Best Concealed Carry Leggings for Women - Gun Legging Roundup
Of all the people obtaining concealed carry permits, Women are the fastest-growing demographic. So, it's no surprise that companies are designing holsters with us in mind. Combine that with a legging craze that is still going strong, and you get leggings intended to conceal a firearm. The trend has been exploding, with companies releasing new leggings and other concealed carry clothing items every year. But with so many options, how can you decide which to buy?
Well, I've done the work for you, so you can see a side-by-side comparison. Here's a list of well-known gun leggings and some brand-new ones that you'll see on the market soon.
What should a good pair of concealed carry leggings do?
Of course, comparisons can be subjective, and certain features may be more important to you than others. So, it's important to share what I considered when testing each pair.
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The waistband of your leggings should be sturdy and tight enough to support the weight of your gun. Fit comes into play here, as does the weight of your gun. Most leggings are designed to support micro-compact or compact firearms. Medium support may be ok for casual everyday wear, but more backing is necessary for running and increased movement.
1 & 2= varying degrees of handle tilting away from the body when bending over and/or walking.
3 & 4= varying degrees of gun bouncing up and down while running.
5= Weight of gun is supported, even while running. There is no bounce or movement of the gun.
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Although some leggings may come with a hard trigger cover, most fall into the category of "soft holsters," meaning the trigger can be accidentally pulled through the material. To carry safely, you must add a hard trigger cover or use a manual safety. (Should I use a manual safety?).
*I scored each legging based on what they come with. Of course, this score can be raised by adding trigger protection.
1= The trigger is easily be pulled through the soft material
2-3= It's more difficult to pull the trigger through soft material, but it's still possible.
4= holster is technically made from "soft" material, but the trigger cannot be pulled due to layers.
5= trigger is covered with hard material.
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This is the degree to which your holster holds your gun in place. There is no excuse for the gun falling out. A retention strap significantly increases this score but lowers the "Ease of Draw" score.
1= Gun frequently falls out of the holster.
2= gun occasionally falls out after some time.
3= Mostly retained. Only specific movements push the gun out.
4= gun stays in place even while running. It's unlikely, but the gun could technically be pushed out.
5= Gun is fully retained and cannot fall out or be pushed upward and out of the holster.
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You should be able to draw your gun quickly and smoothly without fumbling.
The ideal setup would be a holster that keeps its shape and positions the grip above the waistline so you can wrap your whole hand around the grip. However, this could mean less concealment and/or support, depending on the design.
1= Even when the retention strap is removed, the gun is easily stuck on a part of the holster.
2= Retention strap must be removed, but it remains in the way of getting a good grip.
3= Retention strap must be removed before drawing. Once removed, the draw is easy and smooth.
4= No retention strap or the strap is designed to break, making the draw quick, but the grip is even with a waistline, so it's challenging to get a full grip. Or the retention strap hinders a full grip.
5= Gun can be drawn with one hand, there is no retention strap to move, and you can get a full grip because the grip is positioned above the waistline.
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When putting your gun in the holster, make sure to avoid "flagging," which means pointing the gun at your body. This is dangerous and, in my opinion, unacceptable. Lean back and tilt your hips forward while holstering the gun to avoid this. Make sure to keep your fingers out of the muzzle line, especially if you must open the pocket with your support hand before inserting the gun.
1= Holster Collapses. There's no way around it; your body is getting flagged.
2= Holster Collapses. Almost impossible to holster the gun without flagging your finger.
3= Holster Collapses. It takes two hands and is a little more time-consuming. With some practice and technique, you can avoid flagging your finger.
4= holster collapses. It takes two hands, but you can easily and quickly holster the gun without flagging yourself.
5= Holster keeps its shape, so it's easy to holster the gun without flagging yourself and without using a second hand.
I also considered the quality, material, style, and comfort of each pair. I tested the leggings by running with a firearm, squatting, stretching, dry firing, and wearing them around the house, in the car, and in public.
Ok, let's get to the leggings!
Rounded
Most Support & Retention (With A Belt)
Holster: Bravo Concealment Torsion IWB Code: Elegantandarmed10 for 10% off
Tactical Beltloop Leggings
$69.99
Reasons to buy: They promote carrying with a belt and Kydex holster, which means excellent retention, great support, easy to holster | Opaque | Comfortable
Reasons not to buy: If you won't wear a belt.
Because there's no gun pocket in this pair of leggings, I scored them with the assumption that you're carrying your gun in a Kydex holster attached to a belt. This setup is arguably the most secure way to carry a gun, so they got a perfect score in protecting the trigger, retaining, supporting, and holstering it.
The beltloop leggings are made of a soft material like brushed microfiber. And they are by far more comfortable than any pants I've ever worn with a belt. Because the fabric stretches, I could pull the belt higher and avoid hitting my hip bones. I was even comfortable and secure while running.
I also put these to the test without the belt during a day of rock climbing. They are tight around my thighs, so they slid down slightly. If you wear these without a belt, you may need to occasionally pull the waistline up, but you won't have any issues with a belt.
Dene Adams
Most Support & Retention (without a belt)
Code: CCLIFESTYLE10 for 10% off
$129.99
Reasons to buy- American Made | Great support and retention | Protects the trigger | Easy to add a Kydex trigger guard |
Reasons to avoid- Most supportive pairs may be uncomfortable to some.
Dene Adams has a reputation for quality, American-made products. Their concealed carry leggings have 5 ambidextrous pockets, which allow you to carry over your appendix, side, or in the small of your back. These pockets are the largest and can carry micro guns up to full-size pistols.
T comes with a universal guard (Pictured on the right). While it's technically made of soft material, there are enough layers, including Velcro, that I could not pull the trigger through the holster with my fingers and even a pen. The guard includes a retention strap designed to break away when drawing the gun. This increases speed but hinders getting a full grip on the gun. Thankfully, it's simple to add a Kydex trigger guard. Plus, they even feature belt loops for more support.
The extreme retention and support make these great for running, high-intensity interval training, and other athletics. The sweat-wicking material also supports such activities.
The only problem is that they're so compressive that they're uncomfortable. However, comfort will vary from person to person, and I might need to size up. These are definitely a go-to for running, but I tend not to wear them all day.
Alexo Athletica Matte 7/8 Carrywear Legging
Most Comfortable
$89.00-$119.00
Reasons to buy- Optimal support | Comfortable | Flattering fit | Easy to add trigger guard
Reasons to avoid- Takes two hands to re-holster
The Matte 7/8 Carry wear Leggings will suck you in and smooth you out in all the right places. Initially designed for runners, they have a snug waistband to provide optimal support. When I say snug, be prepared to jump and shimmy to get into them! However, once on, they are very comfortable. The fabric is like the brushed microfiber you might find at Lululemon.
This pair of leggings has ambidextrous pockets in front and back, and two side pockets help keep your hands free.
Alexo recommends using the DeSantis Flextech Pocket Holster (pictured on the left) as a trigger cover. This keeps a low profile, but you'll need two hands to re-holster since the holster doesn't hold its shape. Just be cautious. With some practice and technique, you can avoid flagging your finger.
It's unlikely but possible that the gun could be pushed out if something went wrong. Adding a Kydex holster to the pocket may add bulk but addresses any retention concerns.
Realistically, your leggings need to be comfortable; otherwise, you may be tempted not to bring your gun along. These leggings are incredibly comfortable because of how they stretch and move with you and how the material feels.
Rounded Leggings
Thickest material/most opaque
$ 64.99 $ 79.99
Reasons to buy: Lifetime Guarantee | Easy to add trigger guard | Most opaque
Reasons to avoid: Thin retention strap
This year, Rounded debuted their brand-new leggings proudly made in the United States. Each pair comes with an Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee. The leggings have two side pockets for items like a cell phone, one gun pocket over the appendix, and one in the small of the back.
Before drawing, each gun pocket has a retention strap that must be removed. It got stuck under my manual safety a few times because it's so thin. Plus, the holster pocket collapses like most leggings, so I added a Kydex holster. Both issues were resolved as a result of this.
If you're looking for leggings that are not sheer, you've found them. The material feels like a mix between brushed microfiber and a thin neoprene. It's the thickest and most opaque material I've seen so far. While doing yoga, the material was slightly restrictive and didn't entirely move with my body, but for running, it worked great. The gun mostly stayed in place as far as retention while running, with only slight movement.
Undertech Undercover
Women's Concealed Carry Original Leggings Full Length
$89.99
Reasons to buy- Good retention | Comfortable | Opaque | Can be styled as regular clothes | Easy to add a hard trigger cover
Reasons to avoid- Medium support | Can be difficult to re-holster
This pair of leggings can easily be styled as "real clothes" because there are no shiny or athletic logos on the legs. The material is soft and almost like pajamas, but you'll look put together when styled with a tunic and boots or sneakers.
The company recommends wearing their leggings casually for shopping, walking the dog, hiking, and working out. I experienced medium support, which is doable for casual wear, but the gun bounced up and down when I went for a jog. I don't recommend running in these, but sizing down may be an option.
This pair of leggings scored high in retention but lower in trigger protection and re-holstering. Thankfully, adding a trigger guard is very easy with this pair. When you add a Kydex holster (pictured on the right), the strap is pushed aside for easy access to the gun. It also has a hidden pocket perfect for stowing keys, ChapStick, or a credit card.
