Key Takeaways:
- Concealed carry as a woman comes with many challenges because many concealed holsters are designed with a man’s needs in mind.
- A CCW bag is the obvious solution to holsters that don’t work without a belt or when wearing fitted clothing.
- Integrating your CCW bag into everyday fashion requires a stylish purse that’s lightweight, compact, and versatile.
The reality is that women’s clothing and modern fashion are not typically designed to accommodate concealed carry. Dresses, leggings, cropped tops, and stretch denim don’t provide the accessibility, subtlety, or sturdiness required of on-body holsters, such as IWB or pocket options.
However, there is a solution: a concealed carry handbag. These are purses, crossbody bags, and fanny packs that offer sleek, fashionable designs while prioritizing firearm safety and accessibility. When shopping for designer concealed carry handbags, check out these guidelines to ensure you’re making the best decision for your needs.
Consider Your Lifestyle
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for concealed carry. You must consider your needs before finding the ideal concealed carry bag for your life. Are you spending most of your time chasing kids around, running errands, commuting, or heading to the gym? What would be the most comfortable bag configuration for each of these activities?
For running errands, a crossbody bag ensures you have access, even when carrying groceries or loading up your car. While chasing your kids, you may want a fanny pack that rides low on your hips so you can bend down and pick up your child without the bag getting in the way.
Physically go through the motions of which activities you do most and imagine which type of bag will work best. You can even throw on one of your regular purses or bags to see how it would feel to do these activities with different types of concealed carry options.
Prioritize Bag Retention
Keeping your firearm secure is one of the most important considerations of concealed carry. When shopping for a bag, make sure you’re looking at how the straps sit on your body. How easy would it be for someone to take your bag away from you? Are there clips or snaps that could catch on anything and cause your bag to fall off?
You want your firearm to stay put, even when you’re hiking or jogging. The best bags here are those with thick straps that ensure your firearm is completely balanced while carrying. Avoid clips or Velcro that are accessible to others. Crossbody carry provides the most security from dropping your purse or theft.
Dress Around Your Bag
While concealed carry purses shouldn’t put fashion first, they do need to integrate with your normal wardrobe to ensure safety, subtlety, and accessibility. Since crossbody bags are the most secure option, you’ll want to consider which ensembles work best with that configuration. While wearing your bag over your clothing, you should avoid frilly or baggy clothing that can get caught in the straps or zippers.
If you are wearing baggier shirts or sweaters with pants that have a sturdy waistband, you should consider a waistband or belly holster instead.
Practice Holster Presentation
Once you’ve chosen a bag, your job isn’t done quite yet! Place your firearm in the dedicated compartment of the bag and put it on as you would for everyday wear. Then, practice holster presentation until opening the bag and drawing from your purse feels like it’s second nature.
The pull-tab on the bag and the dedicated compartment should help you access your firearm faster, but you may have to accommodate loose sleeves, gloves, and other accessories. Practice in a few different outfits so you understand how the bag feels in every situation.
Common CCW Purse Myths
There are many myths about concealed carry bags in the firearm community. Here are a few of the most common.
- Purse Carry Is Unsafe: While a firearm thrown into any old bag is indeed unsafe, carrying in a purse that has a dedicated compartment, secure holster situation, and crossbody orientation is just as safe as other types of concealed carry.
- Purse Carry Is For Beginners: There are many situations where on-body carry just isn’t practical. The most experienced concealed carry permit holders know how to use every type of holster, including purse carry.
- Purse Draw Is Too Slow: A thoughtfully designed bag and practice are the key to ensuring fast draw every time. Make sure you shop a bag with a pull tab that allows you to open your purse with just one hand while drawing with the other. Now, practice, practice, practice.
The bottom line is that the right purse, combined with regular practice, makes a CCW bag a reliable defensive option. Blend fashion and self-defense with a bag that meets your needs.
