Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns How do you carry in winter clothing?

Not talking about you guys who live where winter means you put on a long sleeve t-shirt, but freezing, blowing snow winter.

If you're wearing a zipped up parka or some other type of heavy coat that isn't going to let you just lift it quickly to get to your IWB holster what alternate means do you use? I used to carry the pistol loosely in the bellows pocket of my parka but that's not optimal for several reasons.

So - what solutions do you use?

I like a Serpa paddle holster on strong side hip.

If I'm inside a store or something, I unzip/unbutton my coat so access is still reasonably fast.

A little offbeat, but I often carry an IWB holster in the inside breast pocket of a jacket. A weakside holster has to be used (I'm a lefty so a righty IWB).

On the rare nights when it gets down into the 30s or lower here in northern Florida, and I'm wearing a parka, I slip a J-Frame .38 in my outside coat pocket.

Cross draw.

If you are going to wear a zipped up parka, and you are sure you won't be taking the parka off, one of the chest rigs like the Diamond D Guides Choice or Gunfighters Kenai Chest Rig would be excellent.

inside carhartt vest pocket, whether a coat over the top, or not....

The few times I have to wear a heavy coat in the winter, I use a Galco Shoulder Holster that has a double mag pouch on the opposite side for a Commander Length 1911.

I carry in a Serpa under my jacket in the winter. I normally am unzipped so access isn’t an issue. If the weather is so bad I need to zip up my jacket I’m less concerned about encountering nefarious intentioned characters.

Often I have a sweater or a fleece vest covering my carry piece. It seems to be a good option and allows me easy access.

Pictures just for reference,lol

I use Milt Sparks Holsters outside the waistband rigs. The 55BN, 1AT, the optics ready holster, etc. Just depends on the gun.

















Their holsters will last a lifetime, and then some if properly taken care of.

It's not "freezing, blowing snow winter" here but it gets cold enough to wear heavy coats. I usually carry the same way I do in summer, etc. OWB behind right hip. Difference is in the summer I leave the Tshirt untucked. Winter I tuck the tshirt and leave the second shirt untucked. Heavy coat or other layers need to be unzipped to access.

I'm surprised that I appear to be alone in my J-Frame .38 in the outside coat pocket solution. This has been a standard mode of carry in the cold since the J-Frame first appeared on the market.

If I'm wearing a coat over a flannel or heavy flannel it almost never is zipped. I carry OWB with a flannel or flannel style jacket over. Simply sweep with the hand to gain access. 99.95% of the time tho - I am just in a flannel of some sort here in WI

If I'm outside long enough where I need it zipped to remain warm - I'm usually in the woods etc and unlikely to meet a 2 legged varmint so I'm not uber concerned but will occasionally simply place like Huntsman does - Carhartt jacket pocket.

Sometimes I'll carry an LCR in my front left jeans pocket. In winter I'll put it in my left front coat/jacket hand pocket if I carry it. I don't always have it though.

PF9 in the front pants pocket pocket, PF9 in parka breast pocket, or M&P in a paddle on my 4 o'clock.

That is one of the most practical ways to address original post. Most of the guys posting here will never need to draw a gun, therefore, manner of carry is not relevant.