About holsters For Women Handout

About Concealed Carry Holsters For Women
"Carrying a gun isn't supposed to be comfortable, it is supposed to be a comfort"
Clint Smith
Clint's quote above is very revealing and it is important to understand that concealed
carry for a women comes with some changes and some concessions. There may be times
that it is an inconvenience or a little uncomfortable but this just comes with the territory.
With time, you will feel naked without your gun on you and if you are ever required to use
it to save your life, believe me it will all be worth it. So lets discuss some issues with
concealed carry holsters for women.
There are some key things that are necessary for optimal comfort and safety. First, is the
selection of your gun. It should be the right size for you, your body and your hand. Your
gun selection is the most important decision, for it is around your gun, that all things
depend on.
A good holster is one that is designed for your gun (either specific model or type and
size) and holds the gun securley and one that attached to your body or clothing correctly
and comfortably. This is where it get's challenging as so many holsters are designed for a
man's body. The holsters I carry or have designed WORK on a woma's body and offer the
versatility we need to match our varied wardrobe. Finally, the clothing you wear to cover your gun must be considered. How it will fit around
your gun and how it covers the handgun or the possible bulge it creates. All of these things
are necessary and of equal importance as they work together to make a safe and complete
concealed and carry system.
You will likely need a variety of different concealed carry holster styles that work with
different clothing choices and your activities. Carrying your gun in a specially designed
concealed carry purse or briefcase is an option that is very appealing to many women. This
poses a set of problems that are not ideal for ultimate personal defense or general firearm
safety which we will discuss below. We will tackle On The Body concealed carry holsters
for women first as this is the preferred method. We suggest you find the one(s) that work
for you and use this as your primary method of conceal and carry. Note: I have done a
series of videos on many of the holsters to show you what they are like and how they are
worn. You may find them helfpul. You can view them all here.
Women's Concealed Carry Holster Options
Here are the current options for effective conceal and carry
the body:
on the on
Belt or On The Waist Carry
Belt carry or on the waist carry, is the preferred and most common form of concealed
carry for women because the your gun is close and the grip is in a great positon to grasp
and draw quickly, for these reasoins, It is the first and best choice. Although alternatives
are offered here, it is important to know and remember that alternative methods of carry
are just that: alternatives to the preferred method. The challenges are having the proper
clothing to cover the gun on your waist and keep it adequately concealed. In some stated,
it is legal to "open carry", and have the gun entirely exposed. You must check your local
laws to see if it is legal in your area. The larger and wider your gun is, the harder it is to keep concealed. The heavier it is, the
less comfortable it is to carry so these are some very important things to consider when
selecting your self defense gun. Not all of these on the waist holster options shown below
require a belt. Some have clips that clip on the waistband without a belt and one even has a
magnet.
Belt carry or on the waist carry is the most comfortable on the body form of concealed
carry of a gun for most women. With a properly designed holster, it also offers a high level
of security and easy access to your gun, should you need it. Belt carry also works with
much of women's clothing styles. Pants of all kinds, skirts, shorts etc. As mentioned above,
most traditional belt holsters are designed for men and one size does not fit all, especially
when curves and wider hips are involved.
The belt is key to comfortable and effective on the belt carry. I recommend you purchase a
good sturdy leather belt, preferably one designed for holstering a gun as they have inserts
to provide a solid and steady "platform" or bas for the holster to be secured. The belt must
be wide enough to fully support and distribute the weight of the firearm.
There are many variations of on the waist holsters and your gun can be belt carried on the
outside of the belt or inside. Let's look at outside the waist first. Carrying outside the waistband is naturally more comfortable and easier to draw from
than inside the waistband. It also will be cooler in warmer climates and the gun does not
touch your skin. Concealment outside the waistband requires larger, longer shirts or
garments to effectively hide the gun. In some states it is legal to open carry, in which you
can wear your gun without cover. The concern here is that with the firearm exposed
someone could grab your firearm out of its holster. A locking holster with a Thumb Break
(a strap or mechanism that must be opened or released to withdraw the firearm) would be
necessary to keep this from happening. Outside the waistband holsters come with clips to
clip onto the belt or waistband, with slots for your belt to secure the holster or with a
paddle that lays flat on the inside of the pants.
The Magnetic Holster requires no
belt and is a great option for slacks
and thinner waisted pants and shorts .
The Build Your Own on the waist holster is one that is
made specifically for your firearm and you can choose
the leather and thread color to your own taste.You
must wear a jacket, long sweater or vest that you will
have on the entire time you are out to carry outside
the belt.
Inside the belt with clip (IWB - Inside the Waist Band)
has a clip that clips to the waistband and the holster
slips down the inside of your pants or wasitline
Carrying the firearm with the bulk of the firearm inside the waistband is a very popular
form of concealed carry with women as only the grip or butt needs to be covered and the
firearm is very accessible and easy to draw. Most regular women's shirts will cover
sufficiently and most pants can "stretch" to make the adjustment necessary to fit the
firearm.
The Betty holster is a sleek, low riding
in the pants holster made for many
firearm models. These have a tuck-able
"slot" to tuck your shirt into in-between
the clip and the firearm itself.
The Build Your Own in the pants
holster is made specifically for your
firearm and you can choose the
leather and thread color to your own
taste. The Build Your Own in the waist
The AVA is a thermoplastic hybrid is
made to be worn inside the waistband
featuring two clips for a broader
platform. Typically worn in the small
of the back
The STICKY is made of a revolutionary material that
"sticks" to you and your clothing using the tension created
in your waistband.
The location of where you carry is a personal one. What is comfortable and easy for you
to draw from are the keys. Most common are on the strong side (the same side as your
shooting hand) in the front or towards the back just off the hip with the handle angled
properly for easy drawing. Appendix carry is with the gun placed in front, between your
belly button and your hip. Many holsters are what is called "Tuck-able" which means itt has
a "slot" to tuck your shirt into in-between the clip and the firearm itself.
This is practical for women when wearing pants, slacks, or a skirt with strong waistband or
shorts. There are options made in leather, plastic and nylons.
Undergarment
Women's Compression Holster shorts are a way for women
to carry and conceal a handgun when they're wearing a skirt,
slacks, gym shorts, sweat pants, jeans, or dress pants without
a belt. The concealed holster is made from surgical grade
elastic and sewn into a pair of authentic compression shorts
and holds your firearm securely. They feature two holsters
offering ambidextrous concealment and you can also carry
spare magazines, or other important items on the other side.
Because they are "compression" you get a little extra shaping
too!!!
The sling style PISTOL POUCH By Thunderwear is
extremely comfortable as it is made from cotton and is
worn under your garments but over your underwear. The
low below the belly position makes for very good concealability. This is great for when you are wearing scrubs or
sweat pants.
Belly Bands and Underwraps
Belly Bands and underwraps are versatile and very comfortable method of concealment
that many women use effectively. You can wear these in many situations, whether dressed
for work or go to the gym. They can be worn high or low on the body and offer incredible
versatility. They are made of heavy duty elastic with a velcro closure. Most have two
firearm slots: one for an automatic pistol and one for a revolver. It can have a pocket which
conceals important papers, cash, credit cards, as well as a slot for a spare magazine. It
works great with medium and small frame revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. They can
be worn "high" under the breasts or low on the hips for added versatility. A caution when using belly bands and under wraps is the likelihood of aiming the muzzle of your
firearm at your torso when placing it in the holster. Placing the firearm in the holster prior to putting it
on is a good practice. It can be difficult to adjust or re-holster your firearm once the band or wrap is in
place without compromising your non-dominant hand or torso. These work very well when wearing
skirts or dress slacks without belt loops. The belly band allows you to position the firearm high or low,
toward the front or toward either side.
The Pistol Wear SPORT is designed
for an active and athletic lifestyle. Underarm/shoulder Holsters
Another option is the Compression Holster Top/.
These "undershirts" have holster pockets on both
sides and holds the firearm just under the arm pit.
These are not considered fast draw holsters as
depending on the clothing you are wearing - you will
have to get to the firearm to draw it, this can slow up
your draw time considerably.
The Pistol Wear Underarm holster is
another under the arm option with
removable/adjustable straps for a lot
of versatility.
The ULTRA hlster is another option for
under the arm carry. Made of cotton with
adjustable straps.
They are very comfortable and a great
option for women to effectively conceal
carry in many clothing styles.
Bra Holster
These holsters are designed to attach to your bra in the center between the two cups.
They offer easy access when wearing a blouse, shirt or sweater. There are two forms of
bra carry. One clasps the holster to the center of your bra, the barrel and handle tuck
slightly under the bra underwire. The second clips on teh outside of the cup and the
smoothest draw is through the top of the shirt. To be blunt - the more you've got- the larger the firearm you can conceal and the better
you can conceal it. So for those of you who are well endowed this can be a very
comfortable and effective form of concealed carry. One concern is that the firearm can
cover the non-shooting arm as the firearm is pulled from the holster and raised to shoot.
Practice and awareness are necessary with this form of holster.
The Flashbang is
worn in the center
of the bra.
Th
Pocket Holster
The Marilyn is worn on the
inside of the side of the bra
cup
When wearing pants, the Ankle Holster can be a good option and can be
worn quite comfortably all day long. These wrap around the ankle with a
holster on the side. Many come with an optionl calf support and some
padding for extra comfort. Because of the loose nature of the hem of the
pant leg, this keeps your firearm very well concealed without bumps and
lumps in your clothing.
There are some challenges with ankle carry. One is that it is impossible
to draw your gun while you are moving or running away from danger. It
is; however, good in a situation in which you are sitting such most of the
time, as at the office. The draw from standing can be awkward and
practice is necessary. Thrusting your leg out to the side or front as in a
lunge can make drawing faster. The T
high Hoslter is a great option when
wearing dresses or skirts. The waistband
with garter keeps it from sliding down. You
can adjust the height to accommodate
your skirt and surprisingly, when worn
correctly are unseen, even when sitting.
Fanny pack style
Carrying your firearm in your pants or jacket pocket is an option, but jacket or vest carry makes it easy
to become separated from the firearm, which of course makes for a serious safety issue. Pocket carry
is only practical with very small firearms or very large pockets. There are many pocket holster styles
and materials. The most important thing is that it covers the trigger guard area completely to protect
and prevent accidental discharges. The pants you wear must also have enough room in the pockets to
comfortably pocket the firearm. If you wear looser pant styles, or cargo pants with multiple pockets
this may be a comfortable option for you. A pocket holster is also necessary when carrying your
firearm in your purse or any other bag. It must cover the trigger guard to prevent you from
accidentally pulling the trigger while reaching in your bag or getting small objects in your purse in the
trigger guard area.
A Fanny Pack holster has the look of an ordinary fanny pack but carries a concealed handgun in a
hidden compartment in the back of the pack. This fanny pack style concealment holster allows you to
carry a pistol or other protection device like pepper spray. These can be helpful when warm weather
dictates dressing in light clothes. A handgun can be drawn from the concealed carry position very
quickly. You pull the front of the bag with one hand to open the firearm compartment and draw with the
other hand.Fanny pack carry is very comfortable and the look is quite common when walking outdoors,
at events or large spectator events. Unlike purse carry, a properly designed fanny pack provides the
quickest access to the firearm if you need it in a hurry, and as it is secured to your body - you are less
likely lose it or have another snatch it off of you. A very good option for women and preferred over
purse carry as it is on your body. These can be worn with any clothing style. The key factor is are you
able to keep it on your body at all times.
Concealed Carry Purse/
Briefcase
This off body method of concealed and carry is most appealing to
women as most of us carry a purse, so there is no added equipment
to attach to our bodies. As stated earlier, on the body carry is
superior in all aspects, and the recommended form of concealed and
carry. Thieves will target your purse for your money and credit
cards, which lands them with your firearm too. A firearm that is
carried in a purse is also at great risk of a child or other innocent
accidentally getting ahold of your firearm and of course the results
could be tragic. A great responsibility that comes with firearm
ownership and carrying a weapon is its security and inaccessibility
to others, especially children.
Carrying a firearm in a purse requires the firearm be holstered in an appropriate holster in a separate
compartment of the purse, preferably lockable. The trigger guard must be covered completely to prevent
anything in your purse from accidentally levering the trigger either on its own, or when you reach in to grasp the
firearm. The purchase of a concealed carry purse which is designed for this purpose is highly recommended.
They have separate, lockable compartments with a holster built in to hold the firearm safely and in the correct
position. Most have side compartments so you can discreetly have your hand on the holstered firearm when in
Another challenge has been design. Naturally there is not
the selection as with traditional purses. So some sacrifices
in "style" may be necessary. Finding a well made purse
with a simple design that will work with multiple clothing
choices is possible.