Carry Casual: Alexo Athletica & Springfield Armory Readywear

For the growing number of women who are purchasing handguns for personal protection, Alexo Athletica is a familiar name in carry-ready apparel. The company, founded in 2017 by then-NRATV personality Amy Robbins, has challenged prevailing trends that suggest carrying a concealed weapon requires clothing that emphasizes function over fashion. Robbins, a former model and avid runner, knew in her heart that many of her friends would simply choose not to carry if it meant wearing baggy, unflattering attire.

While Alexo focused solely on women out of the gate, it didn’t take long for men to take notice. After all, if women can carry in style, why do men have to look like Rambo wearing that tarp he found when they carry?

In late 2020, the company began offering its first line of men’s apparel. It proved to be wildly successful, with the Tuck and Carry running shorts selling out in just a few weeks. Shortly thereafter, Alexo pulled back the curtain on another venture: a new collection of apparel called “Readywear,” co-branded with Springfield Armory. The collection initially launched on Alexo’s website in March 2022 and eventually found its way to Springfield’s online retail page on Black Friday.

The Alexo Athletica x Springfield Readywear lineup comes in a variety of styles, colors and sizes for both sexes. Men should be especially pleased because, frankly, the concept of fashionable clothing for concealed carry is as new to them now as it was for women a few short years ago.

“As a strategic partner,” shared Robbins, “Springfield is a great fit for us. With firearms like the Hellcat, XD and XD-S Mod.2, they really have a unique focus on the consumer side of the firearms market. That’s the sandbox where Alexo plays too. Our customers are not necessarily ‘Joe and Jane Tactical.’ They simply want to carry a weapon for personal safety — whether that be a gun, pepper blaster or taser — and not be forced to wear heavy, oversized or uncomfortable clothing to hide it.”

Readywear Concealed Carry Pants

Not surprisingly, all of the pants — leggings and joggers — include Alexo’s proprietary, patent-pending carry system: multiple pockets, strategically located around the waistband to facilitate ambidextrous concealed carry positions (left and right appendix, 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock).

The reinforced, high-compression waistband design in these pants has enough compression to provide safe, inside-the-waistband, Level-1 retention for compact and micro-compact pistols weighing 23 ounces or less (fully loaded). The waistband essentially serves as an integrated belly band sewn into the pants — but without the characteristic skin irritation and discomfort that is sometimes associated with such a band.

Each of the four waistband pockets has a divider — actually making it two pockets in one. The inner slot is designed to accommodate a concealed handgun, though it is not recommended for the wearer to use the outer slot if the inner contains a firearm of any kind. However, a weapon at one location in the waistband leaves six additional locations with two slots each for items such as magazines, a cellphone and keys.

The men’s line of Readywear pants is the Springfield Performance CC Joggers, which are lightweight sweats made of stretchy synthetic material. They are well-suited for a wearer who is working out at the gym, taking a casual trip to the store or lounging at home. Available in four colors (Black, Hex Camo, Navy and Olive), the CC Joggers offer Alexo’s Tuck and Carry design which, if desired, allows the wearer to tuck in his shirt. MSRP for the Springfield Performance CC Joggers is $89.

For the ladies, Alexo Athletica and Springfield Armory offer three styles of high-compression leggings, designed to, in Robbins’ words, “lift up, suck in and smooth out” the curves. Colors depend upon the style but include Black, Navy and Springfield Red solids, plus three camo patterns (Black Camo, Olive Camo and Hex Camo). There is also a lounge-pants option that is similar to the men’s joggers, offering a relaxed fit as well as the Tuck and Carry design. MSRP ranges from $99 to $119 depending on the leggings.

Trigger Guard Protection

While the inner Readywear waistband pockets are fully capable of supporting a handgun without an add-on holster, product descriptions for these items warn buyers not to carry in this fashion. That’s because the carry pockets have no inherent trigger guard protection. Though unlikely, it’s possible for a hand or object to press into the fabric and pull the trigger of a concealed firearm. The same risk exists for carrying a handgun in the pocket of any pair of pants.

Not to worry though. Alexo Athletica and Springfield Armory have partnered with DeSantis Holsters to spec the perfect holster for the Readywear pants. The ambidextrous DeSantis Flextech Holster is an ultra-slim design that precisely matches the size and shape of the inner carry pockets. It provides the rigidity required to protect the trigger guard and delivers a smooth, clean draw while the “tacky” exterior coating keeps it seated in the pocket. For those of you who already own the Alexo-branded shorts or joggers, the DeSantis holster is backward-compatible for those items as well.

The Flextech pocket holster not only provides excellent trigger guard protection as advertised but also keeps my firearm from moving around in the pocket. After wearing the joggers around the house with my Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus in the appendix position, my pistol did ride up a bit when I was sitting and standing. The holster eliminated that issue entirely. MSRP for the DeSantis Flextech Holster is $33.99.

Jackets, Flannels and Hoodies

While the pants likely provide the most direct support for carrying a concealed weapon, the Readywear collection offers plenty of coordinating items to dress up the look, add comfort and minimize printing for responsibly armed men and women. There is a nice selection of outerwear for both, including women’s tops and men’s shirts in coordinating colors and patterns.

The Springfield Men’s Performance Jacket and Springfield Ladies Performance Jacket don’t just look sharp — they are also loaded with the functional features you’d expect from a high-end jacket: premium neoprene fabric, extended length to conceal the midsection, a removable zippered hood and reflective trim for visibility in low-light situations. All of this is accomplished without sacrificing a flattering fit. MSRP for the Springfield Men’s Performance Jacket is $89. The men’s jacket comes in Black and Hex Camo. MSRP for the Springfield Ladies Performance Jacket is $99. Alexo offers the women’s jacket in Black, Hex Camo and Springfield Red.

During the prelaunch, Robbins mentioned she and her design team had sourced some “unique and innovative fabrics” for the Alexo and Springfield collection. It’s a safe bet she was referring to the synthetic “ultra-stretch” flannel that makes up the new button-down Springfield Ultra Stretch Flannel. It’s definitely not your dad’s heavy, scratchy flannel shirt.

Available in three plaid colorways (Charcoal, Navy and Springfield Red), the flannel is much lighter and more breathable than conventional flannel garments. The flannel features an athletic fit in the chest and shoulders, with an elongated, relaxed bottom hem to hide what’s underneath.

Per the item description, the flannel is made of “buttery soft material with ultra-flex stretch for maximum comfort.” Once you touch and tug on the fabric, you’ll realize this is not just a clever line of marketing copy.

Although the shirt is designed and sold for men, women who love flannel might consider adding it to their wardrobes. MSRP is $69.

A concealment solution for cool and cold climates doesn’t get much more basic than a properly fitted hoodie. And the Readywear lineup includes options cut for guys and girls.

The men’s version of the hoodie is made of a rayon, polyester and spandex fabric blend that is stretchy and warm. It includes a front “kangaroo” pocket and reflective trim. The Springfield Premium Hoodie comes in Black, Hex Camo, Navy and Olive. MSRP is $89. The women’s hoodie features a similar ultra-soft French Terry material. The Springfield Terry Cowl Hoodie comes in Black, Navy and Olive. MSRP is $69.

Both variations include thumbhole “holster sleeves” that cover the hands while leaving the fingers free. Like the rest of the Readywear tops, the hoodies are cut to allow some extra room at the waist to reduce printing. And the color offerings will coordinate nicely with all of the other items in the Alexo and Springfield collection.

What’s Next for Concealed Carry Clothing?

Like Amy Robbins at Alexo, Stefany Reese Toomer, Springfield Armory’s apparel design and merchandising manager, is enthusiastic about the success of the collaborative relationship between the companies.

“We anticipate this to be a long-term partnership,” said Reese. “Exactly what that means has yet to be determined, but we’re looking to do more than one collection together for sure … We have some good ideas in the works. The Springfield Armory demographic leans more significantly in the male direction, so we wanted to make sure we put a heavy focus on some of the men’s clothing — more so than what Alexo had been doing.”

Everyone who embraces the concealed carry lifestyle — men and women alike — will find some great clothing options in the Alexo Athletica x Springfield Armory Readywear collection. However, until now, there have not been many choices for guys that maximize comfort and minimize the tactical theme. For that reason, men may be especially interested in this line of apparel.

Sources

Alexo Athletica: AlexoAthletica.com
DeSantis Holsters: DeSantisHolsters.com
Springfield Armory: Springfield-Armory.com