Summer heat brings with it more than just sunburns and BBQs – it brings real challenges for people who carry concealed. In a recent USCCA video, hosts Kevin Michalowski and Ed Combs broke down the most common mistakes gun owners make when adapting to summer carry. One of the first problems? Sweat. Ed humorously pointed out that wearing a belly band too tight in the summer leads to a sweaty mess – one that can quickly make carrying your gun uncomfortable, even miserable. But comfort isn’t the only concern.
Switching Guns Without Training
One of the most serious mistakes Michalowski and Combs see is people swapping to a smaller “summer gun” without putting in any range time. “If that’s the gun you’re going to carry every day,” Michalowski said, “you need to train with that gun.” Too many gun owners change to lightweight, compact pistols for hot-weather carry, but don’t take the time to practice drawing and firing them. These pocket-sized pistols behave very differently than full-size firearms, and training with them is essential.
Know Where and How You’re Carrying
Michalowski stressed that summer-carry pistols aren’t just smaller – they’re often carried in different positions or holsters, like belly bands or pockets. This means the draw stroke changes, and accessing the weapon under stress could get complicated fast. “Train drawing and presenting,” Ed added, emphasizing the importance of repetition and muscle memory. You can’t just tuck it in your shorts and hope for the best. Your life may depend on drawing smoothly from a tight waistband or loose shirt.
Textures That Ruin Shirts
Ed shared a personal mistake that many can relate to: buying a firearm with an aggressively textured grip that tore up his favorite shirts. “It was like Velcro,” he said, joking that he looked like a warning photo in a concealed carry magazine. The point was clear – gear and clothing have to work together. If the gun doesn’t agree with your shirts, either the gun or the wardrobe has to change. Otherwise, printing and snagging could give you away – or worse.
Don’t Let Comfort Fool You
Another mistake discussed in the video is comfort masking danger. Ed recalled carrying a stippled Kel-Tec P11 as a backup on duty. While the rough frame made sure it stayed secure, it was nearly impossible to carry against bare skin. That kind of discomfort discourages daily carry or leads to shortcuts. If your gun isn’t something you can wear comfortably all day in the heat, you’re going to leave it behind – and that defeats the purpose of carrying altogether.
Concealment is Non-Negotiable
According to Michalowski, one of the biggest problems in summer is the temptation to skip concealment. “Your concealed gun has to remain concealed,” he warned. In winter, you can hide a full-size pistol under a hoodie or jacket. But in 90-degree heat with 70% humidity? That’s much harder. And yet, it’s no excuse. “People get angry when we talk about this,” he admitted, but stressed that open carry in public can lead to firearm snatches and legal trouble.
Hawaiian Shirts and Practical Fashion
When asked about summer concealment tricks, Ed laughed about going back to his “Hawaiian shirt phase.” An oversized, untucked Hawaiian shirt, he said, is ideal for hiding a firearm, especially when using an outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster. Michalowski agreed, but noted that it often means sizing up your shirts. “Whatever size you normally wear, bump it up,” he advised, especially for OWB carry, which needs more coverage to avoid printing.
Don’t Rely on the Mirror
One piece of advice that stood out was Michalowski’s warning about checking concealment only in the mirror. “You’re leaning over to grab things, you’re reaching up,” he explained. Real-life movement exposes carry mistakes that don’t show up when standing still. You’ve got to walk around, sit down, reach, and move like you would in public to ensure your firearm stays hidden. A static mirror check just doesn’t cut it.
Pocket Carry Isn’t a Sin – If Done Right
There’s always controversy around pocket carry, but Ed and Kevin don’t condemn it – if it’s done properly. “We’re not pocket carry haters,” Kevin said. The key is to use a dedicated pocket holster and keep that pocket free of everything else. No keys, no gum, no pocket knives. Just the holster and the gun. It’s also critical to train with that setup, so you can draw quickly without fumbling or snagging on fabric.
Dropping to .380? Train Like It’s War
During summer, many carriers switch from a 9mm to a smaller-caliber .380 ACP pistol. While some might look down on it, Michalowski and Combs say it’s better than carrying nothing. “The 380 has been used for over a century – effectively,” Michalowski said. He even ran recent gel tests with modern .380 ammo that expanded and penetrated nearly as well as 9mm. Still, they both agreed: if you go with a smaller caliber, you must train for its limitations and quirks.
Don’t Shame – Train
Perhaps the most refreshing moment of the video was when Ed said something more instructors should take to heart: “Don’t talk someone out of carrying the gun they already have – help them get better with it.” Instead of mocking someone for carrying a Ruger LCP or a blowback pistol, encourage them to train with it. If a shooter can reliably put three or four rounds in center mass at 15 feet in under three seconds, that’s a winning setup.
Carry What Works for You
What stood out most in this conversation is the practical mindset both Michalowski and Combs bring to the table. They’re not dogmatic about gear, caliber, or style. They care about what works – and what you’ll actually carry. That’s the key takeaway. A gun left at home because it’s uncomfortable, or carried improperly because it’s convenient, won’t help you in a real fight. So whether you carry a Glock 19 under a Hawaiian shirt or a tiny .380 in your shorts, just make sure you’re trained and concealed.
The Humor Hides Serious Truths
The episode had its laughs, jokes about pastel jackets, Don Johnson, and John Oliver’s roast of Michalowski’s “how many guns under a Hawaiian shirt” video, but behind the humor is something serious. Carrying a gun, especially in summer, requires more thought than just picking the smallest gun and calling it a day. Comfort, concealment, and capability all need to be considered. And if you’re not putting in the work, the heat might be the least of your worries.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.
