The Benefits of Concealment Shirts for Concealed Carry

Many shirts designed specifically for concealed carry tend toward tactical, with extra pockets and camo patterns that can scream, “I’m armed!” Thankfully, there are also regular-looking options that work just as well.

Look for a shirt with a longer tail to help the concealed carry holster stay tucked and prevent it from riding up your waistband and exposing the gun. Also, consider a fabric with prints or textures that can help distract from printing your firearm.

Concealment

A whole range of shirt styles work well for concealed carry, and some may even be in your closet. The key to concealment shirts is that they cover your firearm, minimize printing, and allow you to access your gun easily.

Typically, a concealment shirt will have a longer tail than regular shirts and a roomy fit to drape over your weapon holster and hide the outline. It’s best if the fabric is a natural fiber to reduce any printing and also help wick away sweat from your body.

You can look for a concealed carry shirt with a peplum hem or Dolman sleeves for men and women to help conceal the gun and a snap function instead of buttons to speed up the draw.

Comfort

Shirts that work well for concealed carry will have more structure and weight than your everyday t-shirt or polo. This helps the fabric drape over your firearm and holster with ease without leaving any hard lines or printing.

Natural fibers like cotton are comfortable and allow air to circulate while being durable and easy to care for. If you can find a fabric blend or synthetic that works for your style and budget, that’s fine too, but if possible, try to go with the more natural option to help reduce printing and concealment issues.

Look for a longer hem in your shirt that allows you to tuck it into your waistband, especially when carrying in the appendix position. Several shirt styles offer this, including poplin button-downs, peplum hem tops for women, and Dolman shirts (also called batwings) for men.

Convenience

Once you start concealed carrying, you have to look at your wardrobe with different eyes. The fabrics, style, and fit of your clothes are all important. It would help to have roomy shirts to drape over your weapon and holster without printing. Shirts with peplum/ruffle hems are great for this because they are fitted through the upper body and then flare out at the waistline.

Shirts designed with concealed carry in mind lean toward being tactical in appearance, with extra pockets and camo patterns. This isn’t a bad thing, but it does draw attention to the fact that you’re carrying.

This is why a concealment shirt that looks just like your regular shirts can be helpful. You don’t want your holster to scream, “I’m armed!”.

Versatility

When you can find clothes that conceal your gun and holster well, it is much easier to carry in public without worrying about the safety of your weapon. Many options on the market skew toward tactical and look more like combat-style shirts than everyday clothing, but you can find concealed carry shirts designed to fit in with how you normally dress.

Shirts made of natural fabrics, like cotton, linen, and wool, are breathable and offer a comfortable feel on the skin, which is important for concealed carry. These fabrics also have a bit of structure, making them less likely to settle into the hard lines of a firearm. You can even find shirts with extra pockets on the chest for ambidextrous carrying.

Style

The foundation of a concealed carry outfit starts with the shirt. Look for a garment that conceals your weapon and holster minimizes printing, and is easy to access.

While you can still wear form-fitting shirts, avoid too much fabric that is tight to your body. Too much-clinging fabric can draw attention to your weapon and holster and be difficult to access in a crisis.

Some of the best shirts for concealed carry are made of natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk. Prints, stripes, floral and polka-dot patterns help distract from the outline of your firearm and holster. Also, consider peplum- or ruffle-hem styles that cinch in the waistline and flatter rectangle and apple-shaped women. They’re great for minimizing printing while allowing you to position your gun for off-hand draw.