For those unfamiliar, a belly band holster is a wide elastic band that wraps around the waist and fastens with Velcro. They are designed to be worn under a loose-fitting shirt, sweater or concealment vest. A well-designed one can hold a wide range of handgun types and sizes, keeping them close to the body when properly fastened. These bands are an excellent way to carry while driving since the butt of the gun rides at chest level. But a poorly designed belly band, one constructed of cheap materials or without due attention to quality assembly is, in a word, worthless.

I have tried several belly band holsters over the years with varying degrees of success. Some have been good; others not so good. One particular band I’ve had for 30 years is a decent enough design but is lacking retention straps. The straps can help prevent a handgun from slipping out of the holster if the fight is taken to the ground.

Kat-Luca Belly Band Gun Belts

Kim Bishop is the founder and owner of Kat-Luca Gun Belts, located Texas. I met Bishop at the 2023 NRA Annual Meeting and talked with her about why she started the company and what makes the Kat-Luca belly bands superior to other belly band holsters.

“When I first got my carry license, I went to a gun show to find a good way to carry a handgun concealed,” Bishop said. She found the options for women to carry comfortably and keep a gun close were limited. “I saw a belly band holster and loved that idea. I could wear it with any type of clothing. So I bought one. I loved it until started rolling and scrunching up on me … then I hated it.”

Having sewn all her life, Bishop decided to design her own belly band holster that didn’t roll. After some research, she discovered the addition of vertical stabilizers in both the front and back would prevent the belt from rolling over. She took the prototypes to a local gun show, where they were an instant hit due to the no roll, no scrunch design.

Today, Kat-Luca offers six variations of the belly band gun belt: side draw, cross draw, back draw, combo front draw and combo back draw, as well as an ammo belt for spare magazines. A thigh holster is also available. All gun belts can be purchased on their website

Testing the Gun Belt

Bishop gave me a side-draw model to test. There are no right- or left-handed versions of the belly band. The holsters are ambidextrous. It came with a detachable and fully adjustable thumb break assembly held to the bottom by Velcro. Combined with the open bottom elastic holster pouch, the adjustable thumb break ensures the near-universal fit of nearly any standard defensive handgun.

There are also pouches for carrying various spare magazines or other support items like a Pepperball Launcher or flashlight. An attention to detail not included on other belly band holsters is where the hooks on the Velcro attachment strip end. So as not to abrade clothing when locking the belt into place, these stop at ¾ inch from the bottom of the belt.

I wore my side-draw with the gun positioned in an appendix condition rather than directly on my side. The Kat-Luca BellyBand Gun Belt lives up to all its claims. It has not rolled or scrunched through my wearing. I’ve carried a Smith & Wesson 638, a Colt Night Cobra .38, a Glock 27, a S&W M&P M2.0 Compact 9mm, a Remington R1 Executive Ultralight .45 and a Beretta 92. I found the best placement of the thumb break retention in all cases was across the rear of the triggerguard. All pistols carried were held securely and comfortably. And all drew smoothly and swiftly with no hang-up, including the M&P with its exposed railing. The belly band should hold pistols with optics attached.

Who Should Buy a Belly Band Holster?

For those experiencing back pain issues this belly band provides an extra benefit. First, it takes the weight of the gun off your waistline and hip. Placing it higher improved comfort. Second, the wrap provides some stabilizing effect, like a soft back brace. It greatly improved my carry comfort.

The price for Kat-Luca belly band gun belt ranges from $70 to $125. I highly recommend it as an additional carry option. Kim Bishop and Kat-Luca will be at the USCCA Expo September 8-10, 2023, for those who wish to see and purchase her products in person.

Source:

Kat-Luca: Kat-Luca.com