Editor’s Note: The following is a post by Mark Kakkuri, a nationally published freelance writer who covers guns and gear, 2nd Amendment issues and the outdoors. His writing and photography have appeared in many firearms-related publications, including the USCCA’s Concealed Carry Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @markkakkuri.
Read Mark’s previous articles in this “Top Five” series:
- Top Five Security Measures to Take While Traveling Unarmed
- Top Five Revolver Myths
- Top Five Types of Revolver Grips
- Top Five Questions I Get as a Gun Owner
- Top Five Glock Enhancements
The problem with some gun and gear reviews is, at times, they’re based on way too little actual use. Or, similarly, there’s no review of how the guns or gear perform over a significant period of time. So, I think you’ll be pleased to know that I not only own all of the products in this review but have used them on a fairly regular basis over several years’ time.
Belly bands and their associated variants have been around for a long time. Traditionally a deep-cover option for a backup gun, today’s belly bands can accommodate guns of a variety of shapes and sizes, including full-sized duty pistols.
Moreover, different belly bands accomplish different goals; while some are meant mainly for undercover police work, others are geared toward runners or other outdoor enthusiasts looking to safely and comfortably pack a pistol for self-defense. With that, here are my top five belly bands, all used for more than five years.
1. DeSaintis Belly Band
The DeSaintis Belly Band retails for $57.99.
DeSantis gets two mentions on my list, only because I’ve used two of them over the five-year time period. The company’s Belly Band model incorporates three pockets into a 5-inch-wide elastic band. One pocket is for a gun and comes with a hook-and-loop retention strap. One pocket is for a reload and the other pocket is for handcuffs or whatever else you’d like to carry.
The Belly Band comes in black or natural and offers the traditional means of installation: wrap around your waist and attach the-hook-and-loop closure. One of the strengths of this DeSantis rig is its outright durability. After five years of use, the elastic is still strong. But this is also a potential weakness. With such a durable material, you’ll want to wear a layer under it — preferably a comfortable cotton T-shirt — to avoid chafing. This one retails for $57.99.
2. DeSantis Sky Band
The DeSaintis Sky Band I is no longer available. But the Sky Band II is on the horizon.
The second DeSantis belly band is the Sky Band, which has been discontinued in favor of Sky Band II (product info coming soon, according to the DeSantis website). But let me tell you about Sky Band, the early edition. This is the belly band you put on when you need to be loaded for bear.
Meant for law enforcement officers, the Sky Band not only carries a full-size duty gun and a spare magazine but also offers additional pouches for two more spare magazines, a knife, handcuffs and a collapsible baton. The Sky Band goes on via hook-and-loop closure and all the pouches have a hook-and-loop retention strap.
So, while you can carry all that gear, you deal with not only the weight of the gear but the need to undo the retention straps (which you don’t have to use). Similar to the other DeSantis band, you’ll want a comfortable layer underneath this rig. Back in the day, the Sky Band retailed for $99.99. Hopefully its successor will be available soon because this rig is super capable.
3. Pistol Wear PT-One
Pistol Wear PT-1 is built for those who like to run and retails for $49.95.
What the DeSantis belly bands lacked comfort, they more than made up for in functionality. Balancing these two features out is the Pistol Wear PT-One, a $49.95 belly band from a company that bills itself as “The Running Holster Company.” That means the intended buyers for these holsters are runners — runners who want to be armed while they’re out running.
Pistol Wear holsters are made from a strong, stretchy fabric that feels like neoprene. It is exceptionally comfortable, even directly against the skin. And that’s true when you’re running or just wearing the holster for daily concealment. A large pouch with integrated mag pouch does the work of carrying your gun and, in fact, completely encloses your gun. It doesn’t bounce when you run and you can carry the gun “round the clock’ — meaning at any carry position you deem most comfortable. And there’s a slot for a spare magazine too. One gun, one reload, maximum comfort, even while exercising.
4. Falco Elastic Belly Band
Falco’s Elastic belly band offers the basics in carry functionality — one elastic holster, two accessory pockets and one quite large accessory pocket, useful for storing money, ID and more. The belly band uses a hook-and-loop closure and does a good job of carrying a gun and reloads. I don’t ever carry anything in the large accessory pocket, mainly because accessing it would be difficult if I’m trying to maintain the concealed part of concealed carry. But at $28.95, this is a great value option and has been for years.
The Falco Elastic Belly Band sells for $28.95. It’s very comfortable.
Recently, Falco introduced a Breathable belly band that takes all the goodness from the Elastic belly band but upgrades the elastic that goes around your waist to a material that is not only stable and secure but also extremely comfortable. It too retails for $28.95. I haven’t had it for five years, but I’m sure I will.
5. Galco Underwraps
Finally, the Galco Underwraps belly band retails for $61.95 and sports elasticized nylon with two leather holster pockets that will fit most handguns. Additionally, two accessory pockets allow for carrying spare magazines and/or a flashlight or knife. Like most of the belly bands, the Underwraps can be carried on your waist, allowing for your gun to be strongside, crossdraw, appendix or small-of-back.
The Galco Underwrap retails for $61.95. It incorporates leather for the holsters.
With this belly band, I almost always carry a J-frame revolver in the appendix position (and I could carry two if I so desired.) Of interest, the Galco Underwraps gun holster areas use leather on the outside of the band; I like to flip the band so the leather is on the inside, against my body, which is simply more comfortable.
Conclusion
As you know, there are many other belly bands on the market today and many different ways to wear them. Some of these can ride high and low on your torso, offering varying levels of accessibility and comfort, depending on your build and preferences. It’s always best if you can try one out before you buy. But whichever you end up with, they’ll likely prove worthy rigs — for at least five years.
Discover how you can join more than 200,000 responsibly armed Americans who already rely on the USCCA to protect their families, futures and freedoms: USCCA.com/gunsamerica.
What’s the pistol pictured in the Falco holster pic???Which of the bands are best for ladies?
I have been using the “3 Speed Holster.” It’s a leather holster and spare mag area and elastic with velcro. It also comes up behind the gun so it’s not resting against your skin. To ensure a smooth draw; however, it is cut a certain way internally so that it “cones” allowing your hand to slide down and get a perfect grip. I can attest to this as I’ve been wearing it for years, both appendix carry, and as of recently, I rotated it around to strongside carry. Each one is custom to you and your carry gun so it takes like a week or 2 to get it and it’s $85, but I’ve really enjoyed these holsters. I have also seen a similar poster which is called the “tactipac” I think. I haven’t tried that one out but it looks very similar (except with kydex).
Which of the bands are best for lefties?
What’s the pistol pictured in the Falco holster pic???
I wish he would have said which one was his favorite. Or if he could only have 1 which would it be?
I’ve owned a Pistol Wear PT-1 for years. I just bought their updated model last summer. I like that it covers the weapon completely, so your gun is not rubbing against you. The material is not abrasive, so you don’t need anything underneath. The pocket is not real big, but I can squeeze a Taurus Judge Public Defender inside, plus 2 5-Star speed loaders stacked in the magazine pouch. I mainly use the belt with a Walther PPK/S plus 2 spare magazines.
One day at the range, we were shooting through my chronograph and a little old fellow walked up and asked me if he could check his pistol. Of course I agreed. He had no pistol with him so I thought he would return to his car to get it but before I could scratch my head he reached in the front of his pants and pulled out a stainless steel Officer’s .45.
Naturally we were curious how he was packing. He said, “I don’t do this for everyone.” Undid his britches and showed us his https://www.thunderwear.com/. I never bought one but the design has always appealed to me because it uses an underbelt instead of a big elastic girdle. I did own a belly band once but in Houston’s oppressive heat and humidity it was insufferable.
Lately, I’ve been working on my variation. I plan to call it Fruit of the Boom.
I like Thunderwear, and it’s perfect for the current compacts on the market. It fits very comfortably and you can wear no pocket jogging shorts and no one notices you’re carrying. It appears to be a little pricey for what it consists of, but I’m not a seamstress and understandable, the company does need to turn a profit. I would recommend this product though. Especially for women walking around on exercise trails or streets by themselves.
SmartCarry is similar: http://www.smartcarry.com
The Crossbreed belly band is my choice over all those. It incorporates a Kydex holster affording a more secure retention than just elastic, while hastening the draw stroke by avoiding the need for a Velcro strap for retention. Additionally, the Kydex holster is strongly attached by Velcro, easily removed and switched for another holster, making it as versatile as the first 4.
I carry a S&W Mod 64 38+P revolver with single action so the trigger does not hang up on my shirt. I am in a wheelchair, 66 years old retired law enforcement Sgt. evening shift supervisor. Today I live alone and have been in a power chair for the last 12 years. In a Motor-home VS. MO. a Ozark 708 ft.mountain (trailer brake failure to the car hauler on back) caused it to go to the bottom hitting a very large tree amputating my right leg.) Bottom line I am in this chair and even though the Mod 64 is a large revolver, I am looking for a holster that would allow me easy access but lay between my legs. There simply is not enough room between the chair arm and me to have a side or even rear holster. I need one that will lay my firearm across the top of my right leg with easy access. Thanks John Bsp