Belly bands are sized for a 36-inch waist and then stretched, which is why they roll, ride up, and give out for anyone bigger. A belt holster has its own problems for a large man: the belt sits under the stomach, the grip drives into it, and appendix is off the table. This guide covers the belly band we sell that goes to 48 inches on its own and 66 with an extender, why it works better than a belt for a bigger frame, and how to set it up.
Why a belly band suits a bigger frame
A belt holster has to sit at the belt, and on a large stomach the belt is low and angled. A belly band can sit where you want it, above the belt line, on the flat of the side, and it distributes the gun's weight across the band instead of hanging it off one clip. It also does not need a belt at all, which matters for anyone in scrubs, sweatpants, or elastic-waist pants.
The band
STRAPT-TAC Belly Band
The STRAPT-TAC is a belly band that does not try to be a holster. It is an elastic band with a hook-and-loop panel that accepts your own molded IWB kydex holster, so the gun gets real retention and a fully covered trigger instead of an elastic pouch. It fits full-size, compact and subcompact pistols, comes in a holster-position style and an appendix-rig style, in three waist sizes from 23 to 48 inches, and ships with a universal magazine and tool sheath. $34.99; kydex holster sold separately.
STRAPT-TAC Belt Extender
Adds up to 18 inches to any size with hook and loop and no extra bulk, so the 2XL-3XL band goes from 48 inches to 66. $6.99.
Setup for a large frame
- Measure where the band will sit, which is usually a few inches above the belt line, not at the pants size.
- Choose the holster-position style, not the appendix rig, and put the holster at 2:30 or 3 o'clock on the flat of the side, where the grip clears the stomach.
- Use a smaller gun if you can. A Bodyguard 2.0 or P365 in the band disappears on a big frame in a way a Glock 19 does not, though the band takes both.
- Snug, not tight. A band cranked down to hold a gun rolls. The holster in the STRAPT-TAC does the holding, so the band only needs to be snug.
The trigger-coverage test (do this before you carry)
Put the gun in the band the way you will wear it, then press a finger into the fabric over the trigger from the outside. If you can feel the trigger move, the band does not protect it and nothing about elastic or a strap changes that. This is the difference between a belly band with a pouch and one that holds a rigid kydex holster: in the STRAPT-TAC the trigger is covered by molded kydex and the gun clicks in, so it passes the test the way a belt holster does. Two more forum-tested checks: turn the band upside down and shake it (the holster should hold the gun), and draw through the shirt you will actually wear, ten times, to see whether the band moves when you pull.
Clip & Carry
The belly band that holds a real kydex holster
STRAPT-TAC: your IWB holster clicks into the band, so the trigger stays behind hard kydex. Made in the USA, 4.9 stars, $34.99.
See how it worksFrequently asked questions
What is the largest waist the STRAPT-TAC fits?
48 inches on the 2XL-3XL band, 66 with the belt extender.
Will it roll over?
A band that is sized right and not over-tightened does not roll. Oversized elastic bands roll because they are stretched to their limit.
Does it cover the trigger?
Yes, with the rigid kydex holster you add to it. That is the difference from an elastic pouch.
Can I wear it under a tucked shirt?
Yes. The band sits under the shirt and the shirt tucks over it.
Does it come with the holster?
No. Add the Clip & Carry IWB holster for your gun.
The bottom line
The STRAPT-TAC in 2XL-3XL with the extender fits a 66-inch waist, sits where a belt cannot, and holds a real holster. It is the setup for a big man who wants to carry comfortably.
Related reading
Best belly band holster for men
Beltless concealed carry: every option
How to conceal carry with a tucked-in shirt
