Full-size IWB carry can be, well, challenging at times. Not to mention downright unpleasant if you don’t have the right gear. So I thought the hot month of August would be a perfect time to stash my currently-comfortable and quite concealable IWB carry firearm, a slim SIG P238, and put Clinger Holsters’ “No Print Wonder” hybrid Kydex IWB rig and ambidextrous Kydex Mag Holster to the test with a full-size SIG P226R EE.
When I think of hybrid Kydex holsters, my mind immediately jumps to a leather backing with a molded Kydex shell. Clinger takes a different approach to “hybrid,” adding a leather hinge between the fully-Kydex holster and the two belt clips.
I was somewhat skeptical about the whole arrangement at first. Then I began the quick task of adjusting the retention for my SIG P226R, slipped the rig behind my beltline, and clipped it onto my belt and pants. Clinger provides plenty of extra hardware and a variety of rubber spacers (above) to ensure you pistol is cradled comfortably while drawing cleanly.
Adjusting the holster’s drop and cant by way of three available holes per clip was straight-forward and easy.
After trying all combinations, I found that the center holes on both sides placed the P226 in the correct position for my particular IWB carry needs.
Firmly in place, the No Print Wonder conformed to my hip comfortably, immediately putting my initial skepticism to rest. The leather hinge helps to nearly eliminate any gapping while bringing more of the holster closer to my body.
Speaking of being close to one’s body, it’s clear that Clinger takes the time to finish their edges properly. With the exception of the Kydex bracket that holds the leather hinge in place, all edges were smooth. I only found one slight issue: the upper outside tip of the Kydex belt clip bracket can be slightly pokey when canting the holster.
Clinger named the holster the No Print Wonder for a reason and I can’t argue with them. Its design does an excellent job of snugging the rig close to your body for minimal printing…even under snug garments like this tight T-shirt. Again, this is while carrying a full-size pistol. A compact, subcompact or revolver would be even tougher to spot.
Putting the holster through some drills at the range, I ran into zero issues. Retention was more than adequate and the height of the holster didn’t interfere with drawing or re-holstering. In fact, the pistol very rarely hung-up inside the holster while I was learning the new rig – it just seemed to guide itself right in. The No Print Wonder held my gun securely and remained firmly in place on my belt.
Clinger also provided one of their ambidextrous Mag Holsters to pair with the No Print Wonder. I’m always wary of ambidextrous mag holsters, and Clinger’s model is designed so that the user need not swap the clip to take advantage of its ambidexterity. That only made me more hesitant given many magazines don’t have the same profile at the front and back ends.
I did need to tighten the Mag Holster nearly all the way down using the thinnest rubber washer in order to get acceptable retention for all magazine configurations. However, once tight, the holster performed well and retained a full magazines without issue.
As far as Clinger’s claim that, “Your Magazine will be undetectable…,” I’m not sure I’d go that far. But it’s safe to say that the footprint will be only slightly larger than whatever magazine you employ. It’s about as slim a design as possible.
In the end I was impressed by the No Print Wonder and Mag Holster. Most of all, I was surprised by how much of a difference one small piece of leather – placed in the right spot – can make. The design works and works well, folks. In addition, both the Kydex and leather are thick and of high-quality, affixed to each other with solid hardware. And in case something bad happens, Clinger backs their products with a lifetime warranty.
The holster lives up to its “No Print” name. Not once have I felt like the chunky, full-size P226R was blatantly showing through my cover garment(s). If you’re shopping around for a solid full-size (or any size) concealed carry holster, don’t overlook the No Print Wonder.
Specifications: Clinger Holsters No Print Wonder Holster (IWB)
Price as reviewed (P226R, Black): $64.99 MSRP
Ratings (out of five stars):
Design: * * * *
Clinger’s leather hinge design works very well and makes this IWB holster quite comfortable for full-size carry. The bracketed transition point where the animal and petroleum-based materials meet seems a bit bulky, but in reality isn’t noticeable when in use. The backer for the P226R is a very good height and the holster’s adjustable height and cant make finding the perfect fit easy.
Concealability: * * * * *
This holster does a great job of concealing a full-size pistol. I was impressed with how much of the holster contacted my body during use. Once affixed to the belt, the holster and weapon stay put – no need to worry about anything slipping out of the holster or off your belt.
Durability: * * * * *
Comprised of a variety of materials (to say the least), the hardware, rubber spacers, Kydex, leather, and belt clips are of high quality and held up extremely well during the testing period. This holster is one that will last a long time.
Overall: * * * * *
Clinger’s No Print Wonder IWB holster is a hybrid like no other, bringing your pistol and the entire rig extremely close to your body. Even a full-size pistol practically loses its footprint. The holster retains the weapon well and won’t leave your belt thanks to the well-made belt clips. The No Print Wonder is an IWB holster you’ll look forward to putting on every day.
Specifications: Clinger Holsters Mag Holster (Ambidextrous & IWB/OWB)
Price as reviewed (P226, Black): $19.99 MSRP
Ratings (out of five stars):
Design: * * * *
This magazine holster is a versatile piece that allows for ambidextrous IWB and OWB options without modification. It has a slim profile and a well-placed, dependable belt clip. However, the ambidextrous design doesn’t quite yield the same fit both ways and it felt a bit over-sized, in general.
Concealability: * * * * *
If a magazine holster were any more concealable it would not have adjustable retention. This is about as small as an adjustable Kydex magazine holster with a belt clip can get.
Durability: * * * * *
The materials used to manufacture the Mag Holster seem to be consistently of high quality. The hardware, rubber spacers, Kydex, and nylon belt clip held up extremely well during the testing period.
Overall: * * * *
Clinger’s ambidextrous Mag Holster isn’t designed to be fancy or flashy; it’s designed to work. And work it does. With a standard 1.5″nylon clip (1.75″ available), adjustable retention, small footprint, and ambidextrous design spanning dozens of models, this magazine holster is a dependable choice.
i don’t even see the second clip as being necessary. i’d like to try this with the rear clip only.
placing the clips in those positions should pull it all in tight and present a slimmer profile since the hardware isn’t stacked on top of the barrel and sheath..
Still waiting for something better for me that the simple galco stow n go.
I’m still waiting for one of these uber IWB holsters to start supporting lights. Or for that matter, these makers of these wonder holsters need start making double (or triple) IWB mag carriers.
I think Hidden Hybrid does something like that for lights, but only certain brands of lights.
Good concept, decent price but…
Minimal Printing does not equal “No Print”
I’ll stick with my Stealth Universal.
http://www.stealthuniversal.com
because specifying a model is discrimination.
Hinge is novel concept. Definitely need something there that moves but doesn’t create movement. It’s good to see people are still innovating.
You should try one of these. Some holsters carry well, some holsters perform well on the range. This deal carries extremely well and performs pretty good on the range to boot.
Like Liberace coming out of the closet, I think IWB, and other cc’ers out there need to reality check themselves with respect to “printing”. All y’all print more than the NYT. Most carriers print or provide YUUUGE tells. Might as well push back on your state until you can achieve ‘open carry’ and go comfortable with a shoulder holster. It’ll hold two + spare mags, a small flashlight, a small money belt, and nowhere near half of the crumbs from your lunch sandwich and chips as that thing on your hip.
Ya know how to put it on? Stick both arms thru from back to front and easily lift it over your head. Un-ass it in reverse. Kydex? Nope, soft Nylon and maybe some Rayon. Wear it to bed? Yep. Wear it for bed-ops? Yes. Wear it while swimming? Sure. Comfortable? Uh Huh.
Two to five times as expensive as a IWB? Doh.
$14 – $198 all sizes and materials.
Try sitting in your car with your (“1/2 price?” nah) IWB / OWB / drop leg with your shooting hand duct taped to your forehead, and drawing with your support hand. Then try it with a cheap airsoft shoulder holster, and get back to me.
Here’s one for $17.95 (not even on sale) that’ll outlast your desire to carry a firearm. And, should it not, you could ask your tailor to reinforce it in the few places you managed to stress it, and still be under price point of most other holsters.
http://tacticalgear.com/condor-vertical-shoulder-holster-coyote-brown
Ed note: sorry, just noticed the link says it’s “on backorder from the mfr” I must be getting the word out a little too good.
$14? Neva been done befoe.
Assuming you mean $140, that’ll get you a Galco (maybe) or a cheap nylon and elastic rig that won’t last six months. More to the point, $140 is more than double the cost of the reviewed IWB rig. Most custom leather rigs run $250-$350, depending on what you put on the off side.
eBay today – $11.97 plus shipping. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=shoulder+holster
Crap? maybe, I bought a few rigs in Iraq sold at haji shops and made by godknowswho just as a ‘get-by carry option’ (for a FULL SIZE M9 and two full mags in a place that often hit 140 degrees and I damn near sweat thru my ceramic body armor) thinking I would take them back to a tailor there (while in-country for a cheap repair) or throw them away when they wore out. They all made it home and I gave all of them away. It’s not that I would not recommend a decent GALCO or other leather holster, but I would caveat that you might want to somewhat limit your swimming with it. Still better than IWB / OWB ‘skivvy-carry’ when you’re in bed and / or sleeping. AND you’re still not going to ditch/don much else faster.
HOPEFULLY, I don’t (ever) have to say that I ain’t dogging the rig in the OP, or that of any other. It’s great, IWB / OWB carry just ain’t my bag baby. I stated above that the ‘hinge’ is a novel idea, I’ll add “good” idea here too. I am glad that people are still working on such things, and it is more than a good price point for what you appear to be getting in that pistol and mag holster.
“Wear it for bed-ops? Yes.”
The last time I did that, I split my knee open on the rear sight…
: )
You must’ve been knocking it out. You should do videos.
posts not posting
Just cover your damn gun with a tshirt. Nobody is taking their eyes off of their phones long enough to even look up, let alone checking for printing. The guys who are checking, are the same guys who will also help out when something stupid happens.
You notice the ‘sh-t around the middle’ syndrome MOST when people pivot their upper torso on/over their hips AND/OR when they ‘bend-in-the-middle’.
Plus, it’s an inertia thing. Put a dead weight on your body and the first person you don’t fool is YOUR BODY. You move differently. That’s another reason why I jokingly harp on shoulder holsters because you can more easily pin the weapon to your body with your elbows while running and you cannot do that if it’s lower on your belt-line.
I NEVER SAY: ONLY carry with a shoulder holster. Just that, if you did, you’d be ok in more situations.
JFC Joe. We get it. You know what’s best for all of us.
Well, again, none of that came off as intended, but ~ok?
Dude just stfu already. Shoulder carry? For real? Gtfoh.
The ONLY people who notice printing are other carriers. Most people done even notice open carry.
Nice thing about shoulder holsters is that you’re not going to leave your gat on the toilet paper dispenser in public facilities. On the old Barney Miller show detective Fish (Abe Vigoda) wore a shoulder rig, spent lots of time in the rest rooms, coincidence?
I’ve owned a lot of holsters. A bunch. Since discovering the Clinger No Print Wonder holster my holster acquisition has nearly stopped. I now own 3 of these No Print Wonder Holsters. My criteria are pretty straight forward for a holster
– must carry the gun securely in the holster (kids, seatbelts, getting into / out of weird chairs cannot dislodge pistol)
– must be stable on the belt so it’s in the same place every time.
– must be suitable to actually use as a holster on the range- you know like actually drawing and holstering not just clipping on when leaving the house and coming off in the evening.
– cannot impede the draw, can be nothing from the holster that gets between my middle knuckle and the underside of the trigger guard.
The ONLY complaint I have with the clinger is that the sweat guards are too tall, they should do a mid rise sweat guard, but I can cut that down easily enough on my own. My No Print Wonder Holster is going strong about a year later. It’s the best design for an IWB I’m aware of.
My experiences here:
https://youtu.be/PDM_2QqKvdo