For the folks that carry IWB, when you are carrying, do you need pants that are larger than what you normally wear? I mostly wear dress pants and I don't see how the addition of an IWB can be comfortable for an all day carry. Just wondering.

I have a Bersa .380 Thunder and have a High Noon, Split Decision and a handmade "UBG" holster.

I have not changed sizes of my pant, but did loosen the belt up one notch.

I've noticed that I had the slack in the pants usually, some of the pants are tougher to tuck my shirt into when I am carring. Hope this helps.

I did move up a size, though I was probably borderline without the pistol. Going up a size made all the difference in the world. However, I manage to get away with wearing jeans about six and a half days a week.

I can pretty much carry all day now and it doesn't bother me at all.

Buy one pair bigger and see how you like them.

Depending on the gun, yes you need a bigger sized waist. At least I do for my Glock 29, but it's a fat little gun. I suppose if you're carying a Kel-Tec p32, you could get away with the same size.

I just lost some weight before I started carrying, so all my old pants are too big and I didn't have to buy all new clothes.

I carry a officers frame 1911A1 in a Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB holster. My weight fluctuates a couple pounds either way so the pants can be a little tighter or looser on a given day. Different pants are going to fit a little differently anyway. Different manufactures of the same style, different styles, even pants that you would think are identical. One size bigger is the norm, but you should try them on. The biggest element in comfort (and it cannot be overstressed) is that you should have a purpose built gun belt.

I've always had a hard time finding pants that are my exact waist size (~33"), so I opt for the 34" and I always wear a belt. When carrying, I just go one notch less on the belt.

To be honest, I don't always use a holster. I find that when carrying strong side, just in front of my hip bone, I can get the gun in there nice and snug w/o my IWB holster. Plus, I don't print as much when carrying sans holster.

Which brings up a good question....how do the members on this forum carry? ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, or NEVER holstered? Possibly a good topic for a new thread...

Please make sure you have covered the trigger guard. I would recomend always using a quality holster that cover the trigger.

I carry a 5-shot revolver on a Clipdraw, which I like a lot for the convenience and the no-added-thickness. I've been meaning for a long time to get a true holster for better security and more stable position, but it's so darn handy I may procrastinate quite a while yet. I too have not needed bigger pants, just let out one notch on the belt.

Depends on the gun, holster and where you carry on your body.

Generally I don't get larger size pants but just loosen up the belt and adjust where on the belt I carry.

Same as everyone else I just loosen up the belt one notch and wear the same pants. I have two diffrent IWB holsters and one is comfortable the other is not. So you may just need to try them out a little bit. to find one that you like.

I'm assuming you carry a compact XD (as do I). What brands of IWB holsters do you have, or more specifically, which one is comfortable and which one is not.

I have a leather IWB from Don Hume. Took a little while to break in, and I found that it was a little more difficult to holster my weapon with one in the chamber, due to the fact that the loaded chamber indicator would scrape along the leather (there is a little channel worn in there now).

It's pretty comfortable, but a little thicker than I would like.

For regular pants, I didn't change sizes since I intentionally want my jeans, shorts, and cargo pants to be a little roomy.

However, my dress pants are all too snug to carry IWB. Given that I rarely have to wear them, I haven't invested in upsizing them. If I had to be dressy all the time, I most probably would.

You know, one possibility for creating a bit of room in the waistband that's not yet been suggested is to lose some weight.

Speaking as someone who's done as much as any to contribute to our image as a bunch of "soft white guys", it's what I've determined I'm going to have to do.

(-10 pounds in six weeks isn't a lot, but it will get there, if I stick to it.)