People who quit appendix carry quit because it hurt when they sat down, and they usually blame the holster. Sometimes that is fair. More often the holster was fine and the position, the belt, the cant or the gun was wrong. This guide goes through what actually makes appendix comfortable, in the order that matters, and the holsters we make that get the holster part right.
1. Position: the inch that matters most
Most discomfort is the holster sitting on the hip flexor crease, where your leg folds. Move it toward the centerline, half an inch at a time, until the muzzle end sits on the flat of the lower abdomen. For most people that is between 12:30 and 1:00, closer to center than feels natural at first.
2. The belt
A belt cinched to hold a gun up presses the holster in when you sit. A stiff belt one hole looser holds the holster in place by rigidity, not tension, and stops the digging. A soft belt cannot do this at any tightness.
3. Gun size
Muzzle length is what you feel. A 3.1-inch P365 sits on the abdomen; a 4-inch Glock 19 reaches the crease when you sit. Both can be comfortable, but the shorter gun forgives more. A P365, Hellcat, Glock 43X or Bodyguard 2.0 is where comfortable appendix starts.
4. Cant and claw
Neutral cant, so the grip is not levered into your stomach, and a claw, so the grip is pulled in at the belt instead of by belt tension. A claw makes the belt looser and the gun more concealed at the same time.
5. The holster
Now the holster. What it needs for comfort: a short, folded bottom edge with no excess kydex below the muzzle, a full sweat shield so the slide never touches skin, and a molded fit so nothing rattles. Every Clip & Carry IWB holster is molded in .08-inch kydex to one gun with no excess material, so it seats with an audible click, has a full-length sweat shield and folded edges, a belt clip that cants 20 degrees either way, adjustable retention screws whose spacing accepts a claw, and comes right- or left-handed. Handmade in the U.S.A. by a military veteran, lifetime guarantee, $44.99. The Bodyguard 2.0 Plus Line ships with its claw and a spring steel clip.
6. Wedge
If it still digs, a foam wedge on the holster body at the muzzle end tilts the grip in and the muzzle out. It is the last adjustment, not the first.
Sitting, driving and reholstering
Sitting: the muzzle end should rest on the flat of the lower abdomen, not on the hip crease. If it digs when you sit, move the holster toward the centerline half an inch and loosen the belt one hole; a wedge at the muzzle end is the last adjustment. Driving: a seatbelt sits over an appendix holster; practice unbuckling with the support hand before the draw, and keep the holster slightly toward the centerline so the buckle does not sit on the grip. Reholstering: this is the step people worry about, and the rule is simple: look, go slow, push your hips forward so the muzzle points away from your leg, clear the shirt with the support hand, and holster with the trigger finger straight. A rigid kydex holster with a full sweat shield is what makes that safe; never reholster into anything soft.
Frequently asked questions
Why does appendix carry hurt when I sit?
The muzzle is on the hip crease. Move the holster toward the centerline and loosen the belt one hole.
What is the most comfortable gun for appendix?
A short-slide micro-compact: P365, Hellcat, 43X, Bodyguard 2.0.
Do I need a claw?
For a double-stack, yes. For a micro-compact, it still helps and lets you run the belt looser.
Does a wedge help?
Yes, as the final adjustment after position, belt, cant and claw.
Will it get more comfortable over time?
Yes. A week of wearing it while you dial in position is normal.
The bottom line
Comfortable appendix is a short gun in a molded holster, at 12:30, neutral cant, claw on, belt one hole loose. Start with the P365 holster if you have a P365, and fix position before you blame anything else.
Related reading
Best appendix carry holsters
What makes a good concealed carry holster
Best holsters for the Sig P365
