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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

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

Just my $.02

George

Screams shoot me first to me. But then again, I'm not sure most people doing wrong will notice.

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.

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.

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.

Usually the first guy on a plane with a vest just screams Air Marshall.

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!"

Air Marshall is my favorite episode of HIMYM.

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.

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.

, absolutely!

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.

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?

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;

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.