Clips, Wings, and Loops, Oh My! What Holster Hardware is Best For You?

The best part about concealed carry is that there are a variety of ways to carry, thanks to the many options of holster hardware.

Everyone’s body shape is different and the ways to carry a gun are becoming endless. Here at CrossBreed holsters, a few of our holster options allow you to swap hardware to fit your style of carrying and your clothing. In this blog, we’ll go over what holster hardware we offer and the purpose of each kind.

Types of Holster Hardware

Polymer IWB Clip

The polymer clip is an alternative to the SnapLok clip that is made of polymer rather than steel. The upside to using the polymer clip is that it is also shorter than our SnapLok clips by .5” which allows you to adjust your holster to sit higher without extra clip material below your holster.

These clips are just as sturdy as the SnapLok and come in a two-hole or five-hole configuration. These configurations give you the ability to adjust the ride height and cant angle of your holster. You can set one clip higher on the holster and the other lower to give you a more natural angle of the pistol grip. The important thing to note about these clips is they are for belts up to 1.75” only. Wider belts will not allow the clips to attach to it so the holster won’t be retained.

J Clip 2.0

The J clips are a discreet holster hardware option for carrying concealed. Rather than clipping over the belt, they clip behind the belt and hook under the bottom of the belt. The “J hook” concept prevents the holster from drawing off the belt with the gun, so essentially, it’s a retaining clip. This clip is also best used with BDU, woven-style, canvas, or nylon belts. These clips will only accommodate a belt up to 1.5” wide, unlike the polymer clips.

The J Clip option is recommended to be used with compact guns rather than full-size firearms. Because the clip hooks over the pants, the weight of the gun is all resting on your clothing material instead of a belt. This can cause the gun to sag. The J clip has four mounting hole options so you can set the ride height of the holster to your preference.

SnapLok Clip

The SnapLok clip is the main holster hardware that comes assembled on our holsters. The SnapLok is made of steel and is powder-coated to prevent rust. These clips are strong and go over the belt. They come in a one-hole or two-hole configuration for a slightly different ride height option. These clips are very durable and support any size gun weight.

Micro SnapLok Clip

The micro SnapLok clip is is a smaller and slimmer version of the SnapLok clip. There are limitations to the compatibility of this clip to certain holster models only. This holster hardware is designed with two holes or three holes for custom adjustment of your holster cant and height.

V Clip 2.0

The V Clip is one of our most interesting holster hardware options and is intended for deep concealment needs, similar to the J clips. This clip can only be used with a Velcro-backed belt to attach to. The V clip has a face with “hook” Velcro that attaches to the back of the belt, or inside, so the clip is completely invisible from the outside. The V clip also features four holes which allows you to drop your holster down for deep concealment or raise it up.

OWB Wing Belt Loop Clips

We made it super easy to switch most of our IWB holsters to OWB. These OWB wing belt loop clips simply swap out with the holster hardware currently assembled on the holster. Once these are assembled on the holster, the belt slides through the loops and pulls the firearm tight to the body. These wings are sold in sets of two since both sides of the holster need a loop to support the firearm. Never use one loop on a holster.

Conclusion

Setting up your holster is an important step in carrying a gun daily. When you first get a holster, spend time adjusting the ride height, cant, and try different holster hardware. Always make sure whatever hardware you use is compatible with your belt and with the clothing you wear. Once you get the perfect setup you like, it makes carrying a gun daily much more comfortable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kenzie Fitzpatrick is a professional competitive shooter and an active blogger for many firearm websites. As an NRA-certified instructor and National Range Officer Institute Chief Range Officer, Kenzie trains new shooters on basic firearm safety, brings new shooters to competitive shooting, and works major matches across the country. She has a passion for teaching people how to concealed carry and is a positive ambassador for the Second Amendment.

 

 

 

 

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