Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we finished up the last part of our holster rundown series, so if you happened to miss that, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to look at some of the best cover garments that can be worn during the summer months. These three are fairly well known in the community, but having a breathable, lightweight option to carry a larger handgun under can be tricky to find. I use all three of these options and figured it would be an interesting perspective for some of you who don’t necessarily have a good way to conceal a larger firearm during the summer months without struggle. Let’s take a closer look at the best cover garments for concealed carry.

Leather Motorcycle Vests

If you want something that you can throw almost anything in without worrying about printing, these vests are truly what you need. I recently bought a new leather riding vest for the warmer days in summer from Harley Davidson and it’s incredible how easily you can conceal firearms without any printing at all. Traditional carrying in an IWB holster isn’t the best option for me on my bike, so I’ve been looking for alternative ways to conceal a firearm. With pocket carry being difficult to access sitting down and ankle carry being tough since you’re shifting with your feet and it’s a tough option while you’re straddling an engine essentially.

So that really leaves shoulder holsters, which honestly mesh the best and give you the fastest access to your handgun in the sitting position. The crazy part is the fact that I have been carrying a Glock 19 as well as a full-size Smith & Wesson SW1911 with absolutely no problems with printing or any type of out-of-place bulges like other cover garments may experience. When I first started carrying with my vest, I jokingly said I could easily carry an MP5K under my vest because it doesn’t print, and I actually tried it for science. I threw a shorter 20-round magazine on a single-point sling and you literally could with no visible evidence. Obviously, I wouldn’t carry something that large, but the point is that these vests can have a full-size handgun in a shoulder rig with absolutely no issue. The biggest downside of this style is the fact that it isn’t as breathable as other options since it’s made of leather, but overall, it’s a fantastic option.

Suit Jackets

If a leather vest isn’t your style or is just too hot for the summer months, something a bit more breathable, like a suit jacket, can be the ticket. Depending on what kind you go with, various suit jackets can come with venting as well as various cuts to allow airflow, keeping you cool while offering fantastic coverage for either belt or shoulder-mounted handguns to conceal. Suit jackets are much lighter than the leather vest option, but as a result, they are more pliable as well, making it easier to spot unnatural bumps or printing marks, but the vast majority of people in society won’t pick up on the slight hints you may be carrying a firearm.

Having a button-up shirt and a suit jacket really is all you need to make it work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worn jeans with a relaxed button-up and suit coat, giving it a dressed-up casual look while offering a ton of concealability in public when it’s warmer out. Out of the three options on this list, the suit jacket is one of the easiest and least suspect because they are so common. You won’t always see a fishing vest or biker leather vest out in public, but if you walk in a heavily populated area, you will see at least one sport coat without searching for one. In terms of being able to blend in with others, the suit jacket is a strong choice that allows one to look inconspicuous while carrying a full-size handgun.

The Classic Fishing Vest

At this point, I absolutely have to include the classic fishing vest on the list. This is the cover garment that started it all. I feel like I’m not living up to my potential by owning one of the true tactical fishing vests, but I plan on changing that soon after borrowing a friend’s to try out for a day for this article. The vest may scream concealed firearm for us gun guys, but the vast majority of people out in society will still have no idea that you’re carrying a concealed handgun with a tactical fishing vest. Most people I chat with think you’re more of an outdoors type individual instead of someone carrying a concealed handgun, but for those of us who know, it’s always fun to see one being used out in the wild.

Usually, most of these fishing vests have built-in venting along with larger openings to keep you from cooking during the hot summer days. While these vests are usually one of the most common ways to see if someone is carrying a concealed handgun, they are extremely effective at carrying a larger handgun concealed without much effort. They may not be stylish compared to other options on the market, but it’s absolutely proven as a method of reliably concealing a larger framed handgun without putting a ton of effort into fighting the outline of your handgun.

Overall Thoughts

While you can carry a small handgun easily during the summer months, having a larger option concealed can be tricky without a cover garment. These three cover garments are excellent choices depending on your style and what you prefer. All of them allow you to easily conceal a full-size or medium-sized handgun while remaining cool in the summer heat. What are some of your favorite cover garments during the warmer summer? Let me know in the comments below. If you have questions about cover garments or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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