8 Unusual Holsters We Swear By — And Why You Might, Too
In this article, we examine some unusual holsters that cover a variety of carry styles and specific circumstances.
USMC Veteran. Concealed Carry & NRA Pistol Instructor. 3-Gun Competitor. Career firearms writer
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Where do you carry your gun? I'm betting it's on your waist, whether that be inside the waistband or outside.
The vast majority of folks who carry a handgun carry it on their waist. This includes everyone from concealed carriers to military members to law enforcement.
For most people, the basics work. That's why it's the standard. However, that's not always the case. You might find yourself in a specific situation that calls for something a little unusual.
Sometimes, a different holster or carry method can offer better comfort, access, retention, or security. Those special situations and non-standard holsters are the topic of today’s article.
Along the way, I'll give you some suggestions on a few of my favorite holsters within a specific genre. That will get you rocking and rolling on your way to carrying everywhere all the time, so let's dive in!
Table of Contents
The Quick List
- Fastest Shoulder Holster : Safariland 7053 7TS ALS Shoulder HolsterJump to details ↓
- Old School Style: Galco Miami Classic Shoulder HolstersJump to details ↓
- Best for Hunting: Gunfighters INC Kenai Chest HolsterJump to details ↓
- Best for Tactical Use: Safariland MLS MOLLE Locking SystemJump to details ↓
- Best for Utility: 5.11 Tactical Skyweight Utility Chest PackJump to details ↓
- Best Pocket Holster: Safariland Model 25 Inside The Pocket HolsterJump to details ↓
- Fits Most Models: DeSantis Super Fly Pocket HolsterJump to details ↓
- Most Versatile: PHLster EnigmaJump to details ↓
How We Chose the Best Unusual Holsters
Between the author and the rest of the Pew Pew Tactical team, we have hands-on experience and carry time with every holster on this list. Each holster was selected using a mix of criteria, including features, comfort, overall quality, price, and use case.
Shoulder Holsters
The shoulder holster has largely fallen out of favor but still has a lot to offer.
Appendix carry rigs are fine in the car…for a little bit. After a few hours, I found AIWB to be irritating and uncomfortable.
However, shoulder holsters are an excellent option for road-tripping. They are more comfortable and offer easy access to your firearm from a seated position.
Shoulder holsters don't run the risk of interference with a seat belt or steering wheel when it comes to accessing your gun.
They are also great for other situations where you may be seated for an extended period, such as office work, train rides, long restaurant trips, and more.
This may sound perfect for some of you, but they do have drawbacks. Good shoulder rigs tend to be pricey. They also require you to train for a completely different type of draw.
Let's not forget the need for a dedicated cover garment. An open button-down shirt, jacket, or similar garment is necessary. That can get annoying, but luckily, modern cars and most buildings have a nice, cold A/C.
1. Safariland 7053 7TS ALS - Fastest Shoulder Holster
I have two shoulder holsters that I prefer.
Up first is the Safariland 7053 ALS. These holsters use the 7TS polymer construction combined with the ALS lever to provide a great degree of retention. I really like the ALS lever compared to a leather button design. It is quicker and more intuitive.
The 7053 straps are a minimalist design. We have one adjustable shoulder cuff and one elastic cord. This micro-sized strap system is surprisingly comfortable and allows for an excellent degree of movement.
They are made for a variety of modern guns, and they also offer light-bearing options. But sadly, you'll be left in the dark as far as optics-ready compatibility goes.
2. Galco Miami Classic - Old School Style
Next up are the Galco Miami Classic and Miami Classic II. The Miami Classic series modernized the shoulder holster.
These are classic leather rigs with the rear 'Spider' design to maximize movement and comfort. These holsters allow you to carry an additional reload or two on the opposite side of the gun.
This helps balance the weight of the gun while also providing more ammo, which is always good. You can also get additional security belt tie-downs to help stabilize the entire rig even more if you so wish.
The Miami Classic is available for a ton of different guns, but they aren't always accessory-friendly. Some may accommodate red dots, but it is model-dependent.
Chest Holsters
Perhaps the least common carry method here is chest carry, which is when you position the gun directly on the front of your chest.
Chest holsters are most commonly associated with hunters and some specific tactical applications but are sometimes used for concealed carry as well.
For hunters, it keeps limbs and vines from grabbing your gun. It also makes it easy to carry a rather big firearm, like a large revolver, quite comfortably. These rigs keep your gun both protected and easily accessible.
Tactical users will sometimes attach their holsters to their plate carriers. This is often used for folks working in and around vehicles.
For concealed carry, chest carry requires a bag or pack. Dedicated concealed carry bags can let you comfortably conceal a firearm while running, hiking, and generally enjoying the outdoors.
While chest carry can be quite quick when the gun is not concealed, it is a fairly slow draw from concealment. Like shoulder holsters, some chest rigs can also be expensive.
3. Gunfighters INC Kenai - Best for Hunting
For hunters, the Gunfighters INC Kenai chest holster is the way to go.
It's made from modern polymer and is designed for modern guns with modern accessories. This includes the normal red dots and lights but also scopes for those big-bore revolver bubbas.
4. Safariland Holster with MLS adapter - Best for Tactical Use
For tactical users, I suggest a Safariland holster that fits their chosen gun and using the Safariland MLS (MOLLE Locking System) adapter forks.
Safariland makes some of the world's best duty holsters, and the MLS forks let you easily mount said holsters to any MOLLE-equipped plate carrier.
Another bonus to this method is that simply removing the MLS adapter gives you the ability to swap back to a more traditional belt carry method easily.
5. 5.11 Skyweight Chest Pack - Best for Utility
For concealed carry, the 5.11 Skyweight Chest Pack is awesome. I use one when I run, and I can carry a gun, my phone, keys, and more with ease.
It has a dedicated compartment that is sized for compact pistols and has “hot pull tabs” to help you draw quickly. This setup has a very comfortable design and is both affordable and easy to find.
Pocket Holsters
Pocket carry has become one of my favorite carry methods in the last couple of years.
It’s an excellent option for those who have to carry discreetly. In situations where you are wearing formal clothing, the right gun and pocket holster combo can make a gun disappear entirely.
Pocket carry also allows for a discrete 'pre-draw,' meaning you can rest your hand on your gun without anyone being the wiser. This makes for a rapid draw that's very effective and easy to learn.
However, there are a few downsides. One, it's slow if your hand isn't already on the gun. Second, you are stuck with a small gun; you aren't pocket-carrying a Glock 19. Accessing a pocket gun can also be difficult if you're seated.
But luckily, if you want to give pocket carry a try, holsters are often very affordable and available for most common small handguns.
6. Safariland Model 25 - Best Pocket Holster
The Safariland Model 25 combines a soft top layer with a formed polymer out layer. Unlike most pocket holsters, they are not soft and collapsible. It's rigid but supportive and comfortable.
I have this holster, and it is excellent. The design is minimalist, and the external texture keeps the holster in the pocket when you commit to the draw.
One of the better design features is that it's molded for each gun. It's just a little loose, which prevents friction and ensures the holster doesn't leave with your pocket.
The biggest downside is that Safariland doesn't make them for a ton of guns, so your options are limited.
7. DeSantis Super Fly - Fits Most Models
My second holster is the DeSantis Super Fly. This holster builds on the design of the classic DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. The big difference is the removable, ambidextrous flap that covers the gun and helps prevent printing in your pocket.
The Super Fly uses an aggressive outer texture and a wing to keep it locked in your pocket when you draw your gun from it. Its soft design provides a comfortable in-the-pocket experience for the average user.
DeSantis makes the Super Fly for a ton of different guns, and they are a very affordable option.
Wild Card
I had one pick that didn't neatly fit into any category, but it could be the right holster for you.
8. Phlster Enigma - Most Versatile
My final unusual holster for unusual needs is the Phlster Enigma.
So, what role does it fill? Well, it fills a lot of them.
What is it? Uhm, it's tough to say. The name Enigma works well because I don't know what to call it. It's not a belly band, an appendix holster, or an IWB rig — it's its own thing.
The Enigma doesn't require a belt, and it attaches to your holster. It's compatible with a wide variety of well-made holsters and allows you to carry a gun anywhere quite comfortably.
It lets you adjust the gun and holster to fit all around your body. Phlster's Engima is great for carrying a firearm with workout clothes, extremely casual no-belt clothing, and formal clothes, and is also great for driving.
There is a bit of a learning curve for setting it up, and it isn’t the cheapest holster on the market, but the Enigma is popular for a reason. It's an incredibly flexible carry system that is highly customizable and comfortable.
Meet the Experts
Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike spearheaded this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped.
Travis has also carried firearms both professionally and privately for over a decade. He has also tried a ton of different holsters in a variety of configurations. As a natural contrarian, he finds it hard to accept the 'norm' and not try to be a little different. This has led him to try out a ton of alternative pieces of gear, including numerous holsters.
Editing and adding to this article is Wyatt Sloan, Jr. Editor. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor, long-range shooting, and hunting. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He loves carrying a wide variety of handguns and, by necessity, has tried a wide variety of holsters.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
Lots of people can pack an AIWB rig everywhere they go. I'm sure someone in the audience wears one on 10-hour drives, works out in the gym, and hunts wearing an appendix rig, but that's not me; I like options.
I'm Barbie, and every holster is an accessory. I like being able to plan and customize my loadout for every single day. Maybe I'm weird, but I'm betting I'm not the only one. If you are like-minded, hopefully, this article helped you get pointed in the right direction.
Are there any unusual holsters you use? Which carry positions do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below! Not sold on any of these carry methods? Check out our article on IWB vs. OWB carry.