Switching from Winter to Summer Carry
Temperatures are starting to finally level out here in Ohio. And by “level out” I mean the temperature swings are staying between 60˚ to 90˚ instead of 10˚ to 40˚ like this past winter. With the warmer temperatures my clothing changes from jeans, shirt and a long sleeve shirt with a coat; to shorts and a t-shirt. With my clothing changing my every day carry tends to change. Concealing things becomes harder, real estate on my body is at a premium, and lastly I’m really hot and just don’t want a bunch of kit on me. Keep reading to see what I change, I’ll offer a few things to consider and then I would love to hear from you!
The first thing I tend to carry less in the summer is a flashlight. There are two reasons I carry a flashlight. The first reason is for typical daily tasks and the second is for defensive purposes. Now that the sun is rising when I wake up and it’s dusk well after I’m home, I find I don’t need my flashlight as much. If I’m going to be out late I’ll bring a light with me but I find I just naturally don’t put it in my pocket once summer comes. This also opens some pocket real estate.
The second thing I carry less is medical. I really like my ankle medical kit when I’m wearing jeans that can hide it. I have yet to find a really slick way to carry a tourniquet, two chest seals, sheers, and clotting gauze in the summer months as comfortably and concealed as the ankle kit does. I have purchased a few pocket med kits to try but it’s still just too bulky. So, instead I depend on the medical kits I keep nearby and hope for the best if I’m not around them. I would love to hear what you do for medical in the summer as I think it’s important to have.
The last thing I change is my carry gun. I have two guns that I like to carry, Sig P365XL or a Staccato C2. In the winter I will carry the Staccato frequently with another mag in a NeoMag. The C2 is easier to shoot and carries more ammo than the Sig. But at the end of the day summer comfort and concealability ends up winning out. The slim and lighter weight P365XL is more comfortable and a little easier to conceal in a t-shirt. With 12+1 in the gun and 15 rounds in a NeoMag it’s still no slouch.
Every now and again if I’m wearing gym shorts and running a quick errand I’ll throw a Smith & Wesson J-Frame in one pocket with a speed strip in a RASC in the other pocket. After taking a Shivworks ECQC class with Craig Douglas, I’m a big believer in a revolver for close quarters. A 5 shot J-frame is such a lightweight (comfortable) and small (concealable) carry in the summer.
The things that stay the same are my wallet and pocket knife in the front right pocket, phone in one of my back pockets and reload in my front left pocket. I love being able to put my keys in my coat pocket all winter. Now I’m back to putting my keys in my front left pocket with the reload. I don’t love sharing the reload with my key fob but it’s something I have learned to make work.
In more than 15 years of my daily carry involving a gun I have yet to find the perfect way to carry everything I would like to carry. At the end of the day we all have to choose our daily necessities and what we are willing to carry or not carry. With warm weather dress comes new challenges. Does your carry change as your dress changes? What have you found works best for you? Share in the comments below any tips or pieces of gear you have found to help your daily carry in the summer.
If you are going totally casual with a tee shirt and shorts, I recommend a good quality fanny pack from a company like Maxpedition. Most if not all the items you mentioned can fit in a fanny pack with plenty of room to spare.
I purchased a couple fanny packs and a few sling bags last summer to try and carry more things on me. It’s a good solution in theory but man it’s a pain to basically carry a purse everywhere.
I carry my Glock 48 MOS 99% of the time. It’s set up to mirror my duty weapon, albeit a smaller version, complete with Holosun and weapon light. Living in Florida, it’s shorts weather at least 85% of the year. On the rare occasion I change my EDC weapon, it’s my Glock 43 in a pocket holster. Medical wise, I carry a CAT tourniquet when wearing pants but a SWAT Soft T in shorts. The rest of my EDC is similar to yours and I agree completely pertaining to a flashlight. The only real difference is I always carry at least 2 knives.
Hmm,so you are not willing to carry a blowout kit when you’re carrying a means to put holes in somebody?I remember a defense attorney once trying a case where I was the Trooper who had to shoot to stop a bad guy-why weren’t you carrying cuffs?he thundered.Because you wanted to kill someone!Not at all,but after that trial,I carry cuffs-the plastic ones while off duty-everyday.Medical is something you should always have-not in the damn car-you will be wounded-maybe really badly,and won’t be able to get to it.Same a carry gun-what you have on you is what you’ll have to depend on.
I completely get what you’re saying. Like I said in the blog I see the importance but I have yet to find a way to carry it.
What kind of holster are you using for the Jframe?
I have a Vedder Pocket Locker for it
Agreed Graig! We just had that conversation with our guys earlier this month. I carry a full sized 1911 as my primary gun with mag, flashlight etc. in the winter. But for summer carry I go either to an XDS.45 or my 3”1911 and flashlight becomes less necessary. As to med stuff, etc. your only real choice for summer is a bag (sling bag, but pack, etc.) and there is nothing convenient about that. My quick run out with shorts for gas, etc. gun is my S&W J frame .357 (model 60 pro) and a Rasc. I have several holster options for that and am looking at a 3rd just for options depending on clothing type.
I think I may put some medical items in a few super small fanny/sling bags and keep them in our vehicles. Then it’s something easy to grab and take with me. That’s about the best option I can think of for now.
My 2, well 3 cents…(in order of priority)
1.) Flashlight- I often hear the “I won’t be out at dark” comment, but a couple items to consider which changed my mind in leaving that item at home: going from well lit (daylight) into a dark house, room, or structure—you need light(!); what about being in the interior of a commercial building and the power goes out; and, lastly, micro lights like the Streamlight Microlight(?) is tiny and puts out enough light so if you find yourself unexpectedly in the dark or just hunting for your wife’s lost earring, you’re a hero.
2.) Medical- All too often when I teach and outfit myself I don’t put too much emphasis on medical equipment. Why? Because those items are tools and yes, they help, but a sufficient understanding of anatomy can go further than carrying a med pack on your back. Tourniquet- direct pressure or improvise (strap and windlass); Chest seals- something non breathable, like plastic bags, wraps, and yea, even a chip bag (was that in NYC?); Airway adjuncts- recovery position; Gauze- a shirt or something to stuff, people with MD can fix the infection; and Shears- use your knife by indexing your finger along the spine.
3.) Cuffs- Sure, sometimes, maybe, but whatever. I shoot to stop the threat (period/hard stop). Sometimes I carry the lace cuffs but long story short, if it’s a bad threat and you’re seeking to detain without using deadly force, why approach? Put 9-1-1 on speaker and wait for responding officers.
What are essential tools and/or ones that I would be able to adequately replicate? That’s how I address my “kit”. Yes, are TQs, iron cuffs, and an AED all nice things to have? Yes. But versatility, knowledge, confidence, consistency, and training will all win out against the ninja turtle with all the gear.
Really well said. Thank you for that well thought out response!
I have your exact carry, to include belt and guns. I keep medical in my backpack and car in the summer as well. Like you, to me this is an accepted risk mitigation approach for where I live and what I do. I can easily scale up if I feel the situation dictates.
Yea you have to decide what your comfort level is with what you carry and hope for the best.
Graig/anyone,
I have a question about the extended Neomag….will it work on the 15 round P365 magazine? I see that you are using it for the 15 rounder on the P365XL but mine has the longer baseplate for the shorter grip on the P365.
Some of the grip will stick up above the pocket with the regular 365 15 rounders.
Thank you for the quick reply.