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Winter time is upon us…once again. For most concealed carriers, winter offers the perfect opportunity to concealed carry. After all, wearing several layers of clothing makes it quite easy to conceal your weapon. However, while concealing your firearm may be easy, effectively concealed carrying may prove difficult to many gun owners. With layers upon layers of clothing, concealed carrying in a way that leaves quick access to your firearm isn’t always easy to pull off. Thus, the need arises to learn how to how to concealed carry in the winter.
When it comes to wintertime concealed carrying, there is a “right” way to do it – and the “right” way depends on you. With concealed carry in the winter, it is important to wear what fits best for you, your draw style, and comfort level. After all, if you have on two sweaters, a jacket, and a scarf, will you still be fast enough to draw your gun when you need to?
As a concealed carrier, you need to find the best way you can carry and access your firearms during the winter – failure to do so impacts both you and those around you. Threats don’t cease to exist in the wintertime, and although it might not be as convenient to concealed carry in the winter, it’s still crucial to your protection (and part of your 2nd Amendment right). So read on! And if you’re interested in learning how to keep your CCW from freezing, read our article here!
Table of Contents
Basics on How to Concealed Carry in the Winter
Basic Wintertime Concealed Carry Gear
Basics on How to Concealed Carry in the Winter
If this is your first foray into learning how to concealed carry in the winter, there are some basics to cover before marching off into the cold.
Have A Uniform Place For Concealing Your Firearm At All Times
You don’t want to have to think about where your gun is ever – and especially not during the winter. When it’s cold out, your senses are dulled. Slower reaction time plus an incoming bad guy equates to a very bad time. Thus, carry your CCW in the same place each time. Whatever mode of concealed carry you choose, ensure that it is a method that is both comfortable and easily accessible for you.
Be Aware of How Many Layers You Are WearingIt takes a little practice to master concealed carrying in the winter. Gun owner friends of mine have told me that they sometimes get their hands/guns caught on their jacket zippers, or need to move their thick winter coats a lot more than expected in order to have their firearm clear their holsters. Practice the steps you need to take to draw your firearm from its holster, to pulling the trigger. Like we always say on GMW – practice in front of the mirror before going out.
Concealed Carry Holster Retention Matters in The Cold
Different holsters have different ways to secure firearms. For leather and nylon holsters, you have strap style retention, fastened by Velcro or button snaps. For Kydex holsters, you have passive retention. These different retention methods affect the speed of how fast you draw your weapon against a bad guy. After all, unfastening a Velcro strap goes much slower during the winter when your fingers are frozen to bits. Always understand your holster first.
Your Carry Jacket Can’t Always Cover Your CCW
Do not assume that your massive hunting jacket will always cover your handgun. Keep in mind that there are certain movements or positions that you take during the day that could reveal your firearm. Reaching for the top shelf at the store or picking something you’ve dropped may pull back your jacket, running the risk of revealing your CCW. Always think about the actions that may compromise your concealed status. To read more on avoiding printing/avoiding revealing your CCW, read our article here.
Wear Smaller Winter GlovesWhile learning how to concealed carry in the winter, gun owners tend to stumble across many things that are not conducive to effective wintertime concealed carrying. For instance, we’ve all worn big winter gloves while shoveling snow – they’re very comfortable and warm. However, when concealed carrying during the winter, big gloves make it close to impossible to fit your trigger finger through the trigger guard of your CCW (without forcibly pushing your finger through the guard. This poses a big risk for you and those around you – when you aren’t able to get your finger around the trigger of your gun, it makes you a much less effective (duh).
This being said, opt for smaller winter gloves. The goal is to keep them as thin as possible, but still warm. This allows you to keep your fingers warm and protected from the cold, while allowing you to get your finger through the trigger guard.
Basic Wintertime Concealed Carry Gear
Carry JacketA carry jacket is essential to concealed carrying in the winter. Some important features to look for in your carry jacket:
Warm yet lightweight construction that does not bunch up or puff out (puffy jackets can be a nightmare to work with while drawing your CCW)
Elasticized cuffs to keep your sleeves from impeding your movement when you need to draw
Tough fabrics and construction that will not wear down brushing against constantly over your gun or holster
Equally important as the features of your carry jacket is the right fit. Outerwear that is too big may get in your way when drawing your wintertime concealed carry. Similarly, if your outfit is too small, chances are your firearms will run the risk of getting caught on your holster that will prevent you from drawing quickly. Avoid jackets with elastic, waist-hugging bottoms. Go for the loose coat or parka instead – they’re easy to sweep to the side to draw your firearm.
Also avoid long coats, which are harder to pull up to access your CCW. The only way you can draw your firearm is from the front so you need to unbutton the front. However, leaving your jacket unbuttoned/unzipped in the front during the winter isn’t always an option in very cold regions. Also, you may not have the time to unbutton your jacket to reach your firearm during an emergency situation.
Pocket HolstersFor people who are wondering how to concealed carry in the winter, a pocket holster can be a great idea. It will keep your firearms oriented properly for the draw in your pocket and will not get tangled up beneath layers of clothing. In addition, with a pocket holster you are able to keep your hands warm in your pockets while keeping your hand on your CCW. Only problem – when you remove your coat, your gun goes with it.
Fanny PacksFanny packs are great for concealing your firearm while jogging in the winter as an off-body concealed carry option. Find one that offers left and right access and comes with pouches for extra magazines as a wintertime concealed carry option.
Specialized Concealed Carry Coats
Many coat manufacturers have taken the concealed carrier market into account and have designed specialized winter coats for concealed carry in the winter.
Cargo Pants
Cargo pants have pockets on the thighs which can be great if you are carrying smaller guns. To access, you can drop down, reach in, and draw your CCW.
Bottom Zip Coats and Jackets
Some coats and jackets are designed to be zipped open from the bottom as opposed to the top, making drawing a weapon from a belt or shoulder holster much more easy during the winter.
Backpacks
If you are a student or professional and carry laptops/books around during the winter, using your backpack for carrying concealed is a great option for concealed carrying in the winter.
Coats with Sleeve Pockets
Many ski jackets come with small sleeve pockets, making them perfect for concealing small lightweight guns for wintertime concealed carry.
As covered in this article, there are numerous methods of wintertime concealed carrying. With each winter, gun owners learn more and more ways of how to concealed carry in the winter. As we here at GMW go through this next winter, any new tips we try and learn along the way to aide in your wintertime concealed carrying will be added to this article as well. Till next time!
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How to Concealed Carry in the Winter: Wintertime Concealed Carry
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
When it comes to wintertime concealed carrying, there is a “right” way to do it – and the “right” way depends on you. With concealed carry in the winter, it is important to wear what fits best for you, your draw style, and comfort level. After all, if you have on two sweaters, a jacket, and a scarf, will you still be fast enough to draw your gun when you need to?
As a concealed carrier, you need to find the best way you can carry and access your firearms during the winter – failure to do so impacts both you and those around you. Threats don’t cease to exist in the wintertime, and although it might not be as convenient to concealed carry in the winter, it’s still crucial to your protection (and part of your 2nd Amendment right). So read on! And if you’re interested in learning how to keep your CCW from freezing, read our article here!
Table of Contents
Basics on How to Concealed Carry in the Winter
Basic Wintertime Concealed Carry Gear
Basics on How to Concealed Carry in the Winter
If this is your first foray into learning how to concealed carry in the winter, there are some basics to cover before marching off into the cold.
Have A Uniform Place For Concealing Your Firearm At All Times
You don’t want to have to think about where your gun is ever – and especially not during the winter. When it’s cold out, your senses are dulled. Slower reaction time plus an incoming bad guy equates to a very bad time. Thus, carry your CCW in the same place each time. Whatever mode of concealed carry you choose, ensure that it is a method that is both comfortable and easily accessible for you.
Be Aware of How Many Layers You Are Wearing
It takes a little practice to master concealed carrying in the winter. Gun owner friends of mine have told me that they sometimes get their hands/guns caught on their jacket zippers, or need to move their thick winter coats a lot more than expected in order to have their firearm clear their holsters. Practice the steps you need to take to draw your firearm from its holster, to pulling the trigger. Like we always say on GMW – practice in front of the mirror before going out.
Concealed Carry Holster Retention Matters in The Cold
Different holsters have different ways to secure firearms. For leather and nylon holsters, you have strap style retention, fastened by Velcro or button snaps. For Kydex holsters, you have passive retention. These different retention methods affect the speed of how fast you draw your weapon against a bad guy. After all, unfastening a Velcro strap goes much slower during the winter when your fingers are frozen to bits. Always understand your holster first.
Your Carry Jacket Can’t Always Cover Your CCW
Do not assume that your massive hunting jacket will always cover your handgun. Keep in mind that there are certain movements or positions that you take during the day that could reveal your firearm. Reaching for the top shelf at the store or picking something you’ve dropped may pull back your jacket, running the risk of revealing your CCW. Always think about the actions that may compromise your concealed status. To read more on avoiding printing/avoiding revealing your CCW, read our article here.
Wear Smaller Winter Gloves
While learning how to concealed carry in the winter, gun owners tend to stumble across many things that are not conducive to effective wintertime concealed carrying. For instance, we’ve all worn big winter gloves while shoveling snow – they’re very comfortable and warm. However, when concealed carrying during the winter, big gloves make it close to impossible to fit your trigger finger through the trigger guard of your CCW (without forcibly pushing your finger through the guard. This poses a big risk for you and those around you – when you aren’t able to get your finger around the trigger of your gun, it makes you a much less effective (duh).
This being said, opt for smaller winter gloves. The goal is to keep them as thin as possible, but still warm. This allows you to keep your fingers warm and protected from the cold, while allowing you to get your finger through the trigger guard.
Basic Wintertime Concealed Carry Gear
Carry Jacket
A carry jacket is essential to concealed carrying in the winter. Some important features to look for in your carry jacket:
Equally important as the features of your carry jacket is the right fit. Outerwear that is too big may get in your way when drawing your wintertime concealed carry. Similarly, if your outfit is too small, chances are your firearms will run the risk of getting caught on your holster that will prevent you from drawing quickly. Avoid jackets with elastic, waist-hugging bottoms. Go for the loose coat or parka instead – they’re easy to sweep to the side to draw your firearm.
Also avoid long coats, which are harder to pull up to access your CCW. The only way you can draw your firearm is from the front so you need to unbutton the front. However, leaving your jacket unbuttoned/unzipped in the front during the winter isn’t always an option in very cold regions. Also, you may not have the time to unbutton your jacket to reach your firearm during an emergency situation.
Pocket Holsters
For people who are wondering how to concealed carry in the winter, a pocket holster can be a great idea. It will keep your firearms oriented properly for the draw in your pocket and will not get tangled up beneath layers of clothing. In addition, with a pocket holster you are able to keep your hands warm in your pockets while keeping your hand on your CCW. Only problem – when you remove your coat, your gun goes with it.
Fanny Packs
Fanny packs are great for concealing your firearm while jogging in the winter as an off-body concealed carry option. Find one that offers left and right access and comes with pouches for extra magazines as a wintertime concealed carry option.
Specialized Concealed Carry Coats
Many coat manufacturers have taken the concealed carrier market into account and have designed specialized winter coats for concealed carry in the winter.
Cargo Pants
Cargo pants have pockets on the thighs which can be great if you are carrying smaller guns. To access, you can drop down, reach in, and draw your CCW.
Bottom Zip Coats and Jackets
Some coats and jackets are designed to be zipped open from the bottom as opposed to the top, making drawing a weapon from a belt or shoulder holster much more easy during the winter.
Backpacks
If you are a student or professional and carry laptops/books around during the winter, using your backpack for carrying concealed is a great option for concealed carrying in the winter.
Coats with Sleeve Pockets
Many ski jackets come with small sleeve pockets, making them perfect for concealing small lightweight guns for wintertime concealed carry.
As covered in this article, there are numerous methods of wintertime concealed carrying. With each winter, gun owners learn more and more ways of how to concealed carry in the winter. As we here at GMW go through this next winter, any new tips we try and learn along the way to aide in your wintertime concealed carrying will be added to this article as well. Till next time!