The changing seasons – and the corresponding changes in clothing – can affect how you carry your firearm. A holster setup that works great in winter might be problematic in the summer, and vice versa. Let’s look at considerations for both hot and cold weather and how to adjust your holster choice or carry method.
Hot Weather Carry
In hot weather, you’re likely wearing lighter, more minimal clothing. T-shirts, shorts, maybe no jacket or even a tucked-in shirt. This presents a few challenges:
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Limited Concealment Garments: Without jackets or layers, your holster may only be covered by a thin shirt. Printing (the outline of the gun visible through clothing) is a bigger concern. You’ll want a holster that holds the gun close and has features to reduce printing (for example, an appendix holster with a claw can help tuck the grip inward behind a light shirt).
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Minimal Dress (Belts and Attire): If you’re in shorts and a flimsy belt, or athletic attire with no belt at all, you might need to adapt away from traditional holsters. Options include belly band holsters (an elastic band you wear under your shirt, good for gym shorts or yoga pants) or pocket holsters for very small guns that you can drop into a pocket of cargo shorts or light pants. If you do wear a belt, consider a lighter-weight gun/holster combo that that belt can still support without sagging.
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Material and Comfort: Heat means sweat. Leather holsters against bare skin can become sticky or cause chafing when you sweat a lot. Kydex holsters have the advantage of not absorbing sweat, and many are smaller in footprint (less coverage). However, kydex directly on skin can be uncomfortable if you’re very active. A solution is a hybrid holster with a breathable back panel (some use neoprene or ventilated mesh backing that wicks sweat). Additionally, holsters with a sweat guard are helpful – the sweat guard will keep perspiration off your gun (preventing rust) and also keep the gun’s sharp edges off your skin when you’re sweaty.
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Corrosion Concerns: In hot, humid weather, your firearm is more prone to rust from sweat. While this is more about the gun, your holster choice can mitigate it. A holster that covers more of the gun (particularly the slide for autos) can protect it from direct contact with sweat. Also, choosing holsters made of synthetic materials (kydex, polymer) won’t themselves corrode – whereas a constantly sweat-soaked leather holster can deteriorate or stink if not cared for. If you use leather in summer, be prepared to wipe it down and let it air-dry regularly, and occasionally treat it to prevent salt damage.
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Lightweight Carry: In scorching weather, many people downsize their carry setup – maybe carrying a subcompact in a simple holster instead of a full-size in a heavy rig. A small single-stack pistol in an IWB holster can be much easier to conceal under a thin shirt than a big double-stack. If you do this, ensure you still practice with your smaller setup. Alternatively, consider deeper concealment methods like ankle holsters or Thunderwear/Smartcarry (a holster that sits below the waistband, in front of the groin). These can allow very discreet carry even in shorts and a tank-top, albeit with slower access.
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Example Adjustments (Hot): If you normally carry OWB with a jacket in winter, for summer you might switch to an appendix IWB holster under just a t-shirt. Or if you normally carry a compact pistol IWB, you might in summer carry a pocket .380 in your shorts when even an IWB bulge is hard to hide. It’s about being flexible while maintaining safety (always use a proper holster, even if that holster is a pocket holster or belly band with trigger protection).
Cold Weather Carry
In cold weather, you have the opposite scenario: bulky clothing, jackets, gloves, etc.
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Easier Concealment: The great thing about winter – you can conceal a howitzer under a big parka (kidding, but you can certainly carry larger firearms more easily). Coats, sweaters, and layers break up outlines very well. This means OWB carry becomes much more viable concealed. Many carriers will switch from IWB in summer to a comfortable OWB in winter, knowing that a coat or heavy overshirt will cover the holster. For instance, a high-ride pancake OWB holster can hide under a fleece or an untucked sweatshirt with ease.
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Slower Access (Issue): The downside – all those layers slow down your draw. If your gun is under a buttoned coat, you have to clear that (which could mean ripping open a jacket or lifting a long coat aside) before even reaching your holster. To mitigate this, some people adjust their carry position in winter. Two common strategies:
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Shoulder Holster: With a jacket on, a shoulder holster keeps the gun accessible by a simple unzipping or reaching inside the coat. Many find shoulder holsters great in winter because your coat covers it and your draw (reaching across your body) may actually be faster than digging under layers at the waist. Just practice safety (sweeping muzzle on draw, etc.). A shoulder rig can also be kept on the body if you remove your coat, still somewhat concealed by a sweater or the shoulder straps might be visible depending on your indoors clothing.
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Outside Coat Carry: Some choose to carry a secondary gun in an external pocket holster – essentially, a small gun in the coat pocket. This way, if you’re walking outside, you could even have your hand on that gun in pocket, ready to draw, with no outer garment obstruction at all. If you go indoors and remove the coat, you then secure that pocket gun or switch to your primary on your belt. This technique ensures immediate access while bundled up (and in some cases you could shoot through your coat pocket in extreme close defense). The obvious trade-off is needing to manage that setup and having a smaller gun as your “coat gun.”
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Positioning: If you stick with belt carry, you might move your holster from behind-hip to appendix or cross-draw in winter. Appendix carry under a zipped jacket can actually be easier to access by pulling the zipper up partway and sliding the hand in. Cross-draw (holster on opposite side, angled forward) might let you draw from a seated position or if wearing a long coat that you can sweep back on one side.
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Holster Choice for OWB: If you plan to wear OWB concealed by a coat, choose a holster with good retention, because a heavy coat can sometimes catch on a holster as you move or remove the coat. You don’t want the holster snagging off your belt. A quality OWB with strong belt loops or paddle and maybe a bit of retention (friction or a thumb break) is good. Also consider a holster that doesn’t rely on your body’s pressure (like some IWB do) for retention, since OWB under a loose coat might jostle more – hence many prefer at least a thumb break strap for OWB concealed in winter as extra insurance (though not mandatory).
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Dealing with Gloves: If you wear gloves often, ensure your trigger guard allows glove entry (some are small; heavy winter gloves might not fit in the trigger guard easily). Also practice drawing and disengaging any safeties with gloves on – it’s a different feel. You may need to choose thinner shooting gloves or be prepared to strip a glove to shoot. In terms of holster, gloves might make it a bit harder to feel retention releases (like the small lever of a locking holster). If you open carry in winter (like on a chest rig while hunting in cold), consider these factors as well.
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Material Considerations (Cold): Cold itself usually doesn’t harm holsters – however, extreme cold can stiffen leather (making it less forgiving on the draw until it warms from body heat) and make plastic slightly more brittle (if you smack a frozen kydex holster it could possibly crack, though that’s unlikely at typical winter temps). Generally, not a huge issue, but if you’re in arctic conditions, maybe lean on durable polymers and keep leather conditioned so it doesn’t dry out and crack in the cold.
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Printing in Winter: Usually not an issue with coats, but one note – if you go indoors and remove your cover garment (e.g., take off your jacket at a restaurant), your previously concealed OWB holster might now be exposed. Plan accordingly: either keep your coat on or have another cover (like a sweater) that still hides the holster. Some people in winter wear a long-sleeved untucked shirt or a sweater in addition to a coat, so that when the coat comes off, the gun is still concealed by the other garment.
Adapting Your Holster Rotation Seasonally
It’s not uncommon for people to have different “wardrobe holsters.” For example:
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Summer: Glock 43 in an AIWB kydex holster under a t-shirt, or Ruger LCP in a pocket holster in shorts.
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Winter: Glock 19 in an OWB holster with a retention strap, worn on a belt under a coat; maybe a J-frame revolver in coat pocket as backup.
Both are valid as long as you practice with each setup and maintain safety discipline. If you do change holsters/guns seasonally, make sure to train with your winter rig as the cold season starts (drawing from under a coat, etc.) and likewise refresh with your summer rig when that time comes.
Key Tips:
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Don’t sacrifice safety: Even if it’s hot, don’t Mexican-carry (sticking the gun in waistband with no holster) just because it’s convenient. Use a minimalist holster like a Trigger-guard-only holster or proper pocket holster if you need ultra-light carry. The holster’s job – cover trigger and secure gun – is still vital in summer.
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Maintain awareness: In winter, you might need to remind yourself that drawing will be slower. In summer, remind yourself your concealment is more fragile (the wind blowing your light shirt, for instance). Adjust your behavior (maybe in summer you’re extra careful bending over; in winter you might decide to keep your coat unzipped for quicker access, etc.).
By choosing holsters that align with seasonal clothing, you ensure that you can carry consistently year-round. The specifics will vary by individual (climate, wardrobe, gun selection), but the overarching principle is: match your carry method to your clothing environment. With a little planning, you won’t have to leave your firearm behind just because it’s a scorcher outside or because you’re bundled in sub-zero temperatures. Stay equipped, stay comfortable, and stay safe in all seasons.