A generic holder encases a cell phone, PDA or any similar-size device and is the only part that shows. To draw, grasp the phone or PDA and lift the holster up from inside the pants to access the gun. If worn in the front, the support hand can reach into the pocket and push the Cell/PDA Pal up from the bottom to expose the gun. Available in three holster sizes, they will accommodate just about any gun.

And then there’s the Bellyband, a wide strip of elastic cloth with a pocket to carry a gun. It may also be worn low on the waistline, partially under the beltline or just above it. This Galco offering has pockets for two guns and can carry other accessories as well.

For best concealment, the outer shirt should be large enough not to crowd the gun to avoid printing. The material also needs to be dense so it doesn’t shape itself to the gun, and it can’t be transparent for obvious reasons. Drawing from a bellyband requires you to either reach under, lift or open your shirt, which can be accomplished using either a one- or two-handed technique.

Here’s a tip for making access easier: If you are using a button-down shirt for concealment, replace a few of the lower buttons with hook-and-loop fastener, then sew the buttons to the outside of the shirt to make it appear normal. The hook-and-loop fastener makes getting the shirt out of the way easier, faster and more reliable.

Kramer Handgun Leather (kramer leather.com, 888-KRAMER-1) makes a deep concealment shirt called the Confidant. Worn under a regular shirt, it places a gun beneath the armpit like a shoulder holster does. It works well for small and lightweight guns. You will need a method to lift or open your shirt quickly to access the gun, so modifying a shirt as I suggested above may work here too.

The last category of alternative carry is off-body. These are holsters that you carry rather than wear. They include day planners, handbags, briefcases and the like.

Of all the alternative options, off-body is my least favorite, and I don’t recommend it. It has two huge drawbacks. First, if the container is out of reach, you may not be able to get to the gun if you need to. Second, someone else—from a crook to an innocent child—could gain access to your firearm. Off-body simply doesn’t provide the 100 percent control of the weapon that you need.

Enough said about that. I want to wrap up with a few words about training, regardless of what alternative method of carry you’ve decided to go with. While some carry methods may be more conducive to a two-handed draw, try to develop a one-handed strategy as well. Learn to keep your support hand available for dealing with your family, blocking attacks or striking your opponent. In a hand-to-hand struggle, putting forward pressure on your attacker is the best way to gain and maintain a physical advantage, but you won’t be able to sustain it if your draw requires both hands.

It is essential to practice your draw and shooting skills in the manner in which you might actually use them—especially so with alternative carry methods because they often require a more complicated draw stoke. If you carry at work and are at a desk most of the day, be sure to practice from a seated position. If your office chair has arms, use that type of chair in your training as well.

If you carry while driving, practice getting around or releasing your seatbelt. Don’t forget to train to draw tight to your body so you don’t hit the steering wheel. Running to cover is often a lifesaving tactic but may require the ability to draw and/or shoot on the move. Those skills should be rehearsed as well.

If you decide to add one or more of these or types of carry to your repertoire, practice your draw slowly at first and speed up as you acquire muscle memory. Regardless of how you choose to carry, keep in mind that the most important element to winning a gunfight is to have a gun.