This new holster can essentially be configured into however you wish to carry your gun. In other words, this can be an inside-the-waistband holster, an outside-the-waistband holster, you can wear it right handed, you can wear it left handed. If you’re not sure how you wish to carry your gun each day, then this holster is definitely for you because it allows you to carry in several different body positions. (http://shop.blade-tech.com; 877-331-5793)
When my wife began carrying a gun several years ago, she decided that purse carry was the best option for her. We looked at several concealed-carry purses and she said they were all ugly and she wouldn’t carry any of them. Finally, I think there’s a purse that my wife might find fashionable enough to use. The Satchel by Concealed Carrie not only looks good, but you can access the gun from both the inside of the purse and the outside, depending on your draw preference. Also, you can remove the holster from the purse and adjust the position to whatever way you like to carry the gun. The purse is designed for compact guns or smaller. (http://www.concealedcarrie.com; 844-522-7743)
I am a flashlight junkie. I’ve got three flashlights on my nightstand, several in my pocket, and even more in my office. Since I own so many flashlights I’m not easily impressed when a new flashlight enters the market. However, what I saw from ExtremeBeam recently definitely caught my attention. The best way I can describe it is that ExtremeBeam has created a “transformer” flashlight. In short, you can have a larger and longer flashlight that puts out up to 400 lumens. If you want a smaller flashlight, you can unscrew and remove the centerpiece and you now have a compact flashlight that puts out about 200 lumens. This is a very cool design in which you essentially get two flashlights in one. (http://www.extremebeam.com; 877-579-7878)
I own many Fobus holsters and have used them for years at my pistol courses. However, these are the standard outside-the-waistband (OWB) Kydex holsters that most of us are familiar with. Finally, Fobus has come out with its version of the popular hybrid holsters. What makes the company’s IWBS hybrid concept unique is that the backing is polymer injected, which means it won’t absorb sweat and get all nasty during the summer months. But what I really like about the design is that this holster is not made for a specific gun but can fit a variety of firearms of a similar size. This will keep you from having to buy 10 different holsters that you likely won’t use. (http://www.fobusholster.com; 267-803-1517)
Liberty is well known for its full-sized gun safes, but it recently released its Home Defender Series, which are the small biometric, rapid-access safes that many of us have positioned around our homes. Since speed is critical when opening these small gun safes, the company boasts that its fingerprint technology can open the safe in one second when it’s hooked up to the AC adapter and two seconds when using a 9v battery. What I really like about the HDX-150 and HDX-250 safes is that they have a lighted interior so you can easily access your gun and any accessories. They can also store up to 15 different fingerprints so multiple people can have access to the safe. (http://www.libertysafe.com; 800-247-5625)
I own a few holsters by N82 Tactical and, like many people, I love the suede backing of the holsters because it makes concealed carry much more comfortable. New for 2015, the company released its Spare Mag Holster. This magazine holster is designed similarly to its gun holsters in that it has a suede backing and easily clips onto your belt. While not everyone carries an extra magazine, maybe more will start since this new magazine holster makes it more comfortable to do so than ever. (http://www.n82tactical.com; 336-237-1943)
Being a former police officer, I’m always in favor of products that will allow law enforcement to do their job more safely. The Quiqlite Pro is a small flashlight that clips to a shirt pocket, keeping your hands free. I tested it out and it’s a simple-to-use product that also comes in various light colors to protect your night vision. I can see this as a product that would be very handy when camping and spending time outdoors. Also, as I mentioned earlier, it’s a tiny flashlight so it can be used as an everyday carry flashlight as well. (http://www.quiqlite.com; 866-496-2506)
As someone who’s trained in all types of weather from rain to snow, I know how critical it is to have a solid set of grips on your concealed-carry gun. Talon Grips just released a new redesign of its grips that will work on any generation of Glock you own, which for me is several. What makes these new grips better is that they cover more of the surface area of your gun, so there’s very little of your hand that is not touching the grip. Also, these new grips will not cover the Glock logo. (http://www.talongrips.com; 970-879-9600)
If you carry concealed it’s obviously critical to have a solid set of sights on your gun. Luckily for you and me, we have a ton of options these days when it comes to sights that will allow us to acquire our target quicker. One of the new sights that impressed me is the new TFX sights by TRUGLO. What makes these sights special is that they’re fiber-optic sights that are fully encased. In other words, many fiber-optic sights have no “housing,” so if you clean your gun the chemicals can damage the fiber-optic sights. Also, if you were to drop your gun or hit it against something you could also damage the sights. But these sights are fully protected so they should be able to withstand all types of training conditions. Also, even though these sights are brand new, there’s already a set that’s been made for the popular Glock. (http://www.truglo.com; 972-774-0300)
You want a quality pair of sunglasses whether you’re simply walking around town, going to the shooting range or attending an all-day pistol course. Wiley X has made those glasses, and the company’s products have been used by both the military and law enforcement for years. Its new Black Ops WX Tide meets stringent safety standards, meaning if a piece of brass flies into them they’re not going to shatter into a thousand pieces. The glasses also feature what the company calls a “soft-foam Facial Cavity” seal. What this means is that there’s a small foam insert that blocks out wind and dirt to protect your vision in extreme situations. (http://www.wileyx.com; 800-776-7842)
Anyone who’s trained with a laser on their gun knows that you need to be able to see the laser in all types of conditions and that it also needs to easily turn on. After all, if your life is on the line and you have to fumble to turn on your laser, then that extra second or two may end up getting you injured or worse. Viridian’s new Reactor 5 is a weapon-mounted green laser that is easier to see than a red laser. But most importantly, it comes with the company’s instant-on ECR holster. In short, when you draw your gun from the holster, the laser automatically comes on so the only thing you need to be thinking about is making sure you hit what you’re aiming at. (http://www.viridiangreenlaser.com; 800-990-9390)
A lot of people use soft earplugs when they go to the shooting range. The problem with these soft plugs is they don’t always fit your ear right or they don’t expand quickly enough when you first put them in. Flugz has created a formable earplug that should solve both of these problems. When you buy Flugz you get two earplugs. You put them in a cup of water and then put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. This softens the plugs up and you then put them inside your ear to mold them. After a few seconds, you can take them out and you’ll have earplugs which are specifically formed for your ears. (http://www.flugz.com)
So you finally bought a gun for concealed carry. You’re all set, right? Wrong. Aside from receiving some top-notch training so you’re able to use the gun effectively in a personal- or home-defense situation—and it’s a good idea to make sure your family members join you in this training—you need to make sure you have some accessories to make your CCW system even more effective in every situation. This includes when you’re away from home, driving, or making your way to your car, where lots of physical encounters can occur. After all, predators like to prey on people at their weakest.
Here are some of the best concealed-carry accessories and products to optimize your self-defense and help you protect your loved ones, from next-gen holster systems and flashlights, to high-traction grip add-ons, hearing protection and gun safes. All of these products will help you take your protection to the next level.
