No Comments Women face unique challenges when it comes to carrying a gun and some companies have stepped up to offer alternative ways of carrying to a traditional holster and belt. Wearable, concealed carry clothing has taken off in popularity, and concealed carry leggings – leggings with a holster in the waistband – have made their appearance on the market.
Leggings have been a staple of women’s fashion for some time now – they’re appealing because they can be worn for a workout or dressed up to wear out on the town. Being able to add a gun to the mix is an obvious bonus.
While it’s great that more women are considering carrying a concealed firearm, with a growing market comes opportunists. These opportunists may have pure intentions but in some cases, their product may not be a safe or feasible carry option. There’s more to a good pair of concealed carry leggings than putting a gun pocket into a pair of yoga pants.
Firearm-related products for women are often marketed to new shooters as a way of integrating concealed carry into everyday life. So, I decided to pick up three pairs of concealed carry leggings already on the market to evaluate the safety and functionality of each for the purpose of carrying a firearm.
I found that some of the leggings available are inherently unsafe by design and require extra safety precautions be taken. Women without proper firearms training could put themselves at risk of having a negligent discharge or having their gun inadvertently plop out of the holster with some of the leggings tested. There are many different body shapes, so not everyone may have the same results or issues that I did.
The leggings evaluated are:
- Undertech Undercover – Concealed Carry Zip Pocket Leggings
- Dene Adams – Classic Concealed Carry Tactical Leggings
- Alexo Athletica – The Signature Pant
What Should a Holster Do?
In order to evaluate the quality of each pair of leggings, we need to understand some of the basic qualities expected out of a holster.
We will be looking for these qualities:
- Provides trigger protection so that the gun cannot inadvertently be fired while in the holster
- Has retention so that the gun does not fall out of the holster (for more information on holster retention, see this article)
- Presents the gun at the same angle, in the same orientation, every time you reach for it
- Should allow for comfortable concealment
For further reading on what makes a safe holster, check out How to Choose a Safe Holster over at The Cornered Cat.
Conceal Carry Leggings Testing Protocol
We used replica blue guns modeled after the Sig Sauer P938 and the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield for our testing. Both blue guns are weighted to replicate their respective actual loaded weight. Spare, weighted magazines were also used.
We wanted to evaluate the safety and functionality of each pair of leggings so we performed the following tests:
- Trigger Protection Test – Attempt to engage the trigger when blue gun is holstered.
- Retention Test – Perform a number of everyday tasks and movements such as a short jog, leaning over, picking up items off the ground, sitting and standing. The gun should stay in the holster and not move in any significant manner. This tests the bare minimum retention one should expect. If the leggings don’t stand up to this test, more than likely they would not stand up to a real-life confrontation that goes to the ground.
- Draw & Reholster Test – Perform a draw of the blue gun from various holster positions. Evaluate the accessibility of the gun during the draw stroke. Place the blue gun back in the holster, evaluating the ease and safety of the reholster. The act of reholstering should not require the user to point the firearm at themselves or require any other unsafe or complicated actions.
- Comfort & Concealment – General thoughts on the comfort and quality of leggings worn with the blue gun throughout the day. Leggings styled with workout clothing and casual clothing to evaluate ease of concealment. This is more of a subjective test, because body sizes and clothing styles vary, but may help others get an idea of the functionality of each pair.
The chart below summarizes my findings using a 5-target rating system. Continue reading below to find out why they received these ratings.
Undertech Undercover
Concealed Carry Zip Pocket Leggings
History of Undertech Undercover
The Undertech Undercover Concealed Carry Original Leggings made their appearance in 2015 as the first concealed carry leggings to hit the market. Undertech Undercover was founded in 2009 by Lenny Magill, an “internationally recognized firearms authority with particular expertise in Glock handguns,” according to its website. Along with Undertech Undercover, Magill is also the owner of GlockStore and San Diego Sewing Company, the manufacturer of Undertech Undercover’s products.
Undertech Undercover carries a few different styles of concealed carry leggings. For this review, we tested the Concealed Carry Zip Pocket Leggings.
Zip Pocket Leggings Quick Facts
- Number of Carry Positions: 2 – appendix and behind the hip (left hand and right hand available)
- Number of Pockets (not including holsters): 3*[integral holsters not in use are not included in this count, but could be used as additional pockets]
- Fabric: 90% Supplex Nylon, 10% Spandex
- Gun Weight Limits or Limitations: None Listed
- Sizing Available: XS-2XL
- Colors Available: Black and Army Green*
- Price: $79.99*
*Other styles offered by company may be different
Trigger Pull Test
The Undertech Undercover leggings feature three integral holsters built into the waistband and are made of a thick, stiff fabric. This offers decent trigger protection, but not as good as that of a hard kydex holster. From the outside of the leggings, I was not able to reach the trigger of the blue gun. However, the fabric that is oriented against the body is much thinner than that facing away from the body, rendering the trigger reachable from the inside of the leggings. For the most part, this shouldn’t be a problem, but rather something to be mindful of.
Retention Test
A unique feature of these leggings is the retention strap. The strap goes over the backstrap of the gun, holding it in place. This provides great retention, though it does have some drawbacks. If you have a gun with a grip safety, the retention strap may press down on the safety. To avoid this, you could place the strap over the back of the slide rather than over the grip.
I didn’t have any issues with the gun shifting in the leggings or coming out of the holster during any movements. While jogging, I could feel the weight of the gun bouncing, but that is difficult to avoid.
Draw & Reholster Test
You have to move the retention strap off of the gun when you draw out of the Undertech Undercover leg
gings. You can do this either by using your non-dominant hand to move the strap, grabbing the gun with your dominant hand in the process, or your dominant hand can move the strap then grip the gun. This can be complicated with behind the hip carry. I was worried that the gun might move or fall out once the retention strap was moved, but I found that the gun remained secure in the holster until I grabbed it.
If you plan on wearing these leggings, you need to practice the motion of removing the strap then drawing until it is second-nature. If you need to draw your gun quickly, the retention strap may act as a complicated barrier to getting to your gun, especially if you’re tangled up on the ground with an attacker.
Extra care needs to be taken when reholstering in these leggings. Because the holster is made of reinforced fabric, you must manually hold open the top of the pocket to get the gun in the holster. This involves using your free hand to hold it open, meaning you’ll most likely have your hand in front of the muzzle while you are holstering. I found that I had to wedge the blue gun into the holster, pointing the blue gun in at myself in the process. This is a big safety no-no and special care should be taken during the holstering process.
The best remedy would be to pair your gun with some type of trigger guard or minimalist holster like the Raven Concealment Vanguard holster that can be put on the gun before putting the gun into the holster on the leggings. You’ll want a holster clip that can hold on to the leggings’ material, like an UltiClip or Fabriclip, so that you don’t have an extra step of removing the holster during the draw.
Comfort & Concealment
I had no problems concealing with these leggings. The fabric is versatile and can be worn at the gym or dressed up to look nicer. They sit at a great height on the stomach and are comfortable for extended periods of wear.
Zip Pocket Leggings Summary
Pros:
- Most versatile, high-quality fabric
- Retention strap holds the gun securely
- Comfortable to wear for extended periods of time
Cons:
- Retention strap can rest on a grip safety
- Retention strap might complicate draw
- Reholstering can be dangerous – two handed reholstering may cause you to point gun at your hand or in at your body
- Trigger can be reached from inside of leggings
Dene Adams
Classic Concealed Carry Tactical Leggings
History of Dene Adams
Arguably best known for its corset holsters, Dene Adams entered the holster game in 2014. Its offerings include bra holsters, corset holsters, thigh holster shorts, tank zipper holsters, and as of 2017, concealed carry leggings.
According to its website, Founder and CEO Anna Taylor is a USCCA Training Counselor and NRA Certified Instructor in pistol, rifle, and personal protection in the home.
The company offers a few different styles of concealed carry leggings. This review looked at the Classic Concealed Carry Tactical Leggings.
Tactical Leggings Quick Facts
- Number of Carry Positions: multi (9 advertised) – 6.5” pouch along abdomen, 6” pouch along backside, Strong Side behind the hip, Cross Draw behind the hip
- Number of Pockets (not including holsters): 4
[integral holsters not in use are not included in this count, but could be used as additional pockets] - Fabric: Polyester Spandex
- Gun Weight Limits or Limitations: None Listed, Limited Kydex Holster Options
- Sizing Available: XS-3XL
- Colors Available: Black, Navy, Grey*
- Price: $119.99
*Other styles offered by company may be different
Trigger Pull Test
Each pair of leggings comes with a removable, soft holster pouch, similar to a pocket holster, which has a piece of elastic with multiple snaps to secure different sizes of firearms. Through the website, you can purchase an optional kydex holster, available for a limited number of handguns, that you attach a piece of velcro to for placement in the leggings. Having a removable holster rather than an integral pocket holster allows for much better trigger protection.
The kydex holster completely protects the trigger and there is minimal chance of of the trigger being engaged with the soft holster.
Retention Test
The kydex holster is a must, in my opinion, for these leggings. The kydex holster, which can be ordered from the website, holds the gun secure, protects the trigger, and allows you to safely reholster by removing the holster from the pouch before putting the gun in. Both holsters securely held the blue guns.
The biggest concern would come if the velcro on the holster came unattached, causing the gun and holster to fall out of the pouch, though I believe there is minimal chance of this happening.
Draw & Reholster Test
When paired with the kydex holster, the draw is simple. For reholstering, you can easily remove the holster from the leggings to put the gun back in, then place the holster and gun back into your leggings. With the kydex holster, one-handed reholstering, without removing the holster, is also an option.
With the soft holster, you either have to unsnap the strap before you draw, or pull the gun out with enough force to unsnap it through the draw.
Comfort & Concealment
These leggings have a high-waisted fit, much more so than the other leggings. There is one piece of fabric that sits on your skin, resting right under the bra line, which acts as a barrier between your skin and your gun for more comfort.
There are two kangaroo-like pouches that sits along your stomach and back which hold your gun and contain a zippered-pocket. In the pouch on the appendix position, there is a piece of velcro just under 6.5 inches in length that allows you to velcro your holster into position. The pouch along the back of the holster has a 6 inch long piece of velcro. There is also a pocket at each hip containing a 2 inch piece of velcro, offering even more holstering options.
The high-waisted fit holds the gun at an easy to conceal height on your body, but it makes it to where you cannot slouch when a gun is holstered in the front pouch. The velcro holstering options give you the freedom find the right position.
The pouch does not hold the gun as close to the body as the integral holster pockets of the other leggings. This caused the gun pouch to “jump” around when I was jogging and made it more obvious that something was under my shirt.
The fabric of these leggings is my least favorite fabric of all the leggings reviewed. The fabric is thin and feels like it could be easy to rip if caught on anything sharp. There are also see-through mesh sections along the legs that aren’t my style, especially when trying to dress up the leggings.
Tactical Leggings Summary
Pros
- Fabric behind holster pouch protects skin from gun
- Availability of kydex holsters for retention and trigger protection
- You are able to remove the holster to reholster the gun before placing it in the leggings
- Offers the best retention and trigger protection when paired with the kydex holster
- Allows for simple, one-handed reholster without removing the kydex holster
Cons
- Thinnest fabric of the three
- Because the waistband has to be so tight, I had to size up in order to be able to even get the leggings on
- Waistband is bulky and feels a bit like a kangaroo pouch when gun is holstered
- Positioned so high on your abdomen that you can’t slouch
- With a heavier gun, it feels like the gun is hanging off the body a little bit, especially when jogging
- Sheer mesh along legs is not everyone’s style
Alexo Athletica
The Signature Pant
Alexo Athletica History
Alexo Athletica was created in 2017 by Amy Robbins to “provide fashionable functional carry wear,” according to the company’s website. You might recognize Robbins, CEO and co-founder of the company, from her role as host of NRATV’s NOIR and GUNTV. She is also a host of the Not Your Average Gun Girls Podcast.
Alexo Athletica currently offers four different styles of carry leggings, but for this review we will be evaluating The Signature Pant.
The Signature Pant Quick Facts
- Number of Carry Positions: 3 – right hand appendix, 2 behind the hip (one on each side)
- Number of Pockets (not including holsters): 6
[integral holsters not in use are not included in this count, but could be used as additional pockets] - Fabric: 75% Nylon, 25% Spandex
- Gun Weight Limits or Limitations: 23oz. loaded or less
- Sizing Available: XS-2XL
- Colors Available: Black
- Price: $109.00
Trigger Pull Test
Although the holster section of the leggings are made with a thicker material, I was still able to reach the trigger of both blue guns from both the outside of the garment, and from the inside. Although there is some trigger protection (better than nothing), the amount is less than ideal.
Alexo Athletica designed one potential fix for trigger protection. The holsters are designed with a patent pending, double pocket system in which your gun is in the back holster (the pocket closest to the skin) and an ID or credit card can be placed in the front pocket. This gives a hard trigger guard from the outside of the holster. My experience with testing this out was that the ID did not completely fill the pocket, and I was still able to reach the trigger if I tried. If you do decide to use this method for trigger protection, be sure that whatever card or ID you use is not one that you will need to use – it might be awkward showing your gun to the cashier as you pull your credit card out of your leggings.
Retention Test
Initially, I was concerned that the heavier blue gun, the P938, would give me issues, but it was the Shield that I had the most problems keeping in the holster. While doing normal chores around my house that involved bending over to pick things up off the ground, the Shield completely fell out of the leggings multiple times from the appendix position. I did not have the same problems with the P938, and I discovered that the issue stemmed from the longer slide and barrel of the Shield – when I would bend over, the end of the Shield would touch my thigh, and be pushed up out of the holster. I found myself constantly checking the gun to see if it had moved, and had to regularly push it back down into position.
At the behind the hip position I did not have near the amount of movement, but, in that position, the P938 did fall out once after lounging back in my recliner.
This problem can be mitigated in the same way that I recommended for the Undertech Undercover leggings: pair it up with a trigger guard or minimalist holster that can be attached to the leggings.
Simply put, these leggings did not provide adequate retention for my daily lifestyle.
Draw & Reholster Test
Drawing the gun from the Alexo Athletica leggings was simple and straightforward. Besides when the Shield would creep up out of the holster, the gun was presented in the same position every time I reached for it, and there was no strap that needed to be removed in order to draw.
These leggings face the same pitfalls as the Undertech Undercover leggings when it comes to reholstering. You must first hold open the holster with one hand, and then wedge your gun in. Again, this often leads to pointing the gun in at yourself as you work your gun in.
Comfort & Concealment
It was difficult to feel comfortable carrying a gun in these leggings because of the retention issues. I was constantly checking the gun to make sure it hadn’t started creeping out of the holster.
When I measured myself to find the right fit, I was right in between a Medium and a Large. I chose to go with the Medium for a more snug and secure fit and to prevent sagging with a loaded gun in place. This may have caused the waistband to sit slightly lower on my body, leading to the Shield being easily pushed out of the holster. Ideally, this shouldn’t be an issue for a quality holster, but something to keep in mind if you choose to get a pair.
I really liked the fabric of the leggings. They felt like a high-quality, athletic fabric, though they were a bit too shiny to dress up for my preferences.
The Signature Pant Summary
Pros
- Lots of pockets
- High-quality, athletic fabric
Cons
- Least amount of retention and trigger protection
- Reholstering can be dangerous – two-handed reholstering may cause you to point your gun at your hand or in at your body
So, What are the Best Concealed Carry Leggings?
All three pairs of leggings each have favorable qualities to them. If I could combine the Dene Adams holster system, Undertech Undercover’s fabric, and Alexo Athletica’s pockets, I would have my ideal concealed carry leggings. Picking your carry gear is a personal choice and will revolve around the lifestyle you live, but remember that safety should not be compromised for ease of carrying.
I recommend that if you wear the Alexo Athletica leggings and Undertech Undercover leggings, pair it up with a kydex holster or trigger guard – like the Vanguard – to protect the trigger paired up with a clip designed specifically for fabric, like the UltiClip or FabriClip, to hold the gun in the gun in place. If you go with the Dene Adams, I recommend purchasing the kydex insert.
If you decide to purchase a pair of concealed carry leggings, be sure to test the pair out with an unloaded firearm before you carry loaded and practice drawing your gun until it is second nature.
Don’t forget, a firearm isn’t the only defensive tool you can carry on your person. All of the leggings reviewed offer ample pocket space to carry items such as pepper spray, knives, flashlights, tourniquets, and more. While the safety requirements for carrying a gun are high, you can easily load up your concealed carry leggings with other tools that will leave you prepared for your day.
