Concealed Carry in Arizona Heat: Guns, Holsters and Clothing That Work

Anyone can carry comfortably in January. The real test of a carry setup in the Valley is a July afternoon at 112°F, when you're wearing a T-shirt and shorts and sweating through both. A setup that's miserable in the heat ends up in a drawer, and a gun in a drawer doesn't protect anyone. Here's how to build a carry setup you'll actually wear all summer.

Start with a slim gun

Summer clothes are thin and close-fitting, so the gun has to be small. The micro-compact 9mm is the sweet spot for most people: thin enough to hide under a T-shirt, with enough capacity and grip to shoot well. Popular examples include the Sig Sauer P365 family, Springfield Hellcat, Glock 43X and 48, and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus.

• Width matters more than length. A thin slide and grip disappear under a shirt; a thick one prints no matter how short it is.
• The grip is what prints. A shorter grip hides better but is harder to shoot. Try a flush magazine for hiding and carry an extended one as your spare.
• Look for a corrosion-resistant finish. Sweat is salty. Nitride and similar finishes hold up far better than bare or blued steel against a summer of skin contact.

Still choosing a caliber? See 9mm vs .380 vs .45 ACP: Choosing a Carry Caliber.

Pick a holster built for sweat

The holster is where most summer setups fail. In the heat, you want something that keeps sweat off the gun and the gun off your skin.

• Kydex inside-the-waistband (IWB). Doesn't absorb sweat, wipes clean, and holds its shape. A sweat guard, the raised edge between the slide and your body, is worth having in Arizona.
• Hybrid holsters (Kydex shell on a leather or padded backing) are comfortable, but the backing soaks up sweat. Let it dry out overnight.
• Appendix carry (AIWB) hides a gun well under an untucked T-shirt and is popular for summer. Use a holster designed for appendix carry with a full trigger guard.
• Belly bands are comfortable for workouts and running errands but hold the gun less securely. Make sure the trigger is fully covered.
• Off-body carry (a concealed carry purse or bag) works when your clothes can't hide a gun. The rule: the bag stays on you or in your hand at all times, never on a chair or a shopping cart.

Whatever you choose, the holster must cover the trigger completely and hold the gun firmly enough to stay put if you run or bend over. More in How to Choose a Concealed Carry Holster.

Dress for it

• A real gun belt. A stiff belt keeps an IWB holster from sagging and pulling your shorts down. It's the cheapest upgrade with the biggest payoff.
• Untucked shirts with a little room. Patterns and darker colors hide an outline better than a tight light-colored tee.
• Performance fabrics breathe and dry fast, so they don't cling to the gun when you sweat.
• Shorts with a sturdy waistband. Thin athletic shorts can't support a holster; a belt-loop pair can.

Heat and sweat are hard on your gun

• Wipe it down often. After a hot day, wipe off sweat and apply a light coat of oil to prevent rust spots on the slide and small parts.
• Clean and lube more often. Dust and sweat build up faster in summer. A quick clean every few weeks of daily carry is a good habit.
• Rotate your carry ammo. Rounds that ride in a sweaty gun all summer should be shot at the range and replaced with fresh ones.
• Don't leave a gun in a parked car. Cars are a top target for gun thieves, and Valley car interiors get hot enough to damage gear. Take it with you or store it securely.

Practice with your summer setup

A new holster position or a smaller gun feels different. Practice drawing from concealment with the exact belt, holster and clothes you'll wear, starting with an unloaded gun at home, then live fire at the range. A few range sessions in July will tell you more than any review.

General information current as of November 2026, not legal advice. Know Arizona's carry laws and the rules of any place you carry.