Best Ankle Holsters: Add CCW Versatility

1. Best Overall: Alien Gear Shapeshift

What we liked:

• Double sleeve system is effective & comfortable
• Thick but light neoprene
• Effective trigger guard
• More than 60 molded shells means you’ll find one that fits

What we didn’t:

• There’s quite a bit of material
• 2 sleeves means more to set up

In our tests, the Alien Gear ShapeShift Ankle Holster fits comfortably, is straightforward and intuitive to use, felt very comfortable on our leg regardless of how long we wore it, and barely budged during walking and running tests.

It’s easy to get your pistol into and draw from the holster, and once your handgun is synched under the neoprene strap it doesn’t jostle around distractingly.

We really liked how it was comfortable to wear and the unit has an “inner wrap” that prevents the holster from sagging and sliding down and an “outer wrap” that holds the firearm snug to your calf and prevents painting.

Simple & Secure

The neoprene-and-Velcro strap is simple to secure, made from soft knit fabric, and the holster accommodates toolless adjustment – passive retention, cant angle and ride height can all be adjusted by hand.

The ShapeShift shell is molded to the make and model of your pistol and the shell can be used with other holsters in the ShapeShift system – from open carry to concealed to shoulder.

The holster is simple to set up, and once you’ve got your pant leg over the top of it, you might even forget you’re wearing an ankle holster altogether (except for when you go to draw your gun.)

Over 60 model-specific sizes

The Alien Gear ShapeShift Ankle Holster comes in more than 60 different sizes for different handgun models in both left and right-hand orientation.

We found the Glock 17 model (what we used throughout this guide) worked great for our test unit in both orientations and throughout the different adjustment ranges, but you’re probably going to find the best fit with boots 6” or less in height, as we found it was most comfortable the closer it was to your actual ankle.

2. Best Universal Holster: Topmeet Ankle Holster

What we liked:

• Easy to wear
• Secures handguns well
• Fits any size handgun

What we didn’t:

• Large overall size
• Elastic is thinner than other options

The Topmeet ankle holsteruses a lower nylon belt paired with an upper leg band to give you stability that feels great on the leg, doesn’t pinch or bind, and stays put. It’s exceedingly simple to use, pistols slide into the holster easily, and they don’t move at all during walks or runs.

The neoprene bands also stayed rock-solid on our testers’ legs.

We found the Topmee holster lived up to their claim of accepting basically any sized handgun We tested .22LR pistols all the way up to a full-sized .357 magnum – and while the fit absolutely suffers the bigger the pistol (which makes sense) you can get a huge variety of pistols into it safely.

We do have a few some concerns about the Topmee leg bands’ durability as well as it’s overall size. But if you’re in the market for a true budget option, the Topmee is a solid and usable choice.

3. Best Semi-Auto Leather Holster: Holstermart Leather Holsters

What we liked:

• Firm, tight fit
• Quality leather
• Variety of options

What we didn’t:

• Leather not as breathable as neoprene

While not exactly in the premium leather price range, the Holstermart leather holsters are a little more expensive than other options and aren’t for everyone.

But if you want a versatile and quality leather ankle holster that’s priced well below other leather options but has many desirable features —like thumb breaks and soft padding on the skin side– Holstermart Leather Holsters are the best mix of high-quality and price point we’ve found.

Holstermart holsters are very comfortable and only get more so over time as the leather moulds and fits your ankle.

Versatile Leather Ankle Holsters

The holsters have enough elasticity in the leather to fit several different handguns – from revolvers to LCP 380s – and the fit on those only gets better over time as well.

While saddle leather offers less breathability than neoprene, it’s secure, reliable, is the kind used by law enforcement, and only gets better with age.

4. Best Revolver Leather Holsters: Holstermart USA TAGUA Premium

What we liked:

• Quality thumb break.
• Soft Backside improves comfort and sweat-wicking
• Big enough to fit most ankles

What we didn’t:

• Will require some break in to get the fit right
• Warmer on the skin than neoprene

Holstermart, as you might imagine, makes a lot of holsters. Our leather holster pick is the standard-size, HOLSTERMART USA TAGUA Premium, which is made quality leather and comes in a single size designed for small 38 specials with 1-7/8″ to 2-1/8″ barrels.

We successfully got a Taurus 856 Ultralite to fit  – albeit slightly tighter than other revolvers due to it’s larger cylinder but it seems like any smaller revolver would fit nicely after the holster breaks in.

Breaks in like a good leather shoe

Although the leather felt a bit stiff at first, we found that – much like a quality leather shoe or new wallet – after just a couple of walks and test runs it started to feel nicely worn in.

The strap loosened up in the right way as we tested, which required us to re-cinch once or twice, but this all felt very much like the process of getting the fit right.

Once we made a few adjustments, our test units didn’t shift or jostle at all during our tests, and the leather strap itself also stayed rock-solid on our tester’s legs.

5. Universal Runner-Up: Concealed Carrier (TM Ankle Holster)

For Glock owners, we really liked the quality feel of the Concealed Carrier Ankle Holster.

Thin, comfortable & stable

Instead of a bulky strap paired with a plastic shell, the Concealed Carrier (TM Ankle Holster) model uses a pair of super thin and breathable neoprene straps that wrap your leg above the calf and at the ankle.

Accommodates basically any Glock

It was designed to accommodate any size firearm from a sub-compact Glock 27 all the way up to a full-size G17, so there’s really no Glack hat won’t feel at home in this holster.

It wears cooler than most ankle holsters and feels much lighter thanks to the thinness of the neoprene; many of our testers enjoyed wearing it.

We do have concerns that the material may stretch over time.

That said, the thumb break makes it really easy to unseat the retention strap and draw the firearm quickly and effectively.

6. Best for Ruger LCP: Pro-Tech Outdoors

What we liked:

• Firm, tight fit
• Fits the LCP perfectly
• Price

What we didn’t:

• Can paint with anything tighter than loose jeans or slacks

If carrying a Ruger LCP is at the top of your list, the straightforward Pro-Tech Outdoors Ankle Holster may be just the ticket.

Keeps your Ruger in place

We were amazed at how securely the gun holster stayed in place when we loaded it up with our test LCP pistol and made a test run, ¼ mile jog, and ½ mile walk.

The mix of neoprene & Cordura ballistic nylon creates a great balance of comfort and stability. Additional useful features include a nylon velcro retention strap for the firearm and bonded nylon stitches which are double stitched at pressure points.

Will fit most ankles with ease

Like other ankle holsters, it’s adjustable and accommodates a number of ankle sizes. We recommend looser pants – jeans or slacks – as the way the Pro-Tech positions the grip of the pistol it tends to paint with anything tighter.

Each of these ankle holsters offers conceal carry enthusiasts variety of different features but our top pick is the Alien Gear ShapeShift Ankle Holster. We really like how it’s part of a modular system that can extend the carry capabilities beyond the ankle.

It also met the criteria for any ankle holster we’d recommend:

• Stable fit
• Comfortable, non-chafing material
• Will not slip or jostle on the move
• Easy to conceal

There are quite a few options out in this category, but we hope this article steers you in the right direction. If you have any questions or feedback please drop us a line.