Choosing the Best Women’s Thigh Holster
OutdoorHub Reporters 08.16.18
Thigh holsters, also known as drop leg holsters are both popular and somewhat controversial. Mostly they find use with law enforcement and military. However, they have other applications, including tactical training, open carry by private citizens, and outdoors. As more and more women exercise their Second Amendment rights and carry a self defense pistol, they might find themselves asking what this traditionally macho holster has to offer them, which is to say what is the best women’s thigh holster?
The primary advantage of a properly worn thigh holster is that the butt of your handgun is more or less literally right at hand. It’s a lot easier and faster to draw a gun when your hand is already naturally near the weapon. However, there are drawbacks we’ll get into in a minute, But first let’s take a look at some women’s thing holsters.
So here is the thing. Holsters are usually pretty much a unisex option until you get into things like bra holsters and the like. So a women’s thigh holster is a man’s thigh holster. They are a truly gender neutral bit of kit, and you’d think antigunners would learn to appreciate that sort of equality in equipment. But that aside, B&T makes some of the best drop leg holsters in fact, they really have taken it to a special science, and offer what are probably the most advanced thigh holsters available. What is especially nice is that their holsters combine all the best features of modern hard plastic holsters, with the handy utility of a thigh holster. Check out some B&T Holsters here.
However, there are very, well feminine thigh holsters for women. In fact, they pretty much are targeted to women and female fashion. This lacey option is both practical and a fashion accessory. One reviewer said she loved it because if was a chance to “feel sexy while also protecting myself’. Designed for ladies to carry a small handgun in the kind of deep, yet easy to access concealment that men can only dream of, it is built to be comfortable and to securely hold the kind of small caliber, compact handgun that is increasingly popular with concealed carriers of all genders. You don’t have to spend a ton, either. Check out one from Lixada here.
Speaking of deep concealment, how about a pair of shorts with a built in holster? Maybe the best women’s thigh holster is the one you can also wear as a practical pair of shorts. Featuring a built in holster for compact handguns, and the pockets usually denied woman. In fact when the author did a quick check with some women, there was universal love and appreciation for the UnderTech UnderCover women’s thigh holster/shorts. However, real life reviewers and users loved the concept, but found some trouble in the execution. It’s possible they will work better with compact .32 and .380 pistols more than anything else. However, a lot of women still hold these shorts are the best choice for carry when they choose to wear a dress or skirt. Kilt wearing men may also appreciate this concept!
The Can Can concealment garter is another one of the best women’s thigh holsters. In fact it is both high quality and attractive. What really sets it apart from other similar products is the spare magazine pouch on the holster. Again, designed with compact semi autos in mind, it is an excellent choice for the well armed, and discrete woman who also values a holster that looks as good as it is practical. Because the Can Can holster is made with top grade materials, it will last for years to come, and stand up to regular use.
Choosing a women’s thigh holster
So we can see there are two radically different approaches to a woman wearing a thigh holster. If she wants a traditional drop leg holster, there are some excellent ones on the market, although unless professionally used, there is a bit of a social stigma with such holsters as being the mark of a “cowboy” or “mall ninja”. Properly worn, they are also great for spending time outdoors where you aren’t walking through heavy underbrush and the like.
The other kind of women’s thigh holster we’ve seen is a classic sort of deep concealment holster that works well with skirts and dresses. The concept of tucking a pistol into a garter belt or hidden away in other intimate parts of a woman’s clothing is not a new concept. We’ve all seen the western movie trope of a woman with a derringer tucked in her garter belt, and these women’s thigh holsters build on that practical and traditional approach by using modern materials designed for safety and modern handguns. Check out another option here.
When selecting a woman’s thigh holster you’ve got a couple of broad choices. You can go with a classic, semi-tactical drop leg holster for open carrying a full sized handgun. There is nothing wrong with this, and a lot of folks make that choice when open carrying. However, if you are going for discrete and deep concealment while wearing a dress or skirt, then one of the several types of garter or shorts holsters that provide a thigh holster is ideal.
Because concealment shorts are commonly seen as uncomfortable, a garter style thigh holster is probably going to be the best bet, with the added benefit of being a real fashion accessory for yourself and whomever you allow to see it on you.
Consumer choice and a growing concealed carry culture among women has lead to a golden age of women’s thigh holsters, and there is no reason to not go ahead and get one or two for your concealed carry needs.
