Gun pants?

[rbernie]

I am very partial to Wrangler Riggs. I tend to wear their cargo work pants most often, with a Glock 19 in a Remora left-handed holster in the right cargo pocket.

 

[Elkins45]

Belt holster OWB with a shirt or jacket.

That’s often not an option for me. Pocket carry, while not ideal, is better than nothing.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I modify a pocket in my office pants to securely hold and position my pocket holsters.
In some cases I sew a layer of stiffer material to the outside of the pants pocket to help reduce printing.
When your uniform is composed of a golf shirt and dress pants, you do what you must... .

 

[bassjam]

No offense, but that does not look like a holster I'd want. It would be slow to dig the gun out with the grip inside of the hostler. And the holster would probably come with it. I use a Sticky holster that leaves the grip exposed, and stays in the pocket when the gun is drawn. I practice at least once a day, and it works great for me. Yeah, it might print a little more, but I'll pay that price.

It's very slightly slower, but not much more considering that pocket holsters aren't that fast to begin with. It doesn't come out with the gun though, there's a sticky wrap around the holster that grips the inside of the pocket. Printing might not bother you, but when I had a desantis nemisis (very similar to the Sticky) my jeans were wearing a very clear outline of the gun on my pocket, so even when I wasn't carrying there was an image of an lcp imprinted on my jeans. That bothered me more than anything.

 

[trackskippy]

My one buddy carries a Walther TPH in his pocket, and every pair of his pant have a TCL "Skoal Ring" in them. Hes cheap, and doesnt seem to care. But its very obvious whats there, if youre paying the least bit of attention.

As far as the tuckable holsters. I took this to show how well they can work. I dont normally carry this way, but its not hard, and as you can see, pretty effective. I just threw that shirt on and tucked it in for the pic. Behind that clip on my belt is a Glock 17.



This is the Smart Carry with my 26 and a 17 reload in it. It conceals unbelievably well, and is easier and faster to get to the gun than anything pants pocket carried, and can easily be accessed and drawn from sitting. You can also carry a more realistic gun, as opposed to a back up. But it works well with the back ups too.

Best part is, you dont have to change your pants, and you dont even need a shirt.





Same but with a 19...

 

[chicharrones]

As far as pants go, Ive come to a similar conclusion. Dickies Carpenter pants are most of what I buy anymore, and they have gone up in price as well, but are still about $20 a pair cheaper than Carhartts. Carhartts are still the way to go for bibs though.

Duluth's stuff looks to be OK, but I put it in the same boat as Carhartt as far as cost goes, and they are worse there. A number of guys I used to work with liked them, and one guy used to just "trade them in", or so he said. Apparently, their stuff is supposed to be guaranteed for life. I guess at $70 a pair, they ought to be.

No matter what you choose, if you're going to carry IWB, I would suggest buying your normal size, and dont size up. Unless youre not being honest with yourself as to your size, the gun doesnt make any real difference, and between your pants giving a little, and your body doing the same, it may feel snug when you first put things on, but a couple of minutes later, you dont know its there. There are a couple of advantages here too. One, your pants fit without the gun being there, they dont look like they are the wrong size (which they are if you size up), and when you do have the gun on, the pants help secure everything and keep things in place, and youre less apt to have to keep fiddling with it.

Im assuming here the fabric weight/thickness thing is more about pocket carry than it is IWB? Im just not seeing where it would be an issue with IWB, as you will likely have something over the gun anyway.

Im not a pocket carrier fan, and never really liked it, no matter how heavy the material is. After a while, unless youre using a hard holster, youre likely going to start to see a gun "Skoal Ring" in that pocket too, if the gun is always there.

There are also a number holsters out there that spread the "lump" out if thats a worry for you, so there are ways around things.

The other problem is probably going to be your belt, as true gun belts tend to look like gun belts, and most dress pants tend to only take narrow little belts. The narrower you go with the belt, the more like a torture device it comes, especially if there is weight on it.

If this pant thing is such an issue, then maybe a holster change is more in order. Ive used one of Kreamers "Confidant" undershirt holsters in the past, and it worked well under business attire and a full cut oxford shirt. You can wear it over a normal tee shirt, so it looks right if your collar is open, and its also more comfortable. And as Ive mentioned above, the Smart Carry, which these days, is my preferred way to go for this sort of thing. Both allow you to wear your normal clothes, without having to buy anything special, and both worked well for the need. You can be well armed, and in just a tucked in shirt and any pants you want. You also free up all your pockets for all that other important stuff you sem to have to have in them.

Skoal rings show up with tight arse pants. Lol.

Wearing pants that tight pretty much cancels out a reasonable draw speed from a pocket.

I can attest that with me pocket carrying daily for the last 13 years (w/ holster) that no exterior marking shows up with loose fit dockers, khakis, carpenter, or jeans.

 

[drobs]

I just discovered they opened a retail store in Florence. I’ll check them out the next time I’m in town. I’ve seen their TV ads for years but I’ve never been a big fan of ordering pants without being able to try them on.

RE Duluth Trading - You're jaw will drop at the prices they charge for their clothing.

Stopped in one of their stores a couple months back. Nope not spending that on that.

 

[Thomasss]

I can spot tactical pants 50 yards away. So I figure, so can the bad guys. I would like to see cargo pants or maybe some other style with extra wide and deep pockets would work out good.
I'm almost 7 feet tall, so I feel like a light house walking down a street or deer hunting for that matter. I got a crotch holster and a belly band, but would like something a little more secure, like an extra pocket.
Suggestions?

 

[Elkins45]

RE Duluth Trading - You're jaw will drop at the prices they charge for their clothing.

Stopped in one of their stores a couple months back. Nope not spending that on that.

Yeah, I checked their website. I might be willing to pay that if they were made in the USA but the ones I was interested in said they were imported.

 

[thunderbyrd]

i don't know anything about "gun pants", but i recently bought some Winchester socks. they didn't help anything.

 

[JEBruns]

RE Duluth Trading - You're jaw will drop at the prices they charge for their clothing.

Stopped in one of their stores a couple months back. Nope not spending that on that.

True. Their regular prices are very high. I used to justify it because of their old "no bull" warranty. If you ripped them on a fence, they'd give you a new pair. They still call it the "no bull" warranty, but now it only covers manf defects. I call it the "all bull" warranty. I'm on their email list and only buy pants or shorts when they are 25% or more off regular prices.

 

[danez71]

Have you tried pleated front Dockers type pant?

 

[JEBruns]

True. Their regular prices are very high. I used to justify it because of their old "no bull" warranty. If you ripped them on a fence, they'd give you a new pair. They still call it the "no bull" warranty, but now it only covers manf defects. I call it the "all bull" warranty. I'm on their email list and only buy pants or shorts when they are 25% or more off regular prices.

Speaking of which, DTC is having a 25% off of everything sale right now. Free shipping over $50 also.

 

[mope540]

I am very partial to Wrangler Riggs. I tend to wear their cargo work pants most often, with a Glock 19 in a Remora left-handed holster in the right cargo pocket.

I like to carry the Hellcat in the small pocket whenever wearing Wrangler "Riggs". It stays put, and is more comfortable and far less bulky than I/OWB holster carry.

 

[OneFreeTexan]

I just got a pair of Duluth’s ‘Foreman’ pants, nice material, and all that, but too long, and they don’t make a shorter length, so they are off my list .

 

[rbernie]

I will reiterate, once again, you can actually conceal up to a Glock 19 or Glock 30 in the cargo pocket of the Riggs work pants or cargo shorts. It’s not the quickest presentation, but no more messing with IWB or OWB.

The most difficult part is finding an appropriate holster. I found that using a left-handed Remora with an extended sweat shield in the right pocket works acceptably well.

 

[danez71]

Speaking for myself, I don't like that much weight in a low pocket such as a cargo pocket while walking much or while taking a seat.

During short very light walks, standing around, or after getting seated and shifted around, it's fine, though.

 

[drobs]

I will reiterate, once again, you can actually conceal up to a Glock 19 or Glock 30 in the cargo pocket of the Riggs work pants or cargo shorts. It’s not the quickest presentation, but no more messing with IWB or OWB.

The most difficult part is finding an appropriate holster. I found that using a left-handed Remora with an extended sweat shield in the right pocket works acceptably well.

All fine and good till you walk by a door jam or glass panned display window and your gun in your cargo pocket swings out and hits it.
I'll occasionally carry in a cargo pocket while on a long road trip. Stopping for gas, my pocket pistol goes back into my front pocket.

 

[rbernie]

All fine and good till you walk by a door jam or glass panned display window and your gun in your cargo pocket swings out and hits it.
I'll occasionally carry in a cargo pocket while on a long road trip. Stopping for gas, my pocket pistol goes back into my front pocket.

Fair point. One of the reasons that I settled on the Riggs, as opposed to Dickies or Carhartt or other, is that the Riggs cargo pockets are very secure; well shaped, well secured, and with very thick material that keeps them from being billowy. I have been carrying a G19 in my Riggs pants and shorts for several years now, and it is as unobtrusive as possible. I’m a huge fan.

 

[danez71]

...is that the Riggs cargo pockets are very secure; well shaped, well secured...

That could make the difference.

As @drobs described, I hate the flopping around. But I do like a little looser cut in the legs.

I don't even carry my cell in the cargo pocket much at all for the same reasons.

 

[trackskippy]

Ever try running with a gun in your cargo pocket? I did it in the past with other things in there and quickly learned you dont put anything hard that can move in those pockets. I also learned I dont like pants with cargo pockets.

Ive also run with a K frame revolver in a free swinging horizontal shoulder holster that wasnt tied down to my belt. It was about a 50 yard sprint, and that gun and holster beat the crap out of me as I ran. Just another and better reason not to use one.

 

[JEBruns]

I just got a pair of Duluth’s ‘Foreman’ pants, nice material, and all that, but too long, and they don’t make a shorter length, so they are off my list .

The Flex hose cargo pants are available in various lengths. And the cargo pocket on them is a little more around the front than others I have tried. Kind of in the sweet spot for me. Easy/fast to draw, standing or sitting, with the velcro tabs instead of buttons or snaps.

 

[JEBruns]

Ever try running with a gun in your cargo pocket? I did it in the past with other things in there and quickly learned you dont put anything hard that can move in those pockets. I also learned I dont like pants with cargo pockets.

Ive also run with a K frame revolver in a free swinging horizontal shoulder holster that wasnt tied down to my belt. It was about a 50 yard sprint, and that gun and holster beat the crap out of me as I ran. Just another and better reason not to use one.

Yeah, running with much of anything in cargo pockets kind of sucks. Fortunately, I don't have any need to run much. I hit the elliptical every day in my home gym, but not in cargo pants!

I always tell folks considering CC that if you don't find a comfortable way to concealed carry, you won't carry much. And the stats seem to back that up. Something over 90% of CC permit holders do not carry regularly, if at all. With my cargo pants and shorts, I carry all day, every day and hardly notice that it's there.

 

[golden]

Off duty, I wear cargo pants I bought at J C PENNY. I also have some other brands, but the PENNY pants seem the best for pocket carry. I pocket carry and the baggy look of these pants hides the SIG 365 in my pocket. It also allows me to carry extra stuff like a spare mag and credentials plus a pocket knife and keys. It is not much for looks, but works very well for concealment in warm, muggy FLORIDA.

Jim

 

[Trashyshoots]

Yes, I meant to post this in the handgun forum. What casual pants are best for IWB or pocket concealed carry? Jeans seem better than normal thin dress pants because they break up the outline of the gun/holster, but there are some places where jeans are too casual. Any recommendations on a particular brand of non-jeans casual pants that are made of thicker material?

I'm not sure how dressed up you need to be, but if I want to wear jeans to a semi formal gig, I'll pair dark blue jeans with a dress shirt, and a more "casual" pattern/textured sport coat.

Unless you're looking to carry in an environment with a very strict dress code, that's always my "get out of thin dress pants" card.