What Is a Paddle Holster?

October 1st, 2025

6 minute read

If you think picking out the best carry gun and ammo is complicated, wait until you dive into the world of holsters. Cant styles, material choices, positioning, etc. It can be overwhelming. It also includes a bunch of terms with which you might not be familiar.

A Springfield Hellcat compact pistol seated in an outside-the-waistband paddle holster, photographed from a three-quarter angle. The molded holster body fully covers the slide and trigger guard while the wide polymer paddle fits inside the waistband and presses against the hip. This paddle holster provides passive retention with adjustable screws to fine-tune how tightly the Hellcat is held. The image highlights the paddle’s curved shape that distributes weight and keeps the holster stable during movement. This setup is commonly used for concealed carry under a jacket and for quick on/off range trips. Keywords: Springfield Hellcat, paddle holster, OWB holster, compact pistol, retention, concealed carry. The clear view of the draw path shows how the pistol will be accessed in a practical carry position. — This Hellcat Pro sits in a Comp-Tac International holster, configurable as a paddle holster, that anchors inside the waistband and rests on the hip. Paddle holsters are popular for range sessions and off-duty carry because they’re simple and stable.

Today, we are tackling the topic of paddle holsters. A paddle holster gets its name from the curved paddle-shaped part that is attached to the holster. It consists of two main parts: the paddle and the holster. The paddle is usually made of a polymer that is molded to the contour of the hip.

Instead of the holster mounted to the belt on the outside of the pants, the paddle sits inside the waistband, pressed against your body, while the holster is mounted to the paddle and sits outside the waistband.

A Springfield Armory Echelon 4.5-inch pistol shown inside a Safariland Gravity paddle holster. The holster body fully covers the firearm’s slide and trigger guard for safety while allowing a fast draw when needed. Safariland’s Gravity series uses a paddle attachment that tucks inside the waistband, securing the holster against the body. This holster includes retention features designed for law enforcement, security professionals, and armed citizens who want extra stability. The image highlights how the Echelon’s modern frame and optics-ready slide fit into a high-quality holster system. SEO terms: Springfield Echelon pistol, Safariland Gravity paddle holster, OWB retention holster, concealed carry setup. This picture demonstrates the pairing of a full-size pistol with a professional-grade paddle holster. — A Springfield Echelon paired with the Safariland Gravity holster. The paddle attachment anchors inside the waistband, while the holster provides fast access and security.

When placed inside the pants, a hook on the holster, combined with a hole in the paddle, keeps everything in place. Several manufacturers make their belt holsters compatible with paddle use, so if you already own the belt holster, you only have to purchase the paddle.

Why a Paddle?

Why would you want to wear one? When you watch cop shows, the detectives often wear a paddle holster, but there are other reasons to wear a paddle besides being a police detective.

For anyone with back or hip pain, a paddle holster will distribute the weight of the pistol and create less pressure against the hip bone and lower back.

A detailed photo of the Comp-Tac International holster with both paddle attachment and belt mounting hardware displayed. The polymer paddle is curved to fit against the hip, while the belt mount includes adjustable slots for different belt widths. This modular holster system allows shooters to switch between paddle carry and traditional belt carry without needing a separate holster body. The hardware also enables adjustments for ride height and cant, making the setup adaptable for different shooting styles and body shapes. Comp-Tac holsters like this are popular among competition shooters and concealed carriers who want flexibility. SEO terms: Comp-Tac International holster, paddle holster hardware, belt mount holster, modular holster system. The image highlights the practical versatility of this holster platform. — The Comp-Tac International holster components laid out to show paddle and belt hardware. The system is adaptable for belt mount, paddle mount and drop offset carry modes.

A paddle holster is a quick and easy mounting system for your pistol, and is one of the easiest to put on and take off. This feature makes it one of the most popular styles of carry.

It’s an excellent system for competition shooters. If you are heading to the range for a quick session, consider a paddle holster. It slides on quickly, and you don’t have to take off your belt to mount it like a conventional-style holster.

A paddle holster works well combined with a jacket like the 5.11 Founders “Tactical” Sport Jacket, used to conceal the firearm. This set-up is ideal for anyone who regularly wears a coat, as well as for security work at social functions or church security teams.

A person wearing a Springfield Armory pistol in a paddle holster with a jacket covering the firearm. The holster sits outside the waistband while the paddle secures inside the waistband against the hip. The jacket drapes over the pistol grip, reducing printing and allowing the firearm to remain concealed during normal movement. This example demonstrates how paddle holsters can be used for everyday carry with the right clothing choice. The position appears to be around the 3–4 o’clock area, commonly recommended for right-handed shooters. Paddle holsters like this offer the convenience of fast on-and-off use while still working in a concealed carry role under outer garments. Keywords: Springfield Armory, paddle holster concealment, jacket concealed carry, OWB holster, firearm carry setup. — A Springfield Armory pistol carried in a paddle holster and concealed under a light jacket. This setup shows how a paddle holster can work for discreet everyday carry.

A paddle holster is also a great option when carrying a full-size pistol that you don’t want riding up against your side. When I worked in law enforcement and was going off duty, I took off my gun belt, placed my service weapon in a paddle holster, and wore a light jacket to cover everything up for the ride home.

What Type Is Right for Me?

Paddle holsters can be found with and without safety retention devices. Generally, a Level II retention holster with thumb release is carried by law enforcement, like those detectives I was talking about. Most paddle holster fans use a non-retention holster, although your situation may benefit from a retention-style holster.

A Springfield Armory Hellcat compact concealed carry pistol photographed as the firearm used for testing paddle holsters. The Hellcat features a slim frame and ergonomic grip designed for everyday carry. This particular model includes an optics-ready slide, making it compatible with red dot sights for faster target acquisition. During paddle holster testing, the Hellcat’s size and weight proved to be a good match for outside-the-waistband carry with a paddle attachment. The pistol is known for its high capacity in a micro-compact platform, which has made it one of Springfield’s most popular models. Keywords: Springfield Armory Hellcat, concealed carry pistol, paddle holster test gun, compact handgun, optics-ready carry pistol. The image highlights the firearm chosen for holster demonstrations and evaluation. — The Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro pistol, shown as the test firearm for the author’s paddle holster evaluations. Its size and optics-ready design make it a sound choice for everyday concealed carry.

For this article, we are using the Springfield Hellcat Pro with an optic and a Comp-Tac International holster that features a belt-mounting attachment adjustable for different size belts, as well as an extender to drop the holster farther down for various body types. It also features a passive retention system that uses adjustable screws for just the right amount of retention.

[Read Richard Johnson’s article on holster retention to learn more about passive and active retention systems.]

When purchasing a holster, make sure you account for the sights, optic, loaded chamber indicator or light if so equipped. The holster will need to be specifically designed to fit your particular setup.

How to Wear a Paddle Holster

Wearing a paddle holster is as simple as sliding it over your waistband and belt with the clip inside and the holster on the outside.

For those of you who are right-handed, the 3-5 o’clock position usually works best. For the lefties out there, the 7-9 o’clock position usually works best, although your mileage may vary. Adjustability is a must, as almost everyone has their perfect spot.

Cant refers to the angle at which the holster rides on the waist in relation to the user. You can make minor adjustments for cant (angle) by just moving the holster. If you need more adjustability, then major adjustments for cant can be made by changing the angle of the paddle in relation to the holster. By simply changing the orientation of the mounting hardware, you can adjust the cant forward (the most common choice), or to the rear for a crossdraw application. You may want a straight drop or a more pronounced forward cant, depending on your draw style. These adjustments will affect your draw speed, so be diligent.

When setting up your holster, perform a retention check. Pull the holster up and ensure it doesn’t come loose. I’ve seen it happen in training. At the range, you’ll look strange pointing your pistol downrange with the holster still attached. In a real-life scenario, it would be much worse.

Next, move around, sit, or stand as you would normally. Is the holster shifting? Lastly, practice your drawing. Is your pistol coming out properly, or is the holster rocking or binding and preventing a proper draw? If you are experiencing any of these issues, it may be because your holster is not fitted correctly or has a bad design.

A person wearing a paddle holster mounted on their belt, demonstrating how the paddle secures inside the waistband while the holster body rests outside. The holster sits at the 3–4 o’clock position, a common placement for right-handed shooters. The paddle attachment grips firmly against the belt and waistband to prevent shifting during movement. This setup allows for fast on-and-off use, unlike traditional belt-loop holsters that require unthreading the belt. The pistol grip is visible for a quick draw while still positioned close to the body for concealment under a jacket. Keywords: paddle holster on belt, OWB holster carry position, concealed carry holster, waistband paddle attachment. The image highlights real-world use of this holster style. — A paddle holster worn on the belt at the 3 o’clock position. The holster sits outside the waistband while the paddle anchors inside for stability.

A critical element of the paddle system is a stiff, sturdy belt! A belt can make or break your carry, so please skip the dollar store belt and pick up a quality belt.

While paddle holsters are not for deep concealment, they can be used for concealed carry, preferably while wearing a jacket. Wearing a paddle holster under a large shirt is not the best set-up, as the holster sticks out more than an inside-the-waistband holster and will cause printing, which will let observant folks know you are carrying.

Conclusion

A paddle holster will not be right for every situation, but it’s an excellent idea to have one for your model pistol. You may think you’ll never need or use one, but you’ll want to have every option at your disposal.

As with all your equipment, train as if your life depends on it, because it just might. You’ll want to build muscle memory so you don’t go into vapor lock when the occasion arises.

Editor’s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!

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Springfield Armory® recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owner’s manual. These articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Springfield Armory.

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Friedrich Seiltgen

Friedrich is a retired master police officer with the Orlando Police Department. He was a firearms instructor, a less lethal alternatives instructor and an armorer. Now, as a recovering LEO, he enjoys a second career as a military historian and firearms writer.

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