Best Concealed Carry Jackets for Women - Roundup of the Top Jackets & Vests

 

Table of Contents

• SCOTTeVEST EDC Jacket
• Undertech Undercover Crossroads Fitted Vest
• Ariat CCW Jacket
• Girls With Guns Secret Sadie Jacket
• Girls With Guns Primitive Puffer Vest

A Roundup of the Top CCW Jackets & Vests

When I think of “concealed carry clothing,” my mind usually goes to two categories:

1. clothing that helps hide a holster (like a concealment camisole), and
2. clothing that includes a dedicated holster pocket

Most concealed carry apparel for women falls into the first category—leggings, athletic shorts, joggers, etc. But with cold weather coming, I kept hearing about a growing niche: concealed carry jackets.

That got me wondering:
Are CCW jackets actually practical? What are they designed for? Do I really need one?

So I decided to test five popular options to find out.

Below, I’ll walk you through what these jackets do well, where they fall short, how they compare to traditional holsters, and what they’re best used for.

What is a concealed carry jacket?

A concealed carry jacket is a coat with a dedicated pocket for your firearm, typically featuring design elements that secure, protect, and make the gun accessible.

The purpose of the pocket is simple: to hide the firearm, keep the gun in place, and prevent debris and other items from coming into contact with the trigger.

Nothing loose should ever shift into your trigger guard, so if you're putting a firearm in a pocket, nothing else should go in that pocket. 

Depending on the brand, that pocket may include:

• A built-in elastic holster
• Velcro backing so you can attach your own holster
• Locking zippers
• Retention straps
• Interior or exterior access
• A design that prevents printing

Challenges With CCW Jackets

There are challenges with CCW coats adn that's partly because traditional holsters set a high bar.

A good holster should:

• protect the trigger
• keep the gun secure and in place
• Stay anchored when you draw
• allow clean re-holstering
• be comfortable enough to wear consistently
  

A jacket can check some of these boxes, but not all.

Here’s why:

1. Coats hang loosely from your shoulders.

There’s no structured waistband to stabilize the gun. That means

• slower draw
• harder to re-holster safely
• more shifting as you move

2. Weight distribution can feel uneven.

A loaded firearm may pull one side of your jacket down. Higher-end jackets fix this with better construction. Because of this, most jackets require a small firearm.

3. The trigger is not always covered adequately.

The holsters that come with jackets typically do not provide the best trigger protection. Adding a molded kydex holster is recommended, but only possible if the pocket has Velcro inside.

So, no, I don’t consider a CCW jacket a replacement for a real holster.

But that doesn’t mean they’re useless.

What are CC Jackets used for?

While nothing compares to a secure, on-body holster, there may be situations where a concealed carry coat makes sense. I know an older gentleman who uses this method regularly, and after testing these jackets myself, I can see why some people choose them. Here are a few scenarios where a CCW jacket can be genuinely useful:

Carrying a smaller backup gun

If your main gun is holstered on-body, a jacket pocket can hold your second firearm.

When you can’t wear a belt holster

Post-surgery, recovering from injury, or dealing with chronic pain? For some women, waistband carry simply isn’t possible.

When cold weather makes your waistline inaccessible

If your coat is long, bulky, or zipped tight, accessing your appendix holster can be slow or impossible.
A jacket with an exterior-access gun pocket solves that.

Working outdoors

Working on a farm, in the garage, walking the dog, grabbing firewood—sometimes you just need a secure pocket.

In these scenarios, a CCW jacket becomes a useful tool, even if it’s not your fastest or most secure option.

Are Concealed Carry Jackets a Viable Carry Option?

I’ll be honest, part of me debated whether to write this post at all. I had already received several jackets from companies that wanted an honest review, and these products do exist in the concealed carry world, so it felt important to test them and share my findings.

The challenge was that when you compare these jackets to a traditional holster with solid support, they simply don’t measure up, and they aren’t meant to. It’s truly an apples-to-oranges comparison. A coat hangs from your shoulders, not your waistband, so it will never offer the same stability, retention, or draw performance as an on-body holster.

Once I accepted that, the reviews became much easier to write.

Instead of asking, “Does this perform like a holster?” I shifted the question to:

“How well does this perform as a coat—and does it safely support concealment within that context?”

What Makes a Good Concealed Carry Jacket?

Once I stopped evaluating these jackets like holsters and started evaluating them like coats that support concealment, the criteria became much clearer.

I assessed each piece in two parts:

1. How good is it as a jacket?

Before anything else, it needs to function well as outerwear. So I looked at:

• warmth
• fabric quality
• weather rating (wind, rain, snow)
• comfort and mobility
• number and placement of pockets
• overall construction

If a jacket doesn’t perform well in everyday cold-weather use, it doesn’t matter how clever the concealment pocket is.

2. How good is the concealed carry pocket?

Once it passed the “good coat” test, I evaluated the CCW features:

• What type of holster system it uses- (elastic sleeve, Velcro-backed Kydex, soft insert, universal holster with stiff backing, retention strap)
• Trigger protection- Some pockets provide excellent coverage (especially when you can attach a Kydex holster). Others rely on soft elastic, which requires extra caution.
• how well the gun stays in place
• how accessible the pocket is (and whether you must unzip the coat first)
• whether it prints
• what size of firearm fits securely
• how well the weight is distributed to prevent sagging

A good CCW jacket should safely hold your firearm, provide concealment, and allow reasonable access when cold weather layers make waistband access more challenging.

Our top 5 picks: 5 CCW Jackets & Vests Tested and Reviewed

1. SCOTTeVEST – EDC Jacket

$399.00 — Best Overall Performance

General Coat Assessment

SCOTTeVEST is known for its travel clothing, and the EDC Jacket is exactly what you’d expect from a brand built around pockets and organization. It has 12 exterior pockets and 19 interior pockets, each designed with a specific purpose—phone, tablet, ID, glasses, laptop, camera, travel documents, and yes, even a dedicated CCW pocket.

I tested it in genuinely cold weather at the range, and it quickly became my favorite winter shooting jacket. It’s constructed from a three-layer fabric that’s warm, durable, and easy to clean. The exterior has a patented stain- and water-resistant finish, which is ideal for muddy range days or unpredictable winter weather.

Despite the number of pockets, the coat is comfortable, has some weight to it, and is very warm.. SCOTTeVEST also engineered the jacket to distribute weight across your shoulders, which prevents sagging when you carry a firearm or pack the pockets with gear.

Concealed Carry Pocket

• Type: Velcro-backed holster pocket (holster not included)
• Access: Exterior zipper—no need to unzip the coat
• Printing: Minimal; slight bulge low in the pocket looks like a phone or wallet
• Gun Size: Works best with compact or mid-sized pistols
• Weight Distribution: Excellent—noticeably better than competitors

There are three ways to access the firearm, depending on where you position your holster. The biggest advantage is that the CC pocket’s zipper is external, giving you faster access than coats that require unzipping.

The Velcro-lined pocket is compatible with the CrossBreed Modular Holster. This holster features a Velcro-backed Kydex shell, providing solid trigger protection and reliable retention.

The coat also features side-seam zippers that can be partially opened for easier access to an appendix holster worn on your belt. A brilliant solution for bulky winter layers that make your waistband difficult to clear.

Bottom Line

This coat stands out for weight distribution, warmth, durability, and genuinely thoughtful design. It’s not a quick-draw system, but it’s the best all-around CCW jacket I tested.

 

2. Undertech Undercover – Crossroads Fitted Vest

$129.99 — Best Structured Vest for Retention

General Vest Assessment

This vest is warm, insulated, and wind/water-resistant, with quilted front panels and stretchy side panels that move with you. It works well over a long-sleeve shirt or sweater to keep your core warm, and it can also be layered under a coat for extra insulation in fall or winter.

It's convenient for tasks where sleeves may get in the way, such as doing dishes, lighting a bonfire, and doing outdoor chores. The two exterior pockets have long zipper pulls, making them easy to open even while wearing gloves.

Concealed Carry Pocket

• Type: Locking zipper gun pockets with universal Velcro-backed insert
• Access: Must unzip vest first
• Printing: Minimal
• Gun Size: Compact pistols work well
• Weight Distribution: Very good; vest fits snugly on shoulders

The unique locking zipper could be very helpful when the vest is not in use, especially helpful for travel or when you’re around children. However, this requires special attention because it could also lead to the gun not being available when you need it. 

The vest uses a universal holster insert with a stiff backing that attaches to the inside of the pocket with Velcro, and a retention strap. The rigid support keeps the gun from flopping around and lets you angle the holster to your preferred position. However, because the structure is primarily behind the gun and the front portion is soft elastic, I recommend using a manual safety or adding a trigger guard for extra protection.

Another option is to remove the holster that comes with this vest and add a kydex holster with velcro backing. 

The gun sits close to the body, and the vest fits snugly at the shoulders, so the weight stays evenly distributed without causing the vest to sag.

Bottom Line

A warm, practical vest with excellent structure and retention. It’s a great option for women who want a snug, well-balanced layer that keeps the firearm secure—just be mindful of trigger protection and consider upgrading to a Kydex insert for added safety.

3. Ariat CCW Jacket

(Price varies) — Best Cold-Weather Coat for Everyday Wear

This coat is beautifully made and very flattering, clearly designed for women with a fitted silhouette and princess seams. The storm cuffs inside the sleeves add both comfort and a high-end feel. They do an excellent job keeping out snow and cold air. It’s also a very warm coat, and I actually had to unzip it at times to let the air in.

Features include:

• water- and wind-resistant outer shell
• insulated quilted fabric
• two zippered hand pockets
• inner storm cuffs
• adjustable waist cinch cords
• high/low hem for more backside coverage

It’s warm, easy to clean, and well-balanced, even when carrying.

Concealed Carry Pocket

• Type: Soft elastic pocket
• Access: Inside-left; must unzip coat
• Printing: None
• Gun Size: Compact or micro
• Weight Distribution: Excellent; coat doesn’t sag

This jacket conceals incredibly well. When it’s zipped, the insulation helps soften the outline of the firearm. The concealed carry pocket is also very discreet, thanks to a flap that covers the zipper—so even when the coat is unzipped, you can’t tell what the pocket is for.

The pocket is lined with ultra-soft fabric and uses a sewn-in elastic holster. Because the holster is on the smaller side, this coat is best suited for compact or micro firearms. Retention comes from the tight elastic rather than a strap, which means you lose hard trigger protection. For that reason, I’d recommend:

• using a manual safety or
• carrying unchambered if you prefer a slower draw but a higher safety margin.

Bottom Line

A very warm, beautifully constructed winter coat with excellent concealment and a discreet concealed carry pocket. It conceals remarkably well, especially when zipped, and makes a great everyday jacket for cold weather. However, it isn’t compatible with adding a Kydex holster, so be extra mindful of trigger protection when carrying in this coat.

 

4. Girls With Guns – Secret Sadie Jacket

$140.00 — Best Lightweight Canvas Jacket

General Coat Assessment

This is one of my favorite everyday fall jackets. The length is flattering, the sleeves run slightly long (which I love for extra warmth), and it features snap cuffs, allowing you to tighten or roll them back.

It has:

• Two hip pockets
• two zippered chest pockets
• a cinchable waist (ribbon channel inside)
• a hood for rain or wind
• a matte, canvas-like fabric that feels durable but soft

It’s lightweight enough for spring and fall but still substantial enough for chilly evenings. It’s also very well constructed.

Concealed Carry Pocket

• Type: Soft elastic pocket with Velcro retention strap
• Access: Inside-left pocket; accessible with coat partially zipped
• Printing: None when zipped; prints when open
• Gun Size: Works best with micro-compact and compact pistols
• Weight Distribution: Moderate; keep jacket zipped for best concealment

The CC pocket is soft and flexible, so I recommend adding a Kydex trigger guard or using a manual safety. The ribbon ties inside the jacket can get near the trigger if you're not careful, so proper re-holstering technique is important.

When zipped halfway, you can discreetly reach in and acquire your grip before drawing. When unzipped, the gun will swing and become visible, so this jacket is best worn closed.

Bottom Line

A stylish, comfortable fall jacket with a functional CC pocket—great for light layering and daily wear, but requires added safety measures if you carry chambered.

 

5. Girls With Guns – Primitive Puffer Vest

$90.00 — Best Lightweight Option for Small Firearms

General Vest Assessment

This quilted polyester vest is lightweight but still very warm and wind-resistant. It is a more fashion-forward option, and the gold zipper is a nice detail that pairs beautifully with gold jewelry. It includes:

• 1 zippered chest pocket
• 2 hand pockets
• Stretch micro-fleece side panels
• right and left CC pockets with Velcro backing

It layers beautifully under a coat and does a great job keeping your core warm without bulk.

Concealed Carry Pocket

• Type: Velcro-backed pocket designed for Kydex holsters
• Access: Must unzip vest
• Printing: Minimal
• Gun Size: Best for micro pistols (LCP, P365 w/o extended mag)
• Weight Distribution: Light vest = better with light guns

Girls With Guns recommends pairing the vest with the CrossBreed Modular Kydex Holster, which works well and provides complete trigger protection.

Because the vest is so lightweight, a heavier pistol (like a loaded P365) pulls the vest to one side. Micro pistols work far better.

The gun pocket is accessible after unzipping the vest. You can unzip it partway and discreetly slide your hand inside to establish your grip while keeping the firearm concealed. The pocket closes with a snap that can be popped open with one hand from the top of the pocket.

Bottom Line

A warm, flattering, fashion-forward vest that conceals well with a micro pistol. Because it’s not compatible with a Velcro-backed Kydex holster, be sure to use a manual safety or carry unchambered for added protection.

Conclusion

Cold weather adds its own challenges to concealed carry, but having the right layers can make all the difference. A CCW jacket isn’t meant to replace your primary holster, but it can be a helpful supporting option, whether you’re adding a backup method, navigating bulky winter clothing, or simply expanding your concealed carry wardrobe. The goal is to stay warm, stay prepared, and find the setups that work for your lifestyle and body.

 

Bundle Up!

While you’re bundling up in your favorite winter coats, don’t forget your concealed carry essentials. When you bundle a CCW belt with any of our Kydex holsters, you’ll get $25 off your setup.