5.11 Gear, is as good as they make it seem?

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JLStorm

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There are a few circumstances where I need to carry a fully size weapon concealed, this is rare, but it does happen. My best solution thus far has been my shoulder holster undeneath a button down shirt, so no matter what position I am in, I can very easily and effectively conceal the weapon. However some of the 5.11 shirts and or light jackets seem to address this need even better, and provide quicker access to the weapon.

My worries are:
  1. Is it really all that the ads and magazine articles make it out to be
  2. Can I conceal a full size weapon spefically a full size HK USP (Im sort of doubting it)


Any opinions?
 
I guess I don't fully understand your question. Are you wanting to holster your gun inside the 5.11 gear? If so it's gonna sag bad. I routinely carry a full size 1911 IWB. I wear jeans and an untucked Teeshirt, then a button down shirt over it. I prefer the shirts to have a little "weight" to them as it helps to keep from printing. What kind of holster are you using? That will have a big affect to it.
 
I have certain situations where that wont due, I need to make sure the weapon doesnt show no matter what possision I may be in short of hanging upside down.

I assumed the 5.11 shirts had some sort of compression or serious stitching to keep from sagging or showing the weapon...I assumed thats what the $100.00 price tag was for :uhoh:
 
Sounds like you want that magical "invisible" holster :) I think they are cut roomy to allow you to access your holster, but I don't believe they do anything else special. I think for $100, $50 of it is to be "5.11 cool", the other $50 gets you a decently built jacket/shirt/whatever.
 
Well, outfits like www.lapolicegear.com and www.botachtactical.com are blowing out some of their slower-moving 5.11 clothing now, you can pick up a Desert Digi-Cam 5.11 shirt for about $15 and a VIP Blazer for about $40. Get one of each for cheap(I can't buy Levi's or Wranglers for $15) and try them out - if it don't work for you, you've still got a very well-built piece of clothing. The desert-camo pants and shirts in particular are very good buys, tough and well-made - they just don't sell well to people who'd rather not look like Marines or security contractors while walking in the mall. :neener:

I personally own 4 shirts, 8 pants, 3 shorts, and 1 vest from 5.11 - I'd rather not carry anything much heavier than a steel snubby or a Glock 27(about 26 oz.) in either the shirts or the vest with the 5.11 "Backup Belt System." I personally find that heavy weights cause the shirts or vest to hang off my front by the collar, which causes pressure against the back of my neck that quickly becomes uncomfortable for me. The garments will hold up to such use just fine, I just don't like how it feels.
 
sounds like I'll just stay with my inside a heavy shirt shoulder holster for these rare occassions, it did seem to good to be true lol :)
 
I have just recently received a pair of the desert camo 5.11 pants previously mentioned. They are comfy, and when I got mine, were $9.95. The second pair cost me $12.95, from botac.com. This is all the 5.11 I personally own, but I have sold a lot of it to police officers. Everyone I ask comments on how comfy they are and how well they last. Most of the federal agents who come in are wearing a 5.11 vest. I know they are carrying, and it is difficult to pick up which side their weapon is on. The 5.11 has a lot of pockets and can easily pass for something a photographer or reporter may wear. If this will work in your situation, it would be worth a try.
 
my two cents.

the 5.11 clothing is rugged and high quality. they resist fading better than an average pair of pants, shirt, etc., and the stiching is great.

i would not use their "BBS" system to conceal a full size pistol. the shirt will most likely sag and it will be pretty uncomfortable. also the bulge of a full sized weapon would probably be noticeable.

i have a BBS holster i put inside a 5.11 photographer's vest (before they came the fanny pack of the 21st century - now i dont wear it because of that). i put a pistol in it and it felt like a boat anchor.

id rather use a conventional pistol holster for comfort reasons alone. it feels like you have fishing weights in your shirt pocket.
 
I have a lot of their stuff and everyone here is right so far. The BBS system is good for a LIGHT weight pistol. Anything bigger than my Sig P245 makes a very noticeable bulge and hangs strangely. An alloy J-frame or a baby Glock is best.

The jackets seem to hide things better than the vests, especially since the vests are really the fanny packs of the current era, as someone said. At the end of the day, it is really high quality, comfortable, long wearing clothing, even if you don't use it to carry anything at all.
 
5.11

IMO- 5.11 makes some great gear. The pants are the only thing I wear anymore and even had my fire department change over to them has duty pants. The shirts work great with a light weight (Kel-Tec, Light weight smith) weapon. If you choose to wear a havey gun then the shirt untucked covers well and you can get tall sizes. The vest if you like it works great. but again the BBS is not a Big frame option. Even if I was not worried about CCW, this would be the gear I would wear all the time. Gain IMHO.

firemedic
 
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