A jacket that conceals a firearm in plain sight and makes it easy to draw is a must for concealed carry. These jackets look like normal clothing and are comfortable to wear.
When selecting a CCW jacket, the right fit is key. A poorly fitting jacket will get in the way of a fast draw.
Safety
While the primary function of a jacket is to keep you warm, a concealed carry jacket performs a dual role by concealing your gun and allowing you to access it quickly and easily. This is often easier to achieve with regular jackets with designated holster pockets.
The holster pocket should be located in a strategic location on the inside of the jacket so that it is easy to reach while being out of the way and not impeded by other jacket features or buttons. It should also be able to accommodate your gun and magazine.
The holster pocket should be configured to allow for a quick draw, either from the sling-like shoulder holster that keeps your handgun close to your body or from the traditional chest holster, where your handgun is held oblique for faster access while sitting. It should be padded to distribute the weight evenly so that it is easier to draw when you need to do so quickly.
Convenience
Some conceal carry jackets come with built-in holster pockets, and you can also add your pocket holsters. The goal is to find a jacket that does what your normal jacket does — keeps you warm and dry, for example — but offers flexibility in reaching and using a concealed weapon if needed. Look for textured fabrics that help break up lines and conceal bumps and bulges. Avoid stripes, which tend to emphasize them.
Many men who carry concealed carry as part of their job — plainclothes cops, bodyguards and security guards, for example — prefer to wear a sport coat or blazer with long trousers that hide the gun handle. This offers the advantage of a more business casual look and provides the quickest access to a handgun in self-defense situations. For those who want to keep their hands free, compression tee shirts that tuck under clothing allow you to easily draw a pistol without reaching through multiple layers.
Concealment
Suppose you carry a firearm inside-the-waistband (IWB) or an outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster. In that case, you’ll need to wear pants that fit tight enough to hold the holster behind the waistband and a shirt long enough and roomy enough to drape over it without producing the telltale bulge of a handgun. A concealed carry jacket provides a way to do all this and look cool.
If your concealed carry jacket has a front flap pocket on either side, you can access your gun quickly from left to right. This is much easier than unbuttoning your jacket and brushing it back, especially when your fingers are numb in cold weather.
This jacket is comfortable to wear, resistant to the elements, and hides your weapon well. It also has larger holster pockets, making it a good choice for larger firearms. It also looks casual, so it’s an excellent option for wearing into businesses where concealed carry is allowed.
Comfort
A great concealment jacket should fit loosely enough to be comfortable to wear but also have a good range of motion. It should not bind or catch on anything you brush against while wearing it, either with simple activities like going out to the store or doing chores at home or during training exercises like clearing your driveway of snow.
Some people prefer the shoulder holster, which holds a handgun tucked under your armpit and against your upper ribs (it’s a popular style worn by many real and TV cops). It’s convenient for quick access and slightly slower to draw from than a hip-level holster. The disadvantage to this method is that when you open your jacket or coat, it’s very easy for a breeze to blow the back of your gun and reveal it to an observer.
A concealed carry jacket solves this issue. It should be made of a dark color that’s difficult to see through and a fabric that allows heat to dissipate quickly.