It can be difficult to choose the right clothing when heading out for the day with your weapon. Weather and temperature can drastically affect what clothes are appropriate for the conditions, making it tricky to properly conceal a weapon. Thankfully, concealed carry jackets for women and men can come in handy, as well as several different styles of holsters. In any case, here are a few things to consider each time you plan on carrying your weapon for the day.

Consider the Weather

This is the first question you should ask yourself every day before you head out the door with your weapon. This question can help you decide which holster, shirt, and jacket will be concealing your weapon for the day. Since wintertime lends itself to wearing many layers of clothing anyway, choosing a jacket or heavy coat shouldn’t be that difficult since just about any of them will work.

If it’s hot out, consider wearing more breathable clothes that cover your weapon well rather than layering up. Remember that adding too many layers can hinder your ability to access your weapon quickly.

Take Note of Everything You’ll Need

Carrying a concealed weapon means that you’ll likely have to also carry extra ammunition, depending on the type of gun you have. While past firearm training can be helpful, some people have said it is nothing like concealed carrying because of the nature of concealment. You’ll need to find a way to carry your ammunition since you wouldn’t want to be with a gun and no way to fire it! You might try wearing pants with extra pockets, or using a separate ankle holster.

The bottom line is that you should carefully consider what you have against what you might need for the day. It’s a delicate balance, but in the end, you will be glad that you took the extra time to prepare.