Summertime Cover Garment

[Chemist45]

Recently I bought a Travel Vest for when I fly:
http://www.magellans.com/store/Clothing ... estsMV954B#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It's lightweight and has a ton of pockets for boarding passes, passport, MP3 player, snacks, etc.
While wearing it on a trip I realized that this would make a great covering garment for IWB or OWB.
So I decided to try it out.
I carried a Ruger LC9 with laser in a Desantis IWB holster wearing shorts and a T-shirt with the vest.
I did not zip the vest but used the clasp to keep it from blowing open in the wind.
I went clothes shopping - even tried on a few shirts (Inside a changing room) and tried on shoes as well.
I went thru Wallyworld, Office Depot and Lowes without any problems and never printed.

The vest is cool enough to wear in Texas heat and functional as well.
This will be a regular method of carry for me.

[Dreamliner]

I thought those vests were called "shoot me first" vests because I'm carrying just like the guys who carry the fanny pack holsters. Cargo shorts works great for me or in the front or back pocket with a Sig P238 and nice a pocket holster.

[74novaman]

You'll hear jokes about photographers vests, fanny packs, Hawaiian shirts ec as being shoot me first items.

The reality is most Texans simply don't even think about anyone around them carrying a handgun.

Ive been meaning to try a photographer type vest, just haven't yet.

Hasn't been a big priority for me because concealing even a 5" 1911 or a G19 is easy for me in shorts and a t shirt.

Thanks for the review, chemist45.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Thanks for the post, this is interesting. I have a 5.11 vest that I stripped of all the padding, but it still weights about 78 pounds! Seriously, mine is too heavy.

Chas.

[longtooth]

Tis why I like the western vests Mom makes me. Yea Mom

[The Annoyed Man]

I have a fishing/safari/photograher/shootmefirst vest with more pockets than I can count, and which is long enough to conceal an OWB pistol........and I almost never wear it because it is like wearing a jacket without sleeves. Functional? Yes, very much so? Comfortable on a hot day? Not really. Not with my currently "prosperous" physiognomy.

[RHenriksen]

I like a short sleeved Magellan fishing shirt, over a tucked in underarmor t-shirt, instead of a vest. Extremely lightweight, decent UV protection, vented, and less of a 'shoot me first' garment

Only tradeoff is that the fabric is SO light that a mild breeze can blow it up to reveal the pistol, so I just button one button when I'm out in the wind.

[gigag04]

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.

[Dave2]

The vest is cool enough to wear in Texas heat

I have trouble believing that... I can walk into the shade in my backyard without a shirt on at all, and I'll immediately start sweating. Even with those moisture-wicking shirts, as good as they are, it's too hot for me to wear more than one layer right now.

[The Annoyed Man]

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.

Maybe I should get a CHL badge?

[longtooth]

That aint funny TAM. Weve had enough of those threads to moderate.

[goose]

My suspicion is that half a percentage (verify my internet numbers with Mr. Abe Lincoln) of all criminals have ever run into a "shoot me first" garment that had a gun under while commiting a crime. Most of them don't plan well for dealing with the cashier, let alone a by-stander that looks like a tourist. I carried in a "dork badge" fanny pack for years. Narry got shot at once. Granted, I have yet to be shot at without the fanny pack either. For that matter my pro 2A family didn't know the fanny pack had a gun in it for some years. They knew the dork badge part and reminded me on occasion.

I'll worry about wearing a pack or vest when I hear the LEOs talking about the inmates holding tactical classes out in the yard.

Also, another thank you for the write up/thread.

[fenster]

I like the Dickies work shirts:


they are cut a bit longer so they can easily cover an OWB rig. the material they're made of is a touch heavier, and tends to hang straight instead of conforming to things you're trying to conceal.

[Terlingueno]

I am the poster child for Hawaiian shirts in the greater Big Bend Region, in 100% cotton made in Hawaii mod colors

[cubbyjg]

I like a short sleeved Magellan fishing shirt, over a tucked in underarmor t-shirt, instead of a vest. Extremely lightweight, decent UV protection, vented, and less of a 'shoot me first' garment

I love wearing fishing shirts when i carry since it helps keep me cool. Depending on the brand, some allow me to carry OWB with no worries of any sort of printing.