Concealed Carry Corner: Carrying On Vacation

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the Viktos Concealment bags to see how they did when carrying various loadouts. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to talk about something I often fight with - carrying while you're on vacation and trying to adjust to various obstacles you may otherwise not have to deal with. I always go back and forth when it comes to carrying on vacation, but it's always nice to have on your body for self-defense. Let's take a closer look at a couple of points when it comes to carrying on vacation.

Less is More

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been traveling for work and during some of the off days, I’ve decided to explore the local cities and enjoy myself more than I typically would. Being down on the South Carolina coast, it feels like I absolutely have to visit some of the local beaches, along with exploring the local history. While I often travel with a larger full-size firearm and rifle, most days I will just carry either my Glock 48 or my SIG P365 Spectre Comp. Both of these options are smaller carry guns that offer a fairly high capacity, both chambered in 9mm. Having anything bulky, especially in high heat with lots of humidity, creates an environment where you become uncomfortable in record time.

Different Carry Styles May Be Better

One of the strangest tricks I’ve started to do is carrying different styles depending on what you're carrying. This is usually the case when you're carrying in something like a swimsuit or boardshorts. This past weekend, I wanted to walk on the boardwalk but couldn't carry strongside on my hip since there's no belt in my shorts. Of course, there are companies out there that make hidden belts for carry guns, but simply tying the string really tight and appendix carrying your handgun or throwing it in a carry sling bag and off-body carry.

I'm a stockier guy with a bit of a gut, so appendix carry isn't my first choice but throwing on a small carry gun in board shorts really is a comfortable way to carry instead of just leaving your gun behind. Sometimes you have to get creative in order to remain armed in tough situations. Some will say to just not go to the beach, but there's no reason to limit your lifestyle because you wear other clothing than your typical carry clothes. If you don't feel comfortable changing your carry position to conceal better, there's always the carry sling bag option, which I have written a number of articles about in the last few months. Carry bags that look like regular sling bags can make you blend in while offering a fairly significant amount of space for guns and gear.

Flexibility is A Must

When it comes to traveling and carrying in different climates, being able to switch up carry positions or try other options is important. Every time I hop in my truck to go on vacation, I always grab a small fanny pack or sling bag just in case I need to throw my carry gun into that, rather than carrying it unsecured with a swimsuit or something similar without a belt. Grabbing a small inconspicuous bag and throwing it in your carry-on or vehicle really does help with being flexible, so you can carry no matter the circumstance.

Overall Thoughts

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard various people say they don't want to deal with their carry gun, but it's important to be consistent with your self-defense. Having a solid, lightweight carry gun will be much easier to carry than something that will rub or fatigue you faster in warmer weather. If you plan on being in board shorts or something similar, it's always important to have an off-body option to carry or switch up your carry position in a pinch.

When you guys go on vacation, do you typically carry a handgun or leave it at home? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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