While I am a fan of the concealed carry handgun philosophy that reads: Same gun. Same Place. Every day. I know that honest citizens can't always strap on a traditional concealed carry holster and head off to do the day's business. While you should always be discreet with your concealed handgun, sometimes you need to be VERY discreet. For those times, the 5.11 Tactical Holster Shirt (product #40011) is just the ticket. This athletic-cut shirt is 80 percent polyester and 20 percent spandex with padded holsters on the right and left flanks.
My little Kel-Tec drops in there very nicely and goes completely unnoticed. But to make this Holster Shirt really live up to its billing, I wore it underneath a Woolrich Elite Tactical Concealed Carry Shirt (product #44916). These Woolrich shirts incorporate all the quality of traditional Woolrich clothing, but with added features for the concealed carry handgun crowd. Chief among these features, and what makes the Woolrich shirt a perfect
partner for the 5.11 Holster shirt, is the fact that the front closure incorporated magnets where buttons #3 and #4 should be. The magnetic closures provide quick access to the concealed carry handgun in the 5.11 Holster shirt. I've been wearing this combination regularly and have found I can hide anything from my Kel-Tec PF9 to my Glock 22. The full-sized gun adds a bit more weight, but it is not totally uncomfortable. The Kel-Tec is a dream to carry. Neither got a second look under the Woolrich shirt.
I would consider the 5.11 Holster shirt a three-season garment: Fall, Winter and Spring. While I haven't worn it in summer heat, I did don the shirt after leaving the gym and found the mixture of polyester and spandex did little to help me cool off after a 3-mile run on the treadmill. Perhaps I need more research or maybe I should just man-up and deal with it. Either way, Woolrich and 5.11 make a great tag-team combination for your concealed carry holster and handgun needs.
New! Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Concealed Carry Pistols
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry
The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery
Effective Handgun Defense, A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry
Find more resources at gundigeststore.com/tactical
Why You Can Trust Gun Digest
Since 1944, Gun Digest has been a trusted authority on firearms, shooting and shooting gear, delivering expert firearms reviews backed by nearly a century of experience. We go beyond standard reviews, combining hands-on independent gun testing, in-depth research, and expert insights from industry professionals and manufacturers.
Our reviewers are the bedrock of our testing and come from a comprehensive cross section of the shooting world. Their diverse backgrounds include law enforcement professionals, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and life-long firearms enthusiasts. In addition to being firearm experts, we are also thorough journalists adhering to the strictest standards of the profession.
For our readers, this means objective, unbiased reviews, free from outside influence. Our priority is to provide the information you need to make informed decisions—whether a firearm or piece of gear is a must-have investment or one to pass on.
Find out more about our Editorial Standards and Evaluation Process
