Home » Blogs » Question of the Day: Ankle Carry?

Question of the Day: Ankle Carry?

Robert Farago - comments No comments

In the video below, Alien Gear introduces the ShapeShift Ankle Holster, designed for close encounters of the bad guy kind. When either your primary firearm is out-of-action or ankle carry is the only discreet way to tool-up. The latter applies to a large segment of the population who work in . . .

https://youtu.be/mKr2hr6_FuQ

health care. There’s no other practical way to hide a gun under scrubs; although this unit looks a bit bulky for that duty. And it should also be noted there’s no less practical way to carry a gun.

Alien Gear’s glossy video shows the model drawing from the ShapeShift Ankle holster in various positions: standing, sitting, kneeling, skiing, pole vaulting, etc.

It looks easy enough — except the bending over bit. But ankle isn’t ideal. Especially when you consider that your ability to quickly and efficiently bring you gun to bear on a bad guy is more important than gun choice or caliber. So . . .

Do you ankle carry? Would you try ankle carry? Did you try ankle carry and give up?

Photo of author

Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “Question of the Day: Ankle Carry?”

  1. Well, when the state tells you, “why would you want to protect yourself? The state will do it for you”, yet turns a blind eye to and under-reports crimes done by “migrants” (that’s what they’re “refugees” now, to give the opposition to unfiltered and uncontrolled immigration a xenophobic slant), all in the name of “Zee progress”, people are going to lose faith in the State, and then they’re going to try to acquire means the protects themselves. And when the State tells them they cannot protect themselves, they will slowly but surely come to resent the State.
    Honestly, it’s going to be entertaining to watch how this plays out in the long run.

    Reply
  2. I did some ankle carry in a CC class I took years ago. I was bruised on both ankles when I was done there, one from the holster and gun rubbing, and on the other ankle from having the gun hit me while I tried to walk. A totally ridiculous idea, far as I’m concerned. I’d never try it again, especially out and about in public. And I don’t care how fancy the holster is, or what they claim for it.

    Reply
    • I wouldn’t dismiss it as ridiculous. My backup options per department policy as an LEO are limited to I have ankle carried my backup guns since I started. I’ve used a Glock 26, Ruger LCR, Smith and Wesson Shield, and Ruger LCP. I’ve carried those weapons in the same Galco Ankle Band and have ran foot pursuits, k9 tracks, through mud and snow and debris and never had it come loose. I wouldn’t use it is a primary carry unless no other option were available but it does have its uses.

      Reply
  3. Now I found more text from an archived version of his old webpage. He does mention penetrator rounds, but nothing specifically on real armor piercing rounds.

    More text from his old website:

    https://www.smammo.com/
    JUN JUL SEP
    Previous capture 15 Next capture
    2016 2017 2018
    47 captures
    6 Dec 2012 – 3 Feb 2018
    About this capture

    Home
    Limited Production
    12 Gauge
    .380acp
    9×19 / 9mm Luger
    .40S&W & 10mm
    .45 ACP
    5.56NATO / .223Rem.
    7.62x39mm
    .300 Blackout
    7.62NATO / .308Win.
    .30’06 / .30 US
    .300 Winchester Magnum
    Projectiles
    Video Gallery
    Contact Us
    Specialized Military Ammunition

    Specialized Military Ammunition, LLC (SMA) was started in 1991 as a small business to support the emerging needs of SOCOM for foreign ammunition cross training and fabrication of mission specific ammunition, from small lots of 100 rounds to 10,000 rounds. SMA prospered with this relationship and continued to expand, eventually entering limited sales to civilians.

    In the mid 2000’s contracts began to shrink dramatically due to funding decreases, and private civilian sales began to dominate the majority of our business. We have been fortunate to evaluate many types of foreign and domestic high performance ammunition from .380acp tracer and incendiary rounds, 5.56NATO / .223REem. tracer, raufoss, and penetrator rounds, 7.62NATO / .308Win. raufoss, and tracer rounds as well as foreign military ammunition and incorporate the best of what we tested into our product.

    SMA has had the opportunity to establish invaluable relationships with people on the leading edge of advanced ammunition technology and development. We will gladly share information and experiences with our customers to ensure that all expectations are met and common pitfalls are avoided.

    We currently offer new loaded specialty ammunition, recovered reloading components and brass processing for 5.56 and 7.62 NATO as well as loaded ammunition – both civilian and military. Common products range from demilitarized components to new small arms ammunition components such as ball, tracer, incendiary, incendiary tracer, armor piercing and armor piercing incendiary in NATO and COMBLOCK calibers.

    Our Policy

    SMA fully gurantees all ammunition sold 100%. If there is a complaint; either a full refund will be given or more ammunition. The customer is always right! Even if the “incendiary doesn’t trace when shot in the air.” Tracer is a flare in the base of the bullet ignited by the propellant, incendiary is a charge loaded in the nose of the bullet jacket and is detonated upon impact with a hard object.

    Reply
  4. It has always been difficult for me to conceal an ankle carry rig when you sit, the pant leg rides up a bit, etc. Seems to work well for me when standing all the time but that is pretty limiting. In non-permissible environments I find myself using the Smartcarry “thunderwear“ style of holster. Once you are used to using it, it is quite easy to conceal a .38, a 380 or a single stack nine.

    Reply
  5. From a family in healthcare, infection control is top priority. The most contaminated article of clothing are the shoes. Scrubs get washed with bleach, shoes get wipe downs with alcohol. I would like to know what the maker says about sterilization of the holster. Needless to say the gun needs periodic wipe downs also.

    Reply
  6. Obviously, shooting random “foreigners” to avenge a killing is beyond the pale. The Italian shooter had no legal or moral justification for taking innocent life.”

    Bullshit. Immigration is invasion. Therefore there is both a legal, and more clearly moral obligation to expel them by any means necessary.

    I hope the local townspeople erect a statue in his honor.

    Reply
  7. From first hand experience, I know that it is very hard to hit anything with your rifle from inside a moving car. And that’s if you’re on smooth asphalt. Its almost impossible to do if you’re on a dirt or gravel road.

    It gets much harder to shoot if you’re also the driver.

    Reply
  8. Any time I’m wearing pants for the past 5 years . G26 in a galco ankle holster. Very comfortable to me. Took a little getting used to with the weight on one foot. I’ll carry 2 spare mags on my opposite ankle allot too. I prefer it because it’s very discreet and being in and out of tractors and trucks or wiggling around equipment for servicing it doesn’t get in the way like a IWB or shoulder holster does.

    Reply
  9. Most regulation and licensing imposed on us by Government, are a load of crap.
    That said, Disregarding ones we don’t like, is not much better.
    If a licensing requirement is B.S. work to change it or shut up and comply with it.
    It can be done, We just elect a President that is doing just that.
    If this guy did what the Government is accusing him of, he should have to pay for it.

    Reply
  10. Tried it many years ago, when I was new to firearms, with a less than ideal setup involving a modified nylon holster and a steel frame Taurus 85. Very uncomfortable. Have recently considered trying to carry a Shield on ankle as a second gun for access while driving, but I’ve got problems walking as is due to injuries, so I haven’t pursued the idea any further.

    Reply
  11. Didn’t Rose McGowan once replace much of her leg with an M16. It seemed to work well enough for her. Maybe that was before she went crazy though.

    Reply
  12. Alien Gear seems to be proficient with keeping cost down, innovative design and effective marketing. That’s all certainly important for keeping a company in business. I’ll even say that their customer service is great, based on anecdotal evidence from friends.

    But I’ve compared their neoprene backing with my Stealth Gear Ventcore holsters. It’s not even close to the same comfort and moisture wicking ability. For this new design, I almost set that substandard feature aside. But you mean to tell me they’re manufacturing these ankle holsters for the xds 3.3″ and the big @$$ xdm, but not the newer xds 4.0″? What the heck?

    Reply
  13. It says culpable manslaughter, which means this was probably an accident due to negligence, and not an instance of somebody else hunting The Most Dangerous Game.

    Still, it’s a lesson: Be very choosy about your field companions, and always be aware of your surroundings. Dick Cheney, I’m talking to you.

    Reply
    • “South African police have opened a culpable homicide (manslaughter) investigation”
      This makes it sound like it was negligent, but I’m trying imagine how it could have been. If the second animal was literally “in his sights”, then I would imagine that he was quite still, and whoever had him in his sights must have been able to identify. Was this an open plain or thick bush? I imagine open plain, but am not sure.

      It seems like murder, but I know very little about this. I do not know what is involved in the South African police investigation. Since the hunter probably paid a lot for the hunt(s), I would think they’d consider the possibility of murder if it was one. They want to encourage future business. Then again, it may depend on who’s paying them the most, if there is funding from any other group.

      Reply
  14. Do you ankle carry? Would you try ankle carry? Did you try ankle carry and give up?

    I tried it one time just to see what it was like. The holster kept falling down toward my shoe. Even worse, it really felt awkward having that extra weight at my feet and it felt like I could not come anywhere close to running fast with it. Finally, it seemed like a bad idea if I ever had to deliver a martial arts kick to someone. So I promptly gave it up.

    Reply
  15. I’ve carried a back ip on my ankle for nearly 30 years. This holster is too thick because of the injection molded insert. Get a Desantis Apache, you’ll be happier.

    Reply
  16. “And according to the Amazonian product page, you can use the ThruNite Ti4 CW lm Compact LED Penlight as an endoscope..”

    Which end do you intend on scoping? I ask because this device doesn’t look very flexible.

    Reply
  17. Guy on a canned hunt killing lions bred to be killed was killed. Sorry, not sorry. People like that give hunting a bad name anyway.

    Reply
  18. You can see from the pics the mag release isn’t reversible. Why the hell wouldn’t they make it reversible or at least use the stock gen 4 release. Strange.

    Reply
  19. With proper shot placement with the right cartridge, I assume lion kills can be humane. Concerning animal “rights”, which seems to be the topic of discussions here, I think the primary factor would be how ethically they were treated in captivity. Were they treated well, or kept in a tiny cage and only fed and watered? I thought that’s what they do in puppy mills and various meat raising farms pretty much everywhere. You can eat meat, but as for lion humaneness I’d be more concerned about shot placement and living conditions for lions rather than if lion hunts are “fair”, if they get eaten, etc.

    Reply
  20. I have wear a dress shirt, tucked in, for work. Fortunately, only a couple of days a week. Thought the “Urban carry” style would work, but read reviews of printing, and there’s that exterior flap….
    I use the Crossbreed ankle rig. I am of a slight build, so it barely fit, and have no padding around the ankle bone. I solved both with cutting the toe off of a low rise sock, then put it on backwards, so the heel portion (where there is extra padding) lands just above the bone. Then my dress sock over the top of that. The calf strap helps a lot.
    I’m fortunate that I’m really a 31″ inseam for trousers, which nobody has on the rack, so with a 32″, my pants always ride long.
    It’s not ideal, but doable, and beats the hell out of the alternative – no gun!
    Handgun – S&W Shield in 9mm, but considering a smaller one (Ruger LC9 or bodyguard, Beretta Nano, or similar.

    Reply
  21. First, I’m kinda surprised the school has a way for students to check guns instead of banning them outright.

    But I’m a little confused as to the how and why some detective at a range would go after this kid. HOW does he know the guy is unable to lawfully possess? Why would he care?

    I’m guessing there’s more to this story.

    Reply
  22. I worked hard mowing lawns for many summers to save money for my Life Membership to the NRA because I was led to believe they were the 2000lb gorilla in the gun rights room.

    They can change but, sportsman,hunters skeet tards only care about their double barrel cuz they are too ignorant to see the big picture and stand strong with the semi-auto rifle/pistol owner.

    The NRA will die or just become the weak FUDD NRA!

    #ShallNotBeInfringed is just that NRA!

    They failed us with bump-stocks rate increasing devices….saying its ok to ban plastic junk etc.. setting dangerous precedents!

    Every gun owner should join the GOA because its about NO COMPROMISE!

    You cannot compromise with gun hating gun ban liberals because we have given almost all of our rights away and gained back very little …..

    Instead of constantly being on the defense lets go on a WW3 offense and earn all of rights back through activism,education and exposing the anti-freedom politicians!

    All gun owners should be harassing politely… the hell out of all their Reps daily!

    Reply
  23. “… the problem is what I term emotional entitlement syndrome — the narcissistic belief that certain feelings are all the excuse one requires to justify anti-social and/or self-destructive behavior.” — John Rosemond

    And no one else has figured this out until now?

    Reply

Leave a Comment