sitting down while carrying a gun

How To Concealed Carry While Sitting Down

Modern life has us positioning our posteriors all over the place. When you're carrying a pistol in an IWB holster, you've likely experienced a certain degree of self-awareness you weren't expecting. When shirts slide up and trousers arc down, there can be a bit of gap coverage where a pistol grip can be revealed. In this article, we're going to head this off at the pass and discuss ways to stay concealed while sitting down.

DO: Tuck in your shirt.

If you have one of the Cloak Tuck series holsters by Alien Gear, we can at least vouch that our holster line comes with the ability to tuck in a shirt. Whether it's a dress shirt or just a T-shirt, you'll find that tucking it into your trouser line is a plausible way to keep your shirt line straight while sitting down and standing up.

DON'T: Keep your hand on your holster while sitting and standing.

It's a natural thing to want to ensure your firearm stays concealed. For those who have experimented with holsters that don't have good retention, you're also probably worried about the pistol falling out or coming loose.

This is why you should always use an inside the waistband concealed carry holster that has high retention while still being adjustable for your comfort. That way, you never have to worry about your pistol falling out of its holster.

DO: Wear longer shirts and layers that fall past the waistline.
 

We're not going to give you concealed carry fashion advice but with concealed carry, layers always help. If you're wearing your concealed carry holster over a tucked in t-shirt, you may want to consider another shirt or layer that falls past the waistline to help it from printing.

DO: Casually keep your unbuttoned button-up shirt or blazer when sitting and standing.

It's completely fine to ensure your unbuttoned button-up shirt or dress coat from sweeping open when sitting and standing. This isn't at all out of place and it's a casual way to ensure you don't inadvertently show the firearm that's tucked beneath.

DON'T: Wear tight shirts without a covering layer.

If you wear a tight or comfortable athletic t-shirt or similar, you're going to find your pistol naturally prints more readily than if you wear looser layers. That's not saying you can't pull off an Under Armour (or similar) underlayer – just make sure there's something looser on top of that.

DO: Consider wearing a sturdy gun belt.
concealed carry gun belt

Many concealed carriers neglect to get a good gun belt, a well-constructed, high-quality gun belt can help keep your waistline flush and straight when sitting and standing.

DON'T: Let your pants hang off your hips.

Low ride pants and jeans make carrying concealed a lot more challenging. Wearing pants that are pulled up to your waistline is a good way to go. The reason is simple: your waistline moves less than your hips while going from standing to seated and back again.

In conclusion, a good set of pants pulled up to the proper level on your waistline, plus a good gun belt and a comfortable holster, will go a long way to keeping your firearm concealed while seated.

James England
 

About The Author

James England (@sir_jim_england) is the contributing editor for Alien Gear Holsters. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and private defense contracting in Afghanistan.