Summer offers warmer temperatures, longer hours of daylight, more “away from home” activities, and an all-around carefree environment—most of the time. When it’s not “most of the time”, or you’re away home in unfamiliar surroundings, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a potential situation with little recourse aside from defending yourself, and your family, with a handgun.

When you want the confidence that carrying a handgun can offer, but don’t want to let the world know you’re “packing,” concealed carry is the way to go. In other seasons, with jackets, sweatshirts, and sweatpants it’s easy to conceal a pistol. Summer offers a more challenging situation, but it’s a situation that’s worth the effort to address.

As during other seasons, a concealed handgun is often the best approach for summer carry since it doesn’t intimidate anyone, while still providing the confidence to know you can protect yourself, or loved ones, is the situation goes south.

Why is concealed carry different in summer?

There are a few basic principles in determining the right handgun for you. Grip, weight, accuracy, rate of fire, and caliber all come to mind. When you add the concealed carry requirement it becomes a bit more challenging with extra consideration for size, smoothness of design, and an emphasis on a flatter profile. Now mix these considerations, with the additional challenges of tighter fitting, less bulky summer clothing, and concealed carry requirements can be challenging—but they don’t have to be.

What should you look for in a concealed carry handgun?

It’s not the old west, you won’t be walking around with a .44 hung low on your hip, instead, you’ll be trying to conceal the firearm you’re carrying completely. That presents a challenge for both men and women, but it’s a bigger challenge for women. Women are smaller in general than men, and in summer wear lighter, often more form-fitting clothing. That often makes even the smallest profile handgun difficult, but not impossible to hide. Here are a few things to look for when selecting a concealed carry handgun for summer.

• Fit
• Hammerless/low sights
• Flatness
• Caliber

Fit – Any gun is better than no gun in a crisis but fitting the handgun to the size of your hand, and being able to use it effectively are the first concern. Go with Goldilocks on this one, it can’t be too small or too large, it has to fit just right.

Hammerless/Low Sights – This is especially important for women who may choose to carry their handgun in a purse or running bag. It has to be withdrawn without catching on something. A hammerless design creates a smoother draw, with less chance of impeding it on a zipper, waistband, or wallet if inside a purse.

Flatness – The flatter the profile, the less it is visible. That’s why semi-automatics are preferred to revolvers in most concealed carry situations. You might sacrifice a few rounds in a flatter magazine, but it’s a choice of concealment over firepower.

Caliber – To most shooters the recoil on a 9mm is minimal. If you’re slightly built, that may not be true, and .380 caliber or even a rimfire .22 long rifle might be a better choice. They both have stopping power at close range. The 9mm remains the most popular handgun caliber for many reasons, including ballistics, recoil, availability of ammunition, and price.

The Top 10 Concealed Carry Handguns for Summer

There are many quality handguns on the market that will fit the need for concealed carry. Below we've picked 10 of what we consider the best concealed carry options for summer, manufactured by six different top-of-the-line companies. Which one you choose, and the specifications you require are unique, but there should be something in this list to fit every gun owner.

• Sig Sauer P365 Macro
• Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro
• Glock 43X
• Ruger Max 9
• Sig Sauer 365XL
• Taurus G2C
• Sig Sauer P365 Base
• Walther PDP ODG AM
• Ruger LCP II 22LR
• Sig Sauer P938

Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro

Sig Sauer had concealed carry in mind with this small footprint workhorse of a pistol. They combined a large 17-round capacity with a light 21.5-ounce (empty) frame and came up with an ideal concealed carry design. At just 6.6 inches overall, and with a 3.1 inch barrel, chambered in 9mm Luger the Sig P365 is a favorite around the world for concealed carry use.

I’m not a giant, but I can palm a basketball so smaller pistols are a problem. The grip on the P365 has ample length to allow my fingers to wrap around completely. If you’ve ever fired a smaller pistol, one that leaves your pinky finger hanging empty you know it’s difficult to shoot accurately. The P365 doesn’t present that problem for concealed carry users with larger hands. It’s a good choice if you buy XL gloves. Though I listed the width of the grip as a “con” below, it fits my hand perfectly. It’s just a problem for shooters with smaller hands to control.

When fully loaded the P365 weighs 26 ounces. That makes it one of the heavier concealed carry guns on our list. The weight is both a blessing and a curse. You won’t want to run with it in a belt holster, but firing it is a dream. I enjoy the added weight since it reduces recoil tremendously.

PROS	CONS
9mm	Short barrel length
17 Round Magazine	High profile front and rear sights
X-Macro Polymer Grips	Wide grip
21.5 ounces
Good for larger users

Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP

Compact is the keyword to describe the Hellcat from Springfield Armory. The Hellcat is one of the smallest pistols in this review — and ideal for summer concealed carry. Tipping the scales at just 17.9 ounces, it is extremely light, yet packs 13 9mm rounds in its magazine. Ounce for ounce the Hellcat micro-compact likely provides the most firepower on our list of top 10 concealed carry for summer.

With a barrel length of just three inches, it’s not going to set any distance shooting records, but it can deliver point blank defensive rounds in a hurry should the need arrive — and has proven accurate out 200 yards. The only limitation at hitting center mass at any reasonable distance is going to be due to the human element, and even then, letting off 13 rounds in sequence you’re not likely to miss your target.

Named 2020 handgun of the year by American Rifleman magazine, and Top 10 Summer Carry by Sportsman’s Warehouse, the Hellcat is no question one of the best micro-compact concealed carries for the warm summer months. It’s also an ideal gun for women who want the security of a handgun, but not the bulkiness many offer.

At six inches, with a low profile, it’s a great choice for a purse or running bag, but light enough, and narrow enough to wear with a shoulder or in the waist holster.

PROS	CONS
9mm	Three inch barrel
17.9 ounces	Right-handed only
Small footprint
Easy to conceal
13 round magazine

Glock 43X MOS

I’ll confess to a little bias with this review, I like Glocks. The quality and reliability are superb, and so is the action. The 43X offers all this in one of the least expensive pistols reviewed here. If there is a “one size fits all” for summertime concealed carry handguns, the Glock 43X comes closest to meeting that standard. It’s light enough for the smallest woman to carry while maintaining the size for almost any shooter. If you have smaller hands and hold a pistol with both when firing, this is a great size. If you shoot off-hand and are larger, well it’s a Glock, it’s just fun to fire.

Glock has a well-earned reputation for quality handguns at reasonable prices. Marketed as a “subcompact” it has a little more heft than many of its rivals at 23 ounces. A short 6.5-inch overall length packs a 3.39-inch barrel.

A smaller 10-round magazine capacity is indicative of a slimmer design. If you’re looking for a flat profile handgun that still chambers 9mm ammunition this might be a good choice for you, and it comes at a lower price than many competitors.

PROS	CONS
Slimline design	Heavy for a sub-compact
Shorter length	10 round magazine
9mm

Ruger Max-9 Pro

Ruger made a few concessions in design to be affordable. Specifically, they removed most of the grip texture. This makes the gun easier to carry directly against your skin, which is going to happen more often during the warmer summer months. With those changes made, I found the grip was not as comfortable as competing models, or of other Ruger pistols. They rounded the edges of the grip, but ergonomics weren’t their top choice in this design.

If you want a platform that offers the power and reliability of 9mm ammunition, combined with a weight of just over a pound in a smaller package, the Ruger Max 9 might be the handgun for you. I wasn’t able to get my hand entirely on the grip, my right pinky finger fit just underneath. If you wear small or medium gloves, this won’t be a problem.

Tipping the scales at just 18 ounces, it has an overall length of six inches with a 3.2-inch barrel. It’s not a target range handgun, but with 12 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition at the ready it should do the trick in a tricky situation. Perhaps best of all if you’re on a limited budget, this pistol is affordable, priced at the bottom of the chart for concealed carry 9mm handguns.

PROS	CONS
Lightweight	Extend front site may hook on clothing
Smaller size	Short 3.2-inch barrel
9mm	Fiberglass grips
Inexpensive	Heavier recoil

Sig Sauer P365XL TacPac

Living in rural Wyoming, I don’t have the need for concealed carry as often as someone in an urban or metropolitan setting. My version of concealed carry is usually under the right side of the steering wheel in my truck. The P365XL fits nicely in a dash-mounted holster and is easy to access. Its compact size is preferable to the 1911 .45 ACP I shoot most often when I’m on the road or off-grid.

Sig Sauer describes this masterpiece of stealthy 9mm effectives as their “quintessential P365 Model.” The P365 platform has been a best seller for Sig Sauer and for good reason. It is reliable, durable, and packs a lot of power in a very small package. The P365XL has a longer grip than the original P365, meaning it is easier to hold.

The P365XL features the quality you expect from Sig Sauer with a 3.7-inch barrel and an overall length of 6.6 inches. It has ample magazine capacity, holding 12 9mm Luger rounds while retaining a flatter profile.

Here in the Rocky Mountain West, life is a bit different, but as a friend who carries a P365XL hidden on his belt wherever he goes once said, “Not all varmints are four-legged.” This pistol will handle the two-legged variety should the need arise.

PROS	CONS
3.7-inch barrel	Longer overall length
20.7-ounce weight	Lower capacity than rival models
Polymer grips	Heavier recoil
Flat profile

Taurus G2C

I have the fashion sense of a Cro Magnon, so I’m out of my element when it comes to color, pattern, and style, but the gals on the range love the Taurus G2C. I suspect it comes from the variety of colors it's offered in. Most of the ones I’ve spotted are pink, purple, or “teal” as one gal corrected me when I said “Nice green gun.”

Aside from color, Taurus has minimized harsh angles and protuberances that can snag a handgun during retrieval. This was the first target when Taurus designed the G2C. This is the least expensive concealed handgun in our top 10 list.

Taurus is an interesting company. They don’t have the best reputation for initial quality, but they are rated top in customer service. If it doesn’t work the way you want, they’ll make sure it does.

I don’t have a G2C, but I have a Taurus 1911 in .45 ACP that I’ve put several thousand rounds through. I have no complaints about my 1911, it’s been a great gun, and the G2C has the same support offered for all Taurus models.

The G2C features a 3.2-inch barrel, with a 22-ounce weight and an overall length of just 6.3 inches. This provides the “heft” that many shooters prefer in a self-defense handgun. Offered in inexpensive 9mm Luger you won’t go broke at the shooting range with this pistol.

PROS	CONS
Inexpensive	Short 3.2-inch barrel
6.3 inch overall length	Bulkier than competitors
9mm
Low draw resistance

Sig Sauer P365

Deadly elegance best describes this two-toned classic from Sig Sauer. Preferred by professionals and civilians alike, this is a smaller, high performance pistol that delivers 10 rounds of 9mm Luger firepower in a package less than six inches long. This pistol is often referred to as the “standard” that all others are measured against, but it does have its share of problems, the biggest being prone to jam with certain types of ammunition.

When the P365 jams, it really jams, requiring locking the slide to the rear, stripping the magazine, and then racking the slide several times. The problem occurs most often with aluminum shell casings, there aren’t many problems with brass. It is something to be aware of if you choose this pistol.

The P365 has an extended trigger guard and other snag resistant features that make it a popular concealed carry handgun for both men and women. At just 17.8 ounces, and an overall length of 5.8 inches it is one of the smallest 9mm pistols you can buy. It’s slim too, less than an inch wide which makes it a great choice when wearing form-fitting clothing.

Despite the problems with cheaper aluminum ammunition, the P365 remains a top-of-the-line choice for concealed carry use.

PROS	CONS
Snag resistant design	Short 3.1-inch barrel
Small footprint	10 round magazine
Ambidextrous	Heavy recoil

Walther PDP

The PDP in the name of this Walther model refers to “Personal Defense Pistol” and that is the main focus of this design. I like shooting the PDP, it’s easy for me to hold, has the heft I enjoy in a pistol, and is accurate. It’s on the larger end of the scale for concealed carry use, and without being sexist, is most often considered a man’s gun. The heavier weight and longer length make it difficult for women in summer clothes to conceal, it’s just a bit too heavy to carry comfortably on hot days.

Concealed carry means different things to different people. A woman running in jogging shorts and a shirt doesn’t have the same needs as a large man wearing jeans and a work shirt. The Walther PDP would be hard to conceal on anyone jogging but would work well with a larger individual in looser clothing.

This handgun is the largest in our review. It has a four-inch barrel, making it a weapon suitable for concealed carry where encounters may take place in more distant, open settings. With a 15-round magazine, a 7.5-inch overall length, and a 24.4-ounce weight with an empty magazine, this is the largest handgun that could be considered compact. It is not for everyone, and the high sight rail makes it a challenge to draw without a special holster.

PROS	CONS
15 round magazine	Raised sight rail
Ample heft	7.5-inch length
4-inch barrel	Wide grip
Light recoil	5.5-inch height

Ruger LCP II

Originally released in 2008 in .380 caliber, the LCP II is often called the “pocket pistol” due to its small size. It does fit in the pocket of my jeans easily and has less profile than my wallet. The only drawback to this design is firepower.

It’s better to have any gun than no gun at all when a critical situation arises. That’s the case with the Ruger LCP II, the only .22 rimfire handgun in our list. A .22 long rifle cartridge doesn’t approach the power of a 9mm or .380 caliber cartridge, but it will make an intruder take notice.

If you hike, jog, or bike along isolated trails this is a great choice for concealed carry. Many women can carry the LCP II without issue in a variety of settings. It fits easily in a purse just as well. I have a Ruger Bull Barrel target pistol, it is my favorite gun to shoot. There isn’t any recoil, .22 long rifle ammunition is inexpensive and it’s accurate, very accurate. Ruger makes quality rimfire handguns.

This handgun’s primary purpose is surprise. It is small, tiny by many standards at just 11 ounces, and only 5.2 inches long. Its 2.75-inch barrel won’t win any long-distance shooting contests, but it can put 10 rounds of .22 caliber bullets into an intruder or attacker with the speed of your trigger finger.

PROS	CONS
Easy to conceal	Only .22 caliber
Lightweight	Short barrel
Inexpensive	Lower accuracy
Very light recoil

Sig Sauer P938 BRG

I’m a fan of my 1911 .45 ACP, that’s why I like the P938 BRG as well. It’s as if Sig Sauer took a 1911, and reduced it magically to fit into a purse, pocket, or concealed carry holster. The action is eerily similar, but the noise and recoil are substantially reduced. This is a great gun for women to carry, and it still delivers the firepower you might need in a tense situation.

This is our top choice for smaller shooters. Weighing an even pound, and slightly less than six inches long, it still packs the 9mm Luger punch. The P938 BRG is an all-purpose pistol with a variety of grips, including an attractive dappled pattern that enhances control without increasing visibility or impeding a quick draw.

The black rubber grips offer all weather control in hot or cold conditions. The low-level sights make it a good choice for a purse, or in a shoulder holster under clothing that might snag on other pistols. The only drawback is the smallest magazine capacity in this review at just seven cartridges.

If you think you’ll find yourself in a situation that requires more than seven rounds to rectify, you might look for another handgun, but how often does that occur?

PROS	CONS
Light	Less accurate
Small footprint	3-inch barrel
Easy concealment	7-round magazine
Made for smaller hands

A Few Tips for How to Carry Concealed in Summer

Temperatures are creeping up, bulky clothes are coming off, and people are leaving for vacation. So how do you conceal carry when you’ve traded in your baggy jeans and sweater for a pair of Bermudas and a t-shirt?

Truth is, you can pull off concealed carry in the summer just as easily as you can during the cooler months, you just have to get a bit more creative. The key is wearing the right clothes and having the appropriate gear. You may need to make a few adjustments to your traditional warm weather garb, but it doesn’t need to be a difficult or costly transition.

Concealed Carry Clothing for Summer

If you’re like most of us, you’ll trade in your jeans for a nice pair of shorts at the first sign of summer. The key here is to select shorts that are as loose as possible—such as cargo shorts. Cargo shorts are perfect for concealed carry. They’re not only spacious, but they’re covered in pockets, making them ideal for waistband and pocket carry.

A good IWB (“Inside the Waistband”) holster, such as the universal Sticky MD-1 Super, will almost get lost in a pair of cargo shorts, and is nearly undetectable. A compact IWB is almost as easy to conceal under a t-shirt or tank top, and in a worse-case scenario throw on a loose button up over your shirt and you’re good to go. With a light, loose “Hawaiian” style button up you can carry using just about any OWB (“Outside the Waistband”) system without detection.

For the women out there, a skirt with a belt loop is your best friend for concealed carry during the summer. A loose cotton t-shirt will also do the trick for most compact and mini-compact gun holster combinations. Tighter shirts, complimented with a summer shawl or lightweight wrap, are also accommodating for smaller concealed carry. Cool thing about being a woman is that you can get creative with embellishments that not only look good but provide excellent camouflage for concealed carry.

Avoiding Chafing

Being away from home, out of your element, in new and unfamiliar territory is when you’re at your most vulnerable—and when you need to be packing the most. Unfortunately, this is when most of us let our guard down and leave our handgun at home well protected in a safe while we, and our family, venture out into the world unprotected.

One of the mains reasons many of us, myself included, leave our SIG or Glock behind is due to comfort—more appropriately a lack of comfort. I’m the first to admit, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but chaffing can be a big problem on a warm summer day when you’ve got a holster rubbing against bare skin. Chafing can be especially problematic in humid climates such as Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida.

The best option to eliminate chafing is to wear a light cotton undershirt under your regular attire. If another layer of clothes isn’t convenient, there are several brands of anti-chafing powder that are effective.

Concealed Carry Gear

Having the right gear is key to comfortable concealed carry. And let’s be truthful, if concealed carry isn’t comfortable, you won’t carry. There are three basic pieces of equipment I recommend for comfortable (and effective) concealed carry: gun belt, holster claw, and the holster itself.

Gun belt

A quality gun belt, whether it be a tactical style or traditional leather, makes summer concealed carry convenient and comfortable. I see a lot of CCW carriers head outdoors using their regular belt, but it doesn’t prevent sag or printing like a belt engineered specifically for EDC (“every day carry”). EDC belts are thicker, stiffer, and stronger to hold your gun in place and prevent printing (gun budge shows under your shirt).

Holster claw

A holster claw isn’t absolutely necessary in my book, but a good idea for summer concealed carry. A good holster claw will draw your pistol closer in to your body and reduce printing. If having your sidearm invisible to the public is your goal, a holster claw is a must. Some holsters come with the claw attached, but most must be purchased and attached separately. This is a small accessory but can really make a big difference for concealed carry.

Concealed carry holster

The most important piece of gear for your summer concealed carry system of course is your holster itself. If there is one piece of CCW gear that is a must have, it’s your holster—and not just any holster. It goes without saying that some holsters work better in certain situations than others. So which holsters work best for summer concealed carry?

The first thing you want to consider for summer concealed carry is carry position. Think low profile. Generally, IWB (“Inside the Waistband”) is the best way to carry during summer and provides the most concealment for your firearm. IWB holsters are easy to hide under a regular t-shirt which makes them ideal for warmer weather.

Next on the list is material. You have three options here, Kydex, leather and nylon. Kydex and nylon are going to be your less expensive options, and leather a bit pricier. Kydex tends to hold its shape longer than leather or nylon, and there’s no “break-in” period. With a little heat you can mold Kydex to the shape of your gun and it’s extremely light weight. Any of these materials will work for summer carry, but my preference, hands down, is Kydex.

Other Factors to Consider for Summer Concealed Carry

There are plenty of reasons you want to carry while on vacation, especially when you’re away from home in an unfamiliar area around people you don’t know. But, when carrying away from home, especially if you’re traveling out of state, there will be new rules and laws you need to be aware of and follow.

Every state has different laws regulating concealment and transportation of a firearm. It’s your second amendment right to carry and bear arms, but it’s your responsibility to make sure you stay on the right side of the law as you exercise your right. If you have a concealed carry permit, you’ll also want to make sure the states you’re visiting have reciprocity agreements in place with your state of residence.

If you plan on transporting your firearm this summer, via boat, car, or plane, I highly recommend reviewing the The Complete Legal Guide to Transporting a Firearm by Phillip Nelsen the co-founder of Legal Heat, the nation’s leading firearms training academy.