The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
Have you ever walked around your area and was able to identify a fellow concealed carrier from the tell-tale sag of their pants from their concealed carry? It happens very often: many gun owners neglect to make sure that their pants don’t sag from the weight of their CCW, and end up being identified as concealed carriers. Learning how to prevent gun belt sag is crucial not only for your comfort, but also to ensure you don’t lose the element of surprise or get targeted as a “gun nut” for practicing your 2nd Amendment rights.
In this article, we demonstrate how to prevent gun belt sag and tackle its root causes. Gun belt sag puts both you and the people around you in danger. Exposing yourself as a gun owner, the person who can best take on a dangerous situation involving a bag guy with a gun, makes you a target during an emergency situation.
Table of Contents
What is gun belt sag?
The causes of gun belt sag
How to prevent gun belt sag
Conclusion
What is gun belt sag?
Gun belt sag occurs when your gun belt is not sturdy enough to hold your holster and gun up at an even level. This causes your belt (and subsequently your gun) to sag downwards, dragging down your pants as well.
Gun belt sag exposes your concealed carry, which is known as spotting. As briefly mentioned earlier, when your concealed carry can be seen, you lose the element of surprise and are put in incredible danger. It can also make your firearm print more easily (learn how to avoid printing here).
When your gun belt is sagging and your firearm is exposed, it makes it easier for thieves/bad guys to grab your gun from your belt. It makes it easier for your gun to accidentally fall out during a struggle as well.
Also, if your gun belt is sagging too low, it makes it difficult to quickly draw your firearm. As the weight of your CCW sags your pants, drawing your gun leads to you pulling up your pants with your gun, slowing down your movement.
From a financial point of view, gun sagging also weighs down your wallet. As your gun belt sags more and more, it will eventually get to a point where you need to buy a new belt. This cycle repeats itself, and you are forced to buy another gun belt, and then another…
The causes of gun belt sag
Before we show you how to prevent gun belt sag, let’s first take a look at the multitude of reasons why gun belt sag occurs to begin with.
Broken-in gun belt leather
For gun owners that have experienced gun belt sag that gradually increased in severity as time went on, the most common culprit is the leather of the gun belt breaking in. As you wear your gun belt more and more, the leather softens day-by-day, making it less rigid. As it becomes less rigid, it becomes weaker and begins to sag – this is one of the biggest causes of gun belt sag.
Gun belts made of weak material
Often times, gun owners equip themselves with less than optimal gun belts. These suboptimal belts include soft leather belts that sag inherently, thin belts with no reinforcements, non-leather nylon belts, etc.
More spaced out belt holes
Gun belts with more spaced out belt holes can often cause a great deal of gun sag. With more spread out holes, it makes it hard to tighten the belt completely Because of this, many gun owners often leave their gun belts loose, which causes their gun belt to sag from the lack of tightness.
Weak belt buckles
Ever seen a cheap belt buckle made of flimsy metal? With concealed carrying, you can’t afford to make this sort of mistake. If your belt buckle is weak and begins to bend, it causes gun belt sag over time as the leather portion of your belt bends with it and weakens.
Loose pants
Often times, loose pants play a bigger role in gun belt sag than even the belt. If you are wearing loose pants, even if your gun belt is rigid, your pants will sag downwards and your concealed carry will be exposed.
Bigger stomachs
Gun owners with bigger stomachs often encounter gun sag because their waists are wider than their hips (the latter where their gun belts rest). Their stomach presses down on their gun belt, causing it to sag downwards.
Smaller butts
I like big butts and I cannot lie!
…except when my gun belt sags.
I have one of those unfortunate body types which can best be described as an upside down pear, with a large stomach and a small butt. Because of this, I run the risk of having my stomach push down my gun belt, which faces no resistance while going down due to my flat butt. Very unfortunate, the source of much amusement for my wife, and the definitive cause of gun belt sag in my life.
How to prevent gun belt sag
Get a better gun belt
This is a broad statement, so I’ll explain. A good gun belt is defined as:
1) Rigid: the more rigid your gun belt, the more it stays level on your waist. This enables it to better hold up the weight of your pants, gun, gun holster, cell phone, wallet, keys, etc.
2) Thick: the thicker your gun belt is, the less it bends outwards as gravity pulls it down.
This being said, the most effective gun belt will have:
1) Two layers of leather: many gun owners opt for single layer gun belts, which greatly increases the chance of gun belt sag. Dual-layer leather belts offer thicker construction, which strengthens stability.
2) Reinforcing material: reinforcing material (like steel) between the two layers of leather adds even more rigidity to your gun belt. This offers better support for your concealed carry.
Suspenders
Okay, laugh all you want. But you want to learn how to prevent gun sag from happening to you? Wearing suspenders, although often seen as a dorky way to dress, is one of the best ways to combat gun belt sag. The suspenders pull up your gun belt, equalizing the downwards pull and keeping it level with your waist.
Add non-slip strips to the back of your holster
This DIY method is a quick modification you can make to your holster to keep it from slipping down too easily. Add grippy tape or non-slip strips to the back of your holster (this is for IWB carrying). Afterwards, when the back of your holster presses against your body, the tape grips your side, holding up your gun belt.
Wear a t-shirt/undershirt between your holster and body
Wearing a t-shirt/undershirt adds resistance between your holster and your body, which keeps it from sagging downwards.
Switch to another mode of carry
If you can’t beat em’, join em’. For gun owners that can’t seem to get rid of gun belt sag, switching to another mode of carry (example: shoulder holster) is a quick fix (as most gun owners who complain about gun belt sag generally experience having their IWB holster pull their pants/belt down).
Butt implants
Getting butt implants is a great way to alleviate any gun belt sag caused by gun owners with flatter posteriors. Adding implants into your butt will create a “wall” to block your gun belt from sliding down nonstop throughout the day.
No but really, don’t do this. Hope you didn’t think I was serious.
Conclusion
Learning how to prevent gun belt sag is one of the most important parts of concealed carrying. If you’ve done everything else by the book but haven’t gotten rid of your gun belt sag, you’re doing yourself a disfavor. Figure out why your gun belt is sagging and get it fixed. It’s more important than you think.
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How to Prevent Gun Belt Sag 101
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Have you ever walked around your area and was able to identify a fellow concealed carrier from the tell-tale sag of their pants from their concealed carry? It happens very often: many gun owners neglect to make sure that their pants don’t sag from the weight of their CCW, and end up being identified as concealed carriers. Learning how to prevent gun belt sag is crucial not only for your comfort, but also to ensure you don’t lose the element of surprise or get targeted as a “gun nut” for practicing your 2nd Amendment rights.
In this article, we demonstrate how to prevent gun belt sag and tackle its root causes. Gun belt sag puts both you and the people around you in danger. Exposing yourself as a gun owner, the person who can best take on a dangerous situation involving a bag guy with a gun, makes you a target during an emergency situation.
Table of Contents
What is gun belt sag?
The causes of gun belt sag
How to prevent gun belt sag
Conclusion
What is gun belt sag?
Gun belt sag occurs when your gun belt is not sturdy enough to hold your holster and gun up at an even level. This causes your belt (and subsequently your gun) to sag downwards, dragging down your pants as well.
Gun belt sag exposes your concealed carry, which is known as spotting. As briefly mentioned earlier, when your concealed carry can be seen, you lose the element of surprise and are put in incredible danger. It can also make your firearm print more easily (learn how to avoid printing here).
When your gun belt is sagging and your firearm is exposed, it makes it easier for thieves/bad guys to grab your gun from your belt. It makes it easier for your gun to accidentally fall out during a struggle as well.
Also, if your gun belt is sagging too low, it makes it difficult to quickly draw your firearm. As the weight of your CCW sags your pants, drawing your gun leads to you pulling up your pants with your gun, slowing down your movement.
From a financial point of view, gun sagging also weighs down your wallet. As your gun belt sags more and more, it will eventually get to a point where you need to buy a new belt. This cycle repeats itself, and you are forced to buy another gun belt, and then another…
The causes of gun belt sag
Before we show you how to prevent gun belt sag, let’s first take a look at the multitude of reasons why gun belt sag occurs to begin with.
Broken-in gun belt leather
For gun owners that have experienced gun belt sag that gradually increased in severity as time went on, the most common culprit is the leather of the gun belt breaking in. As you wear your gun belt more and more, the leather softens day-by-day, making it less rigid. As it becomes less rigid, it becomes weaker and begins to sag – this is one of the biggest causes of gun belt sag.
Gun belts made of weak material
Often times, gun owners equip themselves with less than optimal gun belts. These suboptimal belts include soft leather belts that sag inherently, thin belts with no reinforcements, non-leather nylon belts, etc.
More spaced out belt holes
Gun belts with more spaced out belt holes can often cause a great deal of gun sag. With more spread out holes, it makes it hard to tighten the belt completely Because of this, many gun owners often leave their gun belts loose, which causes their gun belt to sag from the lack of tightness.
Weak belt buckles
Ever seen a cheap belt buckle made of flimsy metal? With concealed carrying, you can’t afford to make this sort of mistake. If your belt buckle is weak and begins to bend, it causes gun belt sag over time as the leather portion of your belt bends with it and weakens.
Loose pants
Often times, loose pants play a bigger role in gun belt sag than even the belt. If you are wearing loose pants, even if your gun belt is rigid, your pants will sag downwards and your concealed carry will be exposed.
Bigger stomachs
Gun owners with bigger stomachs often encounter gun sag because their waists are wider than their hips (the latter where their gun belts rest). Their stomach presses down on their gun belt, causing it to sag downwards.
Smaller butts
I like big butts and I cannot lie!
…except when my gun belt sags.
I have one of those unfortunate body types which can best be described as an upside down pear, with a large stomach and a small butt. Because of this, I run the risk of having my stomach push down my gun belt, which faces no resistance while going down due to my flat butt. Very unfortunate, the source of much amusement for my wife, and the definitive cause of gun belt sag in my life.
How to prevent gun belt sag
Get a better gun belt
This is a broad statement, so I’ll explain. A good gun belt is defined as:
1) Rigid: the more rigid your gun belt, the more it stays level on your waist. This enables it to better hold up the weight of your pants, gun, gun holster, cell phone, wallet, keys, etc.
2) Thick: the thicker your gun belt is, the less it bends outwards as gravity pulls it down.
This being said, the most effective gun belt will have:
1) Two layers of leather: many gun owners opt for single layer gun belts, which greatly increases the chance of gun belt sag. Dual-layer leather belts offer thicker construction, which strengthens stability.
2) Reinforcing material: reinforcing material (like steel) between the two layers of leather adds even more rigidity to your gun belt. This offers better support for your concealed carry.
Suspenders
Okay, laugh all you want. But you want to learn how to prevent gun sag from happening to you? Wearing suspenders, although often seen as a dorky way to dress, is one of the best ways to combat gun belt sag. The suspenders pull up your gun belt, equalizing the downwards pull and keeping it level with your waist.
Add non-slip strips to the back of your holster
This DIY method is a quick modification you can make to your holster to keep it from slipping down too easily. Add grippy tape or non-slip strips to the back of your holster (this is for IWB carrying). Afterwards, when the back of your holster presses against your body, the tape grips your side, holding up your gun belt.
Wear a t-shirt/undershirt between your holster and body
Wearing a t-shirt/undershirt adds resistance between your holster and your body, which keeps it from sagging downwards.
Switch to another mode of carry
If you can’t beat em’, join em’. For gun owners that can’t seem to get rid of gun belt sag, switching to another mode of carry (example: shoulder holster) is a quick fix (as most gun owners who complain about gun belt sag generally experience having their IWB holster pull their pants/belt down).
Butt implants
Getting butt implants is a great way to alleviate any gun belt sag caused by gun owners with flatter posteriors. Adding implants into your butt will create a “wall” to block your gun belt from sliding down nonstop throughout the day.
No but really, don’t do this. Hope you didn’t think I was serious.
Conclusion
Learning how to prevent gun belt sag is one of the most important parts of concealed carrying. If you’ve done everything else by the book but haven’t gotten rid of your gun belt sag, you’re doing yourself a disfavor. Figure out why your gun belt is sagging and get it fixed. It’s more important than you think.