I hate ankle carry. I can’t stand it. I used ankle carry quite extensively in years past for deep concealment needs when dressed formally, but the advent of such deep concealment solutions as the Phlster Enigma have eliminated my need for it to accommodate such dress. For medical, I daily pocket carry a minimalist kit of a tourniquet and a small pack of quick-clot gauze. Not only do I find ankle carry inconvenient and rather uncomfortable, but it also does not work for me during the summer, when I wear shorts most of the time, and even in the winter I often use “athletic wear” sweatpants (again, with a Phlster Enigma or other belly band solution) which does not work for ankle carry. It simply does not work well in my lifestyle.
Still, the ankle proves my only means of carrying a backup gun, on the rare occasion that I do. for most concealed carriers, the waistband usually can’t accommodate a second gun, and ankle carry serves the purpose well here. Like the vast majority of concealed carriers, I rarely carry a second gun, but I consider ankle carry a reserve option for times of increased unrest or greater-than-usual threat, such as what we saw during the summer of love, or other periods in which we have witnessed heightened civil unrest that can catch us, unexpectedly, in significant danger from aggressive criminal actors; multiple, perhaps many, criminal actors.
In the wake of such violence, many concealed carriers have looked into carrying discreet looking bags with further-than-usual armament and medical capability. This may serve well, depending on the environment, and I also always have a good EDC bag in the vehicle, and even on my person, depending on where I go. However, if things are more sketchy than usual, I like placing additional tools on-person, and the ankles are the only body location that can accommodate this, realistically, when in regular civilian clothing.
My daily carry already includes a primary carry gun, a reload, a light, OC Spray, a utility knife, and the minimal medical kit that is kept in-pocket. Therefore, my daily EDC already offers capability that is far beyond what the vast majority of the population carries to begin with. During greater-than-usual threat, however, I add an ankle-worn backup gun and an ankle-worn complete IFAK. This might be a good solution for you as well.
Things to Consider:
First, the pants need to be loose enough to fit and conceal the tools. Skinny jeans don’t work. I admit that I often wear fairly tight jeans, daily, but during a bad situation, it is easy enough to switch to the baggier pants.
Second, ankle carry can prove uncomfortable, so you need the right ankle holster and the right ankle medical cuff. A bad holster is like a torture device. A good one will not really be comfortable, but it will be bearable. The Galco Ankle Glove and the Wilderness Tactical Renegade are among the best here. Same issue with the IFAK ankle band. I like the Wilderness Tactical ankle cuff, but there are other good ones as well.
Third, to add significant comfort, wear thicker, long, socks. Another option I use, in addition to the full-length socks, is a sock that has the foot section cut off, leaving only the leg tube, that also goes on my calf below the sock, thus offering more padding, and going higher on the leg to keep the butt of the pistol or revolver off the bare skin. I find this additional layer unnecessary for the IFAK, but absolutely needed for the holster.
Ironically, I find carrying both the IFAK on one ankle, and the backup gun on the other, more comfortable than carrying only one or the other, as it seems to offer some kind of balance to the body. In any circumstance that compels me to wear a second gun, I certainly feel compelled to wear more medical gear, so the two additional tools together makes good sense.
In daily life when things are comparatively stable, I don’t wear anything on my ankles. However, if dealing with unstable conditions, I add the backup gun and the full IFAK to my ankles, and this supplements my EDC quite well, adding considerable capability to my person, all entirely concealed from common observation.
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