Beta Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Just curious as to what most folks use, vest or something else? What do you prefer? Sorry if this has been covered before, we need some nice FAQs in this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper1Moore Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 I wear a 5.11 vest all year I just take it off when I complete a stage in the hot months.Sometimes the MD takes pity on us and requires no concealment garment for the days that it is real hot.Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revchuck Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 I'm one of the folks who shoot my carry gear, so I'm used to dressing comfortably. The best thing to wear in hot weather, even if you're a competition-only shooter, is one of the pseudo-Hawaiian shirts you can get from Wal-Mart for $10-15. That way you avoid the heat (and expense) of the 5.11 vest, and still get to participate in the "ugly shirt" contests that spring up at some major matches. The downside to this is that the vests swing away from the gun more easily due to their weight and stiffness than do the shirts. It's not unusual in the South for matches to be "concealment optional" in the summertime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonsay Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 I wear a 5.11 vest all year I just take it off when I complete a stage in the hot months.Sometimes the MD takes pity on us and requires no concealment garment for the days that it is real hot.Ken <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ditto that. Sig Tac makes a vest similar to the 5.11 but a little lighter. Either way most just put them on to shoot if the MD shows no mercy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRD Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 I just wear the same thing I always wear, just take it off after the stage. Don't forget to put it back on though...there's more than one procedural on my scoresheets from spacing the cover garment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beta Posted June 25, 2005 Author Share Posted June 25, 2005 I tried an old Hawaiian shirt I have for some dry fire today, and I see the point about weight! I kept getting tangled up in the shirt... A friend mentioned keeping a mag or something in a vest pocket to help get it out of the way, I think I'll get a 5.11 vest and give it a go! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 If you are serious, you will where what you normally conceal with. I allways wear heavy cotton Hawaains, but sometimes just draw from underneath at T-shirt. Tac vests are phony, nobody wears them everyday, not even photographers or cops..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD45 Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 My vest also stays off anytime I'm not shooting. It's too hot and too ugly. I really like the idea of using just a T-shirt, but I'm too slow to give up any time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper1Moore Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 Tac vests are phony, nobody wears them everyday, not even photographers or cops..... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That may be true for the street but all the top shooters wear them to play the game and that's what I'm doing.I'm glad you are doing it for your own reasons but in the end it is just a game,that's why they keep score. Beta may be in it to play the game too and a vest is faster than pulling a t-shirt up and then drawing and faster than trying to sweep a flimsy shirt out of the way to make a draw. Not knocking the way you choose to view IDPA just stating that it depends on what you are wanting to get out of it in the end that matters and for me it is the fastest times not street training.Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
down0 Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 You might try wearing a moisture-wicking shirt under the vest. Under Armor makes both loose fitting and tight fitting t-shirts, and you can find short and long sleeve button up shirts at better sporting good stores. Just make sure they are moisture wicking. I've lived in the desert southwest for 10 years now, and the bottom line is, you're gonna sweat wearing a vest. I just transitioned to a 511 vest and I like it better than the Competitive Concealment vest I used to use. It has enough weight to swing out of the way, but is much more flexible. I have competed in shirts named after our 50th state, but I find the tails are much too light to swing out of the way of the holster on a consistent basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 9x25 wrote: "If you are serious, you will where what you normally conceal with. I allways wear heavy cotton Hawaains, but sometimes just draw from underneath at T-shirt. Tac vests are phony, nobody wears them everyday, not even photographers or cops....." I have to disagree; the serious shooters & operators all use the 5.11 vest. As for tee shirts, that is not tactically acceptable because it violates the rulebook's requirement that concealment garments be split in front/center - like the 5.11 vest. I think the good reason for this rule is that if you get an unsound garment like a tee shirt tangled up in your gun on the draw, you can get killed in a tactical engagement on the street. Just my 2cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 it violates the rulebook's requirement that concealment garments be split in front/center - like the 5.11 vest. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Carlos, Where do you find that in the rulebook (that concealment garments need to be split in front/center) ?? I've worn a pullover top with an IWB holster at club and sanctioned matches. It's slower than flipping a vest out of the way, but AFAIK it's legal. Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Murphy Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 I used to waive concealment requirements in hot weather, but not anymore. It's not too bad to just wear them while you shoot. I have a hot weather vest that is made of nice cotton with a dense mesh back. if I want, I can pretty much wear it on hot days without much discomfort. FWIW, in some areas a lot of people wear 5.11/cabellas type vests. Slot jockeys at the casino wear them big time. Lots of pockets for coins and lucky charms. I see them quite often when out sometimes. Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genghis Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 I started shooting IDPA in February. I had a nice lightweight Starter windbreaker that I took to the first match. It probably comes to the middle of the front pants pocket, and it has pockets near the bottom on both sides. I put my keys in the right pocket for weight. When I draw, I stick my hand inside the zipper, then flip the jacket out of the way to the strong side. The keys give it a nice, gradual swing, and I've never gotten tangled. Of course this is my first summer, so I can't tell you if it's bearable in 100 degree weather. The concealment vests look nice and tactical, but the manufacturers might as well paint, "I HAVE A GUN!" on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Round_Gun_Shooter Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Good cover garment and a fashion statement all in one GUAYABERA SHIRT COMPANY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 I wear the Concealed Carry Clothiers vest daily. The thing I love about this vest is that it doesn't scream "tactical" or "I have a gun." As folks at IDPA matches have commented when looking at my CCC, "Wow, your vest actually looks like....a vest." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 It's 9x45, not 9x25... Sniper, you are the one who is playing Bill's game, not me. I am in it for the trigger time, that's all. I shoot USPSA, Steel Challenge, and 3-gun. I know that all the 'TOP' IDPA shooters use Tactical Vests, like you think I don't know them.... That's not my point! Try a Bill Drill, with your VEST, then from your REAL concealment garment, everyday, in eveyway. Check your times. You are fooling yourself in the end. But it just depends on what you want to achieve... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted June 28, 2005 Share Posted June 28, 2005 Gentlemen. Let's keep it polite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beta Posted June 29, 2005 Author Share Posted June 29, 2005 I got my 5.11 Tactical Vest today and I love it! It has enough pockets though, eh?? Thanks for all the responses, btw. Oh, and I don't have a concealed carry permit, so I don't have any usual carry clothes. This is just a sport for me, so the vest will work just great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper1Moore Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 Beta, Glad you like the 5.11 vest,yeah it has a few pockets. 9x45, I am glad you are getting enjoyment out of the sport and I didn't mean to rub you the wrong way I was just stating that some people play the game for other reasons.Nor did I imply that you didn't know who the top shooters were.Sorry if I upset you.Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 Walmart has an Under Armor clone shirt for $6.93. Does a good job of wicking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted July 1, 2005 Share Posted July 1, 2005 Sniper, No worries Mate! I just have a deep seated aversion to wearing those clunky, ugly vests just for 1.5 minutes of shooting in a typical 8 stage match lasting 5 hours.. Take it off, put it on, take it off, and so on. Honestly, most of my shooting parntners wear those stupid things, and I constantly make fun of them! And, to be fair, they constantly insult my 'Excelent Hawaain Shirts' So there you have it, I draw from an IWB, inside of a shirt, and they go from an outside belt holster with a vest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted July 1, 2005 Share Posted July 1, 2005 And, to be fair, they constantly insult my 'Excelent Hawaain Shirts' Phillistines! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted July 2, 2005 Share Posted July 2, 2005 I've been known to wear a Hawaiian shirt tucked into my pants like a regular shirt, and a vest over that for concealment purposes. The best of both worlds, baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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