Finding the best holster for women shooters can be tricky. Most holsters are supposedly unisex, but they were still designed with men’s bodies in mind. Sometimes that’s just fine and they still work for a woman’s frame. Other times, it means they don’t stay in place, are uncomfortable, or make it hard to conceal your weapon.
But there are also plenty of holsters out there that work great for women. In this guide, we’ll help you sort the good from the bad and figure out how to select just the right holster for you.
If you do not have time for the details, here are our top picks for women holsters:
- Can Can Concealment Hip Hugger Elite
- Flashbang Betty 2.0
- Galco Gunleather Miami Classic II Shoulder Holster
- Can Can Concealment Garter Holster
- Bear Armz Tactical Ankle Holster
- Can Can Concealment Sport Belt
Table of Contents
What to Consider When Choosing a Holster for Women?
When choosing a holster, there are a few things ladies need to keep in mind to make sure they’re choosing the right holster for their needs.
Carry Type
One of the first things to think about is how you plan on carrying.
First, do you plan on open carry or concealed carry?
Open carry makes things more straightforward. A simple OWB (outside the waistband) holster is generally the way to go.
Concealed carry is a little trickier. Women tend to have naturally smaller frames than men, which can make it harder to hide the bulk of a gun and holster. The problem is only made worse by the fact that most holsters are designed with men in mind. And that’s not even mentioning the problems from the fact that women’s clothes tend to be more fitted than men’s as well.
Fortunately, women’s natural curves can provide an advantage, too.
You just have to find the carry position that works with your body type and other needs. IWB (inside the waistband) holsters are the most popular choice, but there are also thigh, shoulder, ankle, and bra carry. When done right, even OWB holsters can be used for concealed carry.
You may even find that your carry position varies from day to day, depending on your outfit and activities.
Your Piece
When it comes to fitting guns, holsters come in one of two varieties: they’re designed specifically for use with a particular firearm, or they’re more general and can be used with just about any firearm within a particular range of dimensions.
For more firearm specific holsters, you’ll need to remember that any accessories attached to your gun, like lights and sights, will make a difference in whether or not your gun fits the holster. Fortunately, some holsters come in versions that are designed to fit the gun with the most popular accessories.
For more generalized holsters, you’ll still need to know the measurements of your firearm to make sure it will fit the holster, but you get a whole lot more freedom. If you don’t carry the same gun every day, this type of holster might be the way to go, especially if the guns you carry are relatively close in size.
What Makes a Good Holster?
Of course, in addition to being suited for your purposes, your holster also needs to be just plain good. To make sure you’re choosing a high quality holster, there are a few other things to keep in mind.
Trigger Coverage
Adequate trigger coverage is one of the single most important factors for selecting a holster. It’s absolutely essential that a holster covers the trigger well enough to prevent accidental discharge.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of holsters out there that don’t do that. To keep yourself and others safe, avoid them.
Retention
Retention is about as important as trigger coverage. That is to say, very important.
Holsters typically ensure retention in one of two ways: a strap that goes across the rear of the gun or friction.
If it has a strap, it usually uses a snap to stay closed. As long as the snap closes securely, the gun should stay in place. Friction retention can be a little trickier. You may have to adjust the retention to make sure the holster balances a secure hold on the gun with the ability to draw your firearm easily.
Either way, you should be able to turn your holster in any direction without the gun slipping out.
Durability
Good holsters aren’t cheap, but if they’re well constructed from the right materials, they’ll last a long time so you’ll get your money’s worth.
Most holsters are made from leather or Kydex, both of which offer excellent durability and will protect your gun from damage at the same time. They also have the advantage of offering great trigger protection.
Hard materials like Kydex can scuff your guns, though, so if that’s important to you, you may want to choose a holster with a soft lining.
Comfort
While not as important as the other factors we’re talking about here, you still want your holster to be comfortable, especially if you’ll be wearing it every day.
Your holster shouldn’t rub or poke awkwardly nor should it make your clothes fit uncomfortably. It also shouldn’t be distracting. For many holsters, slight discomfort can be prevented by putting a layer underneath, like an undershirt, but that’s not a solution that will work every time.
Best Holsters for Women on the Market Reviews
1 Can Can Concealment Hip Hugger Elite
The Can Can Concealment Hip Hugger has a great reputation as an excellent holster for women and the Elite version only improves on the classic version.
It’s a belly band style holster that can be worn at the hips or waist. It comes in four different sizes to fit a variety of body types, while multiple rows of hook and eye closures allow for an adjustable fit.
The 5” wide military-grade elastic has non-slip Tacti-Grip silicone on the back to keep the Hip Hugger Elite firmly in place, even when it’s full.
There’s a front and rear holster, both placed for right hand draw. There’s also a zipper pocket on the front left, a velcro pocket and key loop on the back left, and an open top pocket on the right hip that’s perfect for a smartphone. Finally, there are slots for two spare mags, one on the left side and one in the center back.
Rare earth magnets ensure retention in the front holster, while tabs on both holsters make it easy to holster your gun without looking. Each holster completely covers the trigger guard.
2 Flashbang Betty 2.0
If you’re looking for an IWB holster for women, it’s hard to beat the Flashbang Betty 2.0, an improved version of the already acclaimed Flashbang Betty.
It’s made of Kydex to offer protection without bulk, making it a very low profile holster. The hard nature of Kydex means this holster has to be gun specific, but it’s available for the most popular concealed carry firearms, including the Glock 43, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, and the Sig P938. For each, it comes in right and left hand versions.
It’s also available in a ton of colors and even some prints, so you’re not stuck with a boring black or brown holster if you don’t want to be.
The clip style attachment point allows you to wear the holster pretty much anywhere along your waistband, even without a belt. That makes the Flashbang Betty 2.0 equally well suited for appendix carry, hip carry, or back carry. The single attachment point and clip’s small size help keep the holster discrete.
The Kydex shell has adjustable retention, so you can set it at just the right level for you. It also keeps the trigger guard completely covered to prevent accidental discharge.
3 Galco Gunleather Miami Classic II Shoulder Holster
The Galco Gunleather Miami Classic II Shoulder Holster is not designed specifically for women, but it’s still a very woman friendly holster, unlike many other shoulder holsters.
The straps of this shoulder holster sit close to the armpits and there’s no strap across the chest, which makes the holster easy for women to wear, even if you have a larger bust. These traits also have the added benefit of making the holster easier to conceal under a jacket, while the shoulder holster style keeps your guns very accessible.
It fits chests up to 52 inches around, so it should fit most women just fine.
The Miami Classic II holds your gun on one side and has space for two magazines or speedloaders on the other. A backstrap with a snap closure holds your gun securely in place.
The leather straps are flexible and comfortable, but durable enough to last. They’re wide enough to distribute the weight of your gun and magazines so that the straps don’t dig in.
4 Can Can Concealment Garter Holster
Our favorite thigh holster for women is the Can Can Concealment Garter Holster.
It comes in three different styles for different sized guns: the Micro for firearms under 4.5 inches, the Classic for firearms 4.5 to 6.5 inches, and the Shebang for firearms larger than 6.5 inches.
The Micro is 4” wide and can hold up to two subcompacts, the Classic is 5” wide and can hold up to two compacts, and the Shebang is 6” wide and can hold up to two large handguns. Each will also hold a spare magazine.
Each style comes in four sizes for different sized people, and each is available with black, pink, or purple accents.
In short, there’s a Can Can Concealment Garter Holster for pretty much everyone.
Otherwise, it has a lot of the same features as the Can Can Concealment Hip Hugger, like military grade elastic, Tacti-Grip backing to keep the holster in place, rare earth magnets for retention, holstering tabs, and adjustable hook and eye closures for a secure fit.
This garter holster can be worn with the gun positioned on the inside or outside of the thigh and for left or right hand draw.
5 Bear Armz Tactical Ankle Holster
Ankle holsters aren’t super popular for primary weapons, but they are good for backup guns. They can also be handy for when you’re wearing a floor length dress or jumpsuit and other carry options are limited.
Our favorite ankle holster for women is the Bear Armz Tactical Ankle Holster. A lot of ankle holsters can be flimsy and don’t stay in place well, but this one is very secure.
You can choose between styles with velcro or snap retention for your gun, each of which is also available with or without a calf strap for extra support. We recommend going with the calf strap, especially if you carry a full sized gun.
In addition to a spot for your gun, this holster also has a slot for a spare magazine, with a retention strap of its own. You can also use this slot for a knife or less lethal defensive option.
The design is ambidextrous, so you can wear it on either your right or left ankle for right or left hand draw.
6 Can Can Concealment Sport Belt
Last up is the Can Can Concealment Sport belt. It’s similar to the Can Can Concealment Hip Hugger Elite, but optimized for athletic events, so it’s great for runners, hikers, bikers, and more.
Like the Can Can Concealment Garter Holster, it’s available in Micro, Classic, and Shebang styles for different styles of guns. The micro can accommodate up to three small small guns, while the Classic and the Shebang can each fit three large guns.
Each style can also fit three magazines and room for extras, like your cell phone, knife, less lethal defensive tools, cash, your ID, and credit or debit cards. With so few pockets on most women’s workout gear, that extra space is a huge advantage.
The Can Can Concealment Sport Belt comes in six sizes to fit a variety of body sizes from small to 3XL. It’s worth noting that the small won’t fit a smartphone, so that’s something to keep in mind if you want to be able to carry yours with you if you fit the small size.
Final Thoughts
While there are certain general rules that will apply to most women when choosing a holster, the fact is that no two people are just alike. That means that choosing the right holster for you will vary based on your body, lifestyle, and preferences.
But with this list of the best holsters for women, you’re sure to find at least one holster that’s perfect for you. With these holsters, you can feel comfortable and secure carrying your gun every day.
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