Appendix inside-the-waistband, commonly referenced as simply AIWB, has been steadily catching the optics of gun owners committed to the concealed carry lifestyle.

This means of carry, which places the gun on the abdomen — around the i o'clock position — has been steadily trending upwards, gaining a stream of followers who swear by the position'south efficiency and depict stroke. It's not without its naysayers, though. For years AIWB has been lauded as an unsafe means to behave. "You'll shoot your junk off" are the cries of those vehemently protesting what they term as a fad among youngsters in the gun customs. This fad, however, has been going strong for the past few years, according to holster makers, and shows no signs of slowing downwards.

Dark Star Gear was ane of the OG's — one of the beginning holster makers who begin crafting gear for AIWB before information technology was trendy to comport on the abdomen. Tom Kelley, the driving forcefulness backside Night Star Gear, said that though AIWB has been around for years, 2012 was when he and other began noticing AIWB surfacing in more conversations.

"I'd say 2012 or then was when many of the stragglers in the online shooting customs started to become more accepting of AIWB and we always seemed to wind up in those conversations," Kelley explained to Guns.com in an email. "We have seen a much more rapid expansion into other segments of the shooting/training customs though, largely because we were one of the first AIWB companies out at that place."

While Dark Star Gear heavily targets the AIWB market, Subconscious Hybrid Holsters sells a multifariousness of holsters for both AIWB and IWB. Matt H. with the company told Guns.com that Hidden Hybrid is seeing more and more involvement and sales of its AIWB gear. Matt credited a large portion of this uptick in interest to the aid of online videos which have brought new conversations and ideas to the table.

"I recall that the interest has increased from the increase of available videos and images that are out on websites and on social media networks," Matt commented to Guns.com. "People that are new to carrying a firearm seem to exist doing a lot of research looking for what is correct for them. They observe that at that place are more options than just conveying on their side."

Accessibility and draw stroke have become the words du jour in the realm of AIWB. Followers dedicated to the way advocate information technology and so heavily because of the gun's convenient placement. The ane o'clock position, according to AIWB carriers, lends to a quicker and more efficient draw stroke with less chance of accidentally sweeping trunk parts.

"If a body manner can comfortably conform and conceal their appendix bear rig, a couple aspects of the carry way have drawn widely discussed involvement: immediate accessibility and a convenient describe stroke," Jake Smith of Alien Gear Holsters said. "And equally modern society has adopted more convenience and accessibility in their daily lives, that search for simplicity may have bled into gun owners' daily practices."

In addition to describe stroke, the placement of the holster and gun at the front of the torso allows gun owners to visually see the gun go into the holster — an advantage not afforded to those that behave behind-the-hip.

"Traditional IWB can be an issue and for me I can't look down into the holster as easily as I can with AIWB," Kelley of Night Star Gear said. "With AIWB I can movement my hips out a fiddling, stride back with the strong side leg, and wait down the holster and know that at that place's a direct path from muzzle to dirt."

AIWB holsters, like their traditional IWB brethren, comes in a variety of styles and flavors to adjust the needs of gun owners. While no ii holsters is exactly alike, at that place is a central component to AIWB that sets it apart from everyday IWB rigs.

"We've ever tried to stick to defining AIWB holsters as a holster with features across a straight drib IWB, those beingness a cage extension, muzzle pad, chugalug wedge, or belt lever/hook/fly," elaborated. "A good, purposeful balance of these features is what I feel makes a good AIWB, and then long as nothing actress is added and the ride height allows a proper grip."

Memory equally well as full trigger guard protection also assemble to produce a quality AIWB holster, one that will seat the gun properly and assist prevent accidental bangs.

"At minimum, consumers must choose a holster with total trigger guard coverage. A rigid polymer blend is a common, go-to material now," Smith with Alien Gear said. "Memory and fitment is also imperative for not just AIWB, but all deport styles."

Despite the increased visibility of the AIWB community and the holster makers behind the curtain providing rigs to safely carry, there volition ever be those who view AIWB as dangerous. Guns.com asked each holster maker their opinions on whether this mode of carry was a dangerous or risky option. Each holster maker responded with a slight edge of entertainment at the notion that AIWB was any more than unsafe that any other means of carrying a loaded weapon.

"Whatever type of deport tin be unsafe," Matt of Hybrid Holsters said. "No matter the position of the pistol on the body prophylactic, practice and training should be done to assistance forbid the possibility of a personal injury. At that place are different techniques for drawing and holstering depending on where you carry. The shooter should become familiar with them and practise them to go safely proficient with them."

Smith with Conflicting Gear also heavily advocated for proper grooming alongside the right gear.

"AIWB bear is only dangerous if the carrier is unsafe. Proper preparation, equipment, retention and trigger guard coverage should provide the necessary means to prevent negligent discharge, no matter the carry way," Smith added. "There are perceptions of unsafety with AIWB bear considering of its placement well-nigh the groin and in the vicinity of the femoral artery. Altering the holster cant/placement, protecting the trigger guard from obstruction, maintaining trigger discipline and practicing a safe draw stroke all dissolve any statement that AIWB carry is dangerous."

Kelley rounded out the opinions, supporting the idea that a loaded gun carried improperly is unsafe regardless of the bodily position on the carrier. "Whatever carry method can exist unsafe, AIWB is no different," he said. "I think where most folks get mixed upwardly in the prophylactic talk is when they don't really consider the carry method they advise equally safer."

AIWB is the darkening customs's rising star and that meteoric rise to popularity doesn't seem to be slowing down whatever time soon.