Concealed Carry Jackets
Rothco concealed carry jackets look like ordinary outerwear from the outside and hide a padded firearm pocket inside, so you can carry without printing through a belt holster under an open coat.
The collection takes eight familiar styles and adds carry storage:
- Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket: fleece lined, with a two-way front zipper and an ambidextrous layout of two padded carry pockets plus internal magazine pouches on each side.
- Covert Ops Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket and the Concealed Carry Soft Shell Anorak in black.
- Concealed Carry 3 Season Jacket and Lightweight Concealed Carry Jacket for spring and fall.
- Concealed Carry Spec Ops Fleece Jacket and Concealed Carry Quilted Woobie Jacket for cool-weather warmth.
- Concealed Carry MA-1 Flight Jacket for a classic look in town.
The two-way zipper on the soft shell lets you open the bottom of the jacket to reach belt gear while the top stays closed against the cold. Because the carry pockets are internal and ambidextrous, right- and left-handed shooters can use the same jacket.
A note for service members: carrying a privately owned firearm on a military installation is not something a jacket can solve. DoD policy prohibits it unless a designated commander grants written permission, and rules vary by installation. These jackets are for lawful carry off post. See the section below.
How to Choose a Concealed Carry Jacket
A good concealed carry jacket has to do two jobs: be the right jacket for the weather, and give you a safe, consistent place for your handgun. Choose the weather first, then check how the carry pocket works.
Match the Concealed Carry Jacket to the Season
- Cold days: the fleece-lined Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket or the Covert Ops soft shell.
- Cool, changeable days: the 3 Season Jacket, the Spec Ops Fleece Jacket or the quilted woobie.
- Mild weather and travel: the Lightweight Concealed Carry Jacket or the MA-1.
- Pullover preference: the soft shell anorak.
Check the Carry Layout
With an internal pocket, the draw comes from inside the front of the jacket. Practice with an unloaded firearm and make sure you can open the jacket, reach the pocket and get a full grip with one hand. Ambidextrous designs let you choose a side; magazine pouches on the opposite side keep spare ammunition separate from the gun.
Fit and Sizing for Concealed Carry Jackets
A jacket that's too tight will print the outline of the firearm, and one that's too loose lets the weight swing as you walk. Size for the clothes you'll wear underneath, then load the pocket with your actual handgun in a pocket holster and check in a mirror. If you're between sizes, the larger one usually conceals better. Keep the jacket zipped or snapped the way you'll wear it so the weight hangs consistently.
Safe Carry Habits
- Use a holster or pocket insert that covers the trigger guard, even in a padded pocket.
- Don't carry loose items such as keys or a phone in the same pocket as the firearm.
- Take the firearm out before hanging the jacket up or handing it to someone.
Concealed Carry Jackets and Military Installations
Many of our customers are service members, so it's worth being clear about base rules. DoD Directive 5210.56, "Arming and the Use of Force" (Change 1, 2020), says possession of a privately owned firearm on DoD property is prohibited unless that directive or other DoD policy allows it. It lets a commander in the grade of O-5 or above (or a civilian equivalent) in charge of the property grant written permission to carry for personal protection, valid for 90 days or as the DoD Component decides. That permission doesn't cover federal buildings, and the person carrying stays responsible for meeting federal, state and local law.
What That Means in Practice
Policies differ by service and installation, and many installations don't grant personal carry permission at all. A concealed carry jacket doesn't change those rules. Before you drive through the gate, find your installation's current policy, follow the registration and storage rules, and ask the provost marshal or security forces office if you're unsure. This is general information, not legal advice; state carry laws vary, so check the laws where you live and travel.
Pair Your Jacket with the Right Gear
A sturdy belt and a quality holster still matter on days you carry. Browse our holsters and slings and concealed carry gear, or pick up a concealed carry vest from our vests for warmer weather.