a reinforced Power-Core center, rated by Kore for up to 6 lb for IWB, OWB or appendix carry. A ratchet track with over 40 quarter-inch positions lets you snug the belt a notch tighter for deep concealment and let it out when you sit.
Deep Concealment Holster Checklist
- Inside the waistband, molded to your exact gun, with the trigger guard fully covered.
- Slim shell, and a ride height low enough to hide the grip but high enough to get a full firing grip on the draw.
- Claw or wing for appendix; a little forward cant for behind the hip.
- A wedge if the grip still tips out or the holster digs in.
- A real gun belt.
- Practice the draw from concealment with an unloaded gun before you carry it.
Deep Concealment Holster: Questions People Ask
What is the best deep concealment holster?
There’s no single best one. The best deep concealment holster is a slim IWB holster molded for your gun, worn where it prints least on your body, with a claw or wedge and a stiff gun belt.
Is appendix carry better for deep concealment?
It is a common choice: Alien Gear describes its low-profile holsters as ideal for appendix carry. The trade-off people report is comfort when sitting, which a soft wedge helps with.
Do belly bands count as deep concealment?
They can hide a small gun under a tucked shirt with no belt, but they hold the gun less securely than a molded holster. See our belly band holster guide.
Can you deep conceal a full-size pistol?
It’s harder because the grip is longer. In their reviews, customers describe carrying a Glock 19, a Glock 45 and a full-size 2011 concealed with a wedge pulling the grip in and a stiff belt.
Does a holster wedge make the gun stick out more?
No. The wedge pushes the bottom of the holster away from the body so the grip, which is what prints, tilts in.
Written by the Cloudster Pillow team. We make the Cloudster Pillow holster wedge and carry Kore gun belts. We don’t sell holsters or firearms, and no maker paid to be mentioned here. This is general information, not a substitute for professional training; check the carry laws where you live.
