Not too long ago, I wrote an article about clothing and concealment. I made reference to clothing being selected for the firearms we carry, more so than firearms being chosen for the clothing we wear. “More so” being the operative term.
Sometimes, what we wear gets a vote, and other times the environment around us makes our preferred clothing choices stand out. In the summer, we simply can’t hide larger firearms as easily under lighter layers.
This time around, I’m presenting 10 warm-weather concealment considerations before the mercury rises.
Wear Marks
We all have our favorite shirts. One of mine is close to a decade old, and when I look back through photos, it appears in a lot of my travel albums. That shirt has seen better days, and it shows wear where I have carried inside the waistband, appendix.
Those all-too-familiar marks, the little holes, where the back of the slide hit against something hard and created a hole, are all too apparent.
To the trained eye, those holes send a message that the person wearing the shirt may have a firearm on them.
Tropical Shirts
Magnum PI was onto something when he wore a Hawaiian shirt to conceal his Colt Series 70 MK IV.
Tropical shirts like the Staycation shirt from 5.11 conceal well because the printing of the firearm is mixed with the heavy print of the firearm.
Dark lines and heavy contrasting colors work wonders in hiding firearms, but you should know their limitations. Light fabric pushed against the body will still create a new silhouette of what is carried underneath.
Holster-free
When clothing layers get lighter and less supportive, the temptation to carry certain pistols and revolvers without a holster may seep into your mind.
If you’ve seen the same 80s movies as I have, the hero tucks a Beretta 92FS in his pants and carries it without a holster. While this may work (with DA/SA firearms and not recommended for striker fire pistols with lighter triggers), it isn’t anywhere near as secure as carrying with a holster.
Carrying without a holster makes achieving a master grip on your pistol less consistent than with a holster. Also, without a holster, the only security offered in terms of retention is the amount of tension your waistband provides.
Pocket Holsters
There are many who only pocket carry a pistol in warm weather. While I’d recommend carrying the most capable tool for your defense, having a smaller pistol handy is better than no pistol at all.
Pocket carry is polarizing. Decisions have to be made, including how to carry it in the pocket. What condition should it be carried in?
When I must carry a pocket pistol, I carry a small Glock 43 with the standard flush-fit Glock magazine in a pocket holster. This pistol has a loaded chamber, and the magazine is topped off.
Firearms Should be Comforting, not Comfortable
Lt. Col Jeff Cooper stated, “Carrying a firearm should be comforting, not comfortable.”
Clothing needs to be comfortable, though. If we don’t wear comfortable clothing, our attention will be drawn to our discomfort. Instead of focusing on our surroundings and having good situational awareness, we’ll be too distracted by what we choose to conceal our firearms with.
In warm weather, clothing should fit loosely but not be too baggy, and it should be breathable. Lighter colors won’t be as warm in direct sunlight, and a collar can be used to keep some sunlight off your neck.
Off-Body Carry
Off-body carry is when a firearm is carried in a shoulder bag, fanny pack, purse, or beach bag.
Warm weather is often associated with vacation, but just because you are taking a break from your normal 9 to 5 doesn’t mean you should relax your firearms handling. Don’t be the person who carries a pistol down to the resort pool in a towel and then leaves it behind.
Off-body carry shouldn’t create a “forgettable firearm” that becomes an “unforgettable experience.”
IWB over OWB
You can get away with an inside-the-waistband or outside-the-waistband holster when it is jacket weather. When there is high humidity, and you are wearing a shirt that is soaking through with sweat, the only option is inside the waistbelt.
Depending on your build, you may find the appendix carry the most comfortable and the easiest to hide the butt of your firearm. Also, depending on the fit and cut of the shirt, other options may print more.
If you wear board shorts or swim trunks, you can get by with a lightweight pistol that hooks not only to the swimsuit waistband but also a low-profile webbing belt with a minimalist buckle.
Perspiration and Maintenance
We know to wipe down our firearms when they get exposed to austere environments with nasty weather.
When it is near triple digit temperature with 100% humidity, we need to consider the micro-climate between our clothing and our body as an austere environment too. Our sweat is salty, and that will quickly rust night sights and some metal mags faster than the finish on the slide.
When you press check your firearm in the morning, take note of the condition of the internals and consider a deep clean of your daily carry on a more frequent schedule than during cooler weather.
Just as the small holes from carrying the same favorite shirt are a dead giveaway for carrying concealed, oil stains can be the same. Oil your firearms, but don’t let that oil ruin your clothes. Wipe your firearm down with a clean cloth and leave a very thin layer of protectant on the firearm.
Ditch the Sandals
Warm weather brings out the toes. People love sandals. Those same people decide to become tactically irresponsible with their feet.
Sandals offer little protection from broken glass and may not stay on when you run in them. Just as important as covering your pistol and keeping it concealed is keeping your feet concealed, too.
Wear good shoes or sneakers in public and leave the sandals at home.
Public Behaviour
You’ve seen them in public: people carrying firearms who weapon check as they cross the street in haste or who are overly vigilant to make sure their shirt doesn’t ride up as they reach for something on a high shelf.
As the number of layers we wear decreases, the likelihood of becoming conspicuously over-vigilant increases. Catch yourself reaching for your carry handgun before you do it, and make sure your clothing is sufficient for concealment in the privacy of your home before you leave the house.
Magazine Capacity
If you subscribe to the “three rounds, three seconds, three yards” idea, you know how many rounds may be necessary to stop an assailant.
Some smaller firearms carried in warmer weather sacrifice capacity for concealability. If you carry a smaller pistol, make sure you carry additional ammunition and practice training how to reload.
Be realistic with your needs, and if you want to carry more ammunition, consider doing so comfortably with an off-body carry method like a backpack or fanny pack.
We don’t need to leave our firearms at home in warmer weather, but we must adjust our habits. Your responsibility to defend yourself and your loved ones never ends. The warm weather season is coming as summer draws near. Make your adjustments before it gets too hot.
