The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
For any runners who concealed carry in day-to-day life, learning how to concealed carry while running is of the utmost importance.
All consistent runners use one of two methodologies for running routes: 1) running the same route every day, or 2) running a different route every day. In the first scenario, running the same route every day is a pattern that leads to potential bad guys knowing your next move, every day. In the second scenario, you encounter the potential of running through areas that you aren’t familiar with – leading to other potential dangers.
In both these scenarios, you run the risk of being attacked or accosted. It is during these times when having a concealed carry weapon will come in handy.
Figuring out how to concealed carry while running can be a daunting task for many gun owners. This is because each person has different body proportions and have their own running styles – which often leads to some gun owners opting to run without concealed carrying. However, you don’t have to sacrifice your safety for comfort. This article will teach you how to concealed carry while running, so you can protect yourself and those around you while doing your daily runs.
To start, when running with your concealed carry, you have to consider your comfort. To be comfortable with carrying your weapon while jogging, your firearm should rest securely on your person and not flop around. It would be difficult for you to run comfortably if your handgun and holster were bouncing against your leg or weighing you down on one side. You could also damage your gun this way as well.
In addition, the weight of your weapon should be evenly distributed on your body to prevent fatigue or soreness. To determine your mode of concealed carry, first consider the type of running you will be doing. The more physical movement, the more retention is required.
The Best Holsters for Running
Here are some holsters worth considering when running with a concealed weapon.
Belly Band Holsters
Aside from being stretchy, belly bands also feature pockets for stuffing other items like knives, mobile phones, and ID cards. Belly bands provides a great way for carrying a concealed handgun when traditional holsters will not work. They are great to be worn with shorts or t-shirts or even tighter fitting clothing – perfect for athletes looking to exercise/run while concealed carrying.
Kangaroo Carry
A kangaroo carry holster is lightweight and attaches to the body like a CamelBak or tight fitting backpack. These types of holsters feature an adjustable torso strap that can be hooked over the shoulders, giving you an added level of comfort and stability. Kangaroo carry holsters also allow support for full-size carry options, and because they are work tight to your body, do not interfere with your movement. These types of holsters can also be placed under a running shirt or can be completely concealed with a light running jacket.
Ankle Holsters
Since gravity pulls downward, your ankle holster, if secured properly, should stay down and secure on your ankle while running. However, if you plan to conceal your weapon via ankle holster while running, be sure to wear long pants for extra concealment. Here’s a great video on how to carry and draw with an ankle holster.
Concealment Clothing
Aside from holsters, there are also many different types of concealment clothing that you can consider for concealed carry running.
Long Jackets
Jackets may not be ideal for running but are helpful in concealing your IWB holster and/or any other modes of concealed carry you employ while running.
Cargo Shorts
If you find yourself asking how to concealed carry while running, some people may tell you to run in cargo shorts. Although this is not as recommended as buying proper, specialized gear, running with cargo shorts will allow you to hide your firearm in one of your pants pockets while running – and offer you the ability to wear a belt for a holster.
Additional Tips for Concealed Carry Running
Running Shorts May Not Work as Well
The problem with running shorts is that they do not have belt loops. If you are like most people who carry their pistol on the waist, this could be a problem. Also, because most running shorts are made with elastic bands, traditional holsters may lead to sagging if concealed carrying while running.
Fanny Packs
While some people are uncomfortable running with fanny packs because they feel dorky, the truth of the matter is that fanny packs make it easier to retain control and concealment of your firearm compared to many other normal modes of concealed carry. However, if you consider fanny packs, make sure that your safety is on at all times, and that you have practiced retrieving your gun from your fanny pack in case of emergencies.
Avoid Shoulder and Tank Top Holsters
As much as possible, shoulder and tank top holsters should be avoided when running with a CCW. Aside from being uncomfortable, they make accessing your weapon very difficult.
Keep Your Safety ON
This is pretty much a given for almost all scenarios, but keep your safety ON while concealed carry running. Self-explanatory.
Carry a Smaller Firearm While Running
Larger firearms can be hard to conceal. Aside from that, it also makes it hard to find discrete holsters that don’t print from larger guns while running. On top of all that, bigger guns are heavier, which make running more difficult. Go the path of least resistance – pick a smaller gun.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
After running the first 1-3 miles of your daily run, you might not have the same mental/physical quickness in assessing your surroundings and drawing your firearm as you would normally. Running saps your mental and physical energy, which reduce some of your tactical advantage. In an emergency situation, your attacker will not wait for you to open the zipper of your fanny pack and pull out your weapon. In times like these, you need to be aware of your situation – run with a friend and/or don’t listen to music, and keep your eyes open.
Practice
For concealed carry running to be effective, you need to practice and train hard. Carrying a firearm is useless if you are not able to use it effectively. If you cannot pull out your gun from its holster, you’re in trouble. Practice drawing your gun from the holster, while winded from exercise/while stopping motion.
Keep your gun clean
With all that running with your gun and holster, you can expect them to be drenched in sweat at the end of your end of your run. In such cases, your handgun could accumulate moisture, which may cause rust. A rusted weapon would not be able to fulfill its job of protecting you during times of emergency. Follow the instructions in our article here on how to keep your gun from rusting from sweat.
Learning how to concealed carry while running is important for safety reasons. While keeping a healthy lifestyle, you should also be vigilant. Your safety and those of the people around you should always be top priority. With these tips, you can have some peace of mind about your safety while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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How to Concealed Carry While Running
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
For any runners who concealed carry in day-to-day life, learning how to concealed carry while running is of the utmost importance.
All consistent runners use one of two methodologies for running routes: 1) running the same route every day, or 2) running a different route every day. In the first scenario, running the same route every day is a pattern that leads to potential bad guys knowing your next move, every day. In the second scenario, you encounter the potential of running through areas that you aren’t familiar with – leading to other potential dangers.
In both these scenarios, you run the risk of being attacked or accosted. It is during these times when having a concealed carry weapon will come in handy.
Figuring out how to concealed carry while running can be a daunting task for many gun owners. This is because each person has different body proportions and have their own running styles – which often leads to some gun owners opting to run without concealed carrying. However, you don’t have to sacrifice your safety for comfort. This article will teach you how to concealed carry while running, so you can protect yourself and those around you while doing your daily runs.
To start, when running with your concealed carry, you have to consider your comfort. To be comfortable with carrying your weapon while jogging, your firearm should rest securely on your person and not flop around. It would be difficult for you to run comfortably if your handgun and holster were bouncing against your leg or weighing you down on one side. You could also damage your gun this way as well.
In addition, the weight of your weapon should be evenly distributed on your body to prevent fatigue or soreness. To determine your mode of concealed carry, first consider the type of running you will be doing. The more physical movement, the more retention is required.
The Best Holsters for Running
Here are some holsters worth considering when running with a concealed weapon.
Belly Band Holsters
Aside from being stretchy, belly bands also feature pockets for stuffing other items like knives, mobile phones, and ID cards. Belly bands provides a great way for carrying a concealed handgun when traditional holsters will not work. They are great to be worn with shorts or t-shirts or even tighter fitting clothing – perfect for athletes looking to exercise/run while concealed carrying.
Kangaroo Carry
A kangaroo carry holster is lightweight and attaches to the body like a CamelBak or tight fitting backpack. These types of holsters feature an adjustable torso strap that can be hooked over the shoulders, giving you an added level of comfort and stability. Kangaroo carry holsters also allow support for full-size carry options, and because they are work tight to your body, do not interfere with your movement. These types of holsters can also be placed under a running shirt or can be completely concealed with a light running jacket.
Ankle Holsters
Since gravity pulls downward, your ankle holster, if secured properly, should stay down and secure on your ankle while running. However, if you plan to conceal your weapon via ankle holster while running, be sure to wear long pants for extra concealment. Here’s a great video on how to carry and draw with an ankle holster.
Concealment Clothing
Aside from holsters, there are also many different types of concealment clothing that you can consider for concealed carry running.
Long Jackets
Jackets may not be ideal for running but are helpful in concealing your IWB holster and/or any other modes of concealed carry you employ while running.
Cargo Shorts
If you find yourself asking how to concealed carry while running, some people may tell you to run in cargo shorts. Although this is not as recommended as buying proper, specialized gear, running with cargo shorts will allow you to hide your firearm in one of your pants pockets while running – and offer you the ability to wear a belt for a holster.
Additional Tips for Concealed Carry Running
Running Shorts May Not Work as Well
The problem with running shorts is that they do not have belt loops. If you are like most people who carry their pistol on the waist, this could be a problem. Also, because most running shorts are made with elastic bands, traditional holsters may lead to sagging if concealed carrying while running.
Fanny Packs
While some people are uncomfortable running with fanny packs because they feel dorky, the truth of the matter is that fanny packs make it easier to retain control and concealment of your firearm compared to many other normal modes of concealed carry. However, if you consider fanny packs, make sure that your safety is on at all times, and that you have practiced retrieving your gun from your fanny pack in case of emergencies.
Avoid Shoulder and Tank Top Holsters
As much as possible, shoulder and tank top holsters should be avoided when running with a CCW. Aside from being uncomfortable, they make accessing your weapon very difficult.
Keep Your Safety ON
This is pretty much a given for almost all scenarios, but keep your safety ON while concealed carry running. Self-explanatory.
Carry a Smaller Firearm While Running
Larger firearms can be hard to conceal. Aside from that, it also makes it hard to find discrete holsters that don’t print from larger guns while running. On top of all that, bigger guns are heavier, which make running more difficult. Go the path of least resistance – pick a smaller gun.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
After running the first 1-3 miles of your daily run, you might not have the same mental/physical quickness in assessing your surroundings and drawing your firearm as you would normally. Running saps your mental and physical energy, which reduce some of your tactical advantage. In an emergency situation, your attacker will not wait for you to open the zipper of your fanny pack and pull out your weapon. In times like these, you need to be aware of your situation – run with a friend and/or don’t listen to music, and keep your eyes open.
Practice
For concealed carry running to be effective, you need to practice and train hard. Carrying a firearm is useless if you are not able to use it effectively. If you cannot pull out your gun from its holster, you’re in trouble. Practice drawing your gun from the holster, while winded from exercise/while stopping motion.
Keep your gun clean
With all that running with your gun and holster, you can expect them to be drenched in sweat at the end of your end of your run. In such cases, your handgun could accumulate moisture, which may cause rust. A rusted weapon would not be able to fulfill its job of protecting you during times of emergency. Follow the instructions in our article here on how to keep your gun from rusting from sweat.
Learning how to concealed carry while running is important for safety reasons. While keeping a healthy lifestyle, you should also be vigilant. Your safety and those of the people around you should always be top priority. With these tips, you can have some peace of mind about your safety while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.