Concealed carry is an excellent way to take a proactive approach to self-defense. It requires the proper clothing to hide a firearm and make it easy to clear and draw in self-defense situations.

A concealment coat should look like regular work clothing, avoid printing, and allow you to holster a gun IWB or OWB. Whether you prefer to dress casually or take a more rugged approach, these five concealed carry jackets are essential.

Comfort

People who carry concealed don’t want to feel their gun digging into their hip or having their jacket snag on the belt of their pistol. It may not seem like a big deal, but discomfort could cause dedicated carriers to leave their guns at home. The right concealed carry coats and jackets are shaped to work over other clothing and oversized to accommodate a handgun and magazines without pinching or sagging. It also should fit loosely enough to allow movement that doesn’t bind or restrict the shooter, helping him form muscle memory for the draw.

Many purpose-built concealment garments feature pockets that don’t give away the location of a handgun, enabling an offhand draw if your primary arm is disabled. Other features, such as wrist cuffs that can be quickly snapped open to facilitate a tourniquet, are helpful.

Concealment

For many people carrying a firearm, concealment is as essential as having it on hand in self-defense. Whether you are a police detective, security guard, or just a civilian, having your gun hidden will ensure that it is only exposed once you need to use it.

Having your gun concealed will also ensure you can access it quickly. If you wear a jacket with ambidextrous pocket holsters, you can access your pistol on either side, eliminating the need to unbutton or unzip.

It will also prevent you from attracting negative attention from other patrons in restaurants, stores, and offices who may not understand that it is legal to have a concealed firearm and might call the authorities or complain to management.

Convenience

Concealed carrycots allow gun owners to keep their firearms readily available in self-defense situations. They are comfortable, cover well, and can be worn occasionally.

A concealed carry jacket should have a large side pocket accommodating most outside waistband holsters with no sagging or shifting. It should also have a sleeve pocket for magazine storage. If you carry a pocket holster, consider using a holster insert to prevent your gun from shifting in the pocket.

Closing a jacket can change how you access your weapon, and clearing cover may take some practice. If your coat is too tight, it will make it hard to get to your gun, and if it’s loose, it won’t keep you warm.

Versatility

Concealed carry jackets look and feel like regular clothing, offering gun owners a versatile way to carry their handguns. They feature pockets designed to accommodate holsters, making them perfect for concealed carry for any occasion.

Many of these jackets also have a right and left holster option, giving users easy access to their pistol regardless of their draw side. They are made with compression Spandex, which offers elasticity and skin-friendly comfort for everyday wear.

Finding a concealment-friendly casual jacket that fits well is essential to move freely and easily access your firearm in an emergency. Experimenting with different holster positions and angles is helpful to make sure you have the best concealment setup for your needs.

Safety

When your firearm is holstered in a dedicated concealed carry coat, it is more difficult for aggressors to spot what you carry. The specialized fabrics are designed to hide the lumps and bumps of your holster, which could otherwise give away your armed status.

Many concealed carry jackets are also made to facilitate accessing your weapon. This means the coat won’t pinch or catch on accessories like keys, gun magazines, or straps on range bags.

You should always practice your close-quarters skills at home or in an approved range. And you should participate in force-on-force training with a qualified instructor or other students. Those experiences will make you more confident that your gun will work as intended in self-defense.