YOUNG women's holsters

H

hightower

New member
the gf (22 y/o) and i have been kicking around the idea of her carrying, i've got a couple guns she feels comfortable with a taurus 85 with overmold grips and an mk9. I'm trying to find some carry options for her that will fit with her current wardrobe. I searched and the majority of the posts on this topic where back in 2006, i figured something could have changed between now and then. I have a belly band i use when wearing gym shorts that i think would be a decent option, of course there is always in the pocket of a sweatshirt. any other ideas out there?



On a side note does anyone know of a drop in holster for an inside breast pocket of a jacket.
 
A lot of this depends on the shape of your girlfriend and how she dresses.

My girlfriend is small and has to wear dressy clothes for work. The only option that works for her is an ankle holster. Although it's not the best choice logistically, it's better than nothing at all.
 
hightower,

Belly bands work nicely when worn low on the hips and paired with dress pants, if she's not into midriff-baring styles. They also work for buxom women when worn high-&-centered on the torso, just under the "shelf" where the blouse is loosest.

If she is into midriff baring styles, consider a Galco Ankle Glove, a comfy ankle holster. It works well with the wide-legged or flare-bottomed jeans a lot of young women like. Be sure she understands the chief drawback of ankle carry: you cannot draw from an ankle holster while running away from danger.

The important thing to hammer home for her is that she must not get hung up on what she can't do, but focus instead on the things she can and will do. It's easy to get discouraged with the list of, "Well, I can't do this, or that, or ..." -- but women have the incredible advantage of being able to choose from many, many different clothing styles, where guys are pretty well stuck with one of about three basic looks. Encourage her to be creative in her clothing choices!

Swing by Limatunes' Range Diary, http://web.mac.com/mj_lauer/iWeb/RangeDiary/Welcome.html -- the site is written by a very slender and attractive young woman who does an awesome job detailing how she dresses around the gun and still looks slim & sexy. :)

Hope this helps.

pax
 
ankle holsters are an option but the most vunerable time for her would probably be walking to and from parking spaces downtown and such were drawing from an ankle would be the best option i would think.
 
i'll be honest i looked really close but that is concealed phil. now is that a package deal with the holster and the cleavage, cause i think if i suggest the "accessories" i might be looking down the business end of one of my pieces:D
 
On a side note does anyone know of a drop in holster for an inside breast pocket of a jacket.
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Any pocket holster will work. I carry a S&W snub in a Don Home leather pocket holster a lot in the winter. I'll drop it in either my inside breast pocket or an outside pocket. It does a good job keeping the snub upright and the holster has a "horn" on it that allows the snub to come free of the holster when removing it.
 
All ladies are differant, they dress differant, hard to say whats good for your lady. Personally I'd yield to the ladies that carry for advise. I will add what works for my wife. I can vouch for her. She normally wears dresses and is quite thin. She carries a PPK and what we found that works well for HER, is the thigh holster from Nevada Leather. But this is just one lady. There are many out there and I'm the last one to try and say what women should wear, I'm lucky to match my socks, let alone try to match some ladies wardrob.

Nevada%20leather.gif
 
i've seen the thunderwear, i'm trying to avoid iwb, because normally she wears tighter low rise jeans and i'm betting it would 1. be hard to draw 2. be an obvious, uncomfortable bulge. has anybody seen a horizontal belly band before?
 
apparently the cc purse's are as fashionable as fanny packs. plus she usually doesn't carry a purse not to mention all the down sides of off body carry
 
Womens Rigs...

Gents, Gentesses,

I make a pink holster for women (or guys that like pink). Also a nice peach lizard and I JUST got some purple lizard in.

Andy
 
Hightower, as a lady who also prefers low rise jeans, carrying in a warm climate, to include casual khaki/cargo shorts for summer, I'm really going through this search again. Currently here in TX, with my ladies fit Wranglers and button up short-sleeve/Tshirts (big enough, but not a wind sail, and not skin tight!) I have been successful with IWB strong side. I am carrying a Colt Commander. While on the heavy side, somehow I have not been made. I am 5'3" and 110lbs.

I use to carry in WA (Whidbey Island), where a cover garment was normally always present year round, whether a heavy coat or a light windbreaker/pullover fleece. I carried using an OWB on strong side.


Unfortunately for ladies, we have to adjust the wardrobe in order to carry the gun. What really complicates this is dress clothes. While some carry methods is perfect for casual clothes, it may be out of the question for work & dress attire. I also do not carry a purse (hate them). I also think purse carry is not very secure as well as it is not a quick access option for me.

Your GF will have to experiment and she'll probably go through a g ood number of options before she finds one that is acceptable. Getting use to carrying is a challenge in itself so the trouble may not completely come from the holster but rather the new task.


Good luck
 
Holsters for women

Glad to see a female offered some advice. Greetings and hello to all. I'm new to this forum, but not to the world of firearms. Some good advice put forth here. Actually, holsters for women has been somewhat of a project for me for the past several years. There aren't many "holster makers" out there who cater to womens needs, and although I know they are trying, most don't produce what I consider suitable product. No disrespect to "Shorts", just saw by your profile you make holsters, but I'm not familiar with them, do you have a web site? Anyway, as already stated, you may have to try many, and you may also need to use different models based on clothing and environment. One thing you need to remember, carrying concealed does not meld well with fashion. IWB vs. belt carry, ankle carry, etc. are all options and then you need to weigh accessability against concealbility. Blade Tech makes a belt holster designed to ride lower and offset. Safariland is now making some holsters that can be lowered, offset, and even offer a somewhat adjustable cant. If the body type and apparell permit, I like IWB appendix. I know there are draw backs, but you need to weigh them as well. Easy access, easier to protect, easier access from seated, can be drawn with little movement of upper body. Remember, firearms were not supposed to be comfortable, they are supposed to be comforting. I could say alot more, but I'll stop now. Everyone stay safe.
RB
 
No offense taken. I find it in poor taste to throw a sales pitch in a thread where I'm also offering advice as a fellow forum member.

I realize brand suggestions are a very common piece of advice given on inquiries such as this, but I find it in conflict with the personal standards I have for myself.
 
Blade Tech makes a belt holster designed to ride lower and offset. Safariland is now making some holsters that can be lowered, offset, and even offer a somewhat adjustable cant.
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Dropped and offset holsters are great for the range and competitions.

They do not work -- at all! -- for concealed carry. Period, full stop.

I love my Blade Tech DOH, but it's not concealable by any stretch of the imagination, nor could it be in any conceivable universe. If I lived in the Arctic Circle and habitually wore a thigh-length parka that was significantly oversized, there would still be a lump from that holster. :D

If the body type and apparell permit, I like IWB appendix.
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So do I. :)

My current carry rig is a contour-cut belt with a velcro inside to carry a modified LFI rig from Ted Blocker holsters. The holster itself is tuckable, which I think is sine qua non for appendix IWB. Carry a Glock 26 in it. But this may or may not help hightower's lady much, as my body type is classic hourglass, I'm in the Pacific Northwest, and (most important) I'm middle aged and gave up on looking trendy a long time ago.

For an overview of the carry options specifically for women, see www.corneredcat.com/Holster/howhide.aspx

Oh, pocket carry can be problematic for women. Our clothes tend to be made of thinner fabric designed to flow with the body, and even practical clothing like jeans tends to have vestigial pockets compared to menswear. Plus there's the whole baggy vs tight clothing issue.

Shorts has it right: there are several other variables besides the holster that need to be considered. Some of it is simply adjusting one's mindset to the new task of carrying the firearm, some will be the necessary (slight!) change in clothing choices, and some will be the gear itself including the belt and firearm selected. All these things work together to form a complete carry system, yet newcomers often consider only the holster, or only the firearm.

Shorts, I don't think you'd be out of line to tell people what you make and why. After all, the reason you're making holsters is at least in part because you think what you're making is better in some way than what others have to offer! Don't let false modesty keep you from helping people with what you know and have learned, or from helping others find what they may be looking for. :)

pax,

Kathy
 
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Shorts, I don't think you'd be out of line to tell people what you make and why. After all, the reason you're making holsters is at least in part because you think what you're making is better in some way than what others have to offer! Don't let false modesty keep you from helping people with what you know and have learned, or from helping others find what they may be looking for.
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I agree.
 
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