Best Shoes for Concealed Carriers [2024 Guide]

What Makes Good Footwear for Concealed Carry?

You might just think, "comfort, looks, and traction", but there's more to concealed carry shoes:

• Flexible sole for better balance.
• Lightweight.
• Solid, muted, colors: If you can only have 2 colors, black and any shade of brown are the most versatile. Other colors can work depending on your wardrobe.
• Protection only in areas that need it; all other areas have ventilation.
• Urban shoes use do not need to be as rugged as hiking shoes.
• Some shoes/boots are made for wide feet; consider your own foot measurements.

Best Shoes for Urban Carry

Max Comfort: ASICS Gel Venture 7

The ASICS Gel Venture 7 is a trail running shoe that won't look too out of place with casual wear.

If comfort is the most important thing to you, try it. Just be aware, the only versatile color it comes in is black. All the other colors look out of place unless you wear athletic clothes. If you need more stylish shoes, check out the other options below.

Men: Check Price @
Women: Check Price @

Max Style for Men: Altama Men's Maritime Assault Mid

Did you know that Navy SEALs are issued all-black Converse Chuck Taylors? The Altama Maritime Assault is like a tactical Chuck. It has tweaks to improve performance while staying light (0.85 lb. per shoe), but looks like a classic Chuck Taylor from a distance.

Good colors are Black, Grey, and Coyote Brown.

If ankle support just doesn't fit your wardrobe, they come in a low cut as well.

Mid-Cut: Check Price @
Low-Cut: Check Price @

Unfortunately for the ladies, even the low-cuts don't fit in with most women's styles. We'll address that below.

Max Style for Women: It Depends!

The main issues with most women's flats and sandals:

• Outsole lacks grip and durability, lending to slips and falls.
• Heel shape lends itself to kicking off if you have to run.
• The shoes don't fit your foot shape, making them uncomfortable.

For example, if you had to choose between the Groundies Bella and the Softstar Ballerine for a ballerina flat, Anya reports that the Groundies will kick off if you had to sprint, while the Softstar doesn't have that issue .

Best Shoes for Rural Carry

You can wear urban shoes in rural areas, but hiking boots may do a better job of blending performance and style.

Best Hiking Boots: Lowa Zephyr GTX

Lowa Zephyrs are incredibly tough, but lightweight (for what they are) at around 1.2 lbs per shoe. They have reinforcement in the right places and ventilation elsewhere, making them great for all seasons but summer.

Good colors are Black and Desert Tan, though you might like Coyote instead.

Men: Check Price @
Women: Check Price @ REI

Best Shoes for Wide Feet

Do your toes get smashed when you wear shoes? I have super-wide feet, so even "wide" size shoes make my pinky toes fall asleep!

The answer? Barefoot shoes. There are many brands, so you may want to look at Anya's guide to choosing the right brands for your foot shape . For my high-volume, fan-shaped feet, I chose Lems and Tadeevo.

Men's Dress Shoes for Wide Feet: Tadeevo Derby

I've tried Carets Oxfords, and they look great, but they don't work for my foot arch. I can't wear them for long before they start to hurt, and there's no room for an aftermarket insole to fix the issue. Tragic, really.

After some digging, I recommend Tadeevo because unlike competitors, they offer enough room for an aftermarket insole if you need it.

Men: Check Price @ Tadeevo

Business Casual for Wide Feet: Lems Nine2Five

If you need an office shoe that looks good and has matching performance in a fight, the Lems Nine2Five is your choice. Its outsole is much more practical than your typical dress shoe, with a great blend of flex, durability, and grip. It's just thin enough to give you good ground feel and balance, but thick enough to protect you from ground hazards (unlike most barefoot brands).

Men: Check Price @ Lems
Women: Check Price @ Lems

Casual for Wide Feet: Lems Chillum and Lems Drifter

If the Nine2Five is too formal for your outfit, the Lems Chillum is a laced casual shoe:

And the Lems Drifter is a slip-on:

They come in men's and women's versions.

Rural Shoes for Wide Feet: Lems Boulder Boots

Lems Boulder Boots are just 0.56 lb per shoe, have a flexible yet durable sole, and a natural foot-shaped toe box. They're nearly perfect for light to moderate use...

The downside? They lack protection in the toe, heel, and outer edge. You'll need reflexes to protect your foot, not the boot itself.

Men: Check Price @ Lems
Women: Check Price @ Lems

Best Insoles / Orthotics

If the insole of a shoe doesn't match your foot, your feet will start to hurt. If that goes on long enough, you'll have to see a foot doctor about it. But don't worry, aftermarket insoles can prevent all that.

Where your foot hurts can tell you what to try first:

• Heel pain: Powerstep Pinnacle
• Ball of foot pain: Powerstep Pinnacle Plus
• Arch pain: Powerstep Original
• Arch pain (low arches): Powerstep Low Arch
• Arch pain (high arches): Powerstep High Arch

If insoles don't clear up your pain within a week, see a foot doctor immediately.

References

1. Why Navy SEALs Wear Chuck Taylors in Maritime Operations (2020)
2. Combat Boots or Sneakers? Modern Operational Footwear (2020)