People, especially those new to concealed carry, are often overly concerned about concealment. Not that concealment is not required; we just don’t need to be concerned with every little bump. Thinking each bulge broadcasts that they are carrying a gun, folks can get paranoid and go unarmed when they shouldn’t, and that just won’t do. But there are times a traditional belt holster doesn’t cut it—due to temperature, social situations, dress restrictions or other concerns—so finding an alternative carry method may be the difference between being armed or having to leave your gun behind.

The good news is that the marketplace has a multitude of manufacturers offering versions of the perfect carry method, some of them quite ingenious. Today’s alternative options, far more varied than those of the not-too-distant past, include outerwear, underwear, pocket, deep concealment and off-body choices.

Vests are quite commonly used for concealment of a belt or shoulder holster but can also be used to carry a firearm. Concealed Carry Clothiers (concealedcarry.com, 888-959-4500) as well as several other manufacturers make vests with concealment pockets designed to hold removable Velcro holsters.

Concealed Carry Clothiers’ casual-wear designs don’t have a tactical look. Besides the obvious benefits as a method of carry, an advantage of using a vest is that a person innocently bumping into you would probably not recognize the feel of the gun in a vest or coat pocket as readily as one worn in a belt holster.

Typical vest carry has the gun located on the support side. When drawing, the support hand holds the garment open and the gun hand retrieves the pistol.

When carrying in a vest or an outer jacket pocket, I find it beneficial to place spare ammunition or other equally weighted object or objects in the opposite side to balance the load. Not only will it be more comfortable, the added weight will help keep the clothing hanging straight.

Care should to be taken to keep control of the vest as you walk and when it is windy to maintain proper placement of the garment in case there is a need to draw.

Another concealment clothing option is the shirt. 5.11 Tactical (511tactical.com, 209-527-4511) offers the Tactical Shirt, which features two concealment pockets on the upper chest. The openings of the pockets are invisible to the casual observer and are a great way to carry a lightweight gun. Looking carefully, it may be possible to see a slight bulge of the gun, but it is not easily recognizable as such—certainly not enough to be of concern.

The pockets are held closed by Velcro tabs that secure the gun and keep the pocket opening flat against the shirt. Even though it is called “tactical,” the 5.11 shirt offers a casual appearance that will not betray its inner secrets. The draw is fairly easy. Just snake your gun hand into the pocket. The Velcro will release, offering easy access to the gun.

Increasingly popular, waist or fanny packs are a viable alternative to a traditional holster. Available in small, medium and large sizes, they can accommodate just about any size handgun. Closure is by zipper or hook-and-loop fastener. My preference is a zipper because it’s quieter to open than hook-and-loop types. Take note of the zipper’s quality when purchasing a waist pack. Compare models and choose one with a smooth zipper. The larger the teeth, the more reliable it will be because dirt will be less of a factor.