I carry whenever I can, so finding a way to carry while I run is very important to me. Aside from the obvious threats of two and four legged beings with ill intent, I don’t like returning home to an empty house unarmed. After reading Slate’s article on carrying while running, I purchased a Pistol Wear PT-2 holster.
I’ve run with the Pistol Wear holster several times now, so I want to share my experience with the forum.
A little about my body type: I'm 6’2”, 210 lbs. My build is relatively athletic, though I've put on about 15 lbs of chunk since my college baseball career ended.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
• Pouch-style holster, open at the top
• Made of neoprene or other like material
• Wraps around the waist/hips, adjusts with Velcro.
• Waterproof perspiration barrier to prevent sweat from contacting the pistol
• NO hard trigger guard – it’s a soft holster
• Meant to be worn low around the hips, with the top roughly even with the top of one’s shorts
• Inner rubberized “strips” are meant to keep the pistol from moving around
COMPATIBILITY WITH VARIOUS PISTOLS
• Ruger LCP – This pistol fit the pocket fine, but was almost too small. It was a little difficult to keep the LCP in place – it settled to the bottom middle of the pocket.
• Springfield XD9 4” – The XD was just too big for the pocket. This wasn’t unexpected. The PT-2 is marketed for compact semi-autos. I didn’t leave the house with this setup since it was such a poor fit.
• H&K P7 PSP – The pistol fit the holster just right, and didn’t shift around. It did make a rather significant “bulge” in my pants. Decide for yourself whether that’s a feature or a bug
USING THE PT-2
The experience of running with the PT-2 holster was positive. I had to tighten the holster to a fairly snug fit to feel like the pistol was secure against my body. I don’t have a problem with the sensation of a pistol pressing against me, but if you don’t like things tight against your waist/hips, this may not be for you.
The sensation of a secure and stable fit is directly correlated to the size and weight of the pistol. With my LCP, the weight was negligible and there was no “slap” of the gun against my body even when running hard. With the P7, the weight was obviously more noticeable and the holster and pistol seemed to move around a bit more. I wouldn’t describe the sensation as objectionable, but it took a few minutes to make me confident that the holster would stay in place during my run.
I didn’t sweat abnormally underneath the holster. It didn’t make me feel hot or uncomfortable, and once I started running, I didn’t really notice the snug fit.
This soft holster requires that one take special care to avoid getting one’s finger in the trigger guard. Part of the reason I prefer running with my P7 is because of the additional safety afforded by the squeeze-cocking mechanism.
Drawing isn’t much more difficult than with a typical IWB holster, but it is slower. If you’re not disciplined enough to keep your finger off the trigger during the draw, this may not be the holster for you.
I typically run shirtless, wearing shorts, and at night. Concealment was sufficient under those conditions, but I might recommend wearing a shirt for maximum concealment during the day.
AFTER THE WORKOUT
After running a couple of miles and returning home, I found that the holster stayed firmly in place regardless of pistol size and weight. Despite with being relatively soaked with sweat, my pistols were bone-dry and none of my perspiration penetrated the holster’s moisture barrier.
The holster has completely air-dried between my daily runs without any additional coaxing.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, I give the PT-2 a B+. It’s the best solution I’ve yet encountered for what’s inherently a very challenging task, but it isn't without limitations.
Like:
• Provides good concealment
• Supports a respectable-sized pistol
• Keeps gun hidden and accessible to me
• Capable of concealing a pistol for someone wearing minimalistic, lightweight workout clothing
• Cool and breathable – didn’t cause heat buildup
Dislike/Opportunities for Improvement:
• It’s easy to sweep yourself while putting the gun into the holster, but it can be avoided with proper care
• Eliminating “slap” against the body would be nice
• Smaller guns tend to shift around in the pouch, so watch your trigger finger when trying to retrieve it
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