Shared Research: Deep Cover

'it is designed to wick perspiration away from your skin, helping your body to regulate its temperature. It has a mesh pocket under each arm, to “securely and invisibly hold back up gear,” with mesh support over the shoulders to prevent sagging.'

By: Wes Benoit

As promised, I am going to share my research on 5.11’s new concealment shirt. Specifically, we are discussing 5.11’s “Tactical Holster Shirt.” This seems like a great idea, and I couldn’t wait to try it. It is a performance T-shirt similar to those I wrote about recently. It is designed to wick perspiration away from your skin, helping your body to regulate its temperature. It has a mesh pocket under each arm, to “securely and invisibly hold back up gear,” with mesh support over the shoulders to prevent sagging.

As I stated in previous reviews of this type of shirt, it is designed for a snug fit. Wearing a skin tight shirt takes some getting used to. But for proper support, get this shirt in your regular size, so the compression features of the shirt will hold your weapon properly.

I had promised to share my research, both good and bad, and this is a little of both. To start with, the smallest handgun I own is a Glock 19. This is a medium framed automatic and is definitely too big to conceal in this shirt for a guy my size. So, I borrowed a Taurus PT111 9mm for my testing. Yes, the shirt kept the gun concealed under just a light denim shirt. The gun was held snuggly against my ribs, and seemed to be everything I had hoped for. That is, …until I tried to work in it.

I wore it to do a pressure washing job, as my usual method of concealment doesn’t work well for this active of a project. I carry inside the waist, and all the reaching combined with being wet, eventually exposes my weapon if I wear it for this activity. So, here was a good test of functionality. Unfortunately, the “Tactical Holster Shirt” wasn’t secure enough. It was doing just fine, until I reached down off the ladder to untangle my pressure washer lines. The gun fell out of its pocket, and though my denim shirt kept it from falling to the ground, the muzzle was pointed at my chin! Not a good thing to say the least!
On the plus side, it did conceal well until it fell out. As a deep cover carry method in a less physical environment, I am sure it would do well. It would also perform better with a smaller weapon, but since 9mm is as small a caliber as I normally would carry, the weapon choices are limited.

On the negative side, the Boy Scout in me says “You have to be prepared,” which is why I carry a gun in the first place. You really should try to run away before drawing your gun, so this design needs improving. A simple Velcro thumb break, would probably be sufficient for weapon retention, and I am going to ask that my friends at PACE forward this review to the product representative from 5.11.

In conclusion, I think it’s a great idea that just needs a little more work. It is a good way to conceal your money or passport when traveling in places where you worry about those things, but weapon retention isn’t acceptable for the size weapon I tried.
My friends at PACE Outfitters in Altamonte carry this product, and this is written for their customers as well as our club members. If you mention reading the reviews in our MARCO club newsletter, PACE will give a 10% discount on your purchase.