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Why not? You’ve probably read suggestions for what to carry in every situation from walking your dog to taking a shower. If you caught this morning’s quote of the day, at least one jogging aficionado would prefer to see all assault weapons modern sporting rifles and pistols banned from public ownership so he can feel more comfortable on his daily constitutional. Only one problem. Even if you could somehow disarm everyone who might assault you on your run (good luck with that) not all predators are two-legged. The governor of the great state of Texas can certainly attest to that. So assuming that jittery sprinters like Nick Symmonds don’t get their way any time soon, is it a Beretta for a trot around the block? A Taurus for a 10K? What do you carry when you’re pickin’ ’em up and puttin’ ’em down?

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108 COMMENTS

    • LCP in a crossbreed modular belly band. Has additional sewn in pouches I use to carry a spare mag, flashlight, knife, and my carry permit and ID. Works great and stays put even when running several miles at a fast pace, even sprints.

  3. Not that I’m a runner, but…

    Surely the foremost requirements would be lightness & concealability. Given that, I would pick a Ruger LCP.

    • Have you ever fired an LCP?

      I know .380 is supposed to be a less-impressive round, but when you’ve only got a 2-finger grip on the gun, maintaining control can be challenging.

      And IMO the trigger blows.

      I’d rather have a glock-26.

      • I would suggest the S&W Bodyguard. Very similar pistol to the LCP, but I can almost get my entire hand on it. Shot almost every micro .380 I could and that was the best for me, though your mileage may vary.

      • If you buy a new ruger lcp the trigger is quite good. Ruger updated a few things about the gun in 2013. The trigger is a much shorter pull and breaks well enough.

        I’m reliability testing mine now. I have limp wristed one failure shooting as fast as I could one handed.

  4. I’ve considered the Taurus TCP for just this purpose, haven’t dropped the hammer on it yet, so to speak.

  5. If I find a good way to carry it, my LCP. It is my EDC when I am not at work and barred from carrying.

    • Do you use a wallet holster? You can manipulate the slide, switch mags and fire all without removing from holster. At least with small to medium hands. I don’t think pickle fingers would fit through the holster holes though.

    • I run regularly, up to 6 miles, usually at a 8minute mile pace. I always have my LCP on me when running. My preferred holster set up is the crossbreed modular belly band. Works great for running, doesn’t move or anything. Also has sewn in elastic mag pouches. I keep a spare mag, a flashlight, my carry permit, and a knife in the pouches. In my opinion, it’s the best athletic use holster set up out there. Check it out brother.

  6. Running and jogging are not the same thing, not even close. I’ve run with both a Keltec pf9 and p11. Both work well.

    • seriously! running and jogging are way different. it needs to be more specified. for running- pepper spray. for jogging-lcp and pepper spray.

  8. Back in the day my father ran with a Garand. That would be overkill for you local 10k so I would go with my Nano.

  9. Lots of lightweight options. The better question is “What holster/belt/rig for running?”

    That’s the one I am getting frustrated with. My Remora moves too damn much when running.

  10. I carry my Beretta Nano with me on bike rides, works well with a Sneaky Pete holster but then I’m pretty stationary while riding a bike, no bouncy.

  11. Carrying while jogging in clothes that are appropriate for jogging is difficult. For one thing, I would not want to carry in an ankle holster while jogging. Second, running pants don’t have belt loops, just elastic and draw string. So an inside or outside waistband holster doesn’t work. Finally, a Miami rig doesn’t work. So what is left?

    The only solution that I think could work is a belly band carrier with a snubby .38 Special or compact 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP. If a midsize pistol fits in the belly band carrier, then that could work as well. Of course you could carry a .380 ACP or smaller if that is all you have or can control.

  13. I carry a Glock 36 in a Pistol Wear belly band type holster. The handgun is light and compact and fits nicely in the holster. The setup conceals nicely underneath a loose fitting t-shirt even though I tend to sweat a lot. And, since we live in a relatively remote area with lots of critters (both 2 and 4 legged), I routinely carry on runs of anywhere from 3 – 8 miles.

    • Oh, watch the Pistol Wear holster. It has 3 snaps that tend to rub a sore spot on my belly. Easy problem to fix, I just put a small piece of moleskin underneath the snaps.

  14. A S&W air weight revolver would be a good option although it isn’t the highest capacity you could carry.

      • Me too.

        FYI, I was T-boned at low speed at an intersection while commuting on my mountain bike (it was winter) and landed partially on my Airweight. Bike okay, gun okay, Ralph with some of the largest and most spectacularly-colored hematomas anyone has ever seen.

        Fun times.

        • Dammit! Why can’t drivers pay more attention to bikers? When I commuted by bike, I was almost left and right turned into oblivion countless times. 360 degree trust-no-one situational awareness is mandatory for bicyclists. Even so, getting creamed periodically is a harsh fact of life.

  16. I have carried my 340 PD .357 Smith J frame revolver. It’s about 13 ounces loaded with .38 + P. However, I just got back from a run / crossfit jaunt and carried absolutely nothing. I’m considering an LCP or Bodyguard – still – but I have a lot of bills that are considering me.

    • My choice too. NAA .22mag in the NAA pocket holster with an extra 5 rds, and critical defense ammo. All my exercise pants have pockets.

      • probably the best idea i have heard yet. you can actually work out with that gun. anyone who is saying glock 22 or bust just isn’t doing hard enough workouts.

  19. At risk of revealing TMI, I sweat… a lot… and acidic enough that I destroy cheap and not-so-cheap wrist watches in short order. For this reason I personally require STAINLESS steel for as many parts as possible.

  20. Carry a full size steel pistol in a fanny pack with 2 extra mags. You’re already exercising, might as well throw some weight training in as well.

  21. Why does he think he has a right to “feel safe” in public?
    If he doesn’t feel safe in public he should either arm himself or stay at home and run on the treadmill.

  23. A great carry option is to get a running belt that holds water bottles. A lot of them have small pockets in front for holding your cell phone/ID/keys. Good spot to sneak a small semi and you’re sporting a belt that’s specifically designed for distance running. Keeps your piece right out front, easy to reach, you’re not left with an inconspicuous bulge, and you’re not sweating all over your gun.

  25. Unrelated, but every time I follow a link from your twitter posts on my iPhone, your page sends me to the App Store and tries to make me download a game.

  26. Carry a 240 bravo with IBA ( daps pecker plate side plates yoke throat guard) full ammo load out for the 240 and spare barrel plus 80 lb ruck.

    • I call Bull on the DAPS. The occasionally turret gunner down-range or every picture of every SWAT team member is all I have ever seen of anybody wearing DAPS. I have never had to run with the 240, but I felt bad for the guys who I saw that had to.

        • D-amn. I took all that off. Even the throat. Kept the groin, because I saw it save a dudes junk from a nearby blast, so I promptly returned it to the IOTV. I kept my side plates in. But that was about it. This was ’10-’11.

  29. I use a Glock 19, always carry a spare mag and a flashlight, carry in a fanny pack or my daily use holster/belt kit

  31. Kel-tec 380, usually with a spare mag. Easy to carry along with ID, a house key, my concealed carry permit, a credit card, and my iphone. Sometimes I add a pocket knife as well. With the right shorts carrying these isn’t a problem for casual running, and I’m prepared to face just about any problem that could reasonably arise.

    • PS: I bought one of those belly band holsters to try out for jogging carry. I found that it was too “bouncy”; it doesn’t appear to be built for a lot of turbulent motion such as jogging. It would be a great way to carry a backup gun inside your shirt when you’re just walking around town, though.

      • Did you get the right size? I run an average 7.5 minute mile and mine doesn’t bounce. Maybe you’re wearing it too high? I wear mine right around my waist with the pistol at 3 o’clock. No chafe, no bounce. I guess it differs from person to person.

  36. Just answered this over at glock talk on a thread some guy started because he was to whimpy to jog with his g29.
    Nano, Shield or LCR.

    • for a serious runner (not the oh i just ran 2 miles and I’m exhausted type of runner) a g29 and the others are out of the question. lcp is enough weight for a long run.

  37. A Kel-Tec PF9 in a Pro-Tec belly band accompanies me on my daily 7-10 mile runs. Works great, it’s light and I barely notice it’s there. My G26 fits in there nicely as well.

  41. I don’t understand the question. It seems to me you’re really asking, “what is your favorite gun (and we get the answers), and why is it ‘suitable’ for carrying while running?”

  42. Makarov, sans the huge dip in my lower lip. I had to give up the Kodiak 5 years ago & miss that stuff everyday.

  44. I carry the S&W 642 Airweight that Ralph told me about last year, and it’s a great little revolver for all carry conditions. It’s very light and small so you can carry it all day long without a problem. It’s great in all weather conditions and very easy to conceal. Ralph really pointed me in the right direction with this little beauty.

  47. SW Bodyguard in a belly band. The gun must be light and as flat and thin as possible. If anyone says they carry a revolver while running, they have not run any kind of serious distance with it or they would know that the cylinder causes all kinds of fit problems.

    Since 2006, I have run over 4,000 miles as a member of the famed “Marathon Maniacs” extreme running club. It has taken many miles of trial and error, but I have finally arrived at a solution, depending on the distance I’m running.

    If I’m running less than 6 miles, I don’t carry water. From body out, my layers are: bellyband, Bodyguard at 2 o’clock/spare mag 10 o’clock, running shorts or pants, amphipod belt carrier for phone/ID, untucked shirt. The handle peeks out just a bit above the waistband, making a shirt necessary.The gun does not move, nor is it detectable. I can draw with one hand.

    If I’m going on a long run, I use a fuel belt with up to 4 bottles. The setup is the same, just replace the amphipod with Fuel belt. The problem is that my shirt must go under the fuel belt (if you have one, you know why). So now the draw stroke requires either tearing off the fuel belt (velcro) or raising it up with off hand. This is not ideal, but a necessity to carry water. Alternatively, a Camelback would make this setup perfect for a one-hand draw, but I just cannot stand running with a Camelback.

    I spent a lot of time working this setup out, and agonizing of the details like the perfect bellyband tightness, and the exact angle of the pistol so it does not rub or hit on any part of the body. There is a nice little “pocket” between the Iliac Crest bone and the hip joint where at the right angle, the Bodyguard fits perfectly for me. Also, I found that as I got in shape and my belly shrank, the better this worked. In fact, if you want any form of waistband carry to be more comfortable, drop a few lbs and you’ll be amazed.

    I can attest that it is entirely possible to run long distances while comfortably carrying a gun. I’m sure the Bodyguard is “not enough gun” for some people, but I can assure you than anything bigger results in either less carrying capacity of other needed gear, or painful sore spots from rubbing/contact.

  48. The guns I would want closest to me on this run would be the ones being packed by the pretty lady in pink. 89 posts and nobody said it?

  51. as a runner, i can say for sure that i would not want anything bigger than a lc9. i would probably go with the lcp.

  52. My LCP goes into my pistol wear PT-2 inside my desantis pocket holster. It keeps it upright, and I have room for an extra mag and cell phone if I choose.

  54. I fabricated my own DIY belly band because nothing in the market satisfied me. It is made from a 4″ wide strip of neoprene that connects with Velcro, and includes a single shoulder strap of 1″ webbing that runs from the 1:00 position to the 7:00 position. In front, at the appendix position, I have a holster pocket for a Sig P290. Within the pocket itself is a very small Kydex “holster” that basically just covers the trigger guard. I also have a pocket for a spare mag at 11:00, with a retention strap.

    It actually benefits from a little weight added to the back for balance, so I added pockets at the rear for a cell phone and wallet. I also clip two 4″ folders to either the belly band or the waist band of my shorts.

    I have run with several different guns. Prior to this set-up, the 642 was the champ. But the P290 now represents the pinnacle of active wear pistols. I occasionally jokingly refer to it as my “race gun.” As significant as the pistol itself is, the holster is really what makes the difference.

  55. 1. I maintain situational awareness by not listening to music while I run and thereby give myself more time to either avoid a threat or respond to it.
    2. I carry a Glock 26 loaded with premium +p rounds in a Blackhawk holster that I place inside the main rear compartment of a Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Pack. I won’t win any quick draw contests by carrying it in that configuration. However, I live in a low crime area that is relatively rural and I am more concerned about rabid four-legged creatures than the two-legged variety. Carrying it that way also keeps the weapon behind the pack’s water bladder and away from my sweat.
    3. I have used many varieties of load bearing equipment in 25+ years in the Army & USAR and the Salomon pack is the best small sized LBE I’ve ever used. It’s not cheap (about $220), but it’s the only equipment of it’s type I’ve used that doesn’t bounce or chafe even with a full load of water, the Glock, a spare magazine, a Cold Steel Voyager knife, cell phone, a small bottle of Gatorade, packets of gu, etc. spread around its several compartments.

  56. LCP in a carry-tee during the winter months since I don’t sweat as much when it’s this cold. Camel-Bak carry fanny pack when it’s warmer with my LC9. I’m going to try one of those runners belts soon though with my LCP. Can’t wait for my Glock 42 to get here though. My LCP may go up for sale. When my Remington R51 comes in the same thing may happen to my LC9.

  57. The knees can’t handle running anymore so…Ruger LCR, Crimson Trace grips stoked w/ Hornady Crtical Defense .38 Special loads carried in bicycling jersey back pocket.

  58. I’m a mid to long distance runner who tends to run in the dark, alone with some questionable hidden areas. I run with a flashlight at hand, baton, pepper spray and soon a .22 NAA Mag Pug. Getting my LTC soon here in Tx.

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