Eliminating Printing and Enhancing Comfort in Concealed Carry Holsters for Women

2nd Jun 2021

Concealed carry can help make you a safer and a more conscientious citizen, provided you follow a few principles. You must always be aware of your surroundings, practice responsible gun handling and observe the cardinal rules of safety, and you should carry the gear and essentials that make it possible for you to practice concealed carry effectively.

Concealed carry, when done with discretion, allows you to have the element of surprise. When carrying a concealed weapon, if a perpetrator marks you as a target, you have the ability to respond effectively to the threat.

However, one of the chief problems with safe and effective concealed carry is the issue of printing. Printing refers to a situation in which either the firearm you carry or the holster you carry it in becomes visible through your clothing - that is, they “print” the outline of the gun.

Printing betrays concealed carry and makes it possible for others to identify you as an armed citizen. While this is not a concern for those who choose to open carry in states that allow this option, for those who prefer concealed carry, printing eliminates discretion. Pistol Wear has solved this problem, making discrete concealed carry practical for women.

A Discrete Concealed Carry Holster for Women

When we designed the Lady Defender Concealment Holster, our primary objective was to create a gun holster for women that was comfortable, practical, and secure. Many of the belly band holsters and corset holsters that are currently available to women shooters are made of thin materials or feature lower-quality construction. Our chief goal was to create a concealment holster that was practical, secure, stayed put, and effectively covered the trigger area.

The Lady Defender Concealment Holster does all of these things. While it is designed for waist carry, it can be carried higher up around the body and comes with an adjustable support strap for that purpose. The versatile carry location feature allows women to shift the holster to a shoulder holster configuration, waist carry, or even below the breast line depending on clothing choices and activity. The back of the grip of the firearm is slightly exposed, but it does not touch the user’s body. The Lady Defender Concealment Holster will not shift or move on the body when it is properly adjusted.

The Lady Defender Concealment Holster also is a practical concealed carry holster for women because it helps to prevent printing. Designed for subcompact handguns, it is fully capable of enabling concealed carry without fear of printing due to the unique, semi-rigid front firearm pouch panel. Not only does this feature prevent printing, but it also serves to protect the trigger area from anything outside pouch accessing it. This rigid front panel allows women to carry in comfort with a soft holster design, yet adds additional security similar to more traditional, rigid holsters.

Women’s clothing is typically cut in a more fitted or semi-fitted manner when compared to men's styles. This makes the slim profile of the Lady Defender a key feature, keeping the holster from protruding noticeably from the frame of the wearer. The integrated, breathable belt band also allows women to wear items like yoga pants, sweat pants, or shorts because the ability to carry concealed is not dependent on the user’s clothing choice.

These features enable the Lady Defender Concealment Holster to effectively combat the concerns of printing. However, there are additional steps you can take to make carrying a firearm even more discrete.

●Wear the right clothing

If you wear clothing that makes it difficult to identify a holster underneath, you will further safeguard yourself against printing. Extremely tight and fitted shirts and pants make hiding anything underneath clothing nearly impossible. The Lady Defender Concealment Holster is best suited for business or casual attire, in addition to fitness attire. A light jacket over your clothing will also help to obscure the lines of a holster. Patterned clothing can also help to blur any visible lines, and can fight against printing.

●Carry an appropriately sized firearm

It is also a matter of safety and practicality that you carry a firearm that is appropriately suited to the holster you use. If you decide to carry this type of holster, we recommend carrying subcompact handguns less than 6.5 inches in total length. It is compatible with popular handguns like the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield, Sig Sauer P365, Springfield XDS, and XD subcompacts and several smaller Glocks, like the Glock 26, 27, 42, and 43.

Carrying a firearm that is appropriately suited to your holster is a matter of safety. The holster you choose must properly secure the firearm carried. Carrying a firearm in a holster that is not well suited for it, in size or dimensions, will increase the likelihood that you will print. Carrying an appropriately sized subcompact handgun and wearing the appropriate clothing will almost guarantee that you won’t print while carrying a concealed weapon.

To learn more about the unique features of our Lady Defender Concealment Holster or any of our other unique holsters, please consult our collection or contact us directly. We appreciate each of our valued customers and would be more than glad to recommend a compatible handgun or holster, or just to answer any questions you have about features or functionality. You can reach us at 1-918-289-2976 or at support@pistolwear.com.