Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we discussed the first part of our holster rundown series with what materials to carry and what to expect to spend. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to give it a read. This week, I want to talk about some of the most popular carry positions and why they could be beneficial to you. In the gun world, there are preferred favorites, but each style has its own benefits in various situations. When it comes to carrying concealed, there are a number of ways to get the job down from a simple inside the waistband holster or putting it in your pocket to wearing a shoulder rig to conceal larger handguns. Whatever your preference is, there are certainly benefits to carrying each way. The pocket holster way is fantastic, for example, to carry with almost no effort. There are size and capacity limitations with pocket holsters, but the big positive is the fact that they are incredibly easy to conceal. Each of these styles have their own benefits and now's the best time to explore more of these benefits. IWB/OWB By far the most popular options are the Inside The Waistband (IWB) holsters, whether that's the strong side on your hip or appendix, which we will talk about in a bit. When you have your handgun on your belt line, you have the ability to have a consistent and secure location to carry your gun every single day. The belt line gets the least amount of movement compared to something like an ankle carry, where your legs are constantly in motion. With a sturdy belt and quality holster, carrying on your belt line is one of the best ways to safely and discreetly carry your concealed handgun without worrying about brandishing or printing. IWB holsters allow you to carry everything from a subcompact to a full-size handgun. If you're just starting out and want to find an incredibly common option for carrying a handgun, I suggest you start with an IWB holster. Outside The Waistband (OWB) holsters keep your handgun outside your waistline but are still connected to the belt. This allows for a more comfortable option compared to having the handgun ride inside your waistband. These are fantastic options for carrying larger handguns during the colder months that won't rub or cause hot spots since the handgun is on the outside of your pants. This is one of the most comfortable ways to carry a concealed handgun, but the biggest issue with OWB style holsters is the inability to easily conceal your handgun. You will need a fairly heavy cover garment to properly conceal your handgun. Appendix Carrying appendix was all the rage about 10 years ago. Everyone online who was “high speed” said if you weren't carrying appendix style, you were carrying concealed the wrong way. Appendix holsters ride right in the front of your waistline, allowing for fast access, which allows you to draw from concealment and present the firearm faster than you would from carrying strong side on your hip. Many younger people who carry concealed started off by appendix carrying because it's one of the fastest positions and if you're a skinnier individual, you will usually be able to conceal a slightly larger handgun without it printing rather than carrying on your hip. Although it's by far the fastest method of carrying, the appendix certainly has a couple of disadvantages when it comes to comfort. The number one issue most people have is when they are sitting down and putting a seat belt on. That area of the body can be tricky to carry and draw from when sitting down. Some people complain about bad hot spotting, which can happen if you have a few extra pounds around your mid section. Despite the drawbacks, carrying an appendix holster can be one of the easiest methods to quickly draw your gun if you put the practice in. Shoulder RigsThe old school method, or as some like to call it, the Gentleman's carry method. Having a shoulder holster can be a fantastic option if you find yourself sitting or cannot carry with a belt for one reason or another. When it comes to carrying on longer road trips, having quick access to your handgun while not having to deal with hot spotting on your body is a real plus. Having a shoulder holster if you have a suit is also another fantastic option since it won't pull on your dress belt or pull on your tucked-in shirt. Some people don't mind just tucking their shirt in around their carry gun, but personally, I love to carry a shoulder holster under my suit coat. I am a big fan of both vertical and horizontal shoulder holsters, but the biggest issue with both is the fact that you need a fairly substantial cover garment in order to truly conceal them. Whether that's a light jacket, suit coat or something similar, you absolutely have to have a cover garment to make sure these larger holsters are covered. Once you get the hang of it, it's not tough at all, but carrying a shoulder holster does take a bit of preplanning. Pocket Carry Out of everything on the list, pocket carrying is by far the easiest way to carry a concealed pistol. Having a smaller pistol to just slip in your pocket and go on with your day is almost effortless. When you decide to carry a pocket gun, you have to keep that specific pocket completely empty of everything except your actual carry gun. Most jeans and pants have rather constricting pockets, so you will be careful with how big of a gun you can easily conceal and draw from that pocket. This is probably the most constricting carry style out of all of them, but it's also the easiest, so it's important to weigh the benefits as well as the drawbacks. I love pocket carrying if I'm just running to the store and want something simple. Pocket carry certainly has its place, but it's really important to remember its limitations. Overall Thoughts The different carry positions are important to consider because there's not a single definitive answer for what's best. Certain styles shine in various situations, while others are great choices for everyday use. If you have a favorite style and it works for you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Let me know your favorite carry style in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for the final part.TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK