Carrying Concealed and Winter Activities

Handling Winter Activities While Concealed Carrying

This is, as Andy Williams once said, the most wonderful time of the year. Sure the sunlight won’t come back until March and it’s cold, wet, and potentially snowy outside. But this is all the more reason to get out and about. As a concealed carrier, you’re not limited in doing the things you love – you just have a few additional considerations.

Being out and active is just one way to really get the most out of the holidays. In this article, we’ll talk about some really fun activities that get us moving and are definitely safe to carry concealed.

CCW and Cross Country Skiing or Snowshowing

Cross country skiing is one of the best ways to get a cardiovascular workout. The best part is our concealed carry handgun comes with us. Alongside packing some water and maybe some trail mix, not much else is needed to cut through the snow.

Unlike downhill skiing or snowboarding, there’s not a terribly high likelihood you’re going to get knocked down a very steep hill and have to worry about your concealed carry firearm flying out of your holster. In either case, though, as long as you have a holster with good retention, this shouldn’t be a big issue.

Sometimes snowshoeing is a much more practical way to go if the snow gets really deep. You’ll be lifting your legs up high, in that case. And there’s generally a good bit of sweating involved. Getting an inside the waistband concealed carry holster that can move with you and has a neoprene backpad can help reduce any irritation.

Ice Skating With Your Handgun

There’s nothing more fun than cruising across the slick surface of a nicely maintained ice skating rink. While concealed carriers may be wary due to having a gun strapped to their waist, the biggest worry is just landing on it. Not so much because the firearm will discharge but it’s just going to be an uncomfortable object to crunch beneath you.

Having an inside the waistband concealed carry holster that distributes the weight of the gun and has a soft backpad constructed from either high quality leather or neoprene will go a long way to defer the cost of landing on your strongside hip.

Sleigh Rides

Taking the kids or just a loved one out for a good ole fashioned sleigh ride is just plain fun. If you plan on going out and sitting in the back while horses plow through the deep snow, you’re safe in bringing your concealed carry pistol along for the ride. If you plan on getting cozy with that special someone or having a kid or two hanging out on your lap, make sure to carry strong side at 3 o’clock. This will give your hip the most ease when seated for a long time.

Snowmobiling

Same rules can apply as taking a sleigh ride with the obvious exception, sometimes you may find yourself crouching in the saddle, so to speak. Snowmobiling is a much faster paced, fun way to see the snowy landscape. Hitting bumps, hills and the rest is just part of the fun! We recommend switching from appendix or 5 o’clock extremes to a more strongside 3 o’clock. Not only will it be easier with snow pants and the rest, it’ll be more comfortable if you have to adjust in the saddle to handle a series of big bumps.

Ice fishing

And last but not least – ice fishing is a tried and true tradition in the Northern Climes. When the weather goes below freezing and the lakes are all solid as a rock, this is a great time to cut a circle in the snow and ice and hook some fish. Even if you plan on staying overnight, having the peace of mind of keeping your concealed carry pistol with you will count for a lot. We recommend staying inside the waistband because it keeps the gun from getting cold and then pulling heat from your body. Your gun likely won’t freeze or anything like that – it’s just an added benefit of keeping it close to your body. We’d also recommend using a good gun belt that provides good lower back support and keeps your waistline straight. No matter if you’re reeling in the big one or just crouching, using an underwater sonar, your gun should stay put.