I recently tested some of Alexo Athletica’s Springfield Armory collaborations, a line of fashionable concealed carry clothing, and the experience changed how I look at working out while armed. This isn’t casual logo wear — it’s purpose-built clothing that blends fitness, fashion and function. Full disclosure: I already wear Springfield Armory gear daily, and I carry a Springfield pistol to match.
It’s important to note these garments are not designed for beginners. Mixing firearms and athletic wear requires training, awareness and experience. Alexo Athletica’s founder and CEO, Amy Robbins, launched the company after recognizing a gap in the market: no product allowed people to train without compromising safety.
| RELATED: Springfield’s Compact Prodigy refines the 1911 DS platform for concealed carry
Purpose-built designs for CCW users
I never work out without a gun, and I don’t really care for off-body carry. I almost always wear my gun instead of placing it in a fanny pack or something similar.
When I first tested the Springfield Men’s Concealed Carry Performance Jogger, I put a caliber of confidence in the integral holster. Using Springfield Alexo clothing, I could tote a .45 single stack and several magazines. The recommended weight limit for handguns is 23 ounces, so I went with an alloy frame but also took it right to that limit.
Both the Men’s Concealed Carry Performance Jogger and the women’s versions, like the Springfield Women’s Mesh Pocket Crossed Cannons Legging — the favorite among my testers — are purpose-built for defense and should not be confused with standard athletic wear. Actually, these garments do look just like regular joggers, but they have built-in holsters surrounded by strong elastic bands. I did say “holsters,” didn’t I? Alexo did consider the fact that not everyone is right-handed, and some people like SOB carry. There are several positions on these pants in which a person can carry a gun.
The holsters are gun-shaped sewn-in elastic, and Alexo is very clear about not using these garments without some kind of trigger guard device. They worked closely with DeSantis Gunhide in the DeSantis Flextech holster design. This is a wraparound trigger protector that fits in the elastic holsters, covering the trigger guard. Like their Super Fly pocket holsters, the outside material is incredibly sticky, and they stay with the garment when the gun is presented.
I used another carry method for these products, which was to take the belt clip off my Kydex holsters and add UltiClips. These are garment clips that allow holster carry without the belt. Everyone should have at least one holster with an UltiClip for quick trips to the store. The UltiClip works with Alexo Athletica clothing like it was designed for it.
The first thing I noticed with both garments is the heavy-duty waistband. There are actually several layers of elastic. The holster part is closest to the body. Further out, there are pockets for magazines and other EDC tools like OC spray. The design allows for inside pockets with an exterior that looks like ordinary sweatpants.
The Springfield Women’s Mesh Pocket Crossed Cannons Legging is made of nylon and Spandex, and the build quality is impressive. It is ¾ length, and the cut of the material doesn’t create wrinkles in the articulation, nor does it shift in the stomach and hip panels. My testers found the draw to be consistent, and nothing — absolutely nothing — flopped around, despite 20 ounces of 9mm, two magazines, an ASP Palm Defender, oversized not-so-smart phone and keys.
Both the Crossed Cannons Legging and Concealed Carry Performance Jogger do have a learning curve. The elastic panels are tight, like those garments designed to make people look thinner than objective reality. They do make the wearer look thinner, without any bulges, of which I have plenty.
Can you run in the leggings? Yes. In fact, I toted a running gel flask, keys and a 9mm without any bounce.
Jackets built for movement and concealment
I tested the Springfield Breezy Moto Jacket, which is a high-collared, lightweight fill jacket with strategically placed mesh panels. It is made of Spandex and polyester, and has zippered cuffs. I found that the mesh panels in this jacket gave the wearer more range of motion than similar jackets. This kind of design is almost unique to the athletic wear industry. It gives warmth where most runners want it, but affords a lot of breathability and mobility. It also has enough pockets for other essentials like keys and snacks, or even more magazines. The cut is flattering, while still allowing room in the waist for a caliber with no compromise.
My favorite product from the Springfield Alexo Collection is the Men’s Performance Jacket. This jacket is made of a premium neoprene material, which gives it a little more warmth and protection than polyester/cotton hoodies. It has a longer cut, and the Hex Camo color selection really works for CCW.
You shouldn’t be surprised that the Springfield Ladies Performance Jacket was also my testers’ favorite. Combined with the material and design, the print of a larger gun is greatly reduced. I’m not sure how they got the dimensions right, as this jacket has a definite taper at the waist, opening at the hips. Usually flattering clothing means less gun and restricted movement.
I’m glad they used neoprene for this build. Neoprene doesn’t absorb water, nor is it particularly affected by sweat. It was easy to wash, and after several cycles did not hold odors or stains.
One of the comments from testers was that the Springfield Ladies Performance Jacket had the perfect thumbhole. It was available when needed and disappeared when not used. These jackets have hidden pockets and reflective tabs, which allow the user to carry all kinds of extras. The Men’s Performance Jacket has a zip-off hoodie, which I liked very much. I think my female testers would prefer a zip-off hood too.
I also tested a Men’s Ultra Stretch Flannel button-down shirt. It looks like an ordinary flannel shirt, but it is made of rayon/poly/spandex, with a longer cut and a little more room for the gun. The material is super soft and certainly more comfortable against the skin than real flannel. It is cut somewhat loose, but the material itself seems to have around a 25%-50% stretch. Buttoned up like a casual shirt, it hung naturally, without looking like someone bought a size larger just for carry purposes.
Workout clothing designed for defense
The Springfield-branded Alexo Athletica clothing line is definitely higher-quality activewear. The sewing is even, the materials are designed for daily use and the engineering for CCW users obviously has CCW user input. Considering all this, the MSRP for these products is similar to other premium athletic wear. Why not have workout clothing designed for defense?
