Generally speaking, I am a fan of inside the waistband carry for real concealment. And across the years, Cross Breed has absolutely been my leather of choice. But, sometimes IWB isn’t the best answer. So I do like to have an OWB option laying around, especially for summertime carry.
Now some peanut gallery members are already getting sparky, but hear me out on this one. OWB does have a place in the lineup, if for no other reason than convenience. I’m lazy, and in my 40’s, that is unlikely to change. If I am running out just for a second, sometimes I don’t like to unbuckle my pants, set the twin hooks correctly, be reminded how fat I have become, buckle them back up, and put my gun in the holster. I wanna go get some Cheetos now, and my OWB from Vedder holsters does that. I slip the paddle in my pants, which I don’t have to loosen, and off to the races we go. The Vedder paddle is incredibly comfortable and does an acceptable job of concealment.
And it isn’t just laziness that makes the OWB paddle a winner. Overall, this micro-sized pro draw paddle fits a role I like to call “courtesy concealed”. That is for situations where concealment isn’t really a big issue, but it’s still more socially acceptable to have it covered. In my little town (and state), open carry is legal. But it still puts off a segment of the population. They can casually ignore it if I am printing like the Federal Reserve in a COVID year, so it’s kind of the neighborly thing to do. It’s also a bit less obnoxious if I am taking the kids for a walk/ scooter ride downtown, or mowing the lawn in my cut-off daisy dukes and tank top. If you prefer open carry, which I 100% support your right to do, the Vedder paddle makes that easy too. Tuck in your shirt, problem solved. With an adjustable draw tensioner screw, you are covered here too.
And that isn’t the only reason I prefer an OWB option for summer. I live in the swamp now, at least kinda. Some of us extra-medium types tend to sweat a lot down here, and it doesn’t dry till you change clothes. Any CCW gun in the South East requires more cleaning and deeper cleaning. I have to oil and scrub things like the firing pin channel a lot more often than when I lived in the desert. Just the ½ inch separation of my body and my Hellcat does wonders for preventing moisture build-up and is worth the price of the holster. Yes, the Hellcat comes with wonder coatings. But still, when you sweat acid, you are gonna need a lot more maintenance than in other environments. OWB solves a lot of that problem during the peak “9 gallons of water a day” season.
The Vedder holster is very well made and durable. I have actually been using this one since last summer, with nothing negative to report. Available in a wide variety of colors, and a stunning array of guns, this is a holster you should have in the lineup.
Click HERE to learn more about Vedder Holsters
Kydex? No thank you. I tried a paddle 30 yrs ago, it sucked then. Awful write up on an overpriced, piece of junk.
Here in central NH, I usually OC in the warm weather. I consider myself an ambassador of responsible non-scary firearms ownership. I have had 4 people come to take my class after a conversation. I also have had people tanking me for carrying.
I can also take off my jacket in a restaurant in cold weather and not worry about concealing said pistol to keep other customers from diving to the floor. 8>)