Aimed at those who want the comfort and convenience of a skirt but with the protection of a holstered gun, the Tuck & Carry occupies what I term apparel holsters -- that is clothing/holster duos. With four holster pockets to choose from, the Tuck & Carry looks to provide versatility; but does it actually hold up to the rigors of concealed carry? Let's find out. 

Tuck & Carry


Utilizing an ambidextrous approach, the skirt comes equipped with four pockets on the beltline ready to accommodate firearms up to 23-ounces. The holster pockets are, just that, pockets more or less. Using an elastic style fabric for retention, the gun nestles inside the area between the wearer and the elastic. A slightly smaller pocket sits on top of the holster with enough space for a CCW permit or similarly sized ID card -- more on this in a bit. 

The skirt's waistband is made from an 84 percent Nylon/16 percent Spandex combo, which feels pretty soft and comfortable against the skin. The waistband is also equipped with a decorative and useful drawstring if you need to tighten the skirt. Sizes range from XS to XXL. 

In addition to front concealed carry holsters, the skirt also features two firearm holsters in the rear to carry in the kidney position. Pictured above is a Sig Sauer P238. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

The skirt comes in black only -- a classic in the fashion industry known for pairing with just about anything. Alexo Athletica has done a fantastic job creating a skirt that easily transitions from the boardroom to the soccer field. I've worn this with a t-shirt and low-rise Converse for a scaled-down look as well as with a nice button-up blouse and heels for a dressed-up date night aesthetic. The strength of the Tucky & Carry comes from its versatility to adapt to the wearers' needs. 

Not to mention, it has pockets! Yes, I said pockets. This might not seem like a big deal to some, but those of us who identify as women know this is a huge win. With faux pockets prevalent in women's clothing, a good pocket that is deep enough to store keys, and even your cellphone is a welcomed change. The Tuck & Carry pockets stowed my giant iPhone X Max with room to spare. 

Concealed Carry


While I love the Tuck & Carry look, the real question centers on whether it is a worthy option for concealed carry. Full disclosure, I am not a huge fan of apparel-style holsters, and I rarely find myself in need of one since I spend most days working out of my home office in jeans. That said, I realize not every concealed carrier has that same luxury, so I wanted to give this a try. 

The Tuck & Carry Skirt can accommodate guns up to 23-ounces, which amounts to about the size of a Smith & Wesson Shield, pictured above. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

After researching, I decided to test the skirt out with my Sig Sauer P238 and Smith & Wesson Shield. Both on the smaller side, these both fell within Alexo's guidelines for carry. I ordered a size small, and it fit my 5-foot 2-inch, 100-pound frame perfectly.  As far as comfort, this skirt has it. It's light, breathable, and stylish -- all the things you want in quality above the knee skirt. Not to mention, pockets -- it bears repeating. 

Concealed carry-wise, the skirt performed as expected. After a year with its Carry Runners, I came to this review already familiar with the Alexo design. I knew what to expect, and that consistency is advantageous for the company and its products. The holster pockets retained my gun well, though I intend to conduct further testing to see how the fabric maintains over time. 

I paired the skirt with a few different outfits and was pleasantly surprised by how well it concealed both guns at the same time. That's right; I wasn't entirely committed to just carrying one gun during testing. Who wants to be tied down like that? So, I opted to on-board the Sig P238 and S&W Shield simultaneously. Since the Shield is slightly larger, I placed it in the AIWB position and moved the Sig to the right kidney pocket. It was not only comfortable but rather convenient to have two guns. Should I experience a malfunction, I have an extra option at the ready. I'm not advocating that you tote two pistols on the regular, but it's a nod to the design that it can handle this tall order. The Sig seemed the most at ease in the Tuck & Carry while the Shield had a tighter fit. Printing was next to nothing, if at all. If you want a holster that makes your gun, or guns, disappear, this is it. 

Drawing is non-problematic, with both the Sig P238 and S&W Shield coming from the holster with ease. Reholstering is a different story, though, as there's no good way to do it without flagging your fingers.  (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Drawing was easy and unobstructed. Reholstering, on the other hand, isn't as intuitive. The holster pocket design means I am almost always inadvertently flagging one of my fingers as I pop the gun back in place. As someone who prescribes to the mantra, "Don't point the gun at anything you don't want to shoot," reholstering makes me a tad nervous. A tab or something that would allow me to separate the elastic from the skirt to insert the gun would be a nice feature. 

While we're talking about wish list items, let's also address the elephant in the room. There's no trigger guard. This isn't unique to the Tuck & Carry as an overwhelming majority of fabric style holsters do not use any kind of trigger guard, but it is a feature I wish more companies pursued. With little kids running around, unguarded trigger areas aren't my preference. 

Alexo hasn't totally forsaken concealed carrying mommas like myself, though. Remember that small pocket I mentioned earlier that sits on top of the holster areas? That is intended to be used as a trigger guard. Stick with me here; the pocket is sized for an ID or credit card which, when inserted, creates a barrier between the outside world and firearm. With a card in that slot, you cannot engage the trigger. What Alexo accomplishes in this construction is a safer way to carry without trading off concealment by using a bulky Kydex shell. Do keep in mind, you will need to remove said ID when you aren't wearing the skirt or before washing. 

The Tuck & Carry does not offer a trigger guard to prevent the trigger's movement, but the company does provide a small pocket ahead of the holster. This pocket easily fits an ID card -- like my own CCW permit -- which can act as a makeshift trigger guard. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Final Thoughts

BROWNING Buck Mark Plus Lite

The skirt is both simple and clean, allowing it to be dressed up or down depending on the wearer's needs. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Real talk, I won't be trading this in for my EDC AIWB rig, and I still heavily advocate for molded IWB holsters when concealed carrying since they are the safest option, in my opinion. All things considered, having this as a backup for dressier events isn't a bad idea. 

Overall, I appreciate Alexo's consistency among its products in addition to the sleek, classic look of the Tuck & Carry. If you're on the hunt for an apparel holster, and you're dedicated to the safety aspects you need to adopt to make it work, the Tuck & Carry is the best I've tried. 

The Alexo Athletica Tuck & Carry is available from Alexo Athletica with an MSRP of $76.

revolver barrel loading graphic

Loading