Whether an off-body enthusiast or a collector of belly bands and miracle holsters, carrying concealed as a woman can be a bit of a challenge. Battling odd waist-adjacent lumps, over-sized shirts and sagging yoga pants can be just as difficult as locating a carry friendly purse that doesn’t exude a pleather, holster containing vibe. That’s where Lady Conceal enters the conversation. Come with me as we take a look at the Marley backpack from this fabulous woman-owned company.
My first perusal of Ladyconceal.com left me very impressed with its quality and variety of products. I could almost smell the top grain leather through the screen of my laptop. For the purposes of this article, I got a chance to review the Marley. My first task? Pick a color.
The Marley, a convertible sling/backpack style bag, was available in three colors – gray, light cognac and Bordo. The gray seemed a subtle slate color with muted pewter hardware and zippers. The Light Cognac brought to mind a delightful after-dinner apéritif enjoyed beside a crackling fire. The complimentary hardware blended gently into the warm, brown leather. The Bordo appeared as a beautiful synthesis of a deep Rosé wine paired with a hint of rose gold in the hardware. As a dedicated red wine fan and lover of rose gold, I knew which one I was going to “Add to Cart.”
The Marley arrived and I couldn’t wait to open the box. A few observations here. First, Lady Conceal totally knocked it out of the park in presentation. My new bag came delicately wrapped in tissue and encased in a white-satin, monogrammed bag. Everything about the first impression embodied elegance, class, femininity and quality.
Reluctantly I removed the Marley from its beautiful satin nest and started to explore its features. The leather is of top quality and feel. I wanted to both touch the bag and have it close – no abrasive fabrics or cringy textures here at all.
The zippers also are of top quality and well-fitted to the leather. Stitching looked consistent, uniform and discreet. The inside of the bag held more surprises; the outermost pocket is ideal for cards and ID documents as it is RFID marked. The interior material is a rich Cabernet shade in a silken cotton blend.
The large main compartment can functionally accommodate a variety of contents – slim line lap top or tablet, gym clothes, assorted kid goodies, etc. Mine currently has four rocks my son couldn’t leave at the park, a note pad and of, course, snacks.
The whole point of this, however, is to carry concealed. The concealed carry component is ambidextrously designed to accommodate strong hand preference as well as multiple wearing styles. Whether worn as a sling, hobo or backpack, access is simple, discreet and stream-lined.
A note here on the concealed carry compartment. The Marley is equipped with easy to use (and surprisingly sturdy) zipper locks. While not a substitute for proper safe or other lock box type storage, it is a great on-the-go, peace-of-mind feature if there are children or others in the vicinity you want to keep out of your bag.
So far I have carried three different handguns in the Marley by Lady Conceal. My Taurus GX 2 and Sig P 365 made the list for the best fits for the compartment and included holster. A Ruger LCR in 22 LR also fit well. You can purchase additional holster options for the Marley based on your carry needs.
The carry compartment is equipped with Velcro on one side of the interior to keep the included nylon-Cordura holster in place. This takes a little bit of fiddling to get exactly where you want it within the compartment, but it is VERY solid once in place. Overall, a comfortable and secure method to off-body carry. Note: Be sure that you work with the holster and an unloaded firearm while getting the fit.
The presentation, quality and features of the Marley bag provide a luxurious sensory experience from delivery to days out.
The convertible process is handy, but takes a minute to navigate. Kind of like taking a bra from standard to racerback, there can be a moment or two of awkwardness in the conversion.
The size is ideal for daily use and wear. It has enough space to tote around a day’s needs, but isn’t so large that you look like Mary Poppins.
The concealed carry features are solid, durable, discreet and well designed.
I am highly impressed with the Marley from Lady Conceal – from a concealed carry standpoint, as well as a straight-up daily accessory. Its quality, design and features are elegant and functional, whether armed or not.
For more information and other CCW bags and purses, check out Lady Conceal.
MSRP: $159.95
Andrea Bogard’s love for the range began at 12 with competitive handgun and expanded to encompass sporting clays a few years later. She became an NSCA instructor at 18 years old and spent the next 18 years getting married and raising two sons, ages 17 and 9 currently. Andrea started hunting six years ago and learned to shoot a rifle and a bow. She is now 41, a full-time writer, homeschool mom and business owner and has hunted three countries, three continents and 19 states. Her sons and lab (Mr. Moose) are the focus of her world. View all posts by Andrea Bogard
