Top 10 Best CCW Positions: Concealment & Comfort
Inside waistband (IWB) to bra carry and appendix. We'll cover all the top carry positions for CCW...plus a couple you probably don't know about.
Recreational shooter and firearms enthusiast. CCW permit holder
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Choosing a spot to carry your gun is almost as important as the gun you carry. When it comes to choosing a concealed carry location, the ideal place for you is wherever you have easy access at the time.
I know that kind of sounds confusing, but one location isn't an end-all be-all for carrying a gun.
Being able to access your gun quickly depends on the situation, the place you're in, and what you are wearing.
What I mean is, if you are in a vehicle and have to draw your weapon, would it be easier to access your CCW if it was on your hip versus at the 5 o'clock?
Probably.
If you are wearing clothing that's more form-fitting, it's harder to hide a concealed carry weapon. In these cases, you might want to look into an off-body carry.
While the most common position is on your hip or by your kidney, take a look at some of the other options as we go through and see if they may be better for you depending on your day-to-day activities.
We're going to cover some of the most essential carrying positions and our favorite holster for each. If you'd like more choices once you narrow down your position, check out Best Holsters.
Table of Contents
Around The Clock: 1, 3, and 4-6 O’Clock
Carry positions around the waist are usually referred to by the location on a clock face.
For example, if you're carrying on a hip, this would be referred to as the 3 o'clock position. That said, all of these positions have two options.
Option 1: Outside Waistband (OWB) Carry
There are different levels of holsters for your OWB carry depending on where along your body you are going to carry. The 3-9 o’clock positions are where you’ll usually see an OWB holster.
Need some more holster options? Check out the Best OWB Holsters we recommend!
Option 2: Inside Waistband (IWB) Carry
IWB is probably the most common concealed carry choice.
Because it's inside your waistband, you can get holsters that allow for you to tuck in your shirt, which hides the weapon even more.
Placing the holster and weapon inside your waistband lets you carry at pretty much any position around your waist.
We have more holster recs in our Best IWB Holsters article!
Option 3: Appendix Inside Waistband (AIWB)
AIWB is another version of in the waistband, but specific to a location on the front side of the body.
Since most shooters are right-handed, the term appendix was applied as that organ is located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen.
Carrying here has some positive aspects as well as some challenges -- depending on how high you wear your pants or how much spare tire you pack, it might be difficult to sit down while carrying AIWB.
Extra safety is also a consideration when you are toting a firearm near your nethers.
On the plus side, drawing, shooting, and reloading from this position can be extremely fast with practice! In addition, many shooters are able to carry and conceal larger handguns in AIWB.
You know we got holster recommendations for AIWB too. Check out what we use here!
Belly Bands
A belly band is an ideal carry option for those who don't wear a belt. They're surprisingly comfortable, especially if you have a smaller concealed carry gun.
If your gun is a little heavier, like a compact or a subcompact with a double-stack magazine, it might not be the easiest weapon of choice to wear when being active.
If you have a smaller gun, like a Bodyguard .380 or an LCP, you can easily wear a belly band and have your full range of motion and an easily accessible CCW in case your life is threatened.
Ankle
To ankle carry your CCW, you'll need a specialized holster. Typically these holsters have some sort of fur inside, often rabbit fur.
The holster is securely attached around your ankle and lower calf. Obviously, you'll have to wear pants that are a little looser fitting when choosing an ankle carry
The ankle carry option offers you a unique opportunity. It frees up your shirt choice to anything you'd like, and you don't have to have a belt, either.
Another benefit of an ankle carry is that if somebody comes up from behind and knocks you down, it's much easier to reach for your ankle in many cases than it is to grab a gun that's behind you in the 4 or 5 o'clock position.
It's also less likely that someone will try and grab your gun from you if they see it.
Pocket Carry
Carrying your CCW in your pocket is another common option. Many of the smaller guns like a .380 or .22 will fit easily along with a holster into a front pocket.
While the draw is a little trickier, you can carry a weapon in many more circumstances than you might have with an IWB carry.
If you think a pocket carry option is right for you, look into some of the holsters available. Many times there are generic holsters that fit a specific caliber or shape weapon.
These holsters have a stickier material on the outside of the holster and a slicker material on the inside to make the draw quicker.
Something to practice with a pocket draw is pulling out just the gun and not the holster, and the gun, then needing to remove it from the holster before you can use it.
Shoulder Harness
I'm sure you've seen a shoulder harness before on TV. Many times detectives, police, and government agents will have a single or dual shoulder rig.
This puts the weapon on the opposing side of your body because you'll have to draw across your body.
So if you’re right-handed, your shoulder rig will put the gun on the left side of your body. That way, you reach into your coat or shirt or whatever the case and draw the weapon.
This can be an extremely quick draw, but it's a very obvious draw as well.
Bra Carry
Some bras are made with holsters built-in. Some fit more like a standard bra with the holster typically situated between and under the breasts, while others fit like a sports bra with the holster on the side, under the arm.
There are also specialty holsters that can be affixed to most regular bras, though many multipurpose holsters with loops will also work with most bras.
The quickest access holsters have the gun horizontal below the bra.
This allows you to pull up your shirt a little, reach up, and draw the weapon quickly. There are videos from manufacturers showing a pretty consistent 1.6-second draw and shoot times from under various style shirts.
Want to learn more about the Flashbang? Check out our review here!
Thigh Carry
This carry option is predominantly used by women but is an underrated choice for men as well. While most people think of thigh carry with skirts or dresses, it can also work with loose shorts.
A thigh carry holster is meant for a smaller weapon like a .380. You could probably get away with a small 9mm, but it would depend on the weapon.
In most cases, thigh holsters are used because there are no pockets or firm waistbands. Using a thigh holster also keeps the weapon on you, unlike an off-the-body carry in a purse or something similar.
Off-Body Carry
Off-body carry options are plentiful and have their own set of considerations and training needed to use them successfully.
When you have a weapon in something like a backpack, you need to keep that backpack on or near you at all times.
Otherwise, it's like setting your gun on a counter and walking away.
Some of the off-body carry options are:
- Backpacks
- Purses
- Handbags
- Briefcase
- Specially made binders or art portfolios that have concealed carry provisions.
For me, I consider having a gun in your center console or glove box to be an off-body carry as well. You don't want to just toss a non-holstered weapon in your glove box because you never know what will happen.
If you have some way to mount a holster into your glove box or console, it's much more preferable.
Final Thoughts
Choosing where to carry is a personal preference. If you like an ankle carry or OWB, go for it. There’s no need to be uncomfortable just to make sure you have a gun on you; there are a lot of options.
You can try a few to see what works best for your daily activities.
*Editor's Note: PPT Contributor Sean Curtis contributed to this article.
So, where do you carry? Tell us all about it in the comments! Also, check out our full recommendations of the Best Concealed Carry Holsters and How to Conceale for Women.