Concealment garment/vest for CCW and IDPA?

[Archie]

Depends on how one dresses normally

I find the sleeveless sweater vests useful. I'm retired, so I don't usually run around in grungy clothing. I typically wear trousers, a white or other color shirt and the vest; no one seems to think I'm anything but a bit stodgy. Which I am, so who cares? I always wear a hat of some sort, as well.

A regular vest - somewhat old fashioned - is also viable and not particularly attention attracting.

I find looking friendly and cheerful seems to distract people from the fact I am armed.

 

[Warners]

Thanks for the replies, guys....all helpful.

Warner

 

[Warners]

Check out Duluth Trading Post. They have a "Presentation" jacket that has multiple pockets to accommodate just about anything. I have one and i like it.....more importantly, it passes the mrs kb test inspection usually.
you can pocket carry, iwb, or owb carry with it on.

This looks decent.....I think I may have to pick one up.....looks like it would serve the CCW purpose well, and as far as IDPA, I could either use this or just about anything....doesn't matter what it looks like for that. But this jacket could be worn with just about anything and not look out of place.

Thanks again,

Warner

 

[MrBorland]

Those Presentation jackets look like a good option, but check out some of the Woolrich Elite jackets, too. IIRC, they used to make a good lookin' sportcoat specifically for carry. I have their Algerian Field jacket as my everyday knockaround coat, and it's well-suited for this purpose. And I don't look all "tactical" when wearing it with khakis and a collared shirt.

 

[TarDevil]

Wish you guys would post some pictures.

 

[Warners]

Wish you guys would post some pictures.

Here's a link to the Duluth Trading Presentation jacket. This is the firehose one, which is a little pricier. There is a video that is in the description as well, which is kind of nice:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mn-fire-hose-presentation-jacket-26514.aspx?kw=presentation&processor=content

Warner

 

[TarDevil]

Here's a link to the Duluth Trading Presentation jacket. This is the firehose one, which is a little pricier. There is a video that is in the description as well, which is kind of nice:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mn-fire-hose-presentation-jacket-26514.aspx?kw=presentation&processor=content

Warner

Thanks, looks nice.
My problem with any cover garments is my intolerance to heat. I'm always on the lookout for something that doesn't attract a gun sight but is light enough I can wear it.

 

[Warners]

Thanks, looks nice.
My problem with any cover garments is my intolerance to heat. I'm always on the lookout for something that doesn't attract a gun sight but is light enough I can wear it.

I think this one wouldn't be too hot.....looks fairly innocuous also.....

Warner

 

[btg3]

11.5 oz canvas with a full lining is not a light garment.

 

[BCRider]

Re-reading this thread reminded me of the standing joke in my IDPA group from a few years back when MOST of them were all wearing the same tan coloured shooters vest as their cover garment. The joke being that if we were ever to be caught in a public shooting situation we'd look around and smoke all the tan sporting vests first THEN look for anyone actually holding a gun and threatening anyone.

The moral behind this humour is that it's worth having a cover garment that doesn't look too much like a cover garment or that doesn't look out of place for the area. So I suspect it's safe to say that the carry method needs to be flexible for place and season. After all a stinking hot day where everyone else is in shorts and T shirts and someone walks in wearing that presentation coat and sweating like a lawn sprinkler is likely going to stick out a little. But a nice loose fitting Hawaiian shirt won't get a second glance. On the other hand cool days where everyone wears a light jacket or sweat shirt is sure going to make it tough to pick out those that are carrying.

Some threads I've read about light clothing of this sort has reported that it can often hang up and "print" the gun. I'm wondering if some modification to the basic shirt could be done to aid in avoiding such printing. For example lining the inside of the shirt around that side and from about the armpit down to the waist with something suitable so it spreads over the gun and lets the shirt material flow over the gun itself without printing. This would require playing around a little but I could see it being quite suitable. And because it only covers the lower side and slightly around to the back it would not make the shirt too hot to wear even on the worst days of summer.

 

[Dave/hoff]

I've found that good-quality cotton shirts, with long tails and worn untucked, in moderate temperatures cover my firearm just fine. I tend towards medium to large plaid patterns, which I find break up a "print" quite well if you're carrying IWB. If you use a "tuckable" IWB holster, plaid shirts work pretty well for those times when you can't go with your shirt out. For cooler temps, plaid flannels worn untucked over a t-shirt with a couple of buttons fastened just above the waste probably don't attract much attention.

 

[5Wire]

5.11 Tactical Shirts, long & short sleeves.

Hidden Document Pockets at the chest provide ample and covert storage, reinforced pen pockets at the left sleeve offer quick convenience, and a cape-back mesh panel maximizes ventilation to keep you cool and comfortable in warm climates.

A bit pricy but comfy. Better prices available. The darker colors obscure the 'hidden document pockets" better than the lighter colors do.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm wondering if some modification to the basic shirt could be done to aid in avoiding such printing. For example lining the inside of the shirt around that side and from about the armpit down to the waist with something suitable so it spreads over the gun and lets the shirt material flow over the gun itself without printing.

No need to get fancy.

Get a shirt that falls vertically rather than tapers...just as you'd tailor a suit coat for carry. Line the hem with a stiffer material like canvas or thin leather...causes the hem not to form around the holster and causes the shirt to drape straight

 

[Warners]

Just getting back to this post now. First off, thanks to everyone for their input...all of it valuable and appreciated. So I was doing some "homework" on the Duluth Trading Company and found that they had an outlet store just outside Madison, Wisconsin. This is about a 2 hour drive for me, so I called there and spoke with a real helpful lady (Bridget) who told me that not only did they HAVE the Presentation jackets in the fire hose material, but they were on sale for....ready? $10! Keep in mind that the retail price on these is $150.

So I drove out there yesterday and found 3 of them who's only listed "defect" was that they had been worn (customer returns). No stains, tears, stitching defects....nothing! (some others did have those defects listed though). So I got one in Black, one in Brown, and one in the Desert Khaki color. All REAL nice. I'm in $30 at this point.

Since I've driven over 2 hours to get there, I looked around and found they had real nice ($50 retail) sweatpants for $10 also - bought one blue and one black. Nice velcro pockets, good sturdy material. Nice sweats.

I also picked up 4 pair of pants in the fire hose material (which is like or maybe IS canvas - thick and tough, but VERY comfortable). One of them was lined with wool for warmth, the others 3 are ones that I can pass off as "business casual" pants and wear them to work (wearing one of them now in fact). The 3 unlined ones were also only $10 (retail was $55-$60 for these), and the lined ones were $27.

Finally, I picked up a pair of the blue denim "ballroom" jeans...haha....you've seen the commercials maybe? $40 retail...again, $10!

I'm sure I timed this trip at the right time, as these items are not always marked this low - generally everything is half of retail....for example these presentation jackets are usually $75 at the outlet store. Pretty much everything that isn't on some special sale is half of whatever the retail price on their website is.

I picked up 2 of them for a friend in a different size. I only picked the ones that listed a defect of "worn", so these are first quality items at almost give-away prices.

To recap - I got 3 jackets, 5 pair of pants, and 2 pairs of sweats for a whopping total cost of $120. I don't buy clothes for myself very often, so I feel pretty good about this purchase!


Warner

 

[MrBorland]

Dang - I shoulda given you my order before you went .

Seriously, nice score!

 

[340PD]

It is nice to have a pocket low on the garment so that you can a carry a small amount of weight in it. That makes it much easier to sweep open on the drawstroke. A fully loaded mag works great.

 

[Warners]

It is nice to have a pocket low on the garment so that you can a carry a small amount of weight in it. That makes it much easier to sweep open on the drawstroke. A fully loaded mag works great.

Good point....

Warner

 

[Sam1911]

A certain factory-sponsored shooter I know carries a fully loaded 9mm pistol mag in the strong-side pocket of this shooting vest...when competing with a revolver!

 

[BCRider]

Adding weight of that manner when the rules specifically prohibit built in weights smacks to me of "gaming".

 

[Sam1911]

Sure. But when you're wearing your sponsor's shirt and shooting his ammo you do whatever isn't specifically against the rules to put on a good showing, I suppose.

 

[GJSchulze]

Adding weight of that manner when the rules specifically prohibit built in weights smacks to me of "gaming".

I don't believe that is mentioned in the rules for IDPA. Please show me which rule that is.

 

[David4516]

I don't do IDPA so this may not be that helpful. Actually I would be interested in learning more about it though. Don't mean to do a thread hi-jack but just wondering how difficult it would be for a noob to start?

Anyway, for just every day carry, what I wear depends on the weather mainly.

I live in the NW so it's usually cold and wet, but on those occiasions when it's warm, I carry a Beretta .25 ACP in my front pocket, no cover garment needed.

When it's a little cool, but not cold, I'll wear a Makarov OWB and cover it with this a vest like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Mens-Cathedral-Peak-Vest/dp/B000IQ377Y

If it's cold but not freezing, I'll carry the Mak OWB with a Carhart zipper-hoody like this:

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&storeId=10051&productId=154564&langId=-1

And if it's really really cold I'll wear a heavy jacket that will hide just about anything. Again in my area this is rare, usually it's cold but not freezing.

Whatever I wear, I have to wear it un-zipped. If I zip it up then the gun will "print" too much. Back in the day when I was about 20 to 30 pounds lighter, I'd carry IWB and just wear a baggy shirt over it. Now I have a bit of a "muffin top" and I find that IWB carry cause the gun to "poke" me. I don't know, maybe I just need a better holster for IWB? But until I drop a few pounds or find a better carry option, I'm going for a Fobus padle holster for my Mak.

 

[Dogguy]

I don't do IDPA either. But I have been legally carrying concealed for about 7 years. I mainly pocket carry one of several pocketable pistols. I found early on that if it didn't fit in the pocket I probably wouldn't carry it. So I've made it a point to buy pants with pockets large enough that can handle a pocket pistol as large as a Glock 26 or S&W J-frame with Hogue Monogrips. Since I'm now retired, I mostly wear oversize untucked T-shirts or untucked full fit sport shirts. I've found this is sufficient to conceal something as large as a full sized SIG P220 in an OWB pancake holster although it's not a setup I'm very comfortable using (hence the pocket carrying).

I worked as a news photographer for about 20 years up until the early 1990s. I often wore a photographer's vest. One with a multitude of pockets that carried a lot of photo gear and supplies. When I changed occupations, I continued to wear photo vests on occasions, especially when traveling...especially when carrying a camera. They are practical and comfortable when carrying "stuff". I cannot remember ever getting strange looks from anyone when I was wearing one of these vests. The only people who associate the wearing of one of these vests with the carrying of a concealed weapon are a few people who carry concealed weapons. Most people just see a guy in a vest, sometimes a guy in a vest with a camera.

Anyway, the vast majority of people never pay attention to their surroundings or the people occupying those surroundings. For that reason, just about anything would work for concealing a weapon.

 

[Warners]

Anyway, the vast majority of people never pay attention to their surroundings or the people occupying those surroundings. For that reason, just about anything would work for concealing a weapon.

Sad, but completely TRUE statement. Point well-taken.

Warner

 

[kneesus]

I like vests when the weather is cold. Columbia makes a very nice duck shell.