IDPA cover garment question for a newbie

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packpike

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I've been 'stalking' IDPA for a while and I'm finally going to jump in and give it a go. I just don't know what to do for a cover garment. I really don't want to get a 'shoot me first' vest as I'll never use it in 'real life', but I'm sure my competitiveness is going to kick in so I want to post respectable scores. For my EDC I cover with a standard size polo shirt, but that's carrying IWB. What do some of you guys do as alternatives to the vests?
 
If you can clear your shirttail and draw IWB without sweeping yourself, that is a permissible IDPA carry and concealment.

If you want to go with the faster and safer OWB under a separate concealment garment, I have seen:
A regular button front shirt unbuttoned over a T shirt, with a good dose of starch. Some of us have fun with aloha shirts.
A BDU shirt with the sleeves rolled up or cut off for summer shooting.
A sport coat, I particularly recall the guy with the royal blue houndstooth check. He got it at Goodwill.
 
Just get a vest or make one. Or a heavy Hawaiian type shirt or other short sleeve button up. Make sure it covers your holster with your arms out to your sides.
 
I've gone the BDU route as well as a zippered hoodie route as a concealment garment...and still do on occasion, at non-sanctioned matches.

I finally gave in and got a shooting vest not so much for the smoother draw (length and weight) but for the larger side pockets I could easily drop magazines/speedloaders into
 
packpike said:
I'm definitely going OWB just for the safety aspect of having to reholster so many times.
Click to expand...
You only have to reholster once/stage unlike steel challenge. Why would reholstering be unsafe in any event. I do carry and if I shot IDPA regularly I'd want to run the gun and holster combination I use every day. OWB, of course, for a better score.
 
I didn't intend to get off-topic and/or start a debate so hopefully this dies here, but I will answer your question. Reholstering IWB is 'riskier' than doing it OWB, not that it's unsafe by itself, but there's more risk involved (more clothing to get in the way, skin, etc). While I see a lot of benefit practicing the draw from IWB (and from concealment), since that's how I carry, I don't see the benefit in practicing a reholster in this setting because in an SD situation I will not be in a rush to get the gun put away so that I can go tape up targets. So under a 'rush reholster' situation, which is how I see this, I'll be doing it OWB.
 
packpike said:
I'll never use it in 'real life', but I'm sure my competitiveness is going to kick in so I want to post respectable scores.
Click to expand...

Likely both true. Those new to IDPA are often idealistic, but the idealism usually wears off quickly as their competitive side quickly realizes they're handicapping themselves. My advice is to just get the 5.11 Tactical vest*. Yeah, it looks ridiculous, it's heavy, you'll likely never wear it outside of a match, nor will you come close to using a fraction of the pockets...but it's the right tool for this job, which is why they're pretty standard in IDPA.

* I'd also recommend checking out Armadillo Concealment, but it doesn't look like they're accepting orders. Too bad, as they have/had an excellent rep, and I'd rather give my money to a small domestic shop and who actually competes in IDPA.
 
If you choose to wear an open button shirt over a t-shirt, sew a 50cent piece into the bottom front corner of each side in order to give the shirt some weight.....
Why?
So that when the wind blows, the weighted edge of the shirt will help keep the shirt from blowing open and exposing your ccw/spare ammo to the public.
Also, with having a bit of weight to the bottom of the shirt, when you sweep the shirt out of the way at the beginning of the presentation, the weight will give momentum to the shirt that will carry it way past your pistol, helping to keep it clear of your hand and pistol during the attaining of a master grip on the pistol and the subsequent clearing of the holster.
During this time the properly weighted shirt should start swinging back around to the front, as your support hand comes in contact with your weapon hand while you come up from the single hand, tucked, retention position and move up through the two hand close contact ready position and on to what ever the situation dictates .
The weighted support side will help swing the shirt out of the way as you start the process of reloading/reaching your spare mag.( My terminology may differ from others, but you get point)
 
strangelittleman said:
If you choose to wear an open button shirt over a t-shirt, sew a 50cent piece into the bottom front corner of each side in order to give the shirt some weight.....
Click to expand...

I don't think that is allowed under rule:
8.9.4 Weights may not be attached to concealment garments, but items may be placed in pockets.
 
Jim Watson said:
I don't think that is allowed under rule:
8.9.4 Weights may not be attached to concealment garments, but items may be placed in pockets.
Click to expand...
Ahh, I did not know that....I have weighted several garments which I use for EDC...I would have thought that since it is good sense and common practice for EDC, that IDPA would have allowed it...Good info, thanks!
 
strangelittleman said:
I would have thought that since it is good sense and common practice for EDC
Click to expand...
Perhaps we move in different circles, but I wouldn't call it a "common practice" for EDC

While I understand the logic, you have to also be aware of the down side of adding weight to the bottom of a garment. It adds inertia to the bottom of the garment and a less than ideal "sweep" to clear the holster (too high) will leave the trailing material fouling the draw. This isn't based on conjecture, I've seen it happen more than once...both in competition (full magazine in pocket) and in training (keys or phone in pocket of hoodie).

If you really wanted to optimize clearing your concealment garment for EDC, you'd add a stiffener to the leading edge of the opening...that is illegal for competition also
 
The weight just has to be in the proper location (the lower most portion of the opening) and of proper amount (I've found a 50 cent piece to be, for me, to be ideal) If there is too much weight and/or it's in the wrong place, it will, indeed do just as you've described.
 
strangelittleman said:
The weight just has to be in the proper location (the lower most portion of the opening) and of proper amount (I've found a 50 cent piece to be, for me, to be ideal) If there is too much weight and/or it's in the wrong place, it will, indeed do just as you've described.
Click to expand...


Many dignitary protection folks sew a stainless steel washer into the lower edges of their suit jackets for this exact reason. I've used them for assignments, they work great.
 
I would recommend the Redhead Ripstop Utility vest from Bass Pro. I ordered it online after shopping around and I am very pleased. I went 4 years using button down shirts or a jacket, depending on weather of course, but this is so much better. The consistency of a vest adds a lot for competition purposes.

I feel kinda lucky in my vest search. I looked at many, including some that are often recommended and random Amazon vests. I found the Redhead at Bass Pro (online) later in my search, but I am very glad I found it. For me the price was right, as it is half the 5.11 and even cheaper relative to custom. Something happened recently that left a big impression. A fellow shooter left his 5.11 behind last month after the match and when I grabbed it to load in the car, I could not believe how heavy it was. The Redhead is heavy enough (just right) and that 5.11 was at least 5 times heavier. If you shoot matches in temperatures above 70 degrees, you will cook in the 5.11 or any other heavy vest.

Chat up some vest wearers at matches and possibly try theirs on if you can. Could save some time and guesswork. If you like a particular vest, note the size. Nothing beats trying it on. Sometimes the length information is hard to come by while shopping online, and even with the info it is hard to know for sure if that product in that size will cover your gear with your arms out scarecrow style. I hedged and ordered a large and an xl Redhead from Bass Pro. The large is the one I went with and I was swimming in the xl.

Sorry....long post.
 
MrBorland said:
Likely both true. Those new to IDPA are often idealistic, but the idealism usually wears off quickly as their competitive side quickly realizes they're handicapping themselves. My advice is to just get the 5.11 Tactical vest*. Yeah, it looks ridiculous, it's heavy, you'll likely never wear it outside of a match, nor will you come close to using a fraction of the pockets...but it's the right tool for this job, which is why they're pretty standard in IDPA.

* I'd also recommend checking out Armadillo Concealment, but it doesn't look like they're accepting orders. Too bad, as they have/had an excellent rep, and I'd rather give my money to a small domestic shop and who actually competes in IDPA.
Click to expand...

Yup, it's the route I finally went as well. Lots of pockets, and 2 water bottle holders which really come in handy.

Chuck
 
Jim Watson said:
If you can clear your shirttail and draw IWB without sweeping yourself, that is a permissible IDPA carry and concealment.

If you want to go with the faster and safer OWB under a separate concealment garment, I have seen:
A regular button front shirt unbuttoned over a T shirt, with a good dose of starch. Some of us have fun with aloha shirts.
A BDU shirt with the sleeves rolled up or cut off for summer shooting.
A sport coat, I particularly recall the guy with the royal blue houndstooth check. He got it at Goodwill.
Click to expand...

Don't do much IDPA, but this approach has worked well for me in real life and in practice. My preference is to train how I would fight, so I use a real cover garment (button up in summer, sweater in winter) for practice and games that imitate practice.
 
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