Vest as Cover Garment

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

User avatar
TEA
Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:35 pm
Location: Cleburne
Contact:

Vest as Cover Garment

Post by TEA »

While it's hard to believe with the weather being so cool lately, Summer is just around the corner. My normal Summer attire is cargo shorts and an untucked t-shirt but I'm thinking of getting a vest as a cover garment for added piece of mind in case my t-shirt rides up. What is the general consensus on vests? Does it scream, "I'm carrying" or is it pretty discreet. I'm considering either a vest with pockets, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/EarthTrekGear-Men ... afari+vest; or a leather vest like this one: http://www.jpcycles.com/product/352-004
gfmun
Senior Member
Posts: 342
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:28 am

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by gfmun »

My opinion....unless you are on Safari in Africa or carrying several cameras it shouts " I am carrying a handgun ".

Just my $.02

George
User avatar
mojo84
Senior Member
Posts: 9045
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:07 pm
Location: Boerne, TX (Kendall County)

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by mojo84 »

Screams shoot me first to me. But then again, I'm not sure most people doing wrong will notice.
Note: Me sharing a link and information published by others does not constitute my endorsement, agreement, disagreement, my opinion or publishing by me. If you do not like what is contained at a link I share, take it up with the author or publisher of the content.
User avatar
nightmare
Deactivated until real name is provided
Posts: 496
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:09 pm

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by nightmare »

gfmun wrote:unless you are on Safari in Africa or carrying several cameras it shouts " I am carrying a handgun"
I agree. However, a lot of sheep are deaf to those screams so it might be a good choice if you're somewhere MWAG calls are a bigger threat than criminals. :biggrinjester:
Equo ne credite, Teucri. Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
User avatar
WildBill
Senior Member
Posts: 17350
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:53 pm
Location: Houston

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by WildBill »

TEA wrote:While it's hard to believe with the weather being so cool lately, Summer is just around the corner. My normal Summer attire is cargo shorts and an untucked t-shirt but I'm thinking of getting a vest as a cover garment for added piece of mind in case my t-shirt rides up. What is the general consensus on vests? Does it scream, "I'm carrying" or is it pretty discreet. I'm considering either a vest with pockets, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/EarthTrekGear-Men ... afari+vest; or a leather vest like this one: http://www.jpcycles.com/product/352-004
Relax and dress as you desire. I have never heard a garment scream anything. :coolgleamA:
NRA Endowment Member
User avatar
mojo84
Senior Member
Posts: 9045
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:07 pm
Location: Boerne, TX (Kendall County)

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by mojo84 »

:roll:
WildBill wrote:
TEA wrote:While it's hard to believe with the weather being so cool lately, Summer is just around the corner. My normal Summer attire is cargo shorts and an untucked t-shirt but I'm thinking of getting a vest as a cover garment for added piece of mind in case my t-shirt rides up. What is the general consensus on vests? Does it scream, "I'm carrying" or is it pretty discreet. I'm considering either a vest with pockets, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/EarthTrekGear-Men ... afari+vest; or a leather vest like this one: http://www.jpcycles.com/product/352-004
Relax and dress as you desire. I have never heard a garment scream anything. :coolgleamA:
Note: Me sharing a link and information published by others does not constitute my endorsement, agreement, disagreement, my opinion or publishing by me. If you do not like what is contained at a link I share, take it up with the author or publisher of the content.
sookandy
Senior Member
Posts: 345
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:17 pm
Location: Fort Worth

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by sookandy »

Usually the first guy on a plane with a vest just screams Air Marshall.
User avatar
WildBill
Senior Member
Posts: 17350
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:53 pm
Location: Houston

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by WildBill »

sookandy wrote:Usually the first guy on a plane with a vest just screams Air Marshall.
Maybe the guy already on the plane sees a guy with a vest and screams "Air Marshall!" ;-)
NRA Endowment Member
User avatar
nightmare
Deactivated until real name is provided
Posts: 496
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:09 pm

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by nightmare »

Air Marshall is my favorite episode of HIMYM.

Image
Equo ne credite, Teucri. Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
User avatar
Charles L. Cotton
Site Admin
Posts: 17788
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:31 pm
Location: Friendswood, TX
Contact:

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by Charles L. Cotton »

I think "gun people" are going to recognize a vest (during summer) as probably concealing a gun. Other folks aren't likely to have a clue. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it. If a vest screams "gun," then it also screams "leave me alone."

Several years ago I was attending a CHL instructor renewal school. I walked into a burger joint wearing a 5.11 Vest and an off-duty LEO also attending the class started chuckling and said "don't you guys realize everyone knows what that vest means?" My response, "what makes you think I care what you know?"

Chas.
User avatar
Oldgringo
Senior Member
Posts: 11203
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:15 pm
Location: Pineywoods of east Texas

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by Oldgringo »

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I think "gun people" are going to recognize a vest (during summer) as probably concealing a gun. Other folks aren't likely to have a clue. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it. If a vest screams "gun," then it also screams "leave me alone."

Several years ago I was attending a CHL instructor renewal school. I walked into a burger joint wearing a 5.11 Vest and an off-duty LEO also attending the class started chuckling and said "don't you guys realize everyone knows what that vest means?" My response, "what makes you think I care what you know?"

Chas.
:iagree:, absolutely! :thumbs2:
srothstein
Senior Member
Posts: 5319
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:27 pm
Location: Luling, TX

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by srothstein »

I agree with Charles and have had some experience using a 5.11 vest for concealment. The gun people usually recognized it but people who were not into guns generally thought it was either a fishing vest or a photographer's vest, depending on their own hobbies.

I would not hesitate to recommend a 5.11 vest. A motorcycle vest might also be pretty good, especially if you sew some patches on it. Be careful in the choice of patches though as some groups get upset if you sew one of their on.
Steve Rothstein
User avatar
TEA
Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:35 pm
Location: Cleburne
Contact:

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by TEA »

srothstein wrote:I agree with Charles and have had some experience using a 5.11 vest for concealment. The gun people usually recognized it but people who were not into guns generally thought it was either a fishing vest or a photographer's vest, depending on their own hobbies.

I would not hesitate to recommend a 5.11 vest. A motorcycle vest might also be pretty good, especially if you sew some patches on it. Be careful in the choice of patches though as some groups get upset if you sew one of their on.
Like this one?
Image
User avatar
Beiruty
Senior Member
Posts: 9655
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:22 pm
Location: Allen, Texas

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by Beiruty »

I have 3 vests(Navy blue, beige and dark olive green) from Eddie Bawer like this one:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/produ ... hInfo=null" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Beiruty,
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member
User avatar
C-dub
Senior Member
Posts: 13577
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 7:18 pm
Location: DFW

Re: Vest as Cover Garment

Post by C-dub »

I know a couple guys that wear photographer type vests occasionally for concealment. I don't think they've had a problem with it. I have a vest (basically one of my holsters) with a pocket for the gun. I got it at a gun show and only wore it one summer. Turns out, I'm not really the vest type. I thought I could pull it off, but not really. However, maybe now with the beard and longer hair ... hmmm, I might have to pull it back out of the closet and see.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”