Polo-type Shirt Over IWB Carry - Page 2

Edgehill · May 11, 2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

This is a good idea. I've never worn a tank-style undershirt but I do need to lighten up on the layers in the humidity here and do want to have something between my firearm and me.

The old timers here in South Florida constantly tell me that even though it's not intuitive that wearing a undershirt actually will make you cooler in the tropical climate.

Don P · May 11, 2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

The old timers here in South Florida constantly tell me that even though it's not intuitive that wearing a undershirt actually will make you cooler in the tropical climate.

The dampness of the shirt from sweating will cool you as the breeze passes over you, other wise as example, not wearing a shirt would allow the perspiration to evaporate in the breeze, hence no cooling effect.

MLeake · May 11, 2012, 09:43 AM

Desert nomads traditionally wore layers of light fabrics, to help stay cool. I think the working principle is of a layer of insulating air, but I could be wrong.

1911Jeeper · May 11, 2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Do the stripes help with concealment or are they a fashion statement?

Naturally the stripes are incredibly fashionable.

They help with concealment.

TailGator · May 11, 2012, 10:52 AM

Quote:

The old timers here in South Florida constantly tell me that even though it's not intuitive that wearing a undershirt actually will make you cooler in the tropical climate.

I would agree if not for being labeled an old-timer. I guess if the shoe fits, though . . . .

NWPilgrim · May 11, 2012, 02:01 PM

I used to wear tucked in polo shirts and pocket carry. Recently I decided I wanted a larger pistol and adopted the untucked shirt approach. works really well.

Woven is better than knitted (knit cloth forms around the pistol grip grip more whereas the woven fabric tends to tent over it). Thicker fabric is better still.

Darker color is better than lighter (not us much contrasting shadows in folds around grip), but pattern is even better to mask this.

I really like the Cabela Safari shirts though they are a bit longer than some. They are cool although heavier fabric. And lots of pockets. I'll have to check out the Woolrich carry shirts, sounds good, too.

Royal Robbins has some good lightweight cotton button shirts. Fishing shirts are a natural as well.

When an untucked shirt is too casual I go back to pocket carry. For me, the majority of the time I am happy going more casual with an untucked safari shirt with a larger pistol, then sticking with tucked in and settling for pocket pistol.

Don P · May 11, 2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Naturally the stripes are incredibly fashionable.

Horizontal stripes make me look fatter than I am, and I already look like I shop at OMAR the tent makers store

Stevie-Ray · May 11, 2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Does anyone else carry this way? Any opinions on the practicality of this approach?

Only thing I had to change when I started carrying was wearing my shirts out rather then tucked in, a change of 25 or 30 years. It was worth it and I now wear Polo shirts or even Tees over my OWB weapon. Have now for many years without incident. Very comfortable.

CountryUgly · May 14, 2012, 05:29 PM

Just button the bottom 3 buttons of the shirt you are already wearing during those breezy trips. That's how I roll

My draw stroke doesn't change regardless of how I dress. Real easy...Thumb out slips under shirt and sticks to my body hand goes up shirt riding thumb till i've cleared my weapon thumb still in contact with body and slides down behind grip wrap fingers around grip draw and present. as long as your thumb stays in contact with your body your shirt can't get hung up. no need for the two hand grab shirt pull up and find the gun with the other hand stuff.

Lambdebois · May 16, 2012, 07:56 AM

I'll add my experience.

I have been wearing t-shirts or polo style shirts untucked 95+% of the time since I got my ccw. That's how I usually dress anyway in the summer for casual attire so I didn't have to change a thing. I was pleasantly surprised how well a Glock 32 concealed iwb just under a light shirt as I thought I'd want a small pocket gun for hot summer days. I seem to like the cheap nylon uncle mike clip on anywhere from 3:30-4:30 the best. (it's only temporary until my TT hostler shows up but still I forget it's there almost. The handle can print slightly if bending forward but because of my back surgerys... I don't bent forward so it's not a problem. I can't wait till my reinforced iwb from Tim Thurner shows up as I understand it will conceal the handle better because it holds it more secure and to my body and keeps it more stable just as a good custom fit holster with opposing loops should.

Wahoo95 · May 16, 2012, 08:42 AM

Polo or t shirt is my norm whether I'm carrying iwb or owb

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Vermonter · May 16, 2012, 09:46 PM

Jeans owb G27 mah pouch and a polo untucked. No issue at all

kinggabby · May 16, 2012, 11:32 PM

Come Nov 1st I am not going to worry about printing and accidental exposure. But until then I will continue to carry IWB appendix.

Polynikes · May 17, 2012, 01:19 PM

With a Crossbreed Supertuck, I can wear just a plain T-shirt pulled over the top of my handgun and it's completely unnoticeable. No need for layers or other cover garments. I can't talk up that holster enough.

Jason_G · May 19, 2012, 04:59 PM

You have to dress around the weapon. Unfortunately, some weapons require more "dressing around" than others.

lwestatbus, I may have missed it, but I never caught what sort of pistol you are trying to conceal.

Thinner pistols are generally easier to conceal, although even some thin pistols might have some corners that are just "print prone."

I have found that dark colors conceal much much better than lighter colors. I can easily make my 1911 disappear under just a black or navy T-shirt, with an A-shirt (AKA wifebeater) as an undershirt. If I tried that with a lighter color shirt, the printing would be noticeable on the beavertail. I doubt that others would think "gun," but it's enough to make me look for darker colored shirts when I'm getting dressed to go out and about.

As mentioned by some others, patterns do help break up the print as well.

For polo style shirts, I know someone who is a LEO, and his department sometimes gets free stuff from big-name distributers like Blackhawk, 5.11, etc, so sometimes he gives me any free stuff he doesn't want. One of the things he gave me was a 5.11 polo with a velcro front pocket, in navy. It's probably one of my favorite warm weather concealment shirts. It does not say "5.11" anywhere, so it won't make you look like "Tactical Ted," and the velcro pocket is great for a cell phone. It won't fall out if you bend down, and it frees up your pants pockets a little more. It conceals my 1911 very well. I have no idea how much they run price-wise though, but I will probably pick up a few more eventually.

Jason

May 11, 2012, 02:01 PM	#31
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,350	I used to wear tucked in polo shirts and pocket carry. Recently I decided I wanted a larger pistol and adopted the untucked shirt approach. works really well. Woven is better than knitted (knit cloth forms around the pistol grip grip more whereas the woven fabric tends to tent over it). Thicker fabric is better still. Darker color is better than lighter (not us much contrasting shadows in folds around grip), but pattern is even better to mask this. I really like the Cabela Safari shirts though they are a bit longer than some. They are cool although heavier fabric. And lots of pockets. I'll have to check out the Woolrich carry shirts, sounds good, too. Royal Robbins has some good lightweight cotton button shirts. Fishing shirts are a natural as well. When an untucked shirt is too casual I go back to pocket carry. For me, the majority of the time I am happy going more casual with an untucked safari shirt with a larger pistol, then sticking with tucked in and settling for pocket pistol. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

May 16, 2012, 09:46 PM	#37
Vermonter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Posts: 962	Did this tonight Jeans owb G27 mah pouch and a polo untucked. No issue at all

May 19, 2012, 04:59 PM	#40
Jason_G Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,902	You have to dress around the weapon. Unfortunately, some weapons require more "dressing around" than others. lwestatbus, I may have missed it, but I never caught what sort of pistol you are trying to conceal. Thinner pistols are generally easier to conceal, although even some thin pistols might have some corners that are just "print prone." I have found that dark colors conceal much much better than lighter colors. I can easily make my 1911 disappear under just a black or navy T-shirt, with an A-shirt (AKA wifebeater) as an undershirt. If I tried that with a lighter color shirt, the printing would be noticeable on the beavertail. I doubt that others would think "gun," but it's enough to make me look for darker colored shirts when I'm getting dressed to go out and about. As mentioned by some others, patterns do help break up the print as well. For polo style shirts, I know someone who is a LEO, and his department sometimes gets free stuff from big-name distributers like Blackhawk, 5.11, etc, so sometimes he gives me any free stuff he doesn't want. One of the things he gave me was a 5.11 polo with a velcro front pocket, in navy. It's probably one of my favorite warm weather concealment shirts. It does not say "5.11" anywhere, so it won't make you look like "Tactical Ted," and the velcro pocket is great for a cell phone. It won't fall out if you bend down, and it frees up your pants pockets a little more. It conceals my 1911 very well. I have no idea how much they run price-wise though, but I will probably pick up a few more eventually. Jason __________________ "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." -Amendment II, Constitution of the United States of America

May 11, 2012, 09:43 AM	#28
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Desert nomads traditionally wore layers of light fabrics, to help stay cool. I think the working principle is of a layer of insulating air, but I could be wrong.

May 14, 2012, 05:29 PM	#34
CountryUgly Member Join Date: May 4, 2012 Posts: 47	Just button the bottom 3 buttons of the shirt you are already wearing during those breezy trips. That's how I roll My draw stroke doesn't change regardless of how I dress. Real easy...Thumb out slips under shirt and sticks to my body hand goes up shirt riding thumb till i've cleared my weapon thumb still in contact with body and slides down behind grip wrap fingers around grip draw and present. as long as your thumb stays in contact with your body your shirt can't get hung up. no need for the two hand grab shirt pull up and find the gun with the other hand stuff.

May 16, 2012, 07:56 AM	#35
Lambdebois Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 123	I'll add my experience. I have been wearing t-shirts or polo style shirts untucked 95+% of the time since I got my ccw. That's how I usually dress anyway in the summer for casual attire so I didn't have to change a thing. I was pleasantly surprised how well a Glock 32 concealed iwb just under a light shirt as I thought I'd want a small pocket gun for hot summer days. I seem to like the cheap nylon uncle mike clip on anywhere from 3:30-4:30 the best. (it's only temporary until my TT hostler shows up but still I forget it's there almost. The handle can print slightly if bending forward but because of my back surgerys... I don't bent forward so it's not a problem. I can't wait till my reinforced iwb from Tim Thurner shows up as I understand it will conceal the handle better because it holds it more secure and to my body and keeps it more stable just as a good custom fit holster with opposing loops should.

May 16, 2012, 08:42 AM	#36
Wahoo95 Member Join Date: February 19, 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 62	Polo or t shirt is my norm whether I'm carrying iwb or owb Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

May 16, 2012, 11:32 PM	#38
kinggabby Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2011 Location: OKC Posts: 502	Come Nov 1st I am not going to worry about printing and accidental exposure. But until then I will continue to carry IWB appendix.

May 17, 2012, 01:19 PM	#39
Polynikes Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Posts: 61	With a Crossbreed Supertuck, I can wear just a plain T-shirt pulled over the top of my handgun and it's completely unnoticeable. No need for layers or other cover garments. I can't talk up that holster enough.