Should You Choose a Firearm for Your Clothing or Your Clothing for Your Firearm? Carrying IWB

Written by Bob Campbell

When preparing for concealed carry, you have to look at the whole picture. The handgun, the holster, the ammunition and the clothing you select are all important.

The beginner will often adopt a firearm and holster combination to adapt to his mode of dress. He might deploy a light handgun and a pocket holster to fit his dress trousers. He might select gear based upon a “cool factor” with little thought of practical use. The results would often be laughable if they were not so serious.

As an example, a young man showed up at my class with a light jacket over his shoulder holster. The overbuilt rig printed under the jacket, and the fellow gave the impression he was wearing a bra beneath his windbreaker.

Others adopt improper covering garments and expose even well-designed holsters. When you are deploying a certain size handgun and a particular type of holster, you need to plan ahead and choose clothing that complements the choice. We like to be well-armed and obtain gear that gives us a level playing field with the protein-fed, ex-con criminal class.

Adopting a quality inside-the-waistband holster affords us the opportunity to effectively conceal a fighting pistol that is large and powerful enough to speak with authority on our behalf. If you choose a belt holster, then you must select a covering garment that will conceal the full length of the holster. If you elect to deploy the more concealable inside-the-waistband holster, then a lighter garment that covers the handle of the firearm is all that is necessary.

There are compromises inherent in every holster type, but when the advantages of the inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster are considered, this holster makes an intelligent choice. Those who dress around their defensive gear — rather than attempt to make the gear fit their lifestyles — choose IWB. This is the qualifying difference between living the responsibly armed lifestyle and accommodating a handgun in a less serious manner.

Holsters

When you begin to select your carry gear, the holster comes first. While quality handguns are important and ammunition selection is a serious consideration, the holster will make or break your day. The holster cannot always be comfortable or light as a feather but neither should it be a chafing nuisance.

A reasonably comfortable holster that offers a good balance of speed and retention is vital. The Hopps Custom Leather holster is a good design, comfortable and of supple leather, and the blend of two-tone tanning is pleasing to the eye. This holster rides close to the body while preserving the draw angle.

The S & S (Snaps and Straps) IWB holster from Barber Leather Works is a remarkable holster from a young maker enjoying well-earned success. The twin wings spread the weight out in a comfortable manner, making the Snaps and Straps design a top choice.

Liberty Custom Leather’s Savannah holster is a well-executed, traditional design from an old-line maker. The Savannah is affordable, with the option of adding custom enhancements such as double loops and alligator welts. The Saigon Belt Clip from the same maker is a minimalist design that appeals to many users.

These are just a few of the best quality IWB holsters available. If you do not begin with a quality holster, then dressing around the holster means little. Just the same, when you choose a holster, that is just the beginning.

A good gun belt makes a solid foundation for your waistband concealed carry rig.

Belts

Covering garments are important, but so is the belt. The average dress belt is not up to the task of keeping a holster stabilized. A 40-ounce 1911, a 30-ounce Commander or a fully loaded Glock 19 will shift and rotate even in a quality holster if the belt isn’t up to the task. A sufficiently thick double-stitched gun belt is necessary for use with an IWB holster. You do not necessarily have to match the belt and the holster from the same maker, but you often find relative bargains by purchasing the holster, belt and magazine carrier together.

The Hopp Custom Leather rig is an excellent example of exactly how a gun belt should look, wear and be constructed. The double stitching is ideal, and the buckle is classic in appearance. The belt doesn’t scream gun, but it keeps the pistol stabilized. The gun belt should be purchased an inch larger than you would normally wear in order to accommodate the extra girth of a pistol worn inside the trousers.

This isn’t necessary with an on-the-belt holster, but the same belt will do double duty if you also deploy a standard strong-side holster at times. The gun belt is essential to the program. If you go cheap on the belt, you will not have utility, speed, retention or comfort.

Covering Garments

The next step is the outer garments. We should consider the worst-case scenario in which the IWB is the handiest, and that is carrying a serious handgun without a covering garment such as a long jacket or sport coat. A pulled-out sport shirt or even a T-shirt should conceal the firearm.

One of the most useful shirts I have found comes from Kakadu Traders. A shirt specifically designed for concealed carry must allow a greater range of movement than a simple dress shirt. The Kakadu Gunn Worn line features canvas construction and a fit that allows the ideal range of movement. This is a great design that is presently in service not only with the author but a military intelligence officer presently deployed in a European hot spot.

The design of these shirts allows a greater range of motion than most. Since canvas is used in their construction, they are far less likely to blow up or be brushed up and flash the handgun. These shirts are an excellent choice for concealed carry use.

Wearing a light, moisture-wicking undershirt will make your IWB experience more comfortable and will help protect both your skin and the gun.

Undergarments

When carrying IWB, the covering garments are important but so are the undergarments. It is essential that an undershirt is worn between the holster and the body, even in the warmest climate, for the best comfort and concealment. Sometimes carrying without an undergarment beneath a light T-shirt works fine if an IWB with a soft leather pad is used, but when possible, it is ideal to use an appropriate undergarment. In this case, you need to obtain the best product possible.

I discovered credible gear just a few miles from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Longworth Industries developed a system for wearing next to the skin that functions well as a standalone garment or for use as part of a layering system. The material builds upon the body’s natural temperature regulation and, most importantly, the seam placements are specifically tailored for freedom of movement.

This intelligent design is the difference between a rugged, long-lasting work shirt and a rugged, long-lasting and comfortable tactical garment. After you wear it, you will settle for nothing else. When you’re executing the draw or are otherwise engaged in movement, these garments will not cramp your style. Your anatomy becomes a load-bearing device when you are carrying concealed, and gear such as this lightens the burden.

When deployed with a light covering garment, this garment should be of a darker color. White and other light colors are more likely to allow the outline of a dark handgun to be seen. The garment should be at least a light blue shade in order to facilitate effective concealment, and tan or brown is better. Yet another consideration is whether you should use a traditional IWB holster or the modern tuckable.

The tuckable can be worn under the shirt with the shirt tucked in. Among the most innovative is the SwapRig holster, a design that allows changing the Kydex holster and using the same leather backing. If you elect to deploy a tuckable holster, then you need to choose a shirt that is generous enough in dimension to both conceal the holster effectively and be comfortable when deploying the holster concealed beneath the shirt rather than simply under the shirt.

When you look at all of the solutions to concealed carry, the best answer remains the concealable and effective IWB. But the holster will not work properly unless you take the time to prepare and select a wardrobe that maximizes the advantages it offers.