Best untucked shirt to conceal IWB..

M

Mokumbear

New member
OK...

Picture this...

I live in South Florida.
As you can imagine, a lot of the year (but not all) is hot and humid.
It's pretty rare to even wear a light nylon jacket.

I have looked into tuckable holsters but they don't seem quite right for me.

I don't want to spend Tommy Bahama kind of money for a shirt that looks good and will conceal an IWB holster.
I am absolutely not "brand conscious".

Any ideas for a far less expensive equivalent, perhaps something you can pick up "for a song" at WalMart?

Just want to go about my day and keep my Walther PPS from "flashing".
 
in the summer, Knit golf polo's work fine for me, some have long lengths for when you tuck them in, but no one questions when most people wear them untucked.
 
OK...

What would you choose for those rare days when you might wear a light nylon jacket outdoors but take it off once you are indoors?

Keep coming with the ideas...
 
I am also south....South Carolina.

I use OWB. My hot weather solution is a light tank (no sleeves) top undergarment to keep the holster from rubbing. Then I wear a light (low cost) jean type shirt un-tucked. It's about as cool as you can get.

My normal carry is a Glock 36 or Smith 36.

PS. I am older and when I wear my tank top around the house without my shirt my wife laughs a lot.:)
 
Not a real answer to you question, but have you ever thought of trying a pocket holster for the PPK? Mine are made by Bob Mika.
That is the only way I carry mine, or my 642. Great concealment, and easy to get to unless you are seated.
For whatever it's worth.
 
Alright...

Pattern... Excellent idea.

Regarding the response for pocket carry, it is the Walther PPS that I am purchasing, do you think pocket carry is still appropriate?

If so, which holster?

Some gun magazine categorized the PPS as a "pocket pistol".
 
PPS is a little big for pocket carry. Get a Kahr PM-9 if you want a pocket 9 it is simple the best. Roughly the same cost as the PPS as well.
 
YMMV, but...

I carry a compact (SR9c) at 3:30-4 o'clock with t-shirts and an IWB (Kholster/supertuck clone). I typically wear a wifebeater or some other sleeveless dri-fit shirt as an undershirt which makes it much, much more comfortable. It conceals very well for me. I've also got a chest bigger than my waist, 5'9 175# so I am sure that helps a bit for me as far as the shirts hanging loose around my waistline.

When I am wearing an oversized shirt or a longer shirt, I sometimes use a pancake OWB if my shorts/pants don't accommodate IWB carry.
 
Try shirts with a randomly patterened design like the flowery hawaiian shirts or woodland camo just as an example. The pattern will break up the lines of anything that might print and help conceal your weapon better.
 
A light tank tucked in so the gun isn't against your skin, and a light short sleeve button down untucked. A pattern helps, but I've alsojust used a T-shirt that was a little long for the top garment and never been made.
You should be able to do fine with either an IWB holster or a pancake holster that rides a little high and tight to your body.
 
"Speak softly and wear a loud shirt." The louder the shirt the more it covers. Silk and high thread count cotton are more comfortable, cotton rafia blends are more durable. Poly and rayon wrinkle, and print more than the above. I have dozens of these none bought new, seldom do I hit a thrift store that doesn't have at least one of these.
 
I'm with azyogi...the thrift store (especially right after Hawaiian vacation season) is your friend. I can't tell you how many nice shirts folks buy and then sell immediately after their vacations. I've often picked up $125 shirts for $6 or so.

On top of that, they are comfortable, stylish and just plain make me look good.
:D
 
Mokumbear.....I too am in FL, east central so I understand your dilema. My usual dress is cargo shorts and a Eotac brand shooting sports polo, size large (I am 5'10/205, size 34/36 waist). Untucked it more than adequately conceals a Government Model Colt in a 5 Shot Leather IBS holster. I carry a spare mag and a C2 Taser on my support side.

Other options for a shirt include a 5.11 Covert Casual camp shirt, a Hawaiian shirt, or Dickie's mechanics type shirt (available at Wal Mart).
 
Used to live in Florida, too...

... and I agree entirely about wearing a light tank or tee underneath, to prevent chafing and minimize perspiration on your weapon.

I'd recommend the moisture wicking tees from Under Armor, The North Face, or Columbia, but they can get pricey. (But they work really, really well.)

For outer shirts, you can find adequate button-down short-sleeved shirts at Wal-Mart or Tractor Supply, if you want to minimize costs.

For a bit more money, REI carries some good, structured button-down hiking shirts from Columbia and Royal Robbins.

I personally got a lot of use out of some Tommy Bahamas, but you've ruled those out.

The thing I've found over the years, though, is that the more expensive shirts significantly outlast the budget ones, and over the long run they cost less. So I'll still recommend the Tommy Bahamas.

Cheers,

M
 
I have some short sleeved pull-over work shirts, the kind with half-zips, either Ben Davis or logger styles with a square cut bottom. They work great for concealment and have enough body not to allow things to show through. They are a little shorter than hip length.

However, they are quite difficult to do a decent draw from, frankly, more so than, say, a t-shirt, which is stretchy, but don't conceal as well. But they all look perfectlly natural in hot weather, at least in a casual or working environment. They won't work in a dress-up situation. There you'll have to fall back on your linen suit.

You might want to stay away from the Ben Davis stuff. They're a California thing, you know.
 
Didn't know you were in FL, Mokumbear. I'm a Florida Kracker. I've found the traditional Wrangler Pearl Buttons to hide IWB ccw's very well, and they're a thin, cool, comfortable material. I love pearl-buttons. Just throwing that out there.
 
Generally speaking, I prefer to carry OWB just for comfort. I usually carry a snub nose revolver, so I don't want to have to buy off fitting jeans to carry it tucked.

For summer carry, if my pockets allow it, I have a pocket holster. It breaks up my LCR just fine, and with the addition of the new boot grip I'm asking for for Christmas, pocket carry should be just fine for any situation short of sitting for long periods of time.

I make my own holsters, so I designed one to carry the LCR high and tight to my 8 o'clock (i'm a southpaw). Even fitted t-shirts or polos untucked hide the weapon just fine. The barrel might show if I lift my arms over my head, but that's a pretty rare thing. However, I too have broader shoulders than my waist, so most guns can disappear if the the shirt is loose enough. I also wear and undershirt to make things more comfortable.

In the fall and winter, I'm all about over shirts. I love 'em. I'm wearing one today in fact. Just a tee shirt with a simple plaid business casual shirt over it. If it gets warm, I cuff the sleeves. The print of the fabric and my shoulder hide pretty much anything. In this way I can carry my LCR, my Glock 36, a full sized 9mm, or anything on my belt with no worries. Heck, I even sport my big old 1858 hog leg in a shoulder holster from time to time with no issues. Short of it making me walk crooked, no one even knows I'm carrying a 3lb gun with an 8" barrel:D

With the right clothes and holster, pretty much any body type can conceal anything. Obviously unrelated, I but I was watching that old sci-fi movie Scanners the other day. The bad guys in that would pack 12 gauge pump shotguns Velcroed to their chests under puffy down jackets.:eek:
In the fall and winter
 
Right before summer started, Wally World got a bunch of new Hawaiian styled shirts in, for $19 each. I picked up 4 of them, and they cover nicely. I know a lot folks also like the bowling shirts, aka "Charlie Harper" shirts. I can do the Hawaiian shirts, but not the Charlie Harper shirts. As others have stated, pattern is important to break up any printing.
 
Your basic wally world, Sam's or Costco will sell good quality shorts in a variety of plaid and other patterns that will break up the outline.
 
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