Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week we talked about Items to consider carrying. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I get asked all the time what some other ways you can carry other than Inside The Waistband. IWB carrying is one of the most popular today and although it’s important to talk about those options, it’s not the only option available to people. Certain individuals say it’s uncomfortable or they just don’t enjoy carrying a firearm like that. Let’s take a look at some convenient summer carry methods.

Concealed Carry Corner @ TFB:

• Concealed Carry Corner: Items To Consider When Carrying
• Concealed Carry Corner: Top 3 Tips To Easily Carry
• Concealed Carry Corner: Perception vs Reality
• Concealed Carry Corner: What’s Really Important About Size?

Pocket Carry

When it comes to ease of carrying, it’s hard to beat carrying in your pocket. Putting a smaller carry gun right in your pocket and going on with your day is one of the most convenient ways of carrying a concealed firearm. All you typically need is a soft holster to cover your gun while it’s in the pocket and then as soon as you draw it, the holster typically stays inside the pocket. Some holsters have a wing or claw to help grab the material and stay in the pocket as well which just helps retain the holster inside your pocket if you ever need to draw it. When carrying in your pocket, there are two major things to keep in mind which are the overall size of your firearm and keeping only the gun in your pocket.

The first thing to think about is the overall size of your carry gun and if it will be comfortable to carry in your pocket all day. Some guns are just too big for carrying in your pockets like the Glock 19 or even Glock 26 is oftentimes too big for most pockets so it’s important to keep your handgun as small as possible if you carry it inside your pocket. Something like a Glock 43 or the smaller SIG P365 is a great option for carrying in your pocket. Some people like to put keys or other items in with their firearms which is a huge red flag. If you plan on carrying a concealed firearm in your pocket, only the gun should be in your carry pocket and nothing else.

Shoulder Holsters

Another very popular alternative to carrying inside the waistband is actually wearing looser fit clothing and carrying with a shoulder holster. The biggest benefit to shoulder holsters is the fact it gets the weight off your hips and distributes your handgun weight over your shoulders allowing for a more comfortable carry experience. Add in the fact you can draw with little effort from the seated position which isn’t always the case for IWB-style holsters. When it comes to material, I always say to choose the leather-style shoulder holsters over something like cloth or synthetic materials that can become rather uncomfortable throughout the day.

In my experience, leather should rigs tend to move better with your body and tend to look more natural than stiffer cloth holsters. The biggest tip I can give to people who carry shoulder holsters is to make sure you pick a holster with the handgun facing down rather than behind you. This is especially true if you want to carry a mid or full-size firearm every day. The overall length of horizontal shoulder holsters can create an issue with printing if you move just right or bend down. The barrel of your handgun can sometimes create a bulge in the back of your shirt which is fairly noticeable.

I tend to prefer the verticle shoulder holsters since they are easier to conceal without worrying about printing. Now, if you decide to carry something small like a Glock 43X or SIG P365 in a shoulder rig, it won’t make much difference if you carry horizontal or vertical. Regardless, if you prefer loose-fitting shirts, a shoulder holster can be a fantastic option for anyone who doesn’t like a belt-mounted holster but wants to comfortably carry all day.

Fanny Pack Carrying

If you really want to drive home the idea of being a middle-aged man with no sense of style, then Fanny pack carrying is just the style for you! I often give people who carry a concealed firearm in a fanny pack a hard time, but after doing it for a while, I completely understand the appeal. Our TFBtv host James Reeves is adamantly a supporter of fanny pack carry and oftentimes will carry on his daily activities in a fanny pack.

The biggest issue with fanny packs is the fact they are technically off-body carrying which could be torn off your body or stolen easier than if it was on your actual body. Absolutely no one thinks you have a concealed handgun inside your pizza fanny pack and that’s the appeal of carrying inside one. It may not be the coolest option, but it’s still a fantastic choice for conveniently carrying.

Overall Thoughts

Carrying in the summertime can be challenging when it becomes 90+ degrees out and humid. Certain styles can become hot and uncomfortable which is why it’s always good to have some different options. These are just a few options you guys can consider but it’s certainly not a comprehensive list of all the options available on the market today.

What are some of your favorite ways to conveniently carry a concealed handgun? Did I mention it in the article or do you have something different like a belly band or ankle carry? Let me know in the comments below what you guys prefer when carrying in the summer months. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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