Best Concealed Carry Pants – Discrete and Comfortable

We tested a number of options and found the Off The Grid Surplus Trailblazer and the 1620 Workwear Lightweight NYCO Pants to be the best concealed carry pants.

Why would you need pants specifically for concealed carry?

Over the past 20 years we have carried our handguns concealed in everything from regular jeans to dress pants. In our experience we have found that to be able to conceal our handgun comfortably our pants made all the difference.

There are a few key characteristics we identified through trial and error. All of the pants we list below worked well for us from the hiking trail to the grocery store.

Keep reading to find our favorites and our tips for selecting the best EDC pants.

Quick Summary of Our Favorite CCW Pants

BEST OVERALL

Off the Grid Surplus Trailblazer

Stretch Canvas

9 Pockets

3 Styles/9 Colors

MSRP: $89.50

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MOST VERSATILE

1620 Lightweight NYCO Utility Pant

NYCO Stretch

11 Pockets

5 Colors

MSRP: $168

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BEST BUDGET

LAPG Terrain Flex Jeans

13oz Stretch Denim

9 Pockets

3 Styles/3 Colors

MSRP: $45

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BEST CARGO

5.11 Tactical Taclite Pro Cargo Pant

Taclite Ripstop

8 Pockets

10 Colors

MSRP: $65

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BEST JEANS

Off the Grid Surplus Hideout Denim Jeans

Stretch Denim

7 Pockets

3 Styles/2 Colors

MSRP: $85

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BEST ACTIVEWEAR

Arrowhead Tactical Apparel Joggers

Unique Belt System

2-6 Pockets

4 Styles/6 Colors

MSRP: $85 – $119

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Best Concealed Carry Pants

Off The Grid Surplus Trailblazer Pants – Best Overall

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• Material: 329 Gram Stretch Canvas
• Pockets: 9
• Warranty: 60 Day Guarantee
• MSRP: $89.50

Off the Grid Surplus’s Trailblazer Pants are one of my favorite everyday pants that I wear.

They took all the best features from work, outdoor, and tactical pants and came up with a new design that works well for everyday wear and concealed carry.

These look good enough to pass off as business casual, and are tough enough to work outside in.

I really like the material. They have just the right amount of stretch but still feel thick and durable. These aren’t thin stretchy pants, and I don’t worry about putting a hole in them. They are also gusseted, which allows me to bend and move without discomfort.

I also like the pocket layout. There is a hidden side zip pocket for my wallet, which gets it out of my back pocket. It is somewhat hidden and not in an obvious location. The front pockets are also nice and deep.

There are also two hidden hip pockets, which are great for pistol magazines or my multitool. The two leg pockets are discrete and a perfect place for my phone and pepper spray.

There are only 5 belt loops. I find this really helps with holster placement since they don’t interfere with the belt clips on my IWB or OWB holsters.

My only negative with these pants is they do get a little wrinkled after washing. I find it is better if I hang them while they are still a little damp. But, even when they are wrinkled, I find they flatten out after I wear them for a bit.

1620 Lightweight NYCO Utility Pant – Most Versatile

• Material: NYCO Stretch
• Pockets: 11
• Warranty: Lifetime
• MSRP: $168.00

While 1620 Workwear is known for their work clothes, their new lightweight utility pants don’t look or feel like traditional work pants at all.

In fact, they look surprisingly nice and are closer to dress pants than work or casual pants. At the same time, they are not like typical dress pants at all.

These are made in the USA with durable, high-quality material. You would think that there really couldn’t be that much difference between them versus other cheaper pants, but I could really tell the difference once I felt them and put them on.

The fabric is a special stretch NYCO twill purposely designed by 1620. It is 10 times stronger than cotton canvas and has a water shedding coating that keeps rain from soaking through. I wore them in the rain a few weeks ago and after a 1 mile walk water had not soaked through.

I like how the crotch is gusseted. Along with stretch fabric, they are comfortable to move around in. They don’t feel like stiff work pants or tight dress pants.

I really like the pockets. There are a total of 11, yes 11. But these pants don’t scream “tactical” with a bunch of cargo pockets. These pockets are strategically placed to not be obvious but still functional.

The left leg has a low-profile pocket with a flap that is perfect for my wallet. This keeps my wallet out of my back pocket, where it is literally a pain in the butt.

I also like the hidden hip pockets. There is one on each side, and they are perfect for extra handgun magazines.

In addition to these there are a bunch of other pockets for my multi-tool, pepper spray, phone, and whatever else I may need.

The price is the only negative. They are 100% made in the USA with what I would argue is the best material that can be found. They also have a lifetime warranty. When other pants wear out, these keep going. I have had many other $40 pants wear out in a year or two. I doubt these will ever wear out. So, considering the long run, these are the better value.

LAPG Terrain Flex Jeans – Best Budget

• Material: 13 oz Stretch Denim
• Pockets: 9
• Warranty: Limited – 60 Day Returns
• MSRP: $45

LA Police Gear’s Terrain Flex Jeans are one of my favorite pairs of jeans. But the best thing about them is the price.

For less than $50, these jeans are comfortable and have pockets that normal jeans do not have.

The first thing I noticed when I put them on was the material. They look like typical jeans, but the material has extra stretch to it. They are not like spandex, but rather jeans with extra “flex” to them.

This made squatting and sitting and wearing my IWB holster more comfortable. While they do not have an elastic waistband, the material does make the waist somewhat flexible as well.

I like the hidden hip pockets on these jeans. There is one and each side, and they are perfect for spare pistol magazines, pepper spray, and multitools. They are deep enough for my favorite pepper spray, the ASP Defender (see our ASP Pepper Spray review).

There is also a hidden handcuff key pocket on the back belt loop. While I do not plan to be arrested, this could be handy if I am ever detained by someone other than the authorities.

My only wish is that these pants had a separate wallet pocket on them somewhere. I carry a small “front-pocket” wallet, but don’t really like carrying it in my front pocket. A side zipper pocket like the Off the Grid Trailblazers would be great.

I tried carrying my wallet in one of the hidden hip pockets, but it was too tight and hard to get it in and out of.

5.11 Tactical Taclite Pro Cargo Pants – Best Cargo Style

• Material: Taclite Ripstop Fabric
• Pockets: 8
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime
• MSRP: $65.00

I have worn a bunch of different 5.11 Tactical cargo pants in the past. The Taclite Pro pants are my favorite.

What sets these apart from the others is the material. The Taclite Ripstop fabric is lighter in weight than traditional cotton, but at the same time it is just as durable. Plus, they are double reinforced in the seat and knees.

I really like how they feel. In hot weather they are cool, and they are still warm enough to wear in cold weather.

I like the two front accessory pockets. The one on the left is perfect for a spare pistol magazine or a multitool. In fact, I often wear these to handgun matches and use this pocket for my starting +1 mag.

The right pocket works great for my phone or my ASP Defender pepper spray.

The fabric does not have much stretch to it, but the gusseted seat does allow me to squat fully without them cutting off the circulation to my legs.

I also like how the fabric is treated with a stain and water-resistant coating. Water just beads up and runs off.

My only real negative is they do not have any hidden hip pockets like some of the others do (they do have large rear pockets though). But the two leg pockets make up for it, and it is typically where I keep my wallet and a small IFAK.

They can be a little “tactical” looking depending on the color. I think the lighter Kahki ones look great and are surprisingly discrete.

Off The Grid Surplus Hideout Denim Jeans – Best Jeans

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• Material: Stretch Denim
• Pockets: 7
• Warranty: 60 Day Guarantee
• MSRP: $85

The Off the Grip Surplus Hideout denim jeans are a cousin to the trailblazer pants above. They have a lot of the same features but look like just regular jeans.

The material is denim with some slight stretch to them. I found that they are comfortable, and I was able to move without feeling too restricted like typical jeans.

The gusseted crotch allows me to squat down easily, and it doesn’t pull my IWB holster out of position.

Like the trailblazer pants, these have a side zippered pocket that I really like to carry my wallet in. It keeps it out of my other pockets, and I can get to it while I am seated too.

They also have two hidden hip pockets for pistol magazines, pepper spray, or other EDC items. They are deep too, so I found it was a good spot for my tactical EDC flashlight.

I like how the front pockets are reinforced for my pocketknife clip. I don’t know how many pants I have worn out here with my knife. I also like that these pants only have 5 belt loops. This helps with being able to position my holster where it is most comfortable.

I did find that the size of these pants runs a little big. I always recommend going a size up when carrying an IWB holster, but for these I was OK not doing that.

These are my favorite concealed carry jeans that I can wear every day. They look just like regular jeans, and do not make me standout in a crowd like more “tactical” pants could.

Arrowhead Tactical Apparel Joggers – Best Activewear

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• Material: Stretch Poly/Nylon
• Pockets: 2 – 6
• Warranty: 60 Day Guarantee
• MSRP: $88.50 – $119

If you have ever wanted to take a jog, walk, or just be super comfortable and carry concealed at the same time, you know that joggers just don’t work.

Typically, the waistband is just a drawstring, and they do not support any type of belt. Even if they did, wearing a belt with joggers just looks goofy.

Arrowhead tactical solved this with their unique carry joggers.

To support the weight of a gun and holster, they created a separate belt system. Instead of the belt on the outside like typical pants, it is on the inside.

To put it on, I just rolled the waistband of my pants over and threaded the belt. Then I flipped it back up and adjusted my belt with my holster on. The belt has a magnetic closure, so once it is set, I don’t have to readjust it every time I put them on.

Adjusting the belt is a little on the tedious side. But once I figured it out, it wasn’t bad.

Since I tried my first pair of Arrowhead joggers, they have released 4 different styles. In addition to their traditional joggers, they have a travel version, a lightweight version, and a cargo version.

They all have a functional zipper fly, which I found is really needed when carrying my handgun. My original version didn’t have this, and it was my biggest gripe.

They also have 6 total pockets. The rear pockets have pouches that will hold full-size pistol magazines. This makes it easy to discretely carry a spare magazine.

If you like to carry and exercise, or you like to wear joggers regularly, these are definitely the way to go. The belt system keeps my holster in place, they are discrete, and super comfortable.

How We Tested Concealed Carry Pants

Over the past 20 years, we have been carrying concealed nearly every day. From trips around town, to the trail, and to the range, I have tested a bunch of different pants along the way. I paid particular attention to comfort, durability, versatility, pocket types/location, and how well they interfaced with my Favorite EDC Belt and my IWB Holster. Price and overall value is also something I strongly considered.

I tried them not only with my IWB holsters and OWB holsters, but with my regular EDC gear as well. I carried my knife, multi-tool, wallet, pepper spray, and flashlight most of the time. I also traveled with them and wore them in adverse conditions. From hikes in the mountains to a rain delayed Detroit Tigers game.

Our top picks included input not only from our team but also from many others in our community, both in person and online. We considered everyone’s experiences and opinions over the past 10 years to achieve what we think is the most balanced and comprehensive review available.

Our Tips for Choosing the Best CCW Pants

I have found a few things that really make a difference in choosing the best concealed carry pants.

Of course, the number one thing we struggled with is comfort. How in the world do you carry a big chunk of metal in your pants and still be able to move around and not be in constant pain?

Here are the things that matter.

Buy a Size Up

This is a big part of carrying a handgun concealed comfortably that most people get wrong. Always buy one size larger than you normally wear. If pants with a 34-inch waist are comfortable normally, buy a 36.

I find that this gives room for my IWB holster, and gives me room to adjust my pants, holster, and belt to the most comfortable position.

Elastic Waist

Pants with elastic in a portion of the waistband help with comfort as well. It gives a little more expansion room for my holster, without making my pants feel too big. Even if my pants do have elastic in the waistband, I still size up one size.

Belt Loops

I like heavy duty belt loops on my pants. After all, they are the connection point between my pants, belt, and holster.

But too many belt loops or extra wide ones tend to be an issue. I find pants that have these interfere with where I can put my holster. It limits my options and depending on the holster and the clips on the holster, it can make carrying uncomfortable. This is true for both IWB and OWB holsters.

Pockets

Obviously, I want my concealed carry pants to have pockets. They need to be able to carry my everyday items (EDC) without being tremendously conspicuous. Some pants with the side cargo pockets on the legs are OK, others are not.

There are two specific pockets that I like to have. The first are top hip pockets on each side. These are usually not obvious to most people, and in them I can carry a spare pistol magazine and a multi tool or pepper spray.

The other pocket I like to have is a wallet pocket that is not my back pocket. I prefer a compact wallet that I can carry in my front pocket. But instead of my front pocket, I like to put it in an inconspicuous side pocket, preferably with a zipper.

Also look for other pockets like we mentioned in our reviews above for flashlights and other items that you carry daily.

Material

This is all about comfort and durability. Cheap pants are usually made from material that is not durable and not very flexible. As you get into more expensive ones, the material gets better.

I find that pants with cheap material will wear out much quicker than more expensive pants with better material.

What are the Best Concealed Carry Pants for You?

Now that you know what features really matter, which one is it going to be?

• I like the Off the Grid Surplus Trailblazer Pants the best. They have pockets in all the right places, are durable and versatile as well. I can wear them hiking and then wear them out that evening.
• The 1620 Lightweight NYCO Pants are my favorite for work and when I want a dressier look. They are versatile and the most durable pants I own.
• The LAPG Terrain Flex Jeans are cheaper than most jeans I find at my local stores and work better for my CCW and EDC.

After you choose a few pairs of pants, be sure to stay up to date on all of our content by joining our Newsletter. Each week, we include tips on how to stay mentally prepared with actionable ideas and strategies. We also include any good deals we have found, plus updates on our content.

Also be sure to check out our full Concealed Carry Guide. It has everything from holsters, concealed carry shirts, to how to mentally prepare to carry concealed.

For those times when carrying off body makes more sense, check out our full guide on the Best Concealed Carry Bags.