Our Top Picks For A Great OWB Holster

Our FavoritesProducts
Best OWB Kydex Holster:R&R Holsters: OWB Kydex Holster 
Best OWB Holster for the Money:G2c Holsters, OWB Holster for Taurus 
Best Range Carry OWB Holster:BLACKHAWK Serpa Sportster Holster
Best Ambidextrous OWB Holster:BlackHawk CQC SERPA Holster
Best OWB Pancake Holster:K Rounds LLC OWB Pancake

Our Research For The Following OWB Holsters


R&R Holsters: OWB Kydex Holster

This holster is super sturdy in construction and has the potential to keep itself in shape after long-term use. This means it won’t rip, tear or sag like some other materials. It is also scratch-resistant, has well-made units and massive fitment chart options.

It has a 0 to 15-degree cant adjustment and partial sweat guard backing. It has a one-year replacement warranty and variants available for different handguns.

However, the Kydex vacuum-formed holsters are not for everyone.

Pros

  • Sturdy and secure
  • Scratch-resistant holster
  • Kydex holster
  • Made from highly durable materials that will not wear off easily
  • Ideal holster for various gun models
  • Good warranty from the manufacturers

Cons

  • Not a great tactical holster

G2c Holsters, OWB Holster for Taurus

If you are a beginner that is starting out with concealed carry for Glocks, then this might be the holster for you. It will be fitting for so many holsters, and it takes the guesswork out of whether or not your pistol will fit in this holster or not.

It has a simple design, great aesthetics and it is solidly built. The retention is also very good.

It is the best for the money, and if you have a limited budget, it will be ideal for you. It has an index finger actuated active retention button lock for extra safety, and it has a 360-degree adjustable paddle. It is also ideal for duty and range use.

However, it is made specifically for the Taurus family of semi-autos.

Pros

  • Easy to use holster
  • Ideal for various types of Glock pistols
  • Sturdy and holds pistols securely
  • Great retention holster
  • Comes at an affordable price
  • Lock button for extra safety
  • Adjustable paddle
  • Ideal holster for various uses

Cons

  • Only ideal for semi-automatic guns and limited pistol models

BLACKHAWK Serpa Sportster Holster

The best thing about it is that it won’t snag, tear or fold like some other materials like leather or nylon, and it makes cleaning and maintenance easy to do.

So if you want a holster that is not afraid to get down and dirty, this is the one you will want.

It is lightweight, made to last, and has great retention. The full grip is also available at all times.

It has durable lightweight polymer construction and paddle-mounted operation. It is a great owb holster for civilian use and range carry.

However, it is a bit bulkier on profile due to the full retention clip slash trigger guard piece.

Pros

  • Durable OWB holster
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Can be used sturdily
  • Great retention holster
  • It has a decent grip
  • Great holster for range carry

Cons

  • Not a great tactical holster
  • Quite bulky

BlackHawk CQC SERPA Holster

This is available in either a right-hand or left-hand orientation, so if you are a left-handed shooter, you are able to draw with your left hand in a straight draw or cross draw if that is your thing.

This holster is hardcore in quality and will prepare you for any self-defense or tactical situation. It is well made, lightweight, and has a proven design.

It has a patented serpent lock for flawless retention and quick draw, and it has a modular mounting platform and paddle adjustable for cant and ride height.

However, it will print heavily under tighter clothing, so it is not the easiest to conceal.

Pros

  • Ambidextrous
  • designed holster
  • Secured
  • Gun retention
  • The holster is equipped with a sweat guard.
  • Comes at a very fair price
  • Trigger guard protection
  • Belt mounting option
  • Extremely comfortable
  • Provides discreet concealment
  • Conceals guns discreetly without leaving a print
  • Made from highly durable materials that will not wear off easily
  • Lightweight holster
  • Adjustable retention and cant

Cons

  • Cannot be used for tucked-in shirts
  • Thermoplastic can cause weapon wear and tear

K Rounds LLC OWB Pancake

This holster has high quality, hard to damage the material, but it never should have to be maintained and if it does get down and dirty. You can easily clean it up with some good old-fashioned soap and water.

It is a form-fitting holster that has top-quality materials. It has an excellent fit and finishes, an excellent draw angle choice with good aesthetics and edge designs.

It is the best Glock kydex pancake holster. It has two removable belt loops properly spaced for weight displacement, and it has adjustable retention and genuine contouring to ensure minimal printing every time

However, it is made only for the czp-01 and it is pricey compared to other offerings.

Pros 

  • Easy to maintain
  • Made of durable material
  • Smooth draw
  • Decent aesthetics
  • Adjustable retention

Cons

  • Quite expensive

Buyer’s Guide For OWB Holsters

OWB holsters are for open carry individuals and members of law enforcement agencies. Like every other holster, they come in various types.

Our top OWB holsters were chosen from a large variety of products based on their overall performance, and review of thousands of consumers that have purchased them through countless hours of research and side-by-side comparisons.

It is believed that the following products are indeed the best on the market today.

IWB vs OWB – Which one is better?

There are a lot of concealed handgun holsters on the market. Choosing a holster that fits your lifestyle is essential to carrying comfortably every day.

When deciding whether to carry IWB or OWB there are a few things to consider. They include the following:

Concealed carry vs Open Carry

First off, what is your stance on concealed carry vs open carry? In a hostile situation, many people believe that open carrying with an OWB is better than carrying concealed.

The thought is that open carrying will deter an attack altogether because the aggressor can see that you are carrying and will not want to attack. Supporters of IWB carry believe that carrying concealed gives you the upper hand.

If an aggressor does not know you are carrying, chances are he will not target you specifically. Allowing you the opportunity to defend yourself if an attack occurs.

Both sides address valid points. However, it is important to note that if you choose to carry OWB you are not always limited to open carry.

Some OWB holsters are designed with a slimmer low profile design perfect for both concealed carry and open carry. It is up to you to decide what you feel most comfortable with.

Comfort

Outside of the decision to open carry vs concealed, comfort is another important element to consider. You want a holster that is comfortable enough to wear every day.

If your holster is not comfortable, you won’t wear it. When carrying OWB, there is naturally a gap between your handgun and your body, some people find this more comfortable.

A good OWB holster, paired up with a good gun belt will make you forget you are even carrying.

That being said, a quality IWB holster made from flexible, durable materials will allow you to comfortably carry as well. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works well for one person may not work at all for another.

Concealment

Concealment is extremely important to consider when deciding between carrying IWB or OWB. IWB holsters that have wings on either side disperse the weight of the handgun better and contour to your side more easily than the OWB option, this offers deeper concealment.

IWB holsters are generally worn at the 4:30 position. The benefit of this placement is that the majority of the holster is inside the pants following the body’s natural contour, which aids in concealment. OWBs on the other hand tend to be worn directly off the hip. This causes the holster to protrude from your side.

Keep in mind that if you decide to carry an OWB holster concealed vs open. This protrusion would require you to wear loose-fitting clothing over the OWB in order to conceal your sidearm.

Unlike OWB holsters, many IWB holsters have also been designed to be tuckable. This means the holster has been made to allow the wearer to tuck his or her shirt into their pants, over the gun.

Tuckable IWB holsters eliminate the need for additional articles of clothing and offer the highest level of concealment. When carrying an IWB it is important to purchase pants slightly larger than your normal size.

The increase in pant size allows for adequate space for your holster ensuring the perfect amount of comfort and concealment.

Confidence

Confidence really is the deciding factor when it comes to carrying concealed. It does not matter what system you use, if you are not confident using it, it could be disastrous or prevent you from protecting yourself in a defensive situation.

There are a lot of people who feel that an OWB holster is easier to draw from and also easier to reholster. Others swear by IWB holsters, stating that the comfort and concealability is hard to beat.

Regardless of which holster type you chose to carry, remember that it’s important to become familiar with every aspect of your holster, from its draw stroke to your ability to re-holster your firearm.

Through consistent training and practice, both OWB and IWB holsters can be an efficient way to carry. If you are considering an OWB for concealed carry, look for a slimmed-down, low-profile holster that will meet your concealability needs.

Four Rules of Gun Safety

Treat Every Firearm as if it is Loaded

The reason that we do this is so that we learn to maintain a healthy level of respect for the firearm no matter what situation we are in.

Never Point a Firearm at Anything You are Not Willing to Destroy

A firearm is meant to destroy, not injure or not even warn. You need to go through training and practice before you are ready to take on whatever is on the other side of your barrel, you are willing to destroy.

If you put your firearm at someone else, not only are they now in danger, but you are also now perceived as a threat. And with a firearm, this quickly escalates the situation.

So you need to know through practice and training that if you put your firearm at someone, then you must be ready to use it.

One thing that we do see a lot with beginners, is that when handling a firearm, they may not be paying as close attention as they should, they might accidentally be pointing it at people; whether they’re talking with friends, or maybe at the range. This is what we call flagging. It is something that we really want to watch out for, and really pay close attention to, to keep ourselves and other people out of danger.

Always be Sure of Your Target and What is Beyond it

Not only do we want to know what we are shooting at, but we also want to know what we could possibly hit. So if you engage with the target inside a building, you need to know what is beyond certain walls.

If you are engaged in a concealed carry self-defense situation with the target, you need to know whether or not there is an innocent bystander beyond them.

You need to be aware of the entire situation and what you could possibly hit before ever discharging your firearm. This rule applies that you should have regular practice with whatever firearm you plan on using.

Not only do you want to learn the effective range of your weapon, you also want to know the effective range of yourself so that you can be sure of your target and your accuracy.

Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until You are on Target and Ready to Fire

This is a huge safety step towards preventing misfires. In fact, a large majority of misfires occur because somebody had their finger on the trigger before they were ready to fire.

Final Thoughts

OWB holsters are not for those that have only a concealed carry license except you want to use them for only range purposes. However, in states that permit open carry, you can use an OWB holster.