PHLSTER

The Basics of
Concealment Mechanics

We’ve put together a handy guide to the basics of concealment mechanics! These concepts can be tricky to describe without visual aids, so save these and keep them ready to help teach your friends and colleagues about how to improve their experience of concealed carry.

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Concealed carry comfort.

Comfortable concealed carry starts with knowledge rather than gear. Watch this video to identify any comfort issues you might be having, and learn the basic skills for getting comfortable. After watching, you’ll be much better equipped to find solutions that work for your chosen holster, carry position, and body type.

Note that all the Concealment Mechanics principles work together, including the comfort principles. Don’t be afraid to change things up and experiment with your carry position, adjustments, and comfort mods until you find a solution that’s right for you.

What else you
need to know.

Keel Principle

Learn about the Keel Principle in more detail. This is helpful to solve problems with short muzzled guns, and it’s also useful for folks with bigger bellies.

Wedges

Learn more about how holster wedges can help improve comfort and concealment. 

You can get precise control over grip tuck and rotation by placing your wedge in just the right place on your holster.

Curious how people
built like you are concealing?

Check out our Sweet Spot Guide, and Join the PHLster community to get tips, tricks, and user experiences.

Do you need extra holster length?*

*If you’re carrying a longer-muzzled gun or a revolver, adding extra holster length may not be necessary for you, but for short semiautomatic guns, it’s often helpful.

Guns with short muzzles can be top-heavy and difficult to conceal comfortably. To solve this, some holsters have extra length added to the muzzle end. Like the keel on a boat, the extra muzzle length helps balance the holster, making it more comfortable and easier to conceal. This is especially true if you have a bit of a belly, which tends to push the grip out more and make the muzzle dig in.

Note that while extra muzzle length reduces grip printing, it can increase muzzle printing, which can be a concern with lower carry positions and tight fitting pants such as leggings or yoga pants. 

Learn more about the Keel Principle here.