By accident of birth and editorial inclination, I’ve become something of a woman’s holster guru. Over the last month or so, ladies have been sending me links to the Dene Adams corset holster, wanting to know if it’s worth the $119.99. Good question! To paraphrase the Bard, once more into the britches, dear Horatio . . .
When I opened the package for the Dene Adams corset holster I was smitten by the delicate lace and champagne color. I prefer a lighter color for concealment; it lets me wear white or light colored clothing without revealing that I’m packing. After unpacking — both the corset and my Taurus snub-nosed .357 revolver in its belly band — I clocked the complementary trigger guard for my Ruger LCP .380 and slipped on Dene’s handiwork.
Most corset holsters remind me why corsets went out of fashion; unless you’re into BDSM they aren’t wearable for longer than about an hour at a time. The champagne SLIM corset in a size XS was surprisingly comfortable. I wore the Dene Adams corset while vacuuming, sweeping and mopping the floors, changing all three beds and doing three loads of laundry. It was so comfortable I almost (almost) forgot I was wearing it.
The corset comes with two pouches for two guns, or one gun and spare magazines. After four hours of chores with the Ruger LCP and my knife in the corset, I swapped the blade for a Springfield XD. Female fans of the New York reload (as demonstrated by Massad Ayoob) will be pleased to know the Dene Adams corset accommodates two guns comfortably enough.
Wearability didn’t change much but the extra weight was noticeable. Plus the larger XD printed. It wasn’t terrible, especially as I was wearing a looser and longer top with leggings.
Both of the holster pouches come with a velcro “strap” to hold the gun in place. Truth be told, I didn’t use it. The guns were secure enough on their own — triggers protected — without needing to worry about latching them in place. Plus I like being able to quickly and efficiently grab my gun if I need it. That is, after all, the whole point of carrying a gun in the first place.
I had Dene Adams fashion a trigger guard for the corset. The corset’s reinforced fabric is fairly effective on its own as a trigger guard, but the tiny piece of plastic offers additional peace of mind. The LCP’s trigger guard has a textured strip on it that sticks to the inside of the corset, making drawing the gun extremely safe and easy. In terms of retention, I’m not confident enough to do a handstand without the velcro strap securely in place, but who does?
The wearer can rotate the corset to place the gun in a comfy spot. They can wear it forwards for appendix carry, backwards for back carry or twisted to the right or left to place the gun on the preferred hip. All positions proved comfortable save back carry — a personal opinion which has nothing to do with the corset or its limitations.
The corset closes with two rows of hook and eye clasps to adjust tightness. I originally had mine on as loose as it would go, but found it got more comfortable when I “snugged” it up and used the second row of clasps instead. There are 11 total hooks and eyes in each row to clasp together. This has to be done before putting the gun in the corset.
Draw from the Dene Adams corset holster is easy; the grip of the gun sticks out the top of the corset. Although this affords a superior draw, it makes for slightly more difficult concealment. I’d rather have the gun readily available and change my top to hide the printing, rather than adjust the garment for deeper concealment.
One unique point about this corset compared to others I’ve reviewed: it doesn’t have a no-slip strip to prevent movement under clothes. That’s a feature not a bug. Those strips are hot, itchy, sticky and do little for the discomfort they provide.
Quality * * * * *
The Dene Adams corset is sturdily built, well-sewn and machine washable.
Retention * * * * *
The velcro strap will keep your gun really secure, at the cost of extending draw time.
Price * * * *
At $119.99, it’s the most expensive corset I’ve reviewed. It’s also the best by a wide margin.
Comfort * * * * *
The Dene Adams corset is perfectly wearable for extended periods of time, although a little warm on the skin (like any corset).
Concealment * * * * 1/2
When using the corset with a larger gun with snug tops, printing happens. But it’s relatively minor (and not a crime). Minor outfit changes or corset adjustments – such as spinning it slightly — will eliminate the problem.
OVERALL * * * * *
The Dene Adams corset holster’s worth the money. It’s the most comfortable and firearms-secure such garment yet tested.