In the summer, I wear shorts most of the time. That said, the climate where I live in the Northeast has several months that are often brutally cold, with several more that aren’t quite warm. As such, long pants are in order for at least half of the year (for me, anyway), so an ankle holster—especially for a backup gun—makes sense. Today we’re taking a look at an ankle holster from Bulldog Cases.
Ankle carry has at least one major advantage — concealability.
If you wear regular pants or jeans, concealing a handgun on the ankle is very effective. Of course, if you prefer skinny jeans, don’t bother.
I tried out the Bulldog Extreme Ankle Holster and it worked like a charm; it was nearly undetectable. At no point did anyone even come close to realizing that I was carrying a revolver on my ankle. For deeper cover than normal, this system is great and it would work very well for a BUG (Back Up Gun). Many people carry a small revolver for backup, and this system keeps it out of the way.
Are there any downsides to carrying on the ankle?
Unfortunately, nothing seems to come with a free lunch. Accessing the revolver in an emergency is going to be nowhere near as fast as if you are carrying at your waist, such as Inside The Waistband (IWB) or Outside The Waistband (OWB). Or most other modes, for that matter. You will have to bend down (most likely kneel down) in order to access the weapon. During an emergency, you probably don’t want to be kneeling down in front of a threat.
Another factor is how the weapon is secured into this holster, which is by a nylon strap that has hook and loop fastening material. It is not a thumb break system; rather, the strap goes over the top of the handgun and secures it down below. So you have to rip the strap upwards and then draw out the handgun. This is, naturally, after you’ve pulled your pant leg up to expose the holster/gun so that you can access it. It’s not the fastest draw. That’s the reality of deeper concealment—it’s going to take a bit longer to draw the weapon.
Comfort
Wearing the ankle holster with a fairly light revolver, my leg was not unduly fatigued. Mind you, I’d not want to go jogging with a handgun on my ankle, but overall, there was no issue. If I wore a heavier steel revolver, then it probably would be more of an issue. It’s important to select the right gun.
The holster is comfortable to wear. The wide, elastic strap wraps around the ankle and is secured by hook and loop material. It’s made of a very stretchy material that is comfortable to wear for the long term. It doesn’t cut off my circulation, which is a plus.
I found it extremely easy and fast to get it to fit just right to my leg—snug but not too tight. I routinely wear boots, so I didn’t affix it directly to my ankle, but above the boot top to my calf. There, it is very comfortable to wear.
Security
The ankle holster holds the handgun securely, so there’s no worry that the gun will go flying across the pavement should you become active. The strap that secures the gun into the holster seems to do its job well. And the main strap that attaches the holster to the leg is very secure too. Overall, no need to worry about security with this holster.
Construction
The entire ankle holster is constructed of heavy nylon. Overall, it is a rugged piece of gear that will last for years. The shell of the holster is padded to protect the firearm, and it also adds comfort for the wearer. The edges of the holster are nicely stitched and have nylon hems. All stitching seems to be nylon and is durable.
Versatility
Several different sizes of Bulldog Extreme Series Ankle Holster are available to accommodate various handguns, including most .22, .25, and .32 North American Derringers. The one that I tried (Size 2), fits revolvers with 2 to 2-1/2-inch barrels such as S&W J-Frame, Taurus 85, etc. The Size 3 fits most compact autos with 2 1/2-inch to 3 3/4-inch barrels (M&P Compact, etc.). Finally, the largest size fits most sub-compact autos with 2-3 inch barrels, such as the Glock 42 and 43, Ruger LC9, Bodyguard, etc. The Bulldog Ankle Holster is not precision molded, so there is a good bit of latitude in which handguns will fit. It’s sort of a one-size-fits-many affair.
The Final Word
Overall, this holster offers serious concealment and is very well constructed. It retains the handgun well and won’t let it go unless you want it to. Without a doubt, this ankle holster will last for years of hard use. At the time of this writing, the holsters sell for around twenty bucks at GunMag Warehouse. Considering the quality that’s involved, that’s a darn good deal!
