Conceal carry - in normal clothes or tactical?

[Mindflayer]

A lot of people I have met that conceal carry wear "tactical" clothing (e.g., 5.11 Tactical). I try to draw as little attention to the fact I may be armed as possible, so I wear my normal clothes. In the summer, that's cargo shorts or jeans and a tshirt or polo short; in the fall and winter (and cool summer days), that's a long sleeve dress short, untucked, over jeans. I tend to wear "fancier" jeans, so I also often carry OWB with a good holster and belt. (A friend called me a "Redneck metrosexual" once. Not sure how to take that. My fiancée says I dress kinda "European".)

How do you dress when you carry?

[VBshooter]

Like a normal person// shorts ,tennies,Tshirt etc: Wearing the tactical stuff is a choice I guess but I'd rather be comfy in my civvies. They're cheaper to buy too

[derek141]

To me, the 5.11 pants scream wannabe, because every agent I know who has had them issued says they are crap and fall apart. Plus those diagonal back pockets can be made from a mile away.

That being said, I have grown to like TruSpec 24/7 pants for their practicability (read: pockets). They don't stand out from business casual, they're comfortable, the leg is good for an ankle BUG, the cargo pocket is good for a BUG, there are cell phone sized pockets to keep it separate from guns (most importantly, off my waist) and did I mention they're damned comfortable? I wear them to every day (unless shorts) whether I am carrying or not.

If using a concealment vest, mine are from Columbia Sportswear, not Condor or the like. Otherwise an oversize Cabela's shirt with tails out. I'm no mall ninja.

The most important "tactical" gear you need to carry is a gun belt, and you can get a good leather one custom made for $80-100... and it won't look like a gun belt.

[m4a1mustang]

I wear regular clothing. I tend to dress fashionably (I have been called metro, too) but have no problems concealing IWB, even with some of the more form-fitting jeans I have.

Obviously it's much easier to conceal in the fall/winter when you layer more, but even in summer it's not an issue concealing under a t-shirt.

I do want to find a nice close fitting OWB holster for fall/winter CC that would just be covered by a button up shirt or a jacket.

[Jakeiscrazy]

I had a pair of 5.11 Taclite pants and ripped them but I was totally abusing them at the time and no pants would have withstood it. I recently picked up some Eotach pants and some of the Eotach discreet khaki pants. The Regulars are nice but they are a little thick for summer but the Fall will be prefect for them. The "discreet" pants lose a lot of the usefulness but they have some nice side pockets. I wouldn't concern myself with some average Joe spotting them. Most people will never even glance at your pants. Even if they do they are going to think they are "tactical" and certainly not connect that to carrying a gun. BTW Eotach is going out of business and a lot of there stuff is really cheap on clearance. Botach also has free shipping. http://www.botachtactical.com/cc.html

[CCFan]

Jeans and a t-shirt or polo shirt for the most part... I wear khakis at work and on occasion my Carhartt khakis are about as "tactical" as it gets - unless I'm going to the range then I'll wear some BDU's from the closest Army/Navy surplus store so I can get dirty and not worry about 'em...

I have wondered about some of the "casual" tactical shirts, where they pull open up the side for easier access to your firearm when wearing an un-tucked shirt - anyone every try those?

[Kreutz]

Never heard of 5.11 tactical, had to Google it....do people really venture into public wearing that crap?

Anyway, I'm a jeans and t shirt kinda guy. As I have yet to find the "perfect" holster (IT EXISTS SOMEWHERE DAMNIT!!!) I pocket carry. Not ideal, but my gun is finicky with holsters.

I keep the safety on for obvious reasons and have trained myself to disengage it when drawing.

[m4a1mustang]

Kreutz what do you carry?

[Kreutz]

Kreutz what do you carry?

Taurus pt709 slim. Comfortable to carry, but the trigger guard is a serious problem with holsters.

[m4a1mustang]

I would look at the Comp-Tac MTAC. There shouldn't be any issues with the trigger guard. They make it for the Taurus.

I have one for my Glock 26 and absolutely love it. Great quality and it's incredibly comfortable and conceals well.

If you are on a budget, they offer a budget version (Minotaur Spartan) that should conceal just as well. Also Kholster might make something and they run around $40-50 or so. I have a friend that carries his XD9 Subcompact with a Kholster and he loves it.

[spadesofcolumbia]

I wear pretty normal cloths for each season and i use a inside the pants holster by blackhawk...i do tend to wear long sleeve button up shirts over tee shirt left unbuttoned and that helps keep everything concealed.

[OakRidgeStars]

5.11 Tactical is so, like, 2009... All the cool mall cops are wearing EOTAC

[Mindflayer]

I guess I should have mentioned what I carry and holster. For my old, beat up torn jeans that are baggy, I wear my IWB Crossbreed Supertuck. Amazingly comfortable, highly concealed, and I love the speed of the Kydex. For OWB, I wear a pancake style holster I picked up at the Chantilly Gun show. I can't remember the leatherworker's name, but it works like a charm. Good belt, right position (3:30 to 4 on me), and untucked shirt and I'm GTG.

In shorts or in the summer with a t-shirt, I have my Airweight 642 in a pocket holster.

[KaosDad]

Elastic waist bands, shirts 1x too big and hoodies. It works.

I carry a P226 both IWB and OWB.

And I do not claim to be anything close to an expert.

[frankD]

If I am coming from work, it varies (dockers, 511, BDU pants...the choices, the choices) as far as pants go and a polo. If I am off, it's jeans and whatever.

As far as 511 falling apart, I have yet to see that happen. The angled pockets are annoying, but the pants are ridiculously comfortable. I don't wear them to be a "wannabe". I wear them because I like the durability and comfort of them. You can find them on sale at LAPoliceGear.com at times for under $20 a pair.

Don't knock 'em until you try 'em.

Holsters? There is only one: Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe.

[mamabearCali]

If you are handy with a sewing machine/know someone who is you can modify most pants to be tactical. I know I have modified 2 of my husband's favorite shorts and jeans to literally have a holster sewn into the dropped pocket.

[crossfireltd]

I dress casual, jeans, Dockers, polo shirts and tee shirts. My everyday carry weapo is a Springfield Xd tactical in .45 with a 4.5" barrel. It's a big gun for cc and I sometimes imprint a bit, but I am not bothered by that. If it bothers others then they can look in another direction.

[Jakeiscrazy]

5.11 Tactical is so, like, 2009... All the cool mall cops are wearing EOTAC

Eotach went out of business. Must have not been received as well in the long term by said mall cops!

[littlejohn]

Blackie Collins Toters jeans and an untucked shirt. Holster/pocket easily adjusts from my Glock 26 to my S&W 442 in less than a minute. And, when you're not carrying they don't scream "tactical" "carrying" "gun nut"; just nice soft, comfortable jeans, made in the USA and not readily discernible from any other not-Levi/Lee/Wrangler jean.

Did I mention that they are remarkably comfortable with or without a handgun in place. My problem is that I have two pair in size 42X32 and I'm down to 36X32. At almost $100 a pair I'm gonna have to sell both that I have for one that will fit.

CARRY on...

Lj

[Riana]

On occasions when I have to conceal (I usually OC), I'm dressed in business or business casual clothing - sometimes a skirt and jacket, sometimes slacks and jacket. That's when I break out the belly band (women's suit skirts generally don't have belts) or IWB holster (when my slacks allow for my belt) for my SP101.

If all else fails, then it's purse carry (I hate it, but it's better than nothing).