Fat Veteran Turned Adoptive Dad Shares His Journey to Find the Perfect Holster

Believe me, I understand. 

I used to face the same problem of finding a good holster. But let me take you back to the start of my story.

Last winter, My brother died.

My brother and his wife went on a mountain climbing trip, a passion they shared.

 They didn't make it back. An unexpected avalanche took their lives, leaving behind their two children, aged 6 and 8.

Their loss was devastating. On top of my own grief, I was suddenly thrust into the role of a father.

 I'd just returned from service in Afghanistan, shifting from the strict discipline of military life to the daily routine of a farmer. 

The sudden change in lifestyle, coupled with the grief and stress of losing my brother, caused me to get fat.

But my new family needed more than just emotional support, so I took on two more jobs to provide for them. 

Amid all this, the gnawing worry for their safety was always with me.

In the military, I'd learned about danger and how to protect myself. But now, I had two little kids depending on me.

 Despite my familiarity with firearms during my service, I never imagined I'd be carrying one every day back home. 

Yet, my new responsibilities made it seem necessary.

I'm now a big, fat guy, a farmer. And if you've got some extra padding like me, you'll know that finding a proper holster is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I must've tried a dozen different holsters, each one recommended by some guru on Youtube. But none of them got around the problems that us bigger folks face.

- Heat and Sweat: Fat folks like me tend to sweat. A lot. I found most holsters just didn't breathe. And that sweat wasn't only making me uncomfortable – it was ruining my holster and, worse, damaging my gun.

- Snugness: Us bigger guys, we've got a bit of a belly. And when I'd try to squeeze my gun into my waistband, it'd end up buried under a mound of me.

- Lower Back Ache: Whether they were made of kydex or leather, every holster I tried focused all the weight in one spot around my waist. It was like they were trying to give me back problems.

- Seated Drawing: Every holster ad showed a trim, fit person drawing while standing. But what about when you're sitting? Especially in a truck, I found drawing to be anything but smooth and natural.

- Pointing Horizontally: I'd tried a few leather shoulder holsters from a local maker. But they pointed the gun horizontally. Behind me. Breaking the second rule of gun safety: Always point the gun in the safest possible direction.

 Now, I know what some folks think. That us gun owners are reckless, that we don't think things through. But I've got to tell you, with all due respect, that couldn't be further from the truth. We put a lot of thought into gun safety. We're the most careful people you'll meet. Well, except for a few bad apples.

So if you've got a holster and it's got any of these issues, I'd suggest you think about swapping it for something else. Or even consider not carrying at all.

Because when it comes to guns, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

During an online search, I spotted a review by my cousin Robin Green on a veteran-owned holster website.

 He was praising something called the 'Fujobi Pancake Holster.' He sent me one to try.

I was unsure at first, but wore it for a month. This holster was a lifesaver.

It sat easy on my hip comfortable. No more backaches.

Gone was the sweaty discomfort of my old leather holster. My skin felt cool, and my shirts stayed dry.

And drawing my firearm? As simple as getting my wallet from my pocket. That sealed the deal. The Fujobi Pancake Holster became my everyday carry.

  The Fujobi holster is like a part of me now, not an annoying add-on.

 The kids noticed the change too. No more shifting and adjusting at their school events, no more soaked-through shirts. 

 I was just their dependable, cool uncle again. Their friends even started calling me 'The Gentle Giant.'

 People around me began to see me differently as well. 

 At work, my colleagues stopped making 'sweaty' jokes. 

  Instead, they started asking about my new holster. Some even bought their own Fujobi.

 In church, there were no more wary glances, no more whispers. People respected my responsibility as a firearm owner, and my choice of a secure, safe holster played a big part in it.

 The Fujobi Pancake Holster didn't just make my daily carrying routine easier. 

 It brought a newfound respect and eased the tension of my surroundings. 

 I became a figure not to be joked about, but to be looked up to, and it gave me confidence like never before.