IDPA holster for women?

C

chris in va

New member
For lack of a better word, my friend has 'hips' that roll a normal holster inward, preventing her from drawing properly. I see there's a BladeTech DOH kydex, are there any others that she could use that won't cost a fortune? Only LEO's are allowed to use a thigh rig, otherwise that would be perfect.

She really liked her first IDPA match and looks forward to the next.
 
While the IDPA rules used to refer to an "approved equipment list", I guess administering this proved to be burdensome and the 2005 IDPA rules describe what is permitted and what isn't rather than listing holsters by make and model number. A July addendum doesn't seem to change the holster language significantly.

The IDPA rulebook is available here -

http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf

Here's some sections that might prove useful -

F. Can have no offset backpieces and/or belt slots. The holster
may not offset away from the belt and/or body. No gap is
permitted in the following areas:
1. From the body to the inside of the belt.
2. From the outside of the belt to the inside of the
backpiece and/or backside of the holster.
3. From the outside of the backpiece to the inside of
the holster.
If you look through the belt slot area of the holster with it on
the belt/body, you should not be able to see any daylight. If
you can see through this belt tunnel area, the holster is not
approved.
Holster/backpiece must be constructed of “normal thickness”
common holster making materials, no filler is allowed to hide
an offset. In simple terms, the back of the holster must be held
tightly against the outside of the belt for proper concealed carry
(for questions, refer to #1 above and re-read the “Purpose”
section in the front of this rulebook).¹

...H. May not position the firearm where the breech face (autos)
or rear of the cylinder (revolvers) is below the center of the
belt. NO drop loops are permitted.³ Holsters for females may
position the breech face of a pistol or rear of the cylinder of a
revolver up to 1 ½” below the center of the belt.
NOTE: IWB style holsters are exempt from this criterion.
I. Must hold the firearm positioned on the body so an object of
¾”width cannot pass between the shooter’s body and the inside
of the firearm when the shooter is standing straight and
upright.² ...

¹ NOTE: Holsters for females are exempt from F. criteria, but may
not cant the handgun away from the body past 90 ° to the ground.
² NOTE: Female shooters are exempt from this test.

So, female shooters can use a holster with a drop loop (provided the breech face isn't more than 1-1/2" below the belt) and the 3/4" test doesn't apply.

My wife is still looking for a holster with a drop loop, but she's doing OK with a pancake holster worn with pants that fit lower on the hips. This sort of solves the problem of the holster canting the butt of the pistol into her ribs, but she'd prefer to wear pants with a higher waist.

I hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
It does help, thank you. I'm still searching for the holster I saw at the last match where the holster was held away from the body so it could achieve the 90 degree vertical orientation.
 
IDPA allows differnt holster for women due to the difference in shape of the hips. There are holsters made specificly for women and cometiotion shooting. maybe pax could offer some help on this subject.
The IDPA rule book on pages 34 and 35 state that holster for female are EXEMPT form basicaly all hoster restrictions stating that the holster may not cant the handgun away from the body past the 90 degree to the ground.
here are the links to the info,
http://www.idpa.com/

and the rule book,
http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf
page 34 and 35 have the info needed
 
My wife and daughter both use a BladeTech DOH holsters and compete in IDPA. They like the holsters as they have proven to be comfortable with their "hips".
 
The lady got back to me about the holster she was using.

CompTac 'Diva'

Apparently they haven't started making a normal production run and it was more of a prototype. Looked really slick though.
 
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