What Type of Holster Clip is Best for Concealed Carry?

Gun Holster Clips for Concealed Carry

Alien Gear Holsters offers a wide selection of different types of holster clips. The reason is simple - different applications demand different holster fastening methods. If you're an off-duty police officer or emergency worker, you may need a leather loop configuration to go over your duty belt. Or perhaps you know you'll need to adjust your gun holster before you sit in your vehicle - That's the perfect job for a C or J clip. Maybe you don't wear a gun belt at all - here's where steel clips come in handy.

For almost any application, there's a belt holster clip or loop that fits your daily carry needs. And we'll go over the major ones so you have a better idea of what you're looking for.

How Different Types Holster Clips Work

Leather Loops

Leather loops are incredibly handy when a person is working with a larger duty belt. Whether you're a lineman working on electric poles or an off-duty police officer, leather loops give the wearer more decisions when working with large duty belts.

Even if you don't have an oversized duty belt, some people prefer the loop configuration over the traditional standard plastic clips (which we'll discuss later).

More info including pricing: Black Steel Clips

Black steel clips are ideal for those who carry concealed without a belt. Or perhaps it's just for the person that doesn't prefer clipping his inside the waistband holster onto the belt for any number of reasons. Black steel clips provide positive reinforcement along the waistline of a pair of trousers while leaving the belt selection more up in the air.

The great thing about the black steel clips is that even if you are wearing a gun belt, they're slim enough to fit beneath it.

More info including pricing: Standard Holster Clips

The standard plastic belt clips are designed to wrap around the belt and let the IWB holster hang on the inside of the trousers. This is great for people who wear sturdy leather belts and prefer to have the belt line as a supporting point for their IWB holster.

More info including pricing: J Clips

J clips wrap over the trouser waistline and tuck under the belt. For those who wear wider belts that may not conform with the standard plastic belt clips, the J clip is generally the "go-to" choice. It still provides positive pressure on the waistline while letting the belt slip seamlessly over.

More info including pricing: C Clips

C clips are intended to wrap over the waistline of the trouser and let you wrap your belt through the "C" portion. It's versatile - and that's why a lot of people like this option. If you're someone who wants to adjust your inside the waistband concealed carry holster without having to unfasten your trousers - C clips generally offer a decent degree of that. Plus, it's a lot easier to remove your belt - in the event you need to switch belts.

More info including pricing:

In conclusion, now that we've gone over a few of the different clip configurations - hopefully, you have a better idea of which one will work best for you. We do have a affordable that will save you some money if you want to try the different fastening methods.

About The Author James England (@sir_jim_england) is the contributing editor for Alien Gear Holsters. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and private defense contracting in Afghanistan.