There are many types of gun holster designs: shoulder holsters, belt holsters, pocket holsters, ankle holsters, waistband holsters, belly band holsters, thigh holsters, and so on.

Within these variations, differences in the material and construction will also affect the gun holster’s overall aesthetic and effectiveness. Of course, the best holster for a given circumstance is dependent on what’s required based on the situation, some will come equipped with extra safety features or efficiency boosters, so such a variety is only to be expected.

Here are some of the more common types of gun holster designs out in the market:

Shoulder Holsters

We already mentioned this type of holster earlier, but a shoulder holster is a holster that is designed to be worn across your shoulders, with the pocket for the firearm hanging off bands that rest on either side of your rib cage.

It’s a comfortable, open carry type of holster, making it popular with law enforcement, with the ‘concealed carry’ version only possible if the user wears a coat over it.

Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) Holsters

An IWB holster is a holster that can be directly attached to your belt (belt holster) or your trousers (paddle holster). It’s a concealed carry holster type, with the trousers acting as the ‘concealer’.

Because of the way that it is worn, an IWB holster can be quite uncomfortable to use in the long term. With the biggest disadvantage of using this waistband holster being the fact that it is difficult to access and deploy the firearm once it has been attached.

Outside-the-Waistband (OWB) Holsters

Opposite an IWB holster, an OWB Holster, which can also be either ‘paddle holsters’ and ‘belt holsters’, are open carry holsters.

It makes up for the disadvantages of IWB holsters by being more comfortable to use and allowing for easier deployment, but, of course, it carries disadvantages of its own, like the fact that the methods of concealment are very limited.

Belly Band Holsters (Concealed Carry Holsters)

As you can guess from the name, a belly band holster is a holster worn on the upper half of the body. Specifically, around the abdomen. 

It’s a concealed carry holster, but it can be a bit uncomfortable to wear and, depending on your clothing, it can make drawing your weapon a bit tricky.

Pocket Holsters

A pocket holster comes with safety features that allow users to keep a weapon inside of their pockets without risk of accidental discharge.

Use of a pocket holster makes it easier to keep a weapon concealed, with the imprint of the gun in your pocket being minimized thanks to the design.

Ankle Holsters

Ankle holsters, when compared to other holsters, are quite popular for carrying backup weapons as an ankle holster is one of the most concealed carry holster types.

These types of specialized concealment holsters, of course, come with their own limitations, but they’re quite useful for extra security.

Thigh Holsters

Thigh holsters are very comfortable and very easy to use — allowing for a quick and easy draw. A weapon inside of a thigh holster can be a concealed weapon when used by women wearing dresses and skirts but is designed more for open carrying.