30 G&A october 2019 |the cArry riG
sock underneath the Gun Sox holstering system, but it may
make your leg sweat and trap the moisture under the sock
— especially if it’s cotton. (Stretx is breathable.)
Whether you wear it over a sock or against skin, the Gun
Sox is machine washable, fast drying and doesn’t shrink.
The material’s elastic properties won’t break down as long
as it is air dried.
The Gun Sox is ambidextrous with Stretx compression
pouches sewn to both sides as well as a pouch at the
front. The sewn-in pockets are deep and will accept a
pistol with a slide length of about 4 inches. The material
is elastic, so it will stretch to accommodate a little more or
less depending on the contour of your calf and size of your
ankle. I managed to insert a Glock 19 to explore its limits,
but reverted back to carrying smaller pistols and revolvers,
which made it easier to cover the grip with the pant leg of
jeans. When selecting a gun, consider grip shape care-
fully; you want to avoid printing. However, the gun’s grip
is pulled inward towards the calf for a slimmer profile and
better concealment than other ankle rigs we’ve evaluated.
With a handgun inserted,
the weight feels less than
you’d expect because
the gun is held so firmly
against your lower leg. The
top flap envelops the grip
and secures the handgun.
A bra-style hook and clip
also protects the trouser
leg. The pistol is held so
securely by the compres-
sion material that it doesn’t
move, even if you are run-
ning, jumping or kicking.
When carrying a small,
single-stack 9mm pistol, I
found the opposite pouch
convenient for carrying a
spare magazine. I used the front pouch to store a tourni-
quet. (I encourage carrying a tourniquet as part of your
everyday carry.) Ideally, you could carry a spare magazine
and tourniquet on the opposite leg of your handgun by
wearing a Gun Sox on both legs. This would also balance
out the weight of carrying a heavier gun in the holster.60-Day carry I‘ve been wearing the Cheata Tactical
Original Gun Sox for 2 months, and I intend to continue.
Besides the time it takes to pull it on in the morning and
off in the evening, I have found no disadvantage to carry-
ing a handgun in this holstering system all day. That said,
by the end of the day, I am ready to take it off (as I am with
any compression-fit garment).
With a handgun inserted, there was no shifting or sliding
of the holster down the leg. Although it can be worn with
boots, I found it most comfortable while wearing low-cut
shoes. The constriction of certain boots may dictate the
length of barrel you can comfortably holster. Shooters who
wear boots should look at Cheata’s new Mid-Calf Holster.
If you need the added
security of a non-collapsing
holster, Cheata Tactical also
offers a hard-shell anchored
insert for specific handguns
and sold separately. (Guns
& Ammo’s staff will evaluate
that variation soon.)
Drawing a concealed
pistol from the Gun Sox is
a process that should be
practiced with an unloaded
gun before depending on
it. With a gun inserted and
further concealed by a pant
leg, you must take a knee
and use two hands to pull
the pant leg high enough to
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