Belly band personal experience. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

jeepinbanditrider · 03-09-2007, 09:05 AM

Anyone have ANY experience with belly bands. I've been looking for a decent CC choice. I was going to go the t-shirt under a button down shirt setup but any button up shirt I buy still prints the weapon. Granted this is with the stock XDGEAR holster which I noticed sticks out pretty far. I think a thight fitting holster would help a lot.

I've got it narrowed down to the Galco Belly Band which I would wear about at the bottom of my ribs, the Blade Tech belt holster, or the Hume (leather) open top.

If I get the belly band I can keep extra ammo and a light on me also and still wear T-shirts since it looks like it fits pretty tight, though I would probably wear my T-shirt, then the belly band, then a button up overshirt.

The other two holsters look like they fit closely and I would probably have the same clothing setup though I would have to buy a mag holster to carry an extra mag.

Anyone have any experience with any of these pieces of gear. Thanks.

longtalltechsan · 03-09-2007, 09:18 AM

Crossbreed!

jeepinbanditrider · 03-09-2007, 09:25 AM

I like them but I"m not into IWB holsters becuase I wear fairly tight jeans which dosen't leave a whole lot of room for a pistol to fit.

AZXD40 · 03-09-2007, 09:31 AM

I have at least six different concealment holsters. I am #275 @ 6' tall, and it seems everything prints. I use the best combination of clothing and holster to acomplish a discrete conceal carry option. I use a Galco concealable, with their concealable mag pouch when I know I am going to be wearing a top/outer layer as it the most comfortable for all day wear, and I use the Supertuck when it is a little warmer, No top/outer layer, and carry no extra mag.

While I have no experiance with the Belly band, I tend to lean towards holster systems that can be removed without alot of undressing etc. Completely a personal choice.

I do know that Galco produces some of the best holsters I have ever dealt with & used. So it is hard to believe that you could go wrong with one of there systems

No offence to the people that like the XD's Extreme gear package, but IMHO it is Junk. Purly a marketing tool. The holster does not do a good job of concealing, so you should definately see better results with a "Concealable" holster system..

45s4life · 03-09-2007, 10:07 AM

I bought a belly band with the thought that during the summer I could get by with a poly shirt to cover. Have tried it with my XD45 service, it does not cover well. The grip of the pistol is not pulled in tight enough to the body. A smaller, flatter pistol will probably work well. I also tried it with my Taurus 605 revolver. Not as bad as the XD. Note: I bought the 6 in band over the 4 in band to cover as much of the pistol. A friend has a 380 Keltec, that seems to work well in the belly band.

Advantage is that you can position the weapon anywhere around you waist.

jeepinbanditrider · 03-09-2007, 10:47 AM

Sorry guess I should have added my heigth and weight.

5 foot 7 inches and 160ish lbs.

My dad had a HUME (similar to the one I'm looking at) for his glock that worked extremlley well. The prices aren't to bad between the holsters maybe I'll just buy one if it don't work then get another one and sell the one I don't like here to someone who may like it.

40SWXDSHOOTER · 03-09-2007, 11:01 AM

I have a belly band, and used it one time. It wasn't very comfortable, and would be had to get at.
I like IWB holsters, and as far as tight jeans, I have two stacks of jeans, carry, and non carry.
You spend $400-$500 + on a gun to protect your life, I think you could spring for some new pants.
Things like belly bands and thunderware, are more for deep cover work, carring a BUG, or for people that don't have a permit to carry.
If you are carrying legally, a IWB holster, with a cover shirt is your best bet. There are tuckable holsters out there that let you tuck your shirt in over your gun.
This is coming from someone that had to carry without a permit for years, and had to hide what I was packing, and now has a permit, and has been carrying every day for a few years.

propellerhead · 03-09-2007, 11:02 AM

I've tried it. I wore it where the pistol was at normal IWB height. You have to get it a couple of sizes larger if you're going to do that. Having the constriction around your midsection isn't the greatest feeling. I think the strong point of the Belly Band concealment because it pulls the pistol closer to your body. It also keeps the pistol snug and in the same place. With my IWB, I have to adjust it once in a while. Plus, if you have to use a public restroom with the belly band, you don't risk dropping your pistol.

That said, I use an IWB 99% of the time. I learned that a little bulge isn't really an issue. A normal person can't tell that it's a pistol.

Harvdog · 03-09-2007, 05:33 PM

I've never tried it. I use an IWB from Crossbreed that I really like.

GaLEO · 03-09-2007, 07:45 PM

I have one I wear with a much smaller handgun, and then only in the summer. I have carried a Glock 23 in it, but don't like it much. My opinion, not very comfortable for a full size pistol. For a compact pistol, and you really need to hide it, they work pretty well. I prefer carrying in my strong side pants pocket.

03-09-2007, 09:05 AM	#1
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,772	Belly band personal experience. Anyone have ANY experience with belly bands. I've been looking for a decent CC choice. I was going to go the t-shirt under a button down shirt setup but any button up shirt I buy still prints the weapon. Granted this is with the stock XDGEAR holster which I noticed sticks out pretty far. I think a thight fitting holster would help a lot. I've got it narrowed down to the Galco Belly Band which I would wear about at the bottom of my ribs, the Blade Tech belt holster, or the Hume (leather) open top. If I get the belly band I can keep extra ammo and a light on me also and still wear T-shirts since it looks like it fits pretty tight, though I would probably wear my T-shirt, then the belly band, then a button up overshirt. The other two holsters look like they fit closely and I would probably have the same clothing setup though I would have to buy a mag holster to carry an extra mag. Anyone have any experience with any of these pieces of gear. Thanks. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

03-09-2007, 09:25 AM	#3
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,772	I like them but I"m not into IWB holsters becuase I wear fairly tight jeans which dosen't leave a whole lot of room for a pistol to fit. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

03-09-2007, 09:31 AM	#4
AZXD40 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 705	I have at least six different concealment holsters. I am #275 @ 6' tall, and it seems everything prints. I use the best combination of clothing and holster to acomplish a discrete conceal carry option. I use a Galco concealable, with their concealable mag pouch when I know I am going to be wearing a top/outer layer as it the most comfortable for all day wear, and I use the Supertuck when it is a little warmer, No top/outer layer, and carry no extra mag. While I have no experiance with the Belly band, I tend to lean towards holster systems that can be removed without alot of undressing etc. Completely a personal choice. I do know that Galco produces some of the best holsters I have ever dealt with & used. So it is hard to believe that you could go wrong with one of there systems No offence to the people that like the XD's Extreme gear package, but IMHO it is Junk. Purly a marketing tool. The holster does not do a good job of concealing, so you should definately see better results with a "Concealable" holster system.. __________________ John F. Kennedy: "Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."

03-09-2007, 10:07 AM	#5
45s4life XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Metairie,La Posts: 128	I bought a belly band with the thought that during the summer I could get by with a poly shirt to cover. Have tried it with my XD45 service, it does not cover well. The grip of the pistol is not pulled in tight enough to the body. A smaller, flatter pistol will probably work well. I also tried it with my Taurus 605 revolver. Not as bad as the XD. Note: I bought the 6 in band over the 4 in band to cover as much of the pistol. A friend has a 380 Keltec, that seems to work well in the belly band. Advantage is that you can position the weapon anywhere around you waist. __________________ Taurus 602 2" 357 S&W Mod 28 6" 357 Colt Model 70 1911 45 acp SA XD 45 Service Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

03-09-2007, 10:47 AM	#6
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,772	Sorry guess I should have added my heigth and weight. 5 foot 7 inches and 160ish lbs. My dad had a HUME (similar to the one I'm looking at) for his glock that worked extremlley well. The prices aren't to bad between the holsters maybe I'll just buy one if it don't work then get another one and sell the one I don't like here to someone who may like it. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

03-09-2007, 11:01 AM	#7
40SWXDSHOOTER XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 891	I have a belly band, and used it one time. It wasn't very comfortable, and would be had to get at. I like IWB holsters, and as far as tight jeans, I have two stacks of jeans, carry, and non carry. You spend $400-$500 + on a gun to protect your life, I think you could spring for some new pants. Things like belly bands and thunderware, are more for deep cover work, carring a BUG, or for people that don't have a permit to carry. If you are carrying legally, a IWB holster, with a cover shirt is your best bet. There are tuckable holsters out there that let you tuck your shirt in over your gun. This is coming from someone that had to carry without a permit for years, and had to hide what I was packing, and now has a permit, and has been carrying every day for a few years.

03-09-2007, 11:02 AM	#8
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,477	I've tried it. I wore it where the pistol was at normal IWB height. You have to get it a couple of sizes larger if you're going to do that. Having the constriction around your midsection isn't the greatest feeling. I think the strong point of the Belly Band concealment because it pulls the pistol closer to your body. It also keeps the pistol snug and in the same place. With my IWB, I have to adjust it once in a while. Plus, if you have to use a public restroom with the belly band, you don't risk dropping your pistol. That said, I use an IWB 99% of the time. I learned that a little bulge isn't really an issue. A normal person can't tell that it's a pistol. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for practice & IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three purposes, three calibers, three models. One gun.

03-09-2007, 05:33 PM	#9
Harvdog XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Montclair, Virginia Posts: 347	I've never tried it. I use an IWB from Crossbreed that I really like. __________________ Semper Fi - USMC 1987-1991 God Squad 1985-Present SA XD 40s&w Subcompact Ruger GP161 357 Magnum Raven 25 Traditions 50cal sidelock muzzleloader Remington 870 12 gauge Ruger M77 30.06 Romanian AK-47 by Lancaster Arms Ruger 10/22

03-09-2007, 07:45 PM	#10
GaLEO XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia Posts: 116	I have one I wear with a much smaller handgun, and then only in the summer. I have carried a Glock 23 in it, but don't like it much. My opinion, not very comfortable for a full size pistol. For a compact pistol, and you really need to hide it, they work pretty well. I prefer carrying in my strong side pants pocket.

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