What Foam to add to AIWB Holster?

[timbo813]

I am wanting to experiment with adding some foam to the bottom of an AIWB holster. I'd like to kick the bottom out slightly to improve comfort and tuck the grip in a bit. What kind of foam is best for something like this? Where could I get it? I'm concerned about it absorbing sweat and ending smelling bad.

[Voodoo_Man]

I doubt you will be smelling your holster, so don't worry about the smell.

Any craft store has foam and spray on adhesive (like 3m 77) which could work for you.

[LightningFast]

After talking to those who have already done it, I'm picking up some closed-cell kayak foam. Seems to offer the best options.

[YVK]

http://www.foamforyou.com/minicell_foam.htm

This is what I use.

[DBR]

I would use closed cell neoprene foam like is used in wet suits. "Rubatex" used to be a preferred brand. Any dive shop or surfing supply store should have repair kits with the appropriate contact type neoprene cement. Any open cell foam will absorb sweat and skin oil and eventually "grow" things.

If you are going to use this on Kydex I suggest you test the cement on a very small area to make sure it doesn't attack the Kydex.

[JSantoro]

Another method: One may find individual helmet pads of the sort used in military helmets at gun shows, in .5" .75" and 1" thicknesses.

http://www.oregonaero.com/ballistic-.../pad-thickness

The MSA and OregonAero pads use closed-cell foams...or at the least it's only their covers that seem to absorb anything.

http://operationhelmet.org/pads.html

ShoeGoo an embroidered velcro patch (hook velcro) to one of those -- I've got an unbelievable amount of unused morale and product patches accrued, and the cloth of the helmet pad and the embroidery of a patch holds adhesive very well.

ShoeGoo and Loctite plastic/rubber adhesives won't attack Kydex. Rough up the holster surface with coarse sandpaper to ensure purchase, clean/degrease, and glue loop velcro to the holster.

Consider that any such pad is gonna be sacrificial in nature. Potential for funkiness aside (I'm NOT sniffing my holster! ), and based upon over 3yrs of near-constant AIWB carry, they all deform over time. No matter what you end up using, it might perhaps be better to make a bunch and replace as needed.

[Defaultmp3]

I used waterproof weather stripping, folded up and held together using 3M double sided tape and Gorilla Tape, attached it to the holster using Velcro Extreme.

[YVK]

and based upon over 3yrs of near-constant AIWB carry, they all deform over time.

Which is a reason I stopped trimming my wedges or using 1/2" foam. The full inch Microcell I use, while seemingly looking too big at first, both compresses to a shape and loses edges on its own after a couple of weeks.

[JSantoro]

I may try a half-sheet of that stuff; the .75" pads I use work well, but I'd like to see what another .25" of thickness would do to lever the rear of the slide inward. I've got a couple of other projects where any excess material might prove useful....

Are you using the stuff with the adhesive backing? If not, what adhesive do you use, and are you attaching velcro or direct to the holster?

[jamaicanj]

I went to the craft store and bought a foam hand (like what you see in the stands at games) and trimmed a piece off. I then wrapped it in athletic tape. I affixed it to my holster using industrial strength double sided Velcro.