Best Concealed Carry Gear For Women: Holsters, Bags, & Clothing

Let’s face it, concealed carry can be difficult for us, am I right, ladies?

With a multitude of clothing at our disposal and style to consider, it can feel tough to dress around that gun.

But that’s why you have us…or, well, me in this situation. I’m the Editor-in-Chief here at Pew Pew Tactical, but I also happen to be a lady who has been concealed carrying for well over a decade.

I got the lowdown on the best holsters, purses, and clothing to help you concealed carry without looking like you have a gun.

So, keep reading for my recommendations to CCW and CCW well.

THE QUICK LIST

1. Editor’s Pick

   Rounded Gear IWB Kydex Holster

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2. Best Non-Belted Option

   PHLster Enigma Express

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3. Best Bra Holster

   Flashbang Bra Holster – Teddy

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4. Best Everyday Off- Body Option

   Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0

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5. Best Tactical Leggings

   5.11 Tactical Athene Leggings

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6. Best Gun Belt

   Kore Essentials Tactical Gun Belt

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7. Best Women’s Clothing Collection

   Vertx Lena Collection

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Best Concealed Carry Holsters for Women

1. Rounded Gear IWB & AIWB Holsters – Editor’s Pick

An AIWB or IWB holster is the best means to carry if you frequently wear pants or slacks with a belt.

IWB, or inside-the-waistband, holsters are the most solid option to carry, and Rounded Gear’s IWB Holster is a good entry point for CCWers.

This holster slips between the wearer and their pants and attaches to a belt via belt loops or clips. The pressure of your pants helps pull the gun towards the body and helps with overall concealment.

The holster adequately covers the trigger, which is imperative for safely carrying. It’s also decently comfortable – as comfy as a hunk of plastic can be against you.

If you’re less about IWB and more about AIWB (appendix-inside-the-waistband), Rounded Gear also has a nice selection of AIWB holsters.

AIWB works better for my body and gives me better concealment, even with larger firearms. It also places the gun center of mass for me, making it easier to draw quickly and efficiently.

Whether you choose an AIWB or IWB holster, Rounded Gear has a good selection with most gun models in stock.

You can peep more holsters in our Best IWB Holsters and Best AIWB Holsters.

2. Belly Band Holster – Best Belly Band for Women

A belly band holster wraps around your waist and often secures with Velcro, so it doesn’t need a belt.

These holsters are usually constructed from an elastic material and feature a pocket for your firearm (and sometimes even for extras like magazines, knives, or flashlights).

It’s a good compromise if you like the position of IWB but can’t make it work with your clothes.

Downsides? These can be hot in warmer months and, if you tend to sweat, can start twisting on your body. They also aren’t super forgiving if your weight tends to fluctuate.

When shopping, you definitely want to find a holster that also protects the trigger from being engaged.

You can check out other options in our Best Belly Band Holsters write-up!

3. PHLster Enigma Holster – Best Non-Belted Option

What if you wear leggings, sweatpants, or scrubs that aren’t equipped with belt loops but want the security of an IWB/AIWB holster?

PHLster has a solution. The Enigma is a deep concealment option designed for clothes and carry situations where you might not be able to use a traditional IWB holster.

The Enigma uses its own belt to wrap around your waist and comes with a leg leash that secures around the thigh to keep everything in place. You can opt for your leg leash to be in a single-point configuration (like I have it above) or a two-point configuration.

Unlike corset holsters or belly bands, you have a lot of play regarding sizing, which I appreciate as my weight fluctuates during the month. I can easily tighten the belt down or let it out to get a comfortable fit.

The Enigma comes in a few varieties, but I highly recommend the Express option if your carry gun doesn’t have a light! It ships with a PHLster holster and takes minimal effort to get up and running. (PHLster does offer other Enigma options for those who run lights on their firearms.)

The design of the Enigma allows you to carry in an appendix position, giving you lots of concealment. It pulls the gun into your abdomen and really helps it melt into your body. I can wear this holster with t-shirts, blouses, skirts, leggings, and even dresses (I put a pair of shorts under my dresses).

The draw is super smooth, and that leg leash helps keep the whole system in place.

I also highly recommend the sport belt attachment. This really helps make this setup even more comfortable. I can run around town or sit at my desk typing all day, and it doesn’t budge or feel like it’s eating my skin alive — which is a plus!

Hands down, this is the most secure carry for non-belted clothing. PHLster really knocked it out of the park with this design, and it’s one of my favorite holsters.

4. Flashbang Bra Holster – Best Bra Holster

A bra holster is not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a deep concealment option that doesn’t rely on a belt, it’s definitely an option.

Flashbang’s holster works by attaching around the middle part of your bra. Once fitted onto the bra, the holster and gun hang from the bra and rest against the abdomen.

It’s a means to carry when belt loops aren’t an option, like a skirt and blouse combo.

My experience with the Flashbang is that you really have to experiment with your bras to find one that can support the holster and gun. For me, that meant a wide middle band with a good underwire design.

If you can’t stand underwire bras, move along.

The Flashbang also has a slight learning curve as your draw differs from a traditional holster setup – but with enough practice, you can master it.

Read more in our full review of the Flashbang Bra Holster.

Best Concealed Carry Bags for Women

Concealed carry is best done on-body, but sometimes there’s no way around it. You have to carry in a bag. To CCW safely, it’s best to use a bag dedicated to concealed carry, and we have some recommendations.

5. Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0 – Best Everyday Off- Body Option

If you’re sporty, I suggest the Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0.

Available in four colors – black, wolf grey, bone white, and oxblood – the Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0 is an updated take on the company’s OG Everyday Fanny Pack (a fave here at PPT).

It offers a number of features that are appealing. First, there are three total pockets to stow things. A mid-sized pocket sits on the front – perfect for sunglasses or keys. The main pocket can hold a sub-compact-sized handgun. The rear pocket is smaller but can fit an iPhone or wallet.

What I adore most about the Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0 is that you can use it with any holster you already have.

It comes with what Vertx calls the Holster Tactigami accessory. This accessory has an elastic band on the front with hook-and-loop on the back. You simply stick the accessory to the inside of the Fanny Pack, then clip your preferred holster to the elastic band. This keeps the gun secured in the pocket.

That same pocket sports a Rapid Access Tab, making it quick and easy to unzip and draw your gun.

Heading into a non-permissive environment where guns are a no-go? Swap out the holster for body armor. Premier Body Armor makes a level IIIA insert for the Everyday Fanny Pack so you can still have some level of protection.

Aside from the versatility, I feel like this fanny pack is a little more stylish than other models on the market. You can wear it like a fanny pack or turn it into a sling bag. I prefer it as a sling bag when I walk my dogs early in the morning. (I can even stick some dog treats and waste bags in the pockets.)

The $65 price tag is a decent price to pay for a bag that you can use with or without a gun.

For more on off-body carry, we have a full write-up on the Best Off-Body Concealed Carry options.

6. Gun Tote’N Mama Sling Waist Pack – Best Elevated Off Body

If you like the idea of a sling/waist style bag but aren’t feeling the sporty vibes of the Vertx, I suggest checking out the Gun Tote’N Mama Sling Waist Pack.

It offers a sleeker look using cowhide leather with a light pebble texture. It’s coated so it withstands the elements and feels a little more classic in terms of style.

The bag can be worn on the waist or as a crossbody sling (left or right shoulder). It fits a size 24” waist up to a 50” waist with an extender.

Three pockets give you room to pack what you need. The main compartment is an RFID-protected pocket with extra-large leather zipper pulls so you don’t fumble to get it open. It’s great for a wallet!

The gun compartment is bigger and can fit a micro compact-sized handgun. It ships with a  MINI holster that can accommodate micro guns like the Sig P238, or you can upgrade to the Standard holster that works with larger guns like the Sig Sauer P365XL, Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Shield, and Springfield Hellcat Pro

The holster is secured to the bag using hook-and-loop and offers a consistent platform from which to draw.

You have two colors to choose from – black or lavender. I went with black because I wanted something I could use for date nights.

It’s not cheap, coming in at $110, but it is versatile, so I think it’s worth the cost.

7. Crossbreed Purse Defender – Best for Regualr Purses

What if you already have a purse and don’t want to bother buying another one?

Crossbreed’s Purse Defender is a great option to keep the purse you love, but pack the gun you need to stay safe.

The Purse Defender is a whole panel that slips into your purse and offers a safe way to carry with a non-CCW bag. The insert uses hook-and-loop (a.k.a. Velcro) for the holster to attach to.

Simply place the L-shaped insert into your purse, then slide the gun into the holster – voila, you’re ready to go.

The insert keeps the gun secure in the holster and makes it easier to draw from. Not to mention, you get the protection a Kydex holster offers in terms of guarding the trigger. The L-shape of the insert also prevents the insert from flying out when you draw.

Ultimately, if you’re a gun girl who won’t sacrifice fashion to carry, the Crossbreed Purse Defender is the best of both worlds.

Best Concealed Clothing for Women

8. 5.11 Tactical Athene Leggings – Best Tactical Leggings

 5.11 Tactical brings a more tactical style to the leggings arena that I find is perfect for rugged days outdoors.

The Athene Leggings feature belt loops – this time situated lower for OWB carry. It’s great for days at the range where I am carrying OWB. Inside the front of the leggings are strips of elastic that can support an AIWB holster, if you want. This allows you to carry with your usual holster but gives you the comfort of leggings.

There are plenty of pockets to stow keys, a cellphone, and your ID, so you aren’t locked into carrying a purse. These leggings also have a compression quality that helps them stay up and not fall as you run around the range or out on a hike.

I’m not a huge fan of the giant 5.11 logo down the ankle of the leg. It kind of telegraphs the whole tactical vibe. But I do like the compression aspect of the leggings. After two kids, I have a mom tummy, so the compression is welcome!

Personally, the 5.11 Leggings are my go-to for hikes with the dogs/kids or range days when I’m getting some training time in.

9. Gun Belt – Best Gun Belt

A solid gun belt can make or break concealed carry – so getting one that fits properly and has enough rigidity to hold your holster + gun up is a must!

There are a lot of good gun belts on the market — but most of our staff really like the KORE belts and Blue Alpha.

Fabric-style belts work well with hips and tend to be much more comfortable to wear long-term. Both KORE and Blue Alpha offer belts that are lower profile, so they don’t print as much. Beware, they do look a little tactical—which, unfortunately, is the trade-off.

If you want something a bit more stylish, NexBelt has some good fashion-forward options.

We have a ton more suggestions in our Best Gun Belts article that work for both men and women.

10. Vertx Lena Collection – Best Women’s Clothing Collection

Vertx recently partnered with champion shooter and all-around gun girl badass Lena Miculek to bring stylish shooting-oriented clothes to women. The Lena Collection features a few clothing items that, while not entirely dedicated to concealed carry, do help the carry process.

I tested out the Women’s Stretch Flannel and Women’s Shirt Jacket recently, and I really dug the casual, Fall-like style.

The Stretch Flannel is super cozy but offers enough length and room in the sides for me to easily carry and reach my gun.

The Shirt Jacket looks like a shirt but with the thickness of a jacket…I know, obvious in the name. It’s also a cozy choice that makes me want to stroll through my neighborhood, Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand.

Like the Stretch Flannel, it has more than enough room to stow a gun underneath and is cut so that it doesn’t draw attention. Even better, it’s perfect for layering.

Toss a t-shirt or a sweatshirt underneath as the weather cools, and you’re good to go.

How We Tested the Best Concealed Carry Gear for Women

All recommendations have been tested by our female staff for concealment, safety, accessibility, and durability. We aimed to provide recommendations that span from affordable up to higher-end and cover a range of styles.

Meet the Experts

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Jacki has carried concealed for almost two decades and taught concealed carry classes for a few years. She has rotated through a Walther P22, Smith & Wesson Shield, Springfield Armory XD Mod2, Glock 19, Shadow Systems MR920 as carry guns. She now regularly carries a Sig Sauer P365XL Rose and tests holsters and gear aimed at women.

Final Thoughts

Concealed Carry for women can be tricky at times, given our style options, but it’s not impossible. With the right holster or carry method, you can safely protect yourself on the go without sacrificing style while doing it.

What’s your favorite way to carry? Let us know in the comments below. For more on women’s carry, check out our guide to the Women’s Guide to Guns!

Latest Updates

September 2025: Rewritten with new product recommendations.