When you’re a gun owner, you have to wear clothes that allow you to carry and draw your weapon if needed effectively. This is especially important in the summer.
A loose, untucked casual shirt provides enough concealment to hide an inside-the-waistband holster and a pistol from casual observation. This is especially helpful in situations where a jacket would be conspicuous.
Loose Fitting Shirts
For gun owners, arranging good-looking clothes around the bulge of a handgun can be challenging. Fortunately, there are ways to hide a gun under many clothing types.
For instance, baggy workout shirts can hide holsters when worn over a thick undershirt. Another tactic is to bury a holster under a longer coat. Lightweight wool coats are comfortable for most of the year and can conceal any holster style except a paddle.
The shoulder holster, popular with law enforcement and often depicted on TV and in movies, works well with a suit jacket or sports jacket that angles back to cover the pistol. It’s less effective, though, when worn over a T-shirt. Another option is a thigh holster garter, which can be moved up and down, twisted side to side, or even worn on top of a skirt (if it’s not too tight). It requires careful positioning to conceal the weapon. But it can be very comfortable and doesn’t require a belt.
Cover Garments
If you wear a holster on your hip, you need to “dress around it” — and the best way to do that is with cover garments. There are a lot of options out there. Hoodies are ubiquitous, for example, and add enough bulk that you can conceal a handgun.
The challenge, however, is clearing the cover garment when it’s time to draw. This is something that many shooting instructors teach, and learning a technique for it can mean the difference between life and death when you’re in a real fight.
Tactical concealment shorts, also known as range shorts or cargo shorts, are designed with guns and other range equipment and everyday carry items (such as knives and flashlights) in mind. The pockets are large and low on the body, which allows you to position your gun for an off-hand draw if necessary. These shorts are built for durability with bar tacks, double-stitched seams, and rivets.
Pants
A slew of pants and shorts are on the market for concealed carry. They are designed to look like normal clothes so no one knows you’re carrying them. Some of these pants are also made to be compatible with specific holsters, notably those that fit inside the waistband (IWB) or in the appendix position.
Many of these pants are made from durable, breathable, element-blocking fabric. They are typically designed to be comfortable during outdoor activities and include large, mixed-use pockets for storage of a firearm as well as other tools and accessories.
These pants are an excellent choice for summer when wearing long pants might not be practical or cause you to sweat more. They are also often a good choice if you want to avoid printing your gun onto shirts, which can occur when the grip of your weapon presses against your shirt’s waistline.
Shoes
There are plenty of pants available that can conceal a firearm without the need for a holster. Sweatshirts and hoodies are common in the fall and winter, and they can add enough bulk to help hide even larger handguns. Just select a pair of pants that fit well and look good. Too baggy a pair can make you look like you’re trying too hard to be concealed.
Thigh holster garters are another option for concealing your firearm in dress clothing. While they might not be the best choice for pencil skirts, they work well with A-line, midi, and maxi dresses. They can be worn on the inside or outside of your leg, and the flexible material can be twisted up or down to cover different body areas. Textured fabrics, such as herringbone and birdseye, can also help break up any outline that might be visible. Some models feature reinforced belt loops to keep gun belts secure.
