Summertime Cover Garment

CHL discussions that do not fit into more specific topics

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TacShot
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by TacShot »

Almost any loose fitting short sleeve shirt with a large, busy, pattern such as a plaid, checkered, or Hawaiian style print, all in bold or dark contrasting colors serves to camouflage any outline of the CC. While we are most concerned about printing, the public isn't. I'm not saying we shouldn't be careful about printing. But, stop and think how many time you were able to spot printing among the passing public. Not many, I'd venture, and we know where to look.
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Kadelic
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by Kadelic »

I have a few linen shirts I really like, including two Hawaiian prints. Got a couple of Magellan's that work well too. Picked up one of these 5.11 concealed carry shirts on sale at GT Distributors the other day. It's made to use with a special CC undershirt but it's nice by itself and worth $30 IMO.

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PUCKER
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by PUCKER »

I literally have a closet full of every Tommy Bahama shirt made (well, almost, have at least 30)....and a bunch of other aloha / Hawaiian shirts....love 'em....wore them before CHL too. :biggrinjester:
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by NEB »

Hmmm...I've never found it necessary to buy carry-specific clothing. Shorts or jeans with an untucked t-shirt or polo and IWB carry (Crossbreed, Garrett silent thunder, or Remora rig) is what I do pretty much all year. In the winter, I can get by with OWB carry with heavier clothing. If I have to be tucked in, I carry my LCP in a back pocket holster.
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WildBill
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by WildBill »

TacShot wrote:Almost any loose fitting short sleeve shirt with a large, busy, pattern such as a plaid, checkered, or Hawaiian style print, all in bold or dark contrasting colors serves to camouflage any outline of the CC.
I often wear a white or light colored shirt with no patterns and haven't had anything show.
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Oldgringo
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by Oldgringo »

WildBill wrote:
TacShot wrote:Almost any loose fitting short sleeve shirt with a large, busy, pattern such as a plaid, checkered, or Hawaiian style print, all in bold or dark contrasting colors serves to camouflage any outline of the CC.
I often wear a white or light colored shirt with no patterns and haven't had anything show.
Untucked Tee shirt with shorts in the summer, overshirt or vest over untucked tee shirt in the winter with long britches. Don Hume OWB all of the time. So, what's the big deal? Nobody looks 'cause nobody cares.

I'm thinkin' about tuckin' in the Tee shirt and goin' OC to Costco up here and see if anyone notices.
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by Charles L. Cotton »

NEB wrote:Hmmm...I've never found it necessary to buy carry-specific clothing. Shorts or jeans with an untucked t-shirt or polo and IWB carry . . .
I agree. At times I use larger shirts like Hawaiian shirts so I can wear an OWB holster when I'm not wearing a suit. It's rare, because I use IWB 90% percent of the time.

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WildBill
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by WildBill »

Charles L. Cotton wrote:
NEB wrote:Hmmm...I've never found it necessary to buy carry-specific clothing. Shorts or jeans with an untucked t-shirt or polo and IWB carry . . .
I agree. At times I use larger shirts like Hawaiian shirts so I can wear an OWB holster when I'm not wearing a suit. It's rare, because I use IWB 90% percent of the time.

Chas.
Maybe if you didn't carry that big-ole-45 you wouldn't need such a big shirt. ;-) I have been carrying OWB with my .38 Colt DS and my new PX4 Storm Subcompact with my regular size [large] shirts. The double stack Beretta is a bit thicker, but as long as the shirt is a bit loose, it's fine.
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by C-dub »

gigag04 wrote:
The Annoyed Man wrote:
gigag04 wrote:I wear a t-shirt or polo and carry OWB with shorts or jeans a lot of times. I never have issues with people seeing the gun.
OH, they might see it, but you have that badge thingie. :mrgreen:

Maybe I should get a CHL badge? :smilelol5:
:leaving
TBH I often don't wear my badge because I'm too lazy to remove it and reinstall it from the uniform. Since I wear the vest under the uniform shirt, I can get a few shifts out of a shirt.

Usually on my 3 day weekends I'll bring it home, and I'll wear it to crowded areas.
That's just a little bit disturbing. Is it just because everyone around you knows you as a LEO or are they that unobservant?

I have a couple shirts from BassPro that are short sleeve, button front, ripstop, and a little longer than usual for just one size up, XL. There are secret pockets behind the breast pockets that are accessible from the side. I also like button up denim over shirts. I usually leave them unbuttoned or with just one or two buttons buttoned. In the past I have used regular t-shirt or sleeveless under armor shirts. I don't use the regular t-shirts as much this year. I have picked up some long different solid colored tank tops for under shirts this year that are working well. I wear boots a lot, so nobody really questions the denim shirts either. Looks wise, I guess I don't really fit into any particular type and can pull off several different types of looks from shorts and sandals to ranch hand to LEO or Marine. I have been asked about those last two more often when my hair is cut.
Last edited by C-dub on Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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snatchel
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by snatchel »

C-Dub, I think he means that he goes OWB, concealed under a T-Shirt. I don't think he means OWB in an "open carry" sort of way....

Or maybe I am wrong.
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C-dub
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by C-dub »

snatchel wrote:C-Dub, I think he means that he goes OWB, concealed under a T-Shirt. I don't think he means OWB in an "open carry" sort of way....
Hopefully, but IDK.
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by LikesShinyThings »

For the habitual shirt-tuckers like myself, the length of the Dickies or other t-shirts is of no consequence in providing cover. Once it's tucked, it could reach all the way to the floor and my IWB or OWB would be staring at the world for all to see. So this vest works great for me. Now I just have to get an IWB or OWB that feels comfortable, and figure out where best to position it.
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by Katygunnut »

Plus one on Tommy Bahama shirts, but usually it is just a T-shirt. I have several CCW's that I rotate, so it's frequently a matter of choosing the gun that fits the outfit, not the other way around. I usually only carry IWB if I am wearing shorts. I can't bring myself to buy loose enough jeans to comfortably carry IWB.

For real light clothing, I go with my Kahr PM9. If I am wearing a Tommy Bahama shirt, I'll usually prefer my G26, and in the winter my typical carry is a G19. I also like to pocket carry or ankle carry (with pants obviously) either a J frame or my P3AT as a backup.
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by Transplant »

Charles L. Cotton wrote:
NEB wrote:Hmmm...I've never found it necessary to buy carry-specific clothing. Shorts or jeans with an untucked t-shirt or polo and IWB carry . . .
I agree. At times I use larger shirts like Hawaiian shirts so I can wear an OWB holster when I'm not wearing a suit. It's rare, because I use IWB 90% percent of the time.

Chas.
Yeah, I didn't change my wardrobe one bit when I started carrying. I frequently carry my LC9 OWB under an untucked polo or button up shirt. You cant see a bulge at all. If I were to start wearing a vest the people I know would probably be more suspicious of me actually!
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JCole
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Re: Summertime Cover Garment

Post by JCole »

I was doing some jobsite safety inspections today, and thought - if you really wanted to go incognito, put on a hardhat, and use a high visibility vest as a cover garment. I bet most people wouldn't give it a second glance. Might not work in social situations, though!
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