I was thinking the other day if my hoodie would be a good way to conceal my Kahr PM40. I wrote this article to share my thoughts.
Using a hoodie can be a good option for concealing a handgun. For waist carry, the hoodie needs to extend below the handgun. It should extend low enough so the wearer’s arms cannot lift the hoodie above the pistol. Hoodies often have a front funnel pocket. This pocket can be a concealment place for a handgun.
The Benefits of Concealing with a Hoodie
Added Comfort: A concealed carry hoodie has benefits that a plain shirt does not have. It can give greater comfort with added warmth. Carrying a handgun can get uncomfortable. Being weighed down by a gun and chilly would make for a rough day.
Front Pocket: More importantly, hoodies provide an additional carry option. The front funnel pocket is a convenient place to put a micro-pistol. Guns like the Kahr pm series, Hellcat, or Keltec pf-9 would be good options for front pocket carry. I would not use the front pocket to carry larger guns like the Glock 17 or CZ P10C. These handguns will show the outline of a gun much more than micro-pistols.
Blend In: A hoodie could also help you blend into your environment. Hoodies are standard wear in much of inner city America. They are often worn by people of low income. This would help you not appear like a good armed robbery target.
Downsides of a Concealing with a Hoodie
Getting Too Hot: A concealed carry hoodie might not be a good option for you. A hoodies primary purpose is to retain body heat and provide warmth for their wearers. What happens if the wearer becomes uncomfortably warm? An unarmed hoodie wearer is going to remove the hoodie. A pistol packing hoodie wearer may not have the option to remove it. Using a hoodie to concealed a handgun might make you uncomfortably sweat to keep hiding your pistol. Someone with this problem would standout. They would look strange as the only person sweating in a hoodie. This might get others wondering why such a person would not just take off their hooded sweatshirt. Living the Southern United States, this could be an issue for me. In the early spring, it can be cold in the morning but warm and humid after noon. On these days, I would plan on wearing a long shirt under my hoodie so the shirt can concealed when I remove the hoodie.
Not Blending In: A concealed carry hoodie could draw attention in another way. Hoodies and the people that wear then appear to others as being rough or out of place or from the other side of the tracks. Hoodies just aren’t in style in some upper middle class neighborhoods. These cities often have more European cars than Japanese cars. You know…the type of places where the city government gives tickets for lawn grass not getting cut. This might draw unwanted attention from locals and their police. Before picking a hoodie as a concealment option, you might want to think about the parts of town you will be in.
Front Pocket Issues: Carrying in the front pocket of a hoodie may not be a good place to keep your handgun. The front pocket has no retention. If you will be doing any running or jogging, then there is a risk the gun will get thrown from the front pocket. Even a lot of walking or turning could cause the pistol to fall out. If you think you would worry about this, then I suggest going with a standard carry method.
Lastly, make sure the hoodie you buy is long enough. It should be long enough to conceal your gun even if you raise your arms.
Conclusion
Using a hoodie can be a good option for concealing a handgun. For waist carry, the hoodie needs to extend below the handgun. It should extend low enough so the wearer’s arms cannot lift the hoodie above the pistol. Hoodies often have a front funnel pocket. This pocket can be a concealment place for a handgun.
