When it comes to concealed carry many of us place an excruciating amount of time on our decision of what firearm to actually carry. There is a never-ending cascade of decisions to be made… What caliber? How big or small do I wish it to be? What brands do I trust? What kind of sights do I want? Do I want a manual safety on it? There really is no end to the amount of options you need to decide on. The next colossal decision gun owners need to make is what holster they want to use for carrying that gun they decided on. This, too, can involve a laundry list of choices and decisions that need to be made. In the end we all end up owning dozens of holsters and concealed carry pistols that we rely on. The last element that is all a part of our concealed carry outfit is the actual clothes that we wear. For some reason, our attire gets skimmed over and is a complete afterthought for a lot of people. Why is that?
When it comes to choosing what kind of pants and belt you are going to wear with your carry pistol and holster, you need to answer the question of how will I be carrying? If you will be carrying open with some type of holster that is on the exterior of the hip you have a lot more freedom in the pants that you choose, but you have to ensure you have a rigid and strong enough belt to support your holster and carry piece. I often carry open while doing yardwork, walking my dog, hiking, or hunting. So, I went out of my way to purchase a belt suited for open carry. Then, my holster is not tipping or folding over and becoming a problem for me.
If you choose to do concealed carry as opposed to open carry then you need to bear in mind that you might need pants with a little more room in the waistline. After all, you not only will need to have your pistol and holster now in your waistline, but it will need to be spacious and comfortable enough where you are willing to carry all day long. So, as you can see space is a consideration, but also the pliability and flexibility of your pants as well. If the moment you put your CCW pistol in your pants you are rigid and stiff in your movements like a robot, you no longer have any element of surprise. So, taking into consideration how your pants fit, how they move, and how much space you have about your waistline are all important.
One final thing to think about is whether or not you are going to be carrying additional tools with you. I always carry a spring-assist knife with me everywhere I go. It is my box-cutter, prying tool, and sandwich maker. Some people might have an even more involved everyday carry (EDC) rig than a pistol, holster, and knife. It could also contain a tourniquet, parashears, and lots of other equipment. So, while we mull over the idea of what firearm we will carry and put a decent amount of thought and energy into our holster, we may also want to look at our clothing and accessories with a more discerning eye as well. As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!
