The Secret to All-Day Comfortable Concealed Carry: Why the Right Undershirt Is Non-Negotiable

Tim Kelly

I carry every single day. My handgun has become as routine to put on in the morning as my socks or underwear. After 15+ years of daily concealed carry, I’ve hit a point where I can squeeze peak concealment out of pretty much any handgun I own. Most days I run my H&K VP9A1F. On those brutal summer days when clothing gives you zero forgiveness, I switch to the H&K CC9 and still stay completely discreet.

One of the lessons that I had to learn the hard way? Carrying without a proper undershirt is flat-out annoying—and sometimes downright painful. If your gun setup digs, rubs, or irritates you, you’ll eventually stop carrying. And we can’t have that. 

Here are the three biggest realizations that completely changed how I carry.

1. Hybrid Holsters Are Not the Answer

I used to rep a hybrid holster company pretty heavily (go way back on our YouTube channel and you’ll see the old videos). As my knowledge and real-world experience grew, I saw the flaws up close. The soft leather or fabric backing folds during reholster and can actually block the gun from seating properly—a legitimate safety issue. The entire holster can yank out with the gun on the draw. Over time it sags, warps, and soaks up sweat like a sponge, creating odor and hot spots. And they’re bulkier, which kills concealment.

That’s exactly why I switched to full-Kydex and never looked back. I now primarily use KSG Armory for my holsters. These are American-made, appendix-optimized, Enigma-ready, optic-compatible beasts with zero sharp edges, perfect retention, and full grip on the draw. As a brand ambassador, I genuinely trust their gear with my life. If you want the same setup I run daily, head over to our ambassador page and save some money when you use our code at checkout. Click here to learn more. 

2. Cotton Undershirts Are Hazardous for Carry

Standard cotton T-shirts wrinkle, ball up, and bunch exactly where you need things smooth. I’ve had it happen live on the mat during training: I went to draw my dummy gun while someone was trying to take it, and the shirt came out with the gun. Dropped it right there. Not ideal when your life depends on a clean draw.

I believe that was when I began reconsidering my under shirt. I started looking at what the Jiu-Jitsu guys wear—rash guards. Those things are built like a second skin: they compress, protect against friction and mat burn, wick sweat like crazy, and are less likely to bunch or ride up no matter how hard you move. Sound familiar? That’s exactly what we need when our holster sits against our body all day.

3. Compression Shirts (The Real Solution)

I wear compression base layers made from moisture-wicking polyester/spandex blends. The tank-top style is my daily driver in summer; long-sleeve in spring and fall. The fabric hugs tight to your body with zero wrinkling, protects your skin from the hard edges of the holster and gun grip, and keeps everything cool and dry.

Spring & Summer Picks (exact Amazon purchases for Teresa and I):

• NELEUS Women's 3 Pack Compression Base Layer Dry Fit Tank Top – Sleeveless, ultra-light, 4-way stretch, perfect for hot-weather appendix carry.
• DEVOPS 3 Pack Men’s Muscle Dry Fit Compression Tank Top – Sleeveless, ultra-light, 4-way stretch, perfect for hot-weather appendix carry.
• DEVOPS 3 Pack Men’s Long Sleeve Compression Baselayer Shirts – UPF 50+ sun protection, quick-dry, great for spring/fall layering.

Winter Setup:

When it gets cold I switch to thermal base layers in the same performance fabric so I stay warm without adding bulk or losing that smooth draw.

• MEETYOO Thermal Underwear Set (top & bottom 3-pack)
• Cuddl Duds Womens Heavyweight Cold Weather Fleece Lined Thermal Set 

Put any of these under a quality full-Kydex holster and you’ve got a system that disappears under your shirt, feels like nothing’s there, and lets you draw clean every single time. No more excuses to not carry. No more pain. Just reliable, comfortable, everyday carry.

If you’ve been fighting your setup or thinking about quitting because it’s uncomfortable, try this combo. It changed a lot for me, and I bet it will for you too.

(Full transparency, we get a small commission when you use these links to order the products I am recommending.)