Tried and true beltless carry options that won’t drop your pants.
You’ve finally decided to take the plunge into the world of concealed carrying, but does this mean you have to ditch the yoga pants and put real clothes on? Oh heck no, ain’t nobody got time for that.
There’s a solution.
There’s not just a solution, there’s several of them and the great news is you don’t have to pick just one. After researching several different beltless concealed carry options and some trial and error, I’m here to share my experience with you. Let’s discuss some of the most popular options on the market.
Belly bands: This seems to be what many women start with, likely because you can order off Amazon and have it at your doorstep by the next day. Although they’re convenient to order, they aren’t the most comfortable, they don’t typically offer a trigger guard and the butt of the gun often sticks out, leaving an imprint through your clothing.
Holsters with clips that attach directly to your pants/shorts: There’s several different holster options on the market for this category. My first holster purchase was the JM4 Magnetic Holster. It’s a cute leather holster with a magnet strong enough for the refrigerator to grab ahold of you and hold you hostage if you stand too close. It simply slips inside your waistband and a magnetic flap holds it in place. This was a good starter holster for me, but it was a little too bulky for my liking. Then I discovered that most all kydex holsters can be mounted with what is called a Fabriclip or Ulticlip. I’m sure there are other versions of this available, but these are the two I’ve personally tried. Both of these options allow you to fasten a kydex holster directly onto your pants or shorts. This quickly became my preferred way to carry. Here’s the drawback… you need to have a waistband strong enough to hold the weight of your gun and ammo. For woman who wear leggings, unless you want your britches sagging, this isn’t the best option for you.
Comfort Concealment Belt: This was a game changer for me and is still what I use as my daily carry method. This fabric belt wraps around your waist and secures with a velcro strip. You then attach your holster of choice to the belt, and voila… you’re set. If you wear leggings or business attire or need something to wear while jogging, this is a solid choice. I typically wear jeans or jean shorts and I still prefer the Comfort Concealment Belt over anything else.
PHLster Enigma: Another type of belt that wraps around your waist that your kydex holster attaches to. This baby comes highly recommended from anyone who has one… so highly recommended that you have to join a wait list to even get your hands on one.
Flashbang Bra holster: Just as the same suggests, this is a kydex bra holster that attaches directly to your bra and holds your gun securely under your tatas. This option doesn’t appeal to me for a variety of reasons, but I think it’s important to know this is available and if it’s what works for you, get it girlfriend. It’s better than being unarmed.
Definitely Wing it.
No really, you need a wing. When you order a holster, you should have the option to add a wing. Do it. This little do-dad pushes the holster in towards your body and helps conceal your gun. One of the most frequent complaints I hear about concealed carrying from women is that their gun is printing. What this means is the gun leaves an imprint under your clothing and is visible from the outside. Adding a wing to your holster will make all the difference and lessen that visibility.
If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
If you don’t love your current set up, keep trying other options until you find what you’re comfortable and confident in. I’m thrilled to see more and more concealed carry options for women coming on the market. As with all things self-defense related, you’re only as good as you practice. Once you find the
concealed carry system that works best for you, practice and practice some more. Practice drawing, practice dry firing, try different outfits and keep wearing everyday so that it becomes your daily routine. Just like wearing a seat belt every time you drive because you never know when an accident can happen, wear your firearm every day because you never know when a predator has decided that today is the day they come for you.
