Vest as Cover Garment

[gringo pistolero]

Equating the wearing of vests with those that sport CHL badges, really?

Oh, it looks good on you, though.

[CoffeeNut]

Don't own a vest and cringe when I've had to wear one. Just not my thing but if it works - it works. One of the many things I like about Texas is the ability to wear light long sleeve button downs, jeans and boots in the middle of summer and no one looks at you like you're insane. That said 99% of the time in the summer you'll find me in short sleeves and shorts with my gun concealed just fine. To each their own.

[WildBill]

It's funny, but I just realized how having a CHL changed by perspective about certain things, such as wearing a vest.

Prior to moving to Texas and getting my CHL, I used to go on "photo shoots", sometimes in populated areas, but mainly in remote locations.

When I went out on these shoots, I always had several thousands of dollars worth of photography gear on my person and in my car.

Even though they are practical for photographers, one of the reasons I didn't wear a vest is that I didn't want to attract attention to potential robbers who might see me as "easy pickings".

I believed that the photographer's vest and a Nikon around my neck screamed "Rob Me!"

So, if the current paradigm were true, it would be "I have a lot of valuables on me, but I am armed so don't mess with me."

[jmra]

I don't wear the vests. They stick out like a sore thumb. I would think that even those who aren't in the know would take a second look at a vest.

A Primary SLD with secondary AI "sticks out like a sore thumb" to people I work with but probably would not be given a second thought by people outside my field. A vest screams gun to you because you have trained your brain to make it so. The general population is so disconnected from their surroundings they couldn't tell you the gender of the person they just passed much less what they were wearing. Even if they did take notice of a vest the vast majority would not associate it with a gun.
As far as people not wearing them...I saw several this morning.

[remington79]

I've seen about a grand total of two vests in the last ten years. The only exception is wool and fleece vests in the winter. You just don't see people wearing them. People may be oblivious to most things but I would think an unusual garment that isn't common would attract some attention even if they don't equate a vest with carrying. I would probably see more vests where I'm currently living if I went to one of the local rivers to go fly fishing.

[Excaliber]

I've seen about a grand total of two vests in the last ten years. The only exception is wool and fleece vests in the winter. You just don't see people wearing them. People may be oblivious to most things but I would think an unusual garment that isn't common would attract some attention even if they don't equate a vest with carrying. I would probably see more vests where I'm currently living if I went to one of the local rivers to go fly fishing.

I see folks wearing them fairly frequently.

The places you frequent has a lot to do with whether you see them or not.

You'll see lots more of them at Home Depot and Academy than you will at Starbucks.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

If it's summer and I'm not at work, I'm in a t-shirt and shorts with flip flops on and carry a commander sized 1911 IWB with a decent amount of forward cant.

[rockinar]

The odds of someone thinking "he's carrying" are slim. If they do, who cares. You're reading into it WAY too much. People walk around in their own world all day and pay absolutely no attention others. I walk around all day and pay absolutely no attention to what people are wearing or why they might be wearing it. I know people who wear fishing shirts every day as normal attire. I could care less about someone in a vest. I have probably walked past dozens of people wearing a vest the past few years and I don't recall seeing a single one. Why? I'm not looking and don't care what you're wearing. Only time I pay attention to anyone else is if I see some hot broad.

[jmra]

The odds of someone thinking "he's carrying" are slim. If they do, who cares. You're reading into it WAY too much. People walk around in their own world all day and pay absolutely no attention others.

[Dan20703]

After reading all these posts about vests I'm going to get one. I've heard that wearing Hawaiian shirts scream "I'm armed" and I have lots of those I wear quite often. Now I will have a vest too. Maybe I'll wear them at the same time!

[Cedar Park Dad]

A vest is a reasonable choice when it's 50 degrees. In Texas during the Summer it's a target indicator. When it's 90 degrees, something from Hilo Hattie is more comfortable and attracts less unwanted attention.

It might but I'd cringe every time I walked past a mirror..........

Assuming the mirror didn't crack after the first pass.

I view a blinding Hawaiian shirt like active Stealth. Its so blinding it interferes with bad guy's acquiring a good target resolution on my ample frame.

I have no problems with a vest (although i will joke about the "shoot me first" advertisement). However in Central Texas or Houston, its already too hot with additional clothing.

[The Annoyed Man]

After reading all these posts about vests I'm going to get one. I've heard that wearing Hawaiian shirts scream "I'm armed" and I have lots of those I wear quite often. Now I will have a vest too. Maybe I'll wear them at the same time!

I've done that. My wife rolls her eyes at me and says, "is that what you're going to wear?"

[Cedar Park Dad]

After reading all these posts about vests I'm going to get one. I've heard that wearing Hawaiian shirts scream "I'm armed" and I have lots of those I wear quite often. Now I will have a vest too. Maybe I'll wear them at the same time!

Ancient Budha say, "LIke the ancient cobra flaring its hood, man who wear Hawaiian shirt and shoot me vest not one to mess with...."

[TEA]

Thanks, all, for the feedback. With regards to the comments about an added layer and heat in the brutal Texas Summer, what got me thinking about this was the recommendation that I wear a t-shirt between my holster and skin. viewtopic.php?f=13&t=71989 Wearing a t-shirt under a t-shirt just seems goofy to me, so I was thinking about something I could wear over a t-shirt if I were to tuck the t-shirt in between the holster and my skin. Wearing a button up shirt over a t-shirt in the Summer seems like it would be even hotter than a vest.

I have a tuckable holster so that I can tuck a shirt in at work (if our Board of Regents adopts my proposal to allow concealed carry on campus or if the Leg. finally passes a law to allow for concealed carry on campus), but usually wear my t-shirts untucked when I'm not at work. Since I'm a cheap SOB, I'll probably forgo buying a vest at this time and just keep wearing my holster against the skin as I have been doing. The suede backing on the holster that I have is very comfy, so the only thing I notice when I'm carrying my fullsize 1911 is the weight and occasionally the barrel when I sit down. Only occasionally, though, because I have my holster set with as much cant as I can, so I only notice the barrel if I have bad posture and slouch in my seat, which is bad for my back anyway. Who knew that concealed carry could eliminate lower back pain by promoting good posture?

[TEA]

After reading all these posts about vests I'm going to get one. I've heard that wearing Hawaiian shirts scream "I'm armed" and I have lots of those I wear quite often. Now I will have a vest too. Maybe I'll wear them at the same time!

Ancient Budha say, "LIke the ancient cobra flaring its hood, man who wear Hawaiian shirt and shoot me vest not one to mess with...."

Don't forget the mirrored aviator glasses and black Oakley assault boots.



P.S. I don't think anyone would notice a vest on this guy.


BTW, Aloha shirt with plaid shorts is just a crime against nature.