imadragonkeeper
New member
As more and more women are getting their carry permits and wanting to carry on a daily basis I thought it would be great to start another thread where we can share our trials and tribulations as women that are (mostly) stuck with carrying in holsters traditionally made for men.
There are so many new brands and styles out there sometimes it can be difficult to even decide which to try first so maybe we can help each other narrow down our choices.
I currently carry 2 very different pistols very successfully with an IWB (inside the waistband) holster. I have tried Crossbreed, Kholster and Alien Gear - all are similar enough except for price that really any of them would be a good choice. I do have to say that Crossbreed has (IMO) has the best belt clips - they fit onto my belts the best. The other companies use one that is slightly tapered and very tight. I have ripped my nails trying to get them off until I learned how to grab them. I carry a 3" Kimbet 1911 and a Springfield XDs 3.3 currently. For the last year previous I carried a Ruger SR9c every day, all the time. I find this method of carry to be comfortable and easily concealable. My husband often couldn't tell if I was carrying (even though he knew I was 99% of the time!).
Recently I have been seeing a lot of mention of a Holster called the "Flashbang" so I decided to look it up. The Flashbang was designed by a female LEO specifically for women to carry concealed. It clips to the center of your bra and tucks the pistol partially up under "the girls". They don't make one for the SR9c (mostly smaller "pocket" or sub-compact types, also a few compacts but they add more brands every day) but I had just gotten my 1911 so I decided to buy one and try it out. I have not worn it in public yet as I'm still getting used to it but I have worn it around the house for hours at a time and it is actually pretty comfortable - even with my guns beavertail potentially poking me. The hardest part is figuring out which of my bras seem to work the best with it. I will tell you I am pretty well endowed which helps me conceal this larger gun under there. A smaller gun would be a piece of cake even for a less "ample" person. I'm thinking about getting one for my XDs since it's thinner than my Kimber and has less protrusions (no beavertail!). I think this method of carry will be a great summer carry option (once I work out the kinks) for wearing with a little flirty sundress of a fitted tank and shorts where IWB wouldn't work well.
I've tried a Fobus pancake holster and the pancake that came with my XDs and while this method worked alright for me when I wore a heavy winter coat I felt like I was headed for the OK Corral. I have curvy hips and they caused the gun to stick way out on me whereas this was my husbands preferred method of carry because he didn't like IWB carry.
So tell me and the other ladies on here - what have you tried? Which method do you prefer? Any tips/tricks you may have discovered for concealment on a woman's more curvy figure? Please share!
There are so many new brands and styles out there sometimes it can be difficult to even decide which to try first so maybe we can help each other narrow down our choices.
I currently carry 2 very different pistols very successfully with an IWB (inside the waistband) holster. I have tried Crossbreed, Kholster and Alien Gear - all are similar enough except for price that really any of them would be a good choice. I do have to say that Crossbreed has (IMO) has the best belt clips - they fit onto my belts the best. The other companies use one that is slightly tapered and very tight. I have ripped my nails trying to get them off until I learned how to grab them. I carry a 3" Kimbet 1911 and a Springfield XDs 3.3 currently. For the last year previous I carried a Ruger SR9c every day, all the time. I find this method of carry to be comfortable and easily concealable. My husband often couldn't tell if I was carrying (even though he knew I was 99% of the time!).
Recently I have been seeing a lot of mention of a Holster called the "Flashbang" so I decided to look it up. The Flashbang was designed by a female LEO specifically for women to carry concealed. It clips to the center of your bra and tucks the pistol partially up under "the girls". They don't make one for the SR9c (mostly smaller "pocket" or sub-compact types, also a few compacts but they add more brands every day) but I had just gotten my 1911 so I decided to buy one and try it out. I have not worn it in public yet as I'm still getting used to it but I have worn it around the house for hours at a time and it is actually pretty comfortable - even with my guns beavertail potentially poking me. The hardest part is figuring out which of my bras seem to work the best with it. I will tell you I am pretty well endowed which helps me conceal this larger gun under there. A smaller gun would be a piece of cake even for a less "ample" person. I'm thinking about getting one for my XDs since it's thinner than my Kimber and has less protrusions (no beavertail!). I think this method of carry will be a great summer carry option (once I work out the kinks) for wearing with a little flirty sundress of a fitted tank and shorts where IWB wouldn't work well.
I've tried a Fobus pancake holster and the pancake that came with my XDs and while this method worked alright for me when I wore a heavy winter coat I felt like I was headed for the OK Corral. I have curvy hips and they caused the gun to stick way out on me whereas this was my husbands preferred method of carry because he didn't like IWB carry.
So tell me and the other ladies on here - what have you tried? Which method do you prefer? Any tips/tricks you may have discovered for concealment on a woman's more curvy figure? Please share!