I’ve been carrying in my Gun Tote’n Mamas BOHO Mini Crossbody Conceal Carry Purse for the better part of two years now. After that much time I decided I was overdue putting my thoughts into words. Here’s my review of the GTM BOHO Mini Crossbody Conceal Carry Purse.
This purse features a built-in wallet compartment with RFID protection. The main compartment has a small zippered pocket and two open pockets, along with a larger open area. There is a separate zippered pocket for your firearm. All Gun Tote’n Mamas (GTM) cross body purses come with slash resistant straps which feature a metal braid encased in the leather. Unlike other conceal carry purses on the market, there is no lock on the gun compartment zippers.
This is not GTM’s largest purse by any means, but there is enough space to carry a reasonable amount of gear. Aside from my firearm and wallet, there is only enough room for me to carry a small medical kit and tourniquet, a flashlight, some chapstick, and maybe a few other odds and ends.
Overall I believe there is a lot to like about GTM’s BOHO Mini Crossbody Conceal Carry Purse. There are, however, a few things that stand out most to me.
Gun Tote’n Mamas has some beautifully designed purses. That is what initially piqued my interest in conceal carry purses. This purse did not scream “I HAVE A GUN”, which is very important to me.
You can choose between brown and black leather depending on what will go best with your style. The design on the front pocket adds a nice detail without being too showy. This is just a good, classic, leather purse.
I hate purses that don’t have divided areas in them. Nothing is worse than digging through a Mary Poppins sack of things. The BOHO Mini Crossbody Conceal Carry Purse has compartments in the main body so you can easily find your car keys and chapstick without much digging.
The small, magnet pocket on the front of the purse also has compartments for your credit cards and Driver’s License. I personally don’t take advantage of that as I go between a purse and a diaper bag frequently, but in the past I’ve enjoyed having this option.
After two years of frequent use, this purse has held up well. There is no fraying along the strap or corners. The bottom edges of the purse also show no signs of wear. With no care, the leather looks good as new. The stitching inside the purse is also holding up great.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality of this purse.
While I’ve been overall pleased with this purchase, there are a few things I wish I could change.
As a chronic over-packer, this purse does not allow you to bring much with you after adding your gun. If I could go back and purchase something different I would opt for a larger purse. The BOHO Mini is great for carrying your necessities, but sometimes you need to pack a little more.
You will need to consider what firearm you can carry as space is limited. A Ruger LCP or Glock 42 fits well, but something like a Glock 19 isn’t realistic.
If you try to pack a little too much into the purse pressure will be added into the firearm compartment. This cuts down even more on the size firearm you’ll be able to carry. That can also cause difficulty when drawing the gun, so be wary of what you pack when leaving home.
The GTM BOHO Mini Crossbody Conceal Carry Purse comes with a small pocket like holster. I opted not to keep what came with my purse in favor of other holsters I like more. Unfortunately because of the compartment’s design I am limited with what I can use.
Unless I add Velcro to a holster, the holster will come out with my firearm during my draw. Having a small loop inside the compartment where I could lash a trigger guard holster to would be a nice addition. Or a strap that I could wrap around my kydex holster. Otherwise, adding Velcro to whatever holster will go into this purse is a must.
I stage the zippers on the firearm compartment to be in the top right corner, as I am right hand dominant. When I draw I move one of the zippers to open the compartment and draw my firearm. The zippers are small, and there is no way to discern which zipper I want to move when I am grabbing sight unseen. Having a customizable zipper pull would be helpful.
Better yet, I would like to see a quick open option like on the Elite Survival Systems Hip Gunner.
Gun Tote’n Mamas BOHO Mini Crossbody Conceal Carry Purse would be great for the minimalist conceal carry woman, or for the occasional purse carrier. Its chic design does not draw unnecessary attention to the carrier as it can blend in in a variety of social settings.
You will need regular practice to become quick and efficient with your draw if the need ever arises, as with most other carry methods and positions. The GTM BOHO Mini Crossbody isn’t perfect, but it’s a good option that continues to work well for me.
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to assist with a Defensive Shotgun course from…
Up to now we've primarily focused on managing students, materials, and safety. Today we are…
It's been a few years since I updated this series, and I had never planned…
While leather holsters ruled the roost for duty and concealed carry for decades, the last…
Despite being a practical or tactical shooter for the majority of my adult life, I've…
As shooters, we're probably using targets in our practice and when teaching. As such, we're…
View Comments