Arrowhead Tactical's New Joggers: Fitness Carry Solution

A few years ago in this column, I wrote an article on concealed-carry options for runners, and what I learned covering miles of backcountry trails with a gun in tow is that today’s athletes have only a handful of solid options if they want to comfortably and effectively conceal a weapon while working out. Most of the carry methods were fine for short workouts that didn’t require a lot of exertion. Step up your game and start burning more calories, though, and the list of suitable carry options dwindles faster than a pile of free bananas at a 5K.

That’s why I was so intrigued by Arrowhead’s new Carrier Traveler Joggers (ArrowheadTacticalApparel.com). For starters, they aren’t ugly. While it should seem obvious that clothes shouldn’t be ugly, not all concealed-carry garment companies got that memo.

I’ve tried most of them, and while some are practical, you probably wouldn’t want to be seen in public in them. At the very least anyone who saw you in these bulky, oversize athletic clothes would immediately wonder why you’re wearing such awkward-looking duds.

By contrast, the Arrowhead Joggers are form-fitting. They’re tapered with elastic cuffs on the ankles, and they look like clothes you’d typically see in a gym. Blending in is part of effective concealed carry, and the Arrowheads look like modern athletic pants and not like the lower half of Neil Armstrong’s moon suit.

Construction

The Carrier Traveler Joggers are made from 90 percent polyester and 10 percent Spandex, providing a trim fit with a full range of motion. Arrowhead says the material is odor-, snag- and water-resistant. Laser-cut micro holes in the materials allow heat to escape, which helps keep you cool. There’s a drawstring in the waist for a tight fit, and the front pockets are angled. The rear pockets feature YKK zippered closure, and there’s a zippered fly.

Stitching is an overlooked aspect of carry-garment design. Standard stitching on athletic pants oftentimes doesn’t have the strength required to secure a firearm comfortably as you exercise. Invariably, the result is a garment that’s just too flimsy to hold your handgun in the proper position, which leads to the firearm bouncing around. It’s uncomfortable, and it makes it so awkward to carry a gun that most people simply give up.

The double-stitched Carrier Traveler Joggers are far sturdier, and both keep the gun in place while you’re exercising and increase the longevity of the garment. The added structural strength also makes these pants safer because a secure gun is less likely to fall out.

When it comes to firearm security, one popular option with concealed-carry clothing is to overload the waist of the garment with so much heavy-duty elastic that the gun is effectively pinned against the body. It’s certainly slimming—sometimes uncomfortably so—but it’s not terribly effective. These garments frequently feature some sort of built-in holster that usually doesn’t offer enough structure or a proper fit to keep the gun in position.

Unique Design

Arrowhead went a different route. The Carrier Traveler Joggers come with belt loops on the inside of the waist that secure Arrowhead’s OmniCarry belt, which acts as the anchor point for the firearm. The more traditional and stable belt design works with your existing inside-the-waistband holster and offers a much more secure and safer option than standard carry joggers. You can carry in several positions, including strong side and appendix.

Setup is simple. With the pants on, roll down the waistband and feed the belt through the internal loops. Once the belt is in the loops, simply flip the waistband up and you are ready to run.

There are a couple things to keep in mind, though. First, you want to size your OmniCarry belt so it’s comfortably secure but not so tight that adding an IWB holster becomes a chore. Ideal fit allows you to wear the pants with or without a firearm in place.

You’ll likely have to make minor adjustments when you add or remove the gun, but because the Omni­Carry belt uses a clasp instead of a traditional belt buckle with holes, it’s easy to fine-tune the fit. The Omni­Carry belt is 1.5 inches wide and sturdy enough to provide a stable platform for carrying and drawing the firearm, but the sleek belt design doesn’t dig into your side.

Size When Ordering

When ordering, make certain that you give yourself ample room to fit the firearm. The system is easy to tighten down, but if you’re overly optimistic about your waist size you’ll likely have to send back the pants, belt or both. It’s easy to cut down the OmniCarry belt and cauterize the end, which does away with any excess fabric. If you’d rather not cut the belt, you can weave the extra material back in the pants.

I really like the added level of concealment that an internal belt system adds, and since the clip of your holster lies inside the waistband, the Arrowhead pants add an extra layer of concealment. I would recommend wearing a comfortable undershirt, though, since your holster will ride close to the body. A trim Kydex holster works best—I used a Safariland 575 GLX with a Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 9mm—but you’ll still want to wear a garment that rides between the holster and your body.

Like I said, the problem with most carry pants is they’re bulky and, well, they look like carry pants. When I asked my wife what she thought of the pants she said they look “normal,” which is a compliment. I was initially afraid that the poly/Spandex material would be noisy like the wind pants we all wore in the ’90s, but that’s not the case. They’re breathable and comfortable, and you’d wear these for daily activities even if you weren’t carrying.

The front and rear pockets are deep, and even though the front ones don’t have zippers, your keys and phone won’t fall out while seated. As joggers, the pants feature a tapered leg. I don’t have particularly muscular calves, but these pants fit rather tightly. Not like skinny jeans or anything, but if you aren’t a fan of tapered pants or have bodybuilder calves, you might not love the fit.

Being Active

I ran a mile in the morning and evening with these pants and lifted free weights, all while wearing a firearm. Arrowhead got the design of these pants right. The articulated knees and contoured fit are comfortable. Arrowhead could have added a few more pockets, but that would run the risk of making the pants look too tactical. I would like a small side pocket for carrying my knife or a small flashlight, but overall this is a really great product.

Suggested retail is $128, which isn’t inexpensive, but you could easily spend more than that trying cheaper garments that don’t work. The Carrier Traveler Joggers offer a solid option that actually lives up to the promise of comfortable concealed carry while you exercise.

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