How Can Women Conceal Carry? Let Me Count The Ways!
My new favorite conceal carry holster. The Femme Fatale lace thigh holster
I only started handling handguns about 3 years ago. I was in the same boat most women are. Where do I begin? I was fortunate however to have started a part-time job at a gun range near Seattle called West Coast Armory. The range had an extensive collection of rental handguns and revolvers. Once I got felt comfortable with firearm safety and handling my next project was figuring out how to carry concealed. With that question comes the question of which gun is best for that as well. But that is an entirely different blog. My choice of gun may not be yours. For now I wanted to share with you my trial and errors of many many forms of carrying a gun concealed. Let’s face it. Women have different requirements than men when it comes to concealing. All of the women I know in this industry and those that I have met coming through the range still want to be feminine when dressing to conceal. Is this possible? Why yes it is.
Let me start by stating that over time I have narrowed down my carry pistols of choice to the SigP238 and 938. They are small but I can actually fire them without my hand getting snapped off. Again this is not the time I am discussing “stopping power” with my choice of pistol caliber. Having a smaller framed gun allows for more ways to
conceal and allows me to wear fitted clothing. Sorry but you won’t catch me dead in that horrible “conceal carry vest” that screams “I am carrying”. Or worse yet, a fanny pack! I never wear blazers or baggy clothes. Women wear dresses and skirts as well. Most women think it is not possible to carry concealed when dressed up. How times have changed! The following holsters I am going to mention are ones I have bought myself and have worn many times. I have not been given any of these. I really like these products. In fact I have fun planning outfits since I am not concerned how I will carry for the day.
The newest item I have purchased is something I have wanted to develop for a long time. Obviously not getting around to it I was super happy to see this company make the first thigh holster I have been able to use! Femme Fatale came out a few months ago with this fabulous lace thigh holster. It is elastic with an extremely sticky inside that grabs on to your thighs like a suction cup. You can wear it so that the holster is on the outside of your thigh or the inside. The outside seems silly to me since that would put a big bulge on your thigh and would be very noticeable. The holster fits on my upper left thigh with the gun pocket on the inside. (My right hand can reach down to that spot) *Photo shown is not my thigh but taken off Femme’s Web site. The photo of me in the skirt, I am wearing the thigh holster. Invisible!! Not to mention that my husband thinks it is pretty darn sexy. And yours will too! That is if you are a woman reading this. If this is a man reading this than you know now what to get your wife or girlfriend for Christmas. I have worn the holster with a gun at least a dozen times now and was wondering if the sticky stuff would lose its stick. Nope. Still sticky. This is my go-to holster when wearing any skirt or dress. The one caveat to this holster is that it does take getting used to. At first I thought it would chafe the heck out of my right leg. It did not. But you do need to fuss with perfect placement of the holster with the gun in the pocket. If you are not careful and put the holster up to high on your thigh you will have a pistol grip poking you in your privates. This is another reason to use a small framed gun. A gun the size of a Glock would make you walk funny and I don’t want to think about what it feels like way up in the crotch! Or maybe one might like that. To each her own! The thigh holster can be found at www.gungoddess.com for $70. Yes, pricey but worth it. Femme Fatale also makes an ankle and a corset holster. I have not tried these yet but they look pretty awesome. Another skirt option holster which also works with pants and when I go on my hikes is the Undertech Undercover Concealment Shorts.
No this photo is not me. But from Undertech’s site. Compression shorts by Undertech Undercover
I have seen ads for these forever. I finally bought a pair and then bought a second pair. They are awesome. They are like wearing a compression bike short. The gun pockets are placed for right or left hands at the back of the shorts. I especially wear these every morning when I walk my dog. I can even go running and the gun never seems to slip from the pockets. Make sure you have your gun coated in FrogLube. When I get home after a run/walk my pistol has condensation all over it. Froglube will keep it from rusting. I do wear these shorts with a skirt sometimes as long as my top is not tucked in. The shorts are compressed so it’s like wearing a girdle. No bulges! I forget I am wearing a gun. Great for any size gun these are really awesome. Found at www.undertechundercover.com for $49.99. Colors available are white, nude and black.
One of the most talked about holsters I have is from Lisa Looper of Looper Law Enforcement. The Flash
Flash Bang Bra Holster by Looper Law Enforcement.
Bang Holster. The Flash Bang is yes, a bra holster. Again, this is for the little gun. It is meant for small framed guns and revolvers. As you can see in the photo (Again, not me!) the gun rests right between the breasts. Only to be used if you are wearing a shirt that is not tucked in. I only say that because if you have a tucked shirt there is an extra obstacle of accessing the gun if needed quickly. So this is the only way I would wear it. It is easy and fast to reach under the shirt and grab the gun and bring out to a ready position. Because it is called the flash bang does not mean you have to flash the world. You can if you want but really it is not necessary. I have worn this with even snug fitting tees and tanks and you can’t tell there is a gun there. This holster also takes getting used to. It is not terribly comfortable. You know it is there. But I do love wearing it and having this option to carry. The Flash Bang can be found at www.gungoddess.com for $49.99. My other favorite holster is also from Looper.
The Ava holster is an inside the waistband holster made of beautiful leather and lined with colorful, soft suede. The clips are so strong that I do not have to wear a belt in order to hold the holster on. I don’t always wear belts so I love this one. The shape of the holster is such that I can
The Ava Holster also by Looper Law Enforcement.
wear it at the front as an appendix carry. Most holsters for that are made for men and don’t fit comfortable on a woman’s body shape. This holster is truly comfortable. If you are wearing a tight fitting shirt there is going to be a print. Try to have a top with a pattern on it if tight fitting. It really makes it less noticeable. Otherwise any shirt will conceal it well. The Ava is can be found at www.gungoddess.com. Retail price is $49.
As I have done I highly suggest you try out various holsters for yourself. Everyone has a unique way of dressing daily so some of what I like may not be perfect for you. I also suggest training with your new holster. With an unloaded firearm, practice in front of the mirror at home over and over again drawing from your holster. You want a muscle memory of all of your holster choices. Christmas is around the corner. These fit in the Christmas stocking perfectly.
