The same kydex shell can be built as an inside-the-waistband holster with a belt clip or an outside-the-waistband holster on a paddle or loops, and the choice between them is about concealment, comfort and what you wear more than the gun. This guide lays out what changes between kydex OWB and IWB, when each is right, and what we sell in both.
Kydex IWB
The holster rides between your body and your pants, clipped to the belt. The pants hide the holster and most of the gun; the shirt hides the grip. It conceals under a t-shirt, which is why it is the concealed carry default. The costs: about an inch of pants room, and the gun against your body, which is what the sweat shield and folded edges are for. Every Clip & Carry IWB holster, like the Glock 19 IWB, is molded kydex with a 20-degree adjustable clip and claw-ready screws.
Kydex OWB
The holster rides on the belt outside the pants, on a paddle that slides over the belt or on belt loops. Nothing is inside your waistband, so it is more comfortable, faster, and easier to reholster. It needs a cover garment: a jacket, an overshirt, a hoodie. The Glock paddle holsters and Bodyguard 2.0 paddle we carry are this type, with Posi-Click retention and adjustable cant.
Which one
| You | Choose |
|---|---|
| Carry daily under a t-shirt | IWB |
| Wear a jacket or overshirt most days | OWB works; IWB still hides better |
| Range, competition, training | OWB |
| Open carry where legal | OWB |
| Winter | OWB under a coat, IWB when the coat comes off |
| Sit or drive all day | OWB at 3 o'clock, or IWB at appendix |
Can you have both
Yes, and many people do: an IWB for daily carry and a paddle for the range. Two molded holsters for the same gun cost less than one bad hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Is OWB or IWB more comfortable?
OWB. Nothing is inside your pants.
Is OWB or IWB more concealable?
IWB, by a lot. OWB needs a cover garment.
Can I conceal a kydex OWB holster?
Under a jacket or an untucked overshirt, yes. Under a t-shirt, no.
Which is faster to draw?
OWB slightly, because there is no pants waistband to clear. Appendix IWB is close.
Do I need a different belt?
Both want a stiff belt. A paddle holds better on a wider one.
The bottom line
IWB for concealment, OWB for comfort and the range. Get the IWB molded to your gun first.
Related reading
What does IWB mean? IWB vs OWB vs AIWB
Kydex vs leather holsters
What is a level 2 holster?
