What are the best T-shirts for concealed carry?

Jessesky said:

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Watch out for his teeth too. Jaws was a well known assassin.

Not mentioning one particular brand of shirt, but look for shapes around the waistline. Shapes will help break up the outline of a concealed pistol, like an urban camouflage. Some of my best carry shirts are full length art displays from rock bands.

An "im with her" or bernie 2016 shirt.

Nobody would expect that.

This should be useful ....



... to conceal a gun

Sebastian the Ibis said:

This is hilarious. However, I don't want anyone thinking I have lost my marbles.

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Me either, but security through obscurity. I wonder if good will has any of those....

Not a T shirt, but if you can live with a polo then one with a banded bottom gives you a little bit of help because it blouses the bottom of your shirt out right where the butt is most likely to print.

Elkins45 said:

Not a T shirt, but if you can live with a polo then one with a banded bottom gives you a little bit of help because it blouses the bottom of your shirt out right where the butt is most likely to print.

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Wouldn't the banded bottom catch on a grip if you reached up for something on the way back down vs the non-banded bottom that would probably not?

JTQ said:

Wouldn't the banded bottom catch on a grip if you reached up for something on the way back down vs the non-banded bottom that would probably not?

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I suppose that’s a possibility. I generally try not to reach up for stuff if I’m somewhere in public where it might be a problem.

I second the Academy Sports suggestion.

A link to their store brand t-shirts: https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bcg-mens-cotton-t-shirt#repChildCatid=6434279

These are inexpensive, decent quality, and are longer in length than regular t-shirts. They also come in many different colors, and you can get free shipping with as little as 5 of these shirts. My one complaint is that the sleeves are also slightly longer than normal, but they are not so long as to look bizarre. I'm 5'8", 165lbs with a 40" chest and 32" waist, and the size M fits a little tight on my chest, but nicely around the waistline.

I just buy the Fruit of the Loom solid color t-shirts that say they stay tucked in. They're a little longer than regular t-shirts. I buy them in the size I wear normally (XL) and carry a 1911 in an IWB Desantis of some sort. I don't do shirts with buttons except at work and funerals.
ETA...I wear these untucked as my only shirt when it's above 65 degrees. If you carry OWB they probably won't work. I've tried but cannot wear an undershirt, especially when it's hot.

T-Shirt as Cover Garment
Heavier Dickies, Carhartt, Schmidt, Duluth work T-shirt. Or just about any brand known for work clothes that advertises a tougher/thicker than usual T-shirt. And get it a size or two bigger and maybe in "tall" if available. All of the t-shirts I use this way are black.

T-Shirt as Undergarment / Anti-Chafing for CCW
Correctly/snugly sized, but longer tail to keep it tucked in. Some of the FOTL/Hanes lines advertise "stays tucked" and these can work.

Another undershirt option is the A-shirt. FOTL used to and maybe still does not stitch/band hte bottom and they are longer than Hanes. The A-shirt is what I wear in the warmer months under button-down, polo, and T-shirt cover garments.

I agree JC Penny & LL Bean tall t-shirts & non-banned polos have worked for me. Just don’t get any cut that says slimming as these will make you print with your gun. You want a relaxed or classic fit.

I'm 6 foot 3 and 175-190 depending on season and what I'm trying to do in the gym (bulk or cut). As far as the fit and look I prefer a large or Xl in most brands but many are short on me. I also have a long torso and most xl shirts only come to my belt. The carhart shirts mentioned above as well as the cheap Hanes Tee and active Tank tops do come down farther. Many tank tops are longer because they are made to be tucked in. I never wear a cover shirt, nor do I wear anything with colors or patterns nor a collar unless I have to, and I carry a Glock 27 in a crossbreed and no one ever knows. Having big shoulders and traps and a small waist helps for Iwb. Any reasonably sized shirt that fits my chest and lats well but hang loose over my waist. The length is definitely the issue. A lot of the big and tall stuff is just that. BIG and tall. Some brands start at 2x and most are just cut too big for a tall yet 170-200 lb athletic individual. Apparently I'm only tall....not big and tall. Finding a shirt to tuck in but not look like a gown is an issue for me. Always has been. Sounds like maybe you are in that group as well.

Carrying concealed is very much an individual thing. Personal preference, climate, location..... all make a huge difference. Some guys look normal in a Hawaiian button up. If I wore one I'd be laughed out of the county. Some guys like a shirt to fit tight. Jersey shore tight. I feel like I'm trying to show off or something if mine get very tight. Yet I dont like the baggy "gown" look that many guys wear either. I know 50 people who carry. No two do it the same. And the funny thing is that everyone thinks that only their body type has any trouble. Most of my friends are LE and/or Gym buddies. They all think that lean muscular guys have it the hardest when it comes to ccw. Especially if they wear anything that show their work. But the big out of shape guys also think that they have all the issues. Luckily in my state open carry is legal so it's not as huge of an issue as some places if it were to show. Another issue is that for some people a good stiff gun belt is a must. Some on here swear by that and I firmly believe that for their body type it's true. But I have some nice gun belts. Hanks. Beltman. Safariland....some 200 dollars. I almost always wear a 30 dollar leather braided dress belt. I prefer it by a good bit. I do wear the stiffened belts when I'm hunting with a big revolver but I dont like them for IWB. Again it's all very individual.

Then there is the location. When I'm at the coast I wear a tank top when I wear a shirt at all. Call it vanity. Call it thermal efficiency idc. I also ride a sportbike so I need my tank to tuck in. Those of you who have ridden know why. The shirt stays blown up if it isnt tucked. Basketball tank tops tend to have a long tail so they work great for that. Plus the arm holes arent so big like many of the gymshark etc shirts are. So where you are and what you are doing makes a big difference.

Sebastian the Ibis said:

This is hilarious. However, I don't want anyone thinking I have lost my marbles.

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I can assure you that if you wore anything like that in my area you would draw attention and be far more likely to be noticed. Lol

Greg Ellifritz on drawing attention away from your concealed carry gun - put a print or design up high, away from your waist.

https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/drawing-attention-away-from-your-concealed-carry-gun

Deleon517 said:

Guess im one of those lucky/unlucky ones. I typically just can wear a plain black t-shirt from champs or footlocker in 2xl its not super loose nor form fitted and conceal no problem. I actually have a harder time when wearing button down shirts for like date night or events, even when they are the short sleeve untucked type.

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I am the same way. T shirts are easier to conceal for me.

These are great if you like the surfer look:

https://www.heavytshirt.com/

Plenty of room and very thick cotton. They last forever.

I haven't found anything yet, other than a parka, that can conceal my bulging pecs and biceps, so I go shirtless, but i live in Fl and that style goes well with my sandals. Guns just detract everyone's attention away from my chiseled physique, so I dont carry. Is there a mirror on this board?

Look for shirts marked “tall”. You may have to order them online as stated. For me, this is where the “summer” vs “winter” Gun comes into play. I can carry my PPS IWB all day without a barrier shirt....ie just a t-shirt or polo. The rear site on my G19 digs into me as well as the beaver tail on my 1911s.....yes, it’s a “me” problem. However, I ordered some 2-sizes too small extra long wife-beaters from Hanes and will often wear one under a polo for a barrier/girdle.

Hawaiian Shirt, in long/tall.

King size.com
Good variety of shirts, big and tall. They have sales, and prices aren't too bad

I get bigger then i need t shirts, normally a multi pack at walmart or kohls. Never had an issue with printing. Sometimes i even carry a full size glock 17

Folks my size need a "skinny and tall" section rather than a big and tall one. There are billions of bodies. Billions of body types. It's more of an issue with coats or long sleeves for me though (or coveralls). They swallow me whole or the sleeves are about 6 inches too short

crestoncowboy said:

Folks my size need a "skinny and tall" section rather than a big and tall one. There are billions of bodies. Billions of body types.

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They make those also. just look look for the "T" at the end. if you normally wear a small, look for a ST, or a meduim is a MT. Most websites will have that size. Kohls and jecpenny have them. Did not try the walmart website yet. Here is a example. Might need to try some to make sure they fit right.