All over the internet, there are articles where people talk about what’s best to have on your body when concealing a firearm. It’s not uncommon to talk about various lights, knives, medical supplies and spare magazines. Having different items on you is a great way to be prepared for daily life, but it’s really easy to start carrying way too much where it starts to become unrealistic for daily use. Its a natural cycle to figure out what you need on a daily basis but since there’s a ton of new gun owners and people who are conceal carrying, I figured I’d break it down for the newbies. Let’s dive into figuring out what’s the issue with carrying too much on your body.

A typical carry loadout (Left) vs a carry loadout with too much going on (Right)

Breaking Down Items Into Categories

Trying to figure out what to carry on your body can be challenging at times but it’s much easier if it’s broken down into levels of priority. I have a list of priorities that works for me but this list will be different for each person depending on their situation. Typically, I will break everything down into three categories to make it simple. Having your priorities broken down into necessities, things you want to carry, and what’s ideal if you could choose can be really helpful in the long run.

It’s really important to go through gear and determine what’s important to carry vs what’s not.

Choosing What You Need

There are always going to be things you’ll carry on a daily basis no matter what. Things like a cell phone, wallet and keys are pretty standard items for everyone and should be expected on your body. I always try to have some kind of handgun or knife on my body but that’s not always possible for everyone. If you’re trying to figure out what you’d like to carry, start with a list of items you’ve always carried. Depending on your location and climate, it will either give you more opportunities or restrictions when concealing a firearm. Living in the northern area of the Midwest gives me the freedom to carry more or less gear based on the seasons. Other places like Florida or Arizona have much higher temperatures than most Midwest states, so carrying gear isn’t as easy when it’s hotter than the sun out.

Having multiple options can be beneficial but do weigh down a person throughout the day.

Figuring Out What You Want To Carry

I have always been a big believer that half the fun of starting to carry is picking out and working with the gear you decide to carry whether that’s a holster, flashlight or a certain tool that makes life easier while carrying. It’s important to make the list like I talked about earlier to prioritize certain items but typically it’s really fun looking at what guns and gear fit your lifestyle best. This is oftentimes where things get out of hand for some people though.

One of my favorite carry setups during gym sessions or on a hot summer day. Simple but effective.

In certain cases, guys will read what’s best to carry in public but never limit the amount of items they decide to carry on their body. This creates a situation where you have a ridiculous amount of items on your body that can ultimately hurt you more than actually help in a self-defense situation. The old saying “Keep It Simple Stupid” really does apply to carrying a concealed firearm. There are a number of issues that can arise from carrying too much stuff on your body and in the long run, it’s really not worth the hassle for that one low chance where you may need a second folding knife or third pistol magazine.

The Major Issues With Carrying Too Much

Having everything you could possibly have in your tactical pants seems like a great idea but it doesn’t take long to realize the truth behind it. Carrying a ton of stuff is a ton of work with little to no pay off in the long term. The biggest issue that arises is the amount of bulk that happens in your pockets once you start shoving things in every pocket possible. It’s hard to stay mobile and quick on your feet if you have an extra 5-10LBS of gear in your pant pockets all the time. This goes hand in hand with another big issue of keeping inconspicuous with too much gear. Having too many things stuck in your pants pockets can bring attention to yourself when having a concealed handgun and simple pocket knife can be just as effective without the extra bulk.

It’s alright to carry full size or compact firearms but carrying multiple magazines and knives can slow down movement while trying to be mobile.

Don’t get me wrong though, there are plenty of ways to have gear accessible while keeping the bulk down to a minimum. Having something like a tier system where you have just enough to make it back to a backpack or vehicle to get into the next tier. A tier system can let the user have back up items without lugging them around all day every day on their person. I get a decent amount of questions about incorporating a tier system into someone’s daily life and that will definitely be a topic down the road but for now it’s important to keep it simple and only carry what you need to protect yourself on a daily basis.

There are plenty of options on the market today that are extremely effective but compact as well.

Overall Thoughts

Finding the right balance between carrying enough gear for daily life and carrying too much can be a rather tricky path to navigate. It’s important to have enough gear to keep you safe on a daily basis, but weighing the same as cruise ship boat anchor isn’t helpful either. It’s important to find a balance and find exactly what you need. I tend to carry a Glock 43 or SIG P365 with a knife and flashlight as my summer carry. At the end of the day, it’s not about the amount of gear you carry but the amount of training and time you take to become proficient with a firearm.

Carrying more gear won’t make you perform better under stress and the best way to invest in yourself is training. I know some of you will disagree with me and that’s perfectly fine. Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you have questions about concealed carry or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there.

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