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Product: Crossbreed Ankle Holster
Specifications: size depends on gun model — website walks you through selection
Get it here: Crossbreed ankle holster
Have you decided to try ankle carry? Looking for a good ankle holster? Let’s take a look at Crossbreed’s entry into the type. Note: as far as I know Crossbreed has never heard of me except as a customer. I bought this months ago and received no consideration, free stuff, etc. If you follow one of the links below I may earn a small commission. See this for more details.
Table of Contents
When/why ankle carry?
Everyone has their own answer for this. For me, it’s useful when two conditions occur: I’m driving and I’m wearing pants. By that last I mean long pants. I live in AZ. I’m writing this in June and today’s high will be 104°. I haven’t worn long pants recently and probably won’t until November. Those of you in cooler climates will probably have more opportunities for ankle carry than I.
Other than when those conditions are met I don’t really use this method. To draw your gun you normally have to drop to one knee. That is a problem for me. The alternate method is to raise your leg up near your waist. That is a bigger problem for me. But when sitting, I love it.
The pants problem.
Problem is probably overstating. But you certainly need to consider the dimensions of your pants leg when thinking of putting a gun on your ankle.
First, they should be long enough. Obvious enough, right? Check them standing, sitting, reaching up over your head or any other motion you’re likely to make during a normal day. Have someone who knows you carry assist with this if possible.
Second, the pants need to be loose enough. To get to the gun you’re going to have to raise the leg of your pants above the grip of the gun. That will be easier if they’re loose, yes? With jeans, I’ve found ones marked “boot cut” seem to work the best. With khakis you’ll just have to try them. And then keep this in mind when buying new ones.
Now to the Crossbreed
First, here it is.
The holster comes in two parts, connected by a Velcro-adjustable strap. The bottom part is where the gun goes. The top goes around your calf just under your knee. The Velcro adjustment is to get the distance between the two correct for you.
This is not a formed, specific to the gun holster. It’s somewhat generic but does come in three different sizes. If you look at the picture of the back you’ll see that it says “S, LH.” So it’s the small version and it’s for a left-hand draw. When you order it you will be asked for the type of firearm that you have and they just ship you the correct one. Once you have it you can use whatever gun fits. I originally ordered mine for my Beretta Pico. As expected, it fits fine.
It also fits my Springfield 911 in 9mm.
Note about the Springfield. It’s a single action gun with a manual safety. While the gun in the picture is empty, I do have the action cocked and locked for demonstration purposes. The strap is blocking the hammer from falling and the manual safety is also covered by the strap preventing deactivation.
If you go to Crossbreed’s site and check the drop downs you’ll find options for Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers and even an M&P Shield. Those are different sizes than mine. Neither my Shield nor my J-frame will fit safely into my holster.
How is it on a daily basis?
The first few times I put it on were a bit of a chore. That’s because it takes a little time to get it adjusted for yourself. You have to get the connecting strap adjusted and figure out where you want to wear it. Yes, you wear it on your ankle. You can wear it either dead center on the inside, slightly forward, or slightly rearward. I do either dead center to slightly forward, myself. It’s just a little more comfortable for me. See below.
I do wear this mostly while driving so it just kind of sits there. The only thing you really have to watch out for is the upper strap. Get it too high and the edges can wear on the skin of the back of your thigh. They’re not sharp, exactly, but after a couple hours they can start to feel that way unless you get it set correctly.
Sometimes I do deliveries which involves driving, getting in and out of the car, and then doing some walking. It’s been quite comfortable doing all of that. Again, once you get it set right. I’ve worn the holster for 8-10 hours at a time with no issues. I recommend you take the time at first to get it set, then wear it a couple hours at a time, making adjustments as needed.
In the picture below you can see the lower adjustments. The larger of the two is what goes around the ankle first. The smaller one loops through the D-ring on the right and comes back over to adjust the tension.
At the end of your day taking it off is nothing. Take out the gun, remove the upper strap, undo the lower tensioning strap and main connector and it just comes right off.
Concealability
That’s sort of the point, right? Can anyone see it? No. If you pay attention to the pants you’re wearing (no high-waters or tight cuffs) and adjust it correctly then no one can see it. One of the things you’re adjusting for is length. There’s a bit of tension between two criteria: the lower it sits the easier it is to get and the more likely it is to poke out of the bottom of your pants when you sit down. I know I’m saying this a lot but you have to adjust it for yourself to get it right.
Accessibility
If you have the ability to drop to one knee efficiently then you will be able to use this more effectively than I when standing or walking. When sitting, though, all you have to do is bend over a bit, lift the pants, release the Velcro closure and pull the gun. I wouldn’t call it fast, exactly, but it’s perfectly acceptable. Like Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice.
Cons
Nothing is perfect, right? I see two areas for improvement. First, those upper strap edges really can get annoying until you get them right. Second, I’m just not a big fan of Velcro releases in general. I’d much prefer some sort of snap thumb break. They’re much easier to work in a hurry. It’s possible to release half or three quarters of a Velcro closure which means the gun is still secured. A snap is quicker with a clear noise that the gun is released.
Should you buy one?
If you’re looking for a comfortable, adjustable ankle holster for J-frame, Shield, Pico, 911, or similar sized gun then yes. It’s a great holster that wears easily, conceals well, and is easily accessible. Any questions or comments, let me know below. Or head on over to Crossbreed’s site to pick one up.
