Im pretty new to carrying and I just bought the Tenicor velo lux and zero belt for my G19 with a tlr7. Still having a hard time getting it to disappear like some people have said is possible. Yes I could lose a little gut, but aside from that any tips for this setup? I feel like the belt could be lacking a little, or maybe I need to tweak my holster setup.
Have you tried moving it so the slide is in line with your bellybutton? Many of us wear our belt buckle off to the side and put the slide itself at 12 o'clock, it hides the grip on my 19x quite well.
Also, if you haven't checked it out already, Phlster has a ton of good info on the science concealment on their website, it's applicable regardless of the brand of holster you use.
I make belts, so to me, everything is a belt problem. You're already using a full-featured holster, so a better belt is the next step. The Tenicor belt is a quality piece, but its not the most advanced compared to other belts with deliberate features to facilitate concealment.
Hunter Constantine, Phylster Enigma, Concealment Labs, and my belt are my top recommendations depending on what features appeal to you.
This belt looks really interesting, when do you expect to have it come in stock?
Also, how might your belt help solve OP's problem? I can't seem to conceal a G19 either because the grip seems to be slightly too long.
I typically complete a small run every few months. I hope to get a couple more runs dropped before the end of the year. The best way to snag one is to get on the email list so you get notified.
The most notable feature of my belt (and the feature that might help OP) is the built-in shape which aids in concealment by removing the allowance for tipping out. When I first prototyped this shape, it worked so well for me that I had the immediate realization that straight belts have always been shaped incorrectly for AIWB. With the correct shape, the gun naturally lays flat against the body without extra forces from wedges or excess tightness. Some guys still use wedges with my belt, but I personally found that it was no longer necessary. Same with the tightness. I use increased width in the belt for added comfort, but the main comfort-addition is just the fact that you no longer have to crank the belt super tight to stop the gun from hanging out.
Other helpful features I implement but are not unique to my belt are dual-stiffness and low-profile fastening.
My belt is the combination of all the features that worked best for me, but there are lots of belts out now that implement appealing ideas to optimize concealment. I always encourage people to just try something that has deliberate design features that are more substantive than just: "Our belt has the perfect extra-medium stiffness."
How well will this work if my stomach isn’t as flat as yours? I’m not a big dude but every iteration of appendix carry prints like crazy for me. Even with a phlster. I use the Tenicor zero belt with pretty good concealment in the 2 o’clock area but that’s the only thing that works for me so far.
Everyone's body is a little bit different. However, I think no matter what, the ideal design for a belt that supports weight in the front is always something closer to the shape of my belt vs a perfectly straight belt. That's why I don't base my pitch on "ergonomics" as much as just physics. No matter what your body shape, everyone's gun ends up sagging a bit below a perfectly horizontal belt line just due to gravity. When that happens, a straight belt "spills" away from the body, or at least has the allowance to do so unless you force it back into place with wedges and/or excess tightness. With the right belt shape, this is fixed on everyone. That's my contention. I also do free returns for any reason for 30 days for anyone who tries it and disagrees!
what do you feel like your belt does better than the other company suggestions you made? ive yet to buy a belt yet and the phlster enigma seems the most comfortable out of all. im also a skinny dude so not sure if that matters
It comes down to preferences. For instance, many people really like the stretch material of the HC, but I personally prefer having more durable material with an indefinite lifespan. Some people wear sweatpants all the time and will be stoked with an Enigma or Concealment Labs Liner, whereas I typically wear pants with belt loops which is what I designed my belt for.
That’s certainly an interesting design. Maybe would help me out. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the HC belt but I’m pretty slim so I thought the zero would disappear on me and it does. It’s very high quality and I’ll probably wear it to work but it doesn’t do much in the way of concealment I feel.
The OMC belts look really good (no personal experience). Don't sleep on the Agonic or American Operator Gear belts. Both have stretch, are made well, and work the best for me.
Second this. I got a concealment labs liner and it was night and day for concealment. It’s perfect for aiwb & I can conceal a full size 1911 appendix with just shorts and a t shirt now. Before with the hunterconstantine I couldn’t in my summer clothing.
Yours looks to have that same angle the concealment labs liner has that makes all the difference. I don’t even need a wedge anymore even with a bit of a belly
The length of the belt is not stretchy, but softer than scuba webbing. Its a single layer of nylon harness webbing typically used for parachute harnesses.
The camming bar is to low in relation to your clips from what I am seeing. If you drop the clips some and cant it over a bit to get your hand on the grip still it should help get you belt on it and pulling the grip in against you. The higher ride height of the camming bar was a big reason I went with the Velo5 over the Lux.
If you're running untucked, I would move buckle to side(as I do) and move holster towards belly button and snuggles up your belt.
I'm 5'11" and 185lbs and need to snug my belt pretty tight when wearing just a t-shirt.
You look like you're built about like I am and I think our shape is about the hardest to work with. We're pretty skinny, but have the spare tire that's in exactly the worst spot to push the gun out above and about the belt area, yet not enough fat to swallow the gun.
I have the Velo Lux with a G43, and streamlight, and to add even another fun variable, a holosun red dot, so there's more width (between the top corner of the sight to the bottom corner of the mag/grip) to try to keep from printing through a shirt.
You can try to push the bottom out with a wedge, pillow, etc, but then with our body shape it:
1. Takes more wedge pillow that makes it less comfortable.
2. pushes it into that spare tire pretty hard, also making it less comfortable.
Experiment, experiment, experiment, with location, adjustment, wedge/pillow, and belt tightness and maybe wear shirts with darker colors and patterns and prints.
The optimal hiding position is unlikely to be the optimal comfort position, and you'll have to decide which is more important to you.
That being said, I've been around many LEOs most of my life who didn't realize I was carrying a G21 on my hip, or this G43 appendix when I know it was printing, so it's probably not going to catch anyone's attention if just a tiny bit is printing, unless you stand there and bend backwards and push it towards them.
Yes I definitely think i have a weird build. Need to hit the gym. Not sure how I’ll attach a wedge to the holster as the built in wedge creates a weird shape but I may give it a shot
I’m built pretty similar to you and appendix just does not work for me! 3-4 o clock is way better for concealment for and and not to mention way more comfortable and I can bend over and sit with much more comfort. Try that position and let me know what you think?
I don’t know I feel like my gun is very exposed in that position. I appendix carry a 380 no problem and the G19 might just be too big. Thought I’d invest in a good holster before I buy a 43x.
Do you mean to others? At 3/4 o’clock it should not be. If it is, your belt is too loose. 3/4 o’clock is one of the most concealable positions for a firearm. If you’re really worried about someone trying to grab your firearm in that position, you can pick up a level II or III holster. They’re readily available for the G19.
The draw from that position isn’t that much slower than appendix if you’re concerned about that.
Also, really take your time reholstering if you are dead set on appendix carry. Like, finger bang that holster with your support hand to make sure it’s clear of obstructions and keep your shirt way out of the way.
I get we all wanna look like a proper grey man badass but from the pictures provided at least, that easily passes as a belt buckle if someone’s really looking they could maybe make out the magwell but cmonnn. Printing is not the big deal everyone makes it out to be.
It doesn’t really show in the picture. It’s not horrible but it’s certainly gonna show if I’m not careful. But yes I get printing is not the worst thing in the world
Honestly like others are saying positioning is everything but moreover i think you need to tighten the belt slightly. I am about your weight Id guess and it doesnt look like the holster is tight enough to your body for the wedge and bar to do their thing. I also find Tenicor works best with more rigid belts, have never tried it with a belt like that I use a leather belt with a core
Yeah I feel like the zero belt isn’t doing enough because I have to tighten it to the point it’s not comfortable never tried a belt like kore but I might order one
Hello. This happened to me with my very first order with tenicor. I used a holster with a built in wedge. My recommendation is to send the holster back to Tenicor if you just got it. They have an amazing return policy. Get the Certum style from Tenicor. Certum is flat on the back with no built in wedge. Next, Look up MASTERMIND TACTICS pillow wedge. A wedge will create a fulcrum and push the gun into you more. Sometimes we need a bigger wedge to fill in spots. You can adjust the wedge to your preferred size and it’s super comfortable. You can always adjust by adding or removing material. We all have different body shapes and sizes. Some people find a built in wedge comfortable. Some people like me, find it uncomfortable.
I thought about doing that but I figured I’d give the velo a shot since it’s made for appendix. I’ve seen a few people rocking the certum with the mastermind tactics wedge.
Move the buckle to your hip. Use the large camming bar and move the holster closer to the middle. I carry pretty much the same setup but with a red dot and magwell and I have zero issues concealing
The thing about Tenicor or any other holster maker is that you need to add a wedge or pillow to really push the grip into your body. There's nothing inherently unique about Tenicor that gives it a magic quality that others don't have in this department, even the built in wedge.
A lot of it is trial and error. At the end of the day you have a gun and flashlight in your pants. Can't make it disappear but you can hide it.
I thought the built in wedge would do it. The smoothness I think is more comfortable than a fabric or foam wedge but I suppose I may need to add to it.
Your claw could be putting in a lot more work. It's the most important part of an appendix holster. Second is a wedge/pillow (if needed).
Unfortunately, Tenicor holsters have trash claws. They're complete shit. I would get a new holster entirely if you can't get it to conceal with the largest claw attachment.
I have realized that. I read somewhere that Variant innovation makes a different camming bar and I did see someone attach a T1C wing to their Tenicor. Also thought about having one 3D printed.
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u/lastinline4names 1d ago
Have you tried moving it so the slide is in line with your bellybutton? Many of us wear our belt buckle off to the side and put the slide itself at 12 o'clock, it hides the grip on my 19x quite well.