Thigh rig vs belt

[11B250]

Been using a thigh rig and I liked it. I used belt rig before at a security company and I had nothing bad to say about it....

now that I've used the thigh rig for a few months, I'm going to try the belt rig again.

I just swapped it out on my belt, and I have to be honest the thigh rig felt better (first impression)

let's get in the car and see how it feels again.

for people who have used both, which did you end up preferring?

fwiw, I'm a lefty, so with the thigh rig, it fit well between the seat and the door. but would make it very hard to unholster if need be.

also one thing I noticed with my thigh rig (I keep mine rather high) is when my hand is resting on the side, my gun hand is directly over the gun, making unholstering very quick.

just want to hear some other officer's opinions. my dept, both is allowed, and i'd say 30% wear the thigh rig and prefer it. some have switched. they complained it's a PITA to run it (but they also have worn it very low without adjusting it)

[Rush817]

I'm a lefty and I can wear one but I choose not to because everytime I get out of my vehicle the hood to my holster is down.

[SCSU74]

I'm a lefty and I can wear one but I choose not to because everytime I get out of my vehicle the hood to my holster is down.

do you use a hood guard? I put one on my 6360 and the hood is never down anymore

[11B250]

I'm a lefty and I can wear one but I choose not to because everytime I get out of my vehicle the hood to my holster is down.

Had the same problem... my vest (tac vest) always pushed it down. got a hood guard, and problem solved. It won't interfere when you undo the hood, but it won't let things push it open either

I used the regular belt rig today, and I must say it was nice not having something attached to my leg and it opening 2 extra pockets that the thigh rig covers up.

however, I will say that overall comfortableness was better with the thigh rig. the holster's belt mount kept digging into my leg, which was rather annoying. I don't remember that from before...

I'll stick it out few more shifts with it and decide I guess.

Right now, I prefer the thigh rig still.

oh, and I did have to draw on someone today, and muscle memory is still there. I wasn't looking for my gun on my thigh or anything, I immediately drew from the belt holster without even thinking where the gun is.

[dontknowwhy]

This seems like a good mix http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwAg&dur=2910

[Ramrod711]

I had two sets, If I knew I was doing foot patrol that day id set up my thigh rig. If I knew id be doing vehicle patrol Id set up my belt rig. Overall comfort goes to the thigh rig.

My thigh rig was a Safariland Raptor 6070 with middle finger release button.

My belt rig was an Blackhawk level 2 duty serpa.

[TheTick]

Never thought of it from a left-handed perspective. I hate driving the Crown Vic with my thigh rig on, but I'm right handed.

Interesting, I guess in your case, I would wear the thigh rig. I find them much more comfortable and getting weight off of the belt pays dividends to your back.

[11B250]

double post

[11B250]

Never thought of it from a left-handed perspective. I hate driving the Crown Vic with my thigh rig on, but I'm right handed.

Interesting, I guess in your case, I would wear the thigh rig. I find them much more comfortable and getting weight off of the belt pays dividends to your back.

yeah, I can see how it would be hitting the junk in the middle lol. as a lefty, it perfectly fits in the gap between the seat and the door and ends up like it's not even there.

I had two sets, If I knew I was doing foot patrol that day id set up my thigh rig. If I knew id be doing vehicle patrol Id set up my belt rig. Overall comfort goes to the thigh rig.

My thigh rig was a Safariland Raptor 6070 with middle finger release button.

My belt rig was an Blackhawk level 2 duty serpa.

yeah, the thigh rig (when setup properly) is so much better on a 12 hour shift. some guys complain it's PITA when they have to run, but I disagree. might be an issue when you jump a fence maybe...

This seems like a good mix http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwAg&dur=2910

that's practically how mine is setup. I cut the strap on mine to shortest possible so it's pretty much as high as it can go.

[TheTick]

To OP: For righties it's not so much banging **** in the car, it's more about hitting the steering wheel when playing "jump out boys"

P.S. I tried so hard to find a dildo in the reflection on your TV.

[11B250]

To OP: For righties it's not so much banging **** in the car, it's more about hitting the steering wheel when playing "jump out boys"

P.S. I tried so hard to find a dildo in the reflection on your TV.

I made sure I removed it before the picture! LOL

[careerchange#2]

I've used both and prefer belt mounted. If I could slip it past my team leaders on tac I'd switch to a Safariland drop UBL and ditch the thigh rig all together. I used to wear my 6360 on a drop UBL for uniformed patrol but our newer car seats drove it up into my hips, so I switched back to a standard UBL.

Belt mounted just works for me and I used it for everything: uniformed patrol, soft clothed details, bike patrol, etc.

[jannino]

Have you tried the 2" drop adapters that work on your belt? I believe they're common within the LAPD.

[11b101abn]

There is no situation in which a thigh holster will provide advantage for the patrolman. It hinders retention, drawing while seated is cumbersome at best, most wear it too low, and again, it provides zero advantage unless you are wearing entry armor.

[Erik]

^ What he said.

[Ramrod711]

Kinda agree with 11b, only times id be wearing the thigh rig was on fixed post wearing interceptor vests with crotch shield. When on patrol id wear the hip holster.

[11B250]

Kinda agree with 11b, only times id be wearing the thigh rig was on fixed post wearing interceptor vests with crotch shield. When on patrol id wear the hip holster.

2 11Bs! had me confused there. I thought you were agreeing with me lol

[Narco]

they look cool but no reason to use it unless youre wearing heavy armor. in addition to what 11b said should you fiind your gun drawn in a foot chase you can forget about holstering it.

[josephcook78]

I loved my thigh rig because it took a lot of weight directly off the belt and my waist/hips. My lower back is fubar'd so every little bit helps. However after somebody asking my Chief why someone from the SWAT team was out and about and playing 20 questions, I guess he decided to play politics and tell them he'd make me remove it or something. I told him I'd put my old one back on, and that he can tell whoever it was that they can come massage my lower back and pay my chiropractor bills.

[ruger2213]

Whether you choose a thigh or hip rig, I truly recommend, from nearly twenty years of range instruction/tac team, you practice your draw regularly and stick with one if applicable. To often I've seen guys show up on the range wearing their thigh rig, when they normally wear on hip, and exhibit a delay in drawing and often times have to look at the rig rather then keeping their eyes on the threat. Same goes with your backup carry, stick with one carry method and practice your draw as often as possible or before you go in service...

[BikeCop501]

This seems like a good mix http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwAg&dur=2910

Does anyone use this other than 11b? I've seen it and was wondering about it.

[vdfnco]

I hate thigh holsters. I see no advantage for a patrol officer to have one.

[SHU]

I understand wanting to move it off your belt due to back pain but overall it is a very bad idea.

[the-guy-from-europe]

i wore a safariland drop-leg-holster for 1 year, our department gives us the choice between high-ride, low-ride and drop leg holster. It was great when wearing a outer vest carrier or riot-gear, but for normal basic patrol, it sucked, so i switched back to ma high-ride-holster. Especially when you´re walking the beat for longer periods, in a foot chase or when you´re climbing over an obstacle, it´s a pain in the a**. I looks tacti-cool, yes, but i couldn´t get to see the advantage.

[broken_baton]

Personally i prefer the hip mounted holster over a thigh rig. Anything i carry is level III retention to start with, which as we all know is much slower on the draw then lets say a level I or II. In draw speed i find the Hip holsters a bit faster, it cuts at least 2 feet off my draw, and when seconds count, an extra 1 second is too much for my liking. Some situations call for hip fire straight from the holster, IMO a thigh rig slows this a bit too much for me.

However i do find the thigh rigs a bit more comfy, especially in vehicular patrols when i dont exit the vehicle for extended periods of time.