One of the most important things to consider when purchasing clothing for concealed carry is whether or not it leaves your weapon accessible. This requires a shirt that allows you to clear your garment and draw without difficulty.
Many casual button-down shirts and polos aren’t conducive to concealed carry. They’re clingy, body-hugging fabrics that easily give away the outline of your firearm when you bend over or stretch.
They’re Comfortable
A holster shirt looks just like a regular T-shirt but has built-in body pockets on each side that securely hold a handgun and magazines. It’s made to prevent chafing and has a thick outer mesh fabric that obscures the profile of your gun, making it an ideal choice for concealed carry wear.
When wearing a form-fitting holster shirt, accessing your firearm when needed can be difficult. That’s why you should avoid choosing slim-fit shirts and instead opt for a roomy shirt that allows for the draw without being restrictive. This will also reduce the amount of friction against the gun. This is particularly important if you carry a larger handgun, as drawing from these holsters is harder.
They’re Concealable
A holster shirt is the ultimate concealed carry solution for those who want to look professional while carrying their weapon or gear. They are lightweight, moisture-wicking, and have flat seams that eliminate friction and chafing. They also have padded holster pockets that eliminate printing and hold your weapon snug to your body, making them an excellent choice for concealment.
They are available in men’s and women’s styles, with various sizes to suit different body types. Some even have additional pockets for multi-tools, extra magazines, and emergency or medical supplies.
Holster shirts for concealed carry are usually made in black, which helps to hide the outline of your firearm and maintain a covert silhouette. They also come with a shoulder yoke that evenly distributes firearm weight and allows full movement.
They’re Versatile
A holster shirt lets you conceal your sidearm more discreetly than carrying it inside the waistband. The pockets are usually located under the left and right arm, making it easy to access your weapon. Plus, the pockets are sized to fit a variety of different handguns.
The shirts also feature an opaque outer mesh layer that obscures the profile of your handgun, and they offer moisture-wicking technology and a padded neoprene inner layer for comfort and control. They’re available in both crew and V-neck styles for men and women, and most have holster pockets on either side so they can be worn by both right- and left-handed shooters.
The shirt’s polyester and spandex blend makes it lightweight, breathable, and comfortable all day, while enforced seams make it durable. Plus, the shirt’s slim fit helps keep it looking natural.
They’re Durable
The pockets are also reinforced to hold the weight of a firearm so that they won’t tear easily. However, holster shirts are compression fit, so they may be a little tight on some body types and can be warm to wear in hot weather. You may want to buy a size larger than usual for maximum comfort. Also, they don’t offer much coverage in the chest area, so you should wear a T-shirt underneath it.
They’re Affordable
For those occasions where leaving a jacket at home is not an option, but you want to carry it with an outside-the-waistband or inside-the-waistband holster, the holster shirt is a great solution. However, the long hem of the shirt can interfere with a quick draw from an unzipped holster. To avoid this problem, there are shirts made for concealed carry that replace the buttons with snaps, which break free during the draw and provide a better opening.
