New Products For Women
Image: SABRE
While the importance of self-defense as a motivation for shooting has continued to rise over the years among new shooters, there has also been a rise in female sport shooters and hunters.
According to the 2023 edition of the “Firearm Ownership and Sport Shooting Participation in the U.S.” report published by NSSF, about a third of sport shooters in 2022 were female — the highest portion yet.1 This is up from 2009, when females made up 25.8% of all sport shooters. The most recent report currently available from the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports showed a 16% increase in female hunting participation in the past decade, with 27% of participants being female in 2021.2
If you’re looking for new products to better serve female customers, look no further. From guns and accessories to the latest hunting gear and apparel, we’ve rounded up the newest products for women for 2024 — some of which were even designed by women themselves. (What a concept, huh?)
Guns
Let’s start things off with some new concealed carry options.
Girsan MC 14T Lady Tip-Up
Inspired by the classic Italian Beretta Model 86 Cheetah, the Girsan MC 14T Lady Tip-Up (MSRP $680) is one of the easiest loading and unloading .380 ACP pistols on the market.
Grabbing a low-profile slide can be tough to do, particularly for those with arthritis or weaker hand strength. The tip-up barrel and blowback operation on the MC14T makes it so the user doesn’t have to manipulate the slide unless she wants to — just tip up the barrel to load a round, lock it, disengage the safety and fire.
Additionally, the barrel of the MC 14T Lady Tip-Up features four ported holes, significantly reducing muzzle rise and reducing felt recoil while shooting. Translation: It’s not as snappy as many .380s can be.
The Lady Tip-Up is a stylized version of the standard MC 14T handgun with special aesthetic touches designed to appeal to female shooters, including a gloss-black finish with gold-colored controls and engraved Turkish walnut checkered grips.
A fixed white-dot front sight and traditional white-dot notch rear sight sit atop the gun. There is also an accessory rail up front for those who’d like to carry it with a light or laser. Weighing in around 22.4 oz., and with a 13+1 capacity, the Girsan MC 14T Lady Tip-Up is a solid option for both experienced shooters and those looking for their first concealed carry handgun.
Walther PD380
Though not marketed specifically for women, the Walther PD380 (MSRP $479) is another new .380 option many women are gravitating toward. With an overall length of just under 6.5″ and a weight of 20.6 oz. (unloaded), it’s a bit larger than some of the typical pocket-sized .380s, making it more comfortable to shoot but without sacrificing concealability.
The PD380 ships with two stainless-steel nine-round magazines featuring index holes on both sides and non-tilt polymer followers. (I’m waiting for mine to test it for myself, but other reviewers have called them some of the easiest-loading magazines they’ve ever used.)
The most notable potential drawback of the PD380 for female shooters is the location of the magazine release. The paddle-style magazine release straddles the trigger guard underneath allowing for ambidextrous operation, but this location may be difficult to reach for those with smaller hands.
SYREN Julia Field
Unfortunately, while walking the nearly 14 miles of aisle space at SHOT Show 2024, I didn’t see any new long guns specially designed for female shooters. The Julia Field from SYREN (MSRP $6,250), which is still the only company to dedicate an entire line of shotguns to women, was released in 2023 and remains a standout.
The beautiful over/under shotgun is adorned with feminine floral scrolling on a color case-hardened receiver and a deluxe-grade Turkish walnut stock. It’s available in 20 gauge with a 3″ chamber or 28 gauge with a 2.75″ chamber, both with 28″ barrels. Other notable features include a chrome-lined bore, single selective trigger, five choke tubes, silver front bead, recoil pad and hard case.
Gear
Fanny packs have made a major comeback in recent years, due in large part to a “rebrand” of sorts. These days, you’re likely to see them marketed as waistpacks or belt bags, but no matter what you choose to call them, they appear to be here to stay.
Marsupial Gear’s Concealed Carry Belt Bag
Case in point, the first run of Marsupial Gear’s Concealed Carry Belt Bag ($140), designed in partnership with popular instructor Paige Roux (@somechickwhoshoots) and Eclipse Holsters sold out in less than 30 minutes.
The 400D nylon bag takes seconds to deploy and fits almost any handgun smaller than 5.5″ long. It can be worn around the waist like a fanny pack or across your shoulder like a cross bag, keeping personal protection easily within reach. It’s currently available for purchase with right-hand model holsters for the GLOCK 43/43X, GLOCK 48, Springfield Hellcat/Hellcat OSP, Springfield Hellcat Pro, S&W M&P Shield 9/40 3″ or SIG P365/P365XL/P365-XMacro.
The Concealed Carry Belt Bag accommodates any hook-and-loop capable holster and can also be purchased separately ($90).
Gun Tote’n Mamas Sling Waist Pack
For a leather option, the Sling Waist Pack (GTM-116) from Gun Tote’n Mamas is one of the most recent additions to the brand’s lineup. Available in black or lavender cowhide ($105.95) or distressed Buffalo ($110.95), the bag can be worn on the waist or as a crossbody sling. Designed for use on either the left or right side, the RFID-protected bag features a light pebble surface texture and a gun compartment measuring 7.25″ wide by 5.5″ tall by 1″ deep.
The Sling Waist Pack includes GTM’s iconic Mini Holster designed by Mernickle Custom Holsters, enabling side, angled and top draw (micro guns only). It’s been tested with various firearms such as the SIG P365, SIG P238 and the Ruger LCP and is compatible with CrossBreed holsters. It also features a black slip lining that prevents lining-grab and facilitates smooth gun drawing. GTM celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, so be on the lookout for more new product announcements throughout 2024.
Jessie & James Handbags Newport Leather CCW Tote
A larger concealed carry bag option that caught my eye at SHOT Show 2024 was the Newport Leather CCW Tote in olive, one of the first in a new premium line of both traditional and modern CCW handbags from Jessie & James Handbags in collaboration with Remington.
The Remington-branded models will encompass a range of styles, including crossbody, satchel, hobo, totes, backpacks and luggage, all equipped with a concealed pocket for carrying a firearm.
Apparel
Women’s apparel is arguably the hardest category to get right, but a few brands have proven reliable over the years.
Alexo Athletica Full-Length Concealed Carry Leggings
Alexo Athletica launched a new collection of Springfield Armory-licensed apparel in February. The collection includes the women’s performance jacket, concealed carry leggings, the Crossed Cannons scoop neck sports bra and laser-cut sports bra — all now available in Springfield Red.
The full-length concealed carry leggings ($99) feature a full coverage high-compression design with four ambidextrous conceal and carry locations — one right and left appendix carry pocket and one right and left kidney carry pocket. They are available in sizes XS through 2XL.
5.11 Tactical PT-R Max Effort Racerback Bra & Leggings
At SHOT Show 2024, 5.11 Tactical displayed a new colorway of its popular PT-R Max Effort Racerback Bra and Leggings — Shadow Jungle Canopy Camo. The racerback-style performance bra ($39) with medium support features a perfectly proportioned V-neck in the front and on the back. Both the bra’s body and lining are moisture-wicking with an anti-odor finish for unbeatable freshness during workouts, a day at the range or running errands around town. Its full-mesh lining, encased elastic in the band and minimal seaming maximize comfort.
5.11 PT-R Max Effort Leggings ($59) are constructed from a durable nylon and elastane jersey with the same moisture-wicking and anti-odor finish as the bra. The 27″ inseam offers ultimate coverage, while a triangle gusset maximizes mobility. The contoured waistband provides added support and includes an adjustable internal drawstring to keep everything in place. The leggings have two internal waistband pockets — one in the front to stow keys and one on the back large enough to secure a phone. Reflective transfers on the front left leg and back waistband improve visibility in low-light conditions. The new Shadow Jungle Canopy Camo is currently available in sizes XS–XL.
DSG LS Bamboo Hooded Shirt
For women’s hunting apparel, DSG Outwear offers the most comprehensive and size-inclusive line. Available in sizes XXS through 4XL, the new Long Sleeve Bamboo Hooded Shirt ($70) provides UPF 30+ sun protection. It’s available in five colors — Realtree Original, Mossy Oak Bottomland Original, Stone, Sedona and Antique Teal — to shield wearers from UV rays while hunting, fishing, hiking or other outdoor adventures.
Personal Protection Tools
Rounding out our list of new products for women for 2024 are a host of personal protection tools from SABRE.
SABRE Pepper Projectile Launcher, SMART Pepper Spray & More
Intended for home security and personal safety, the SABRE Pepper Projectile Launcher can protect from a distance, with a range of up to 60′ and a velocity range of up to 350 fps. It can release up to seven projectiles of maximum strength pepper powder, saturating the area up to 175′ with a pepper cloud.
For on-the-go, SABRE’s SMART Pepper Spray ($29.99) uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the free SABRE Personal Safety App on an iOS or Android smartphone. A free text message containing a link to a map with your location is sent to trusted contacts whenever the pepper spray is deployed. SABRE provides real-time GPS tracking, which continuously updates your location, keeping family and friends informed of your location until you’ve made it to safety. Unlike other smart pepper spray devices that can only be used once before needing to be replaced, the SABRE SMART Pepper Spray is refillable and rechargeable.
SABRE also introduced a 3-In-1 Mini Stun Gun ($34.99). The stun gun features a 130 dB personal alarm to alert for help up to 1,475′ and a 130-lumen LED flashlight with three different light modes (high, low and strobe). For maximum convenience, the rechargeable stun gun also includes a USB-B to USB-C charging cord and a hard case for safe storage and easy carry.
My personal favorite recent release from SABRE is the Portable Travel Door Lock ($14.99). The metal door lock requires at least a 1/8″ gap between the door and frame for use, but works on most hinged doors that swing inward. It’s compact, easy to install within minutes and requires no additional tools or wiring. Though great for use when staying in a hotel room or shared vacation rental, it can also be used for added peace of mind in one’s home, apartment or dorm room.
