Since my standard attire around the ranch consists of shorts/t shirts in summer, and sweats in the winter, I was looking for an alternative to the Crossbreed Bellyband that I've had for a few years, especially now with a MD W&C permit I don't have to disarm to make errands around town. After a bit of research, I decided to give the PHLster brand a try for my Glock 43X.
phlster-enigma-express
If you haven't seen one, the Enigma is an AIWB system built around a carbon fiber frame with a Kydex Holster, integrated belt and a leg-leash that goes around you upper thigh. The leg leash (when properly adjusted, more on this later) is the key to draw holster retention, it holds the bottom of the holster down enabling you to draw the weapon without the holster riding up.
After plunking down $150 bucks (ouch) and with quick shipping, the Enigma arrived. Looked very well constructed. There is a good bit of adjustment required to get it properly fitted out, and the website is loaded with tutorial videos to help you. I chose a 95 degree day that included getting a load of hay into the loft for my test drive with an unloaded gun. After a few hours I had to make a few more adjustments. Since I'm no longer 185 pounds of twisted steel & sex appeal and was sweating like a pig, I found the standard belt was starting to chaff a bit, and the leg leash just would not stay put on my upper thigh. I ended up putting a piece of athletic tape on my boxers to hold it in place. After that, it stayed in place throughout the rest of a pretty strenuous weekend including loading hay bales into the loft, stacking them, and all the other usual weekend chores. Even rolled around on the ground changing out a deck belt on my mower.
After the weekend, i had a few sore spots from the belt. PHLster does offer a wider "Sport" belt, but it was not in stock. I finally settled on an alternate configuration on the leg leash where you run it under "the boys" and hook it to the back of the belt. I practiced a good bit drawing from concealment and the construction makes it very easy to set up a high index point. Properly adjusted and snug, it cleared very cleanly and didn't have that annoying "give" that the bellyband did.
Oh, and that magnetic buckle is great for quickly getting rigged up.
As for concealment, it absolutely disappeared under shorts and a one size over teeshirt. After the permit arrived, it became my constant companion rig for all the trips around town. It also concealed very well under normal street clothes when we went out to dinner. Since it already has its own belt, I could wear a "normal" belt and an untucked shirt.
Since the initial purchase, I've added a Levodesigns Papoose fabric covering ($48) and Bumster Leg Leash ($16). With those two additions, I hardly know it's there. https://www.levodesigns.com
All in all, I'm quite happy with the investment. If your looking for a holster to wear with athletic gear, this seems to be a great fit. Also transitions well to street clothes. From their website, it seems to be quite popular with the medical crowd that wears scrubs all day as well.
And no... I'm not wearing it with yoga pants or ass-less chaps.
phlster-enigma-express
If you haven't seen one, the Enigma is an AIWB system built around a carbon fiber frame with a Kydex Holster, integrated belt and a leg-leash that goes around you upper thigh. The leg leash (when properly adjusted, more on this later) is the key to draw holster retention, it holds the bottom of the holster down enabling you to draw the weapon without the holster riding up.
After plunking down $150 bucks (ouch) and with quick shipping, the Enigma arrived. Looked very well constructed. There is a good bit of adjustment required to get it properly fitted out, and the website is loaded with tutorial videos to help you. I chose a 95 degree day that included getting a load of hay into the loft for my test drive with an unloaded gun. After a few hours I had to make a few more adjustments. Since I'm no longer 185 pounds of twisted steel & sex appeal and was sweating like a pig, I found the standard belt was starting to chaff a bit, and the leg leash just would not stay put on my upper thigh. I ended up putting a piece of athletic tape on my boxers to hold it in place. After that, it stayed in place throughout the rest of a pretty strenuous weekend including loading hay bales into the loft, stacking them, and all the other usual weekend chores. Even rolled around on the ground changing out a deck belt on my mower.
After the weekend, i had a few sore spots from the belt. PHLster does offer a wider "Sport" belt, but it was not in stock. I finally settled on an alternate configuration on the leg leash where you run it under "the boys" and hook it to the back of the belt. I practiced a good bit drawing from concealment and the construction makes it very easy to set up a high index point. Properly adjusted and snug, it cleared very cleanly and didn't have that annoying "give" that the bellyband did.
Oh, and that magnetic buckle is great for quickly getting rigged up.
As for concealment, it absolutely disappeared under shorts and a one size over teeshirt. After the permit arrived, it became my constant companion rig for all the trips around town. It also concealed very well under normal street clothes when we went out to dinner. Since it already has its own belt, I could wear a "normal" belt and an untucked shirt.
Since the initial purchase, I've added a Levodesigns Papoose fabric covering ($48) and Bumster Leg Leash ($16). With those two additions, I hardly know it's there. https://www.levodesigns.com
All in all, I'm quite happy with the investment. If your looking for a holster to wear with athletic gear, this seems to be a great fit. Also transitions well to street clothes. From their website, it seems to be quite popular with the medical crowd that wears scrubs all day as well.
And no... I'm not wearing it with yoga pants or ass-less chaps.
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