CONCEALMENT 10 Out of Sight, Out of Mind John Schwartze Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More By Jim Cobb and John Schwartze Photos by Jorge Nuñez It seems nowadays that websites, magazines, and blogs are awash with photos of someone showing off their EDC (everyday carry). That insistence on advertising what you’re carrying also means all the wrong people know what to look for and where to look during a search and seizure. While having the typical items like a flashlight, knife, lighter, phone, multi-tool, and pistol are the tools that help you get through your day, what happens if you lose one or more of these? Even scarier, what happens if they’re taken from you? A friend recently had his pen confiscated at an airport during a security screening. His pen for heaven’s sake! Even though the pen was TSA approved (according to the manufacturer), the TSA agent forced him to relinquish it before proceeding to the terminal on the grounds that it was a “tactical pen.” How can anyone defend themselves if they’re stripped of their EDC items? It got us thinking … people won’t confiscate what they don’t know you have. Whether it’s traveling abroad and secreting tools to escape an unlawful incarceration, or just finding creative methods to layer your carry items without looking like Boba Fett, it’s time to think outside the box. We’ve compiled some of the latest offerings on the market that offer hidden compartments, pockets, and features to bolster your carry capabilities. Conceal everything from tactical pens to lock picks, extra keys, knives, money, small flashlights, or whatever else you imagine might come in handy. These clothing items and accessories obviously won’t absolve you of any legal consequences if you use them to sneak contraband into restricted areas. They’re just unconventional ways of traveling with important items and tools that might otherwise raise suspicion if they’re noticed and be taken. Whether you’re commuting to work or traveling away from home, you like to be prepared for anything and this assortment of gear will help you blend into the background. BeWild Watch Grinder BeWild offers this inexpensive watch with a secret compartment. The version we got off Amazon contains metal teeth that double as an “herb grinder.” We’re not exactly sure what purpose an herb grinder serves in a survival situation, but even with the embedded teeth you could easily fit a small handcuff key, diamond wire, Kevlar cord, or any number of other small survival items inside. This is an actual functioning watch, so it won’t arouse suspicion to the curious onlooker. The lower crown beneath the one that you use to set the time is actually a screw that can be loosened to remove the timepiece and expose the hidden compartment. If the teeth bother you, you could get the Dremel out and remove them, although they do also offer a version without the teeth embedded. Price $11 (Amazon) URL www.bewild.com Shomer-Tec Covert Coin We’re getting into Cold War spy territory with Shomer-Tec offerings. Their series of Covert Coins come in different currency types and denominations, and are intended to discreetly store a MicroSD, SIM card, or some other data storage device that takes up a bare minimum of space. Each comes with a ring that contains an indent within it. Place the coin inside the ring’s indent and gently tap it on a flat surface to separate the two halves. Price $30 (nickel) URL www.shomer-tec.com Shomer-Tec Nickel Knife Run your fingernail clockwise along the side of the Nickel Knife and you expose a micro stainless steel blade, all encased in something that, when folded up, looks totally innocuous. Your pocket knife would likely be taken during a kidnapping, so having access to what kidnappers don’t find or don’t think twice about brings you one step closer to freeing yourself from zip ties, rope, duct tape, cord, and other restraints. Price $39 URL www.shomer-tec.com Shomer-Tec Zip Stash At first glance, Shomer-Tec’s Zip Stash gives the appearance of a standard zipper pull. It features a small, slide-out container measuring 2 by 0.35 by 0.35 inches to store your desired contents. It attaches to your zipper via a Kevlar cord and is made from high-density polyethylene. Price $10 URL www.shomer-tec.com Shomer-Tec Titanium Escape Ring Another counter-custody item you might want to add to your EDC is the Titanium Escape Ring. Hidden inside is a small, fold-out blade that, like the Nickel Knife, one could use to free themselves from restraints. Various ring sizes available. Price $69 URL www.shomer-tec.com Southwest Specialty Products Camera Lens, Hair Brush Safe, Barbasol Shaving Cream The can of shaving cream may bring back memories of Jurassic Park because, according to Southwest Specialty Products’ website, their stuff has been used in various movies and TV shows. They offer a whole host of items with hidden storage capabilities. Whether it’s prepping for a vacation or just keeping certain valuables stashed away from prying eyes around the house, you certainly have no shortage of options with this company’s inventory. A can of soup is the last place most people would look for jewelry. Here are three of SSP’s offerings to show you how varied your choices are for concealing survival goods or dinosaur embryos. Price $16 (camera lens); $24 (shaving cream); $29 (brush) URL cansafe.net Shomer-Tec Escape/Travel Belt This 1.5-inch webbed belt’s appearance doesn’t scream “tactical,” but its features certainly are. Hidden inside are a ceramic razor blade and handcuff key with attached lanyards for easy removal. Various elasticized storage compartments give you the ability to add more items. The belt even comes with 4.5 feet of Kevlar Survival Cord and a second handcuff key. The belt, buckle, and contents are all non-metallic. Price $59 URL www.shomer-tec.com Raptor Tactical ODIN Mark I (green) ODIN Mark III (MultiCam) Retainer Belt (coyote) If heavy-duty is your thing, these Raptor Tactical belts have it in spades. Made more for austere environments, competition, and tactical use, you’d be hard pressed to destroy one. Each comes with a zippered compartment to hide your goods. Choose from four different Cobra buckle styles. The ODIN Mark I fits all standard belt loops and has a Velcro backing. The ODIN III is a two-belt system with a padded Velcro inner belt. The Tactical Retainer version is meant to maximize magazine storage, carry capacity, and holster configurations. Each comes in four colors and has a lifetime warranty. Price $44 ODIN Mark I; $99 ODIN Mark III; $149 Retainer Belt URL www.raptortactical.com Aerostitch Money Belt Although its name leads us to believe it was designed specifically for carrying money, the zippered compartment in the Money Belt could discreetly carry any number of sensitive items. Its understated appearance with a black nylon, cam-action buckle doesn’t call attention to itself. According to the manufacturer, “the zippered compartment on the back is long enough for three stacks of bills placed end to end.” Price $23 URL www.aerostich.com Wazoo Survival Gear Cache Belt We first showed you the Cache Belt in Issue 19. Since then, Wazoo has perfected it with the addition of a Cobra buckle and small carabiner clips. You can buy just the belt and hide your own gear or tune up your survival capabilities by adding their Adventure Kit or Everyday Essentials Kit. Stuff the Velcro enclosure with either of their proprietary kit’s contents or assemble your own. Price $45 (belt); $80 (Adventure Kit); $40 (Everyday Essentials) URL www.wazoosurvivalgear.com Clever Travel Companion Scarf With 2 Hidden Pockets Don’t foolishly walk around with one of those cell phone/wallet combos in your back pocket. Yes it’s convenient to have those items in one place, but your ID, money, and means of communication could be lost or stolen in one fell swoop. Clever Travel Companion has long been known for making clothing designed to keep your valuables out of sight while looking stylish doing it. This cotton scarf will blend right into most ensembles and contains two zippered pockets to store your phone, wallet, cash, passport, or any number of other sensitive items. Available in two colors. Price $55 URL www.clevertravelcompanion.com SCOTTeVEST Fireside Fleece Vest Women’s When it comes to blending in and keeping your belongings safe, the Fireside Vest gives you a total of 15 interior and exterior pockets, but their configuration is done in a way that doesn’t make it look like you’re wearing a flak jacket. Its 100-percent polar fleece material pairs nicely with a variety of outfits and seasons. It also contains SCOTTeVEST’s Personal Area Network system with sleeves and tabs to route any earphones or charge cables through. Available in three colors. Price $125 URL www.scottevest.com Propper REVTAC Shirt Women’s Short Sleeve At first glance, you probably wouldn’t think you could hide much of anything in the Women’s REVTAC Shirt, but upon closer inspection Propper has added some cool hidden features. Aside from having durable Teflon fabric, the REVTAC also features a zippered placket beneath a false-button front as well as vertical document sleeves with Velcro closures beneath the front pockets. Available in four colors. Price $40 URL www.propper.com Propper STL III Pants Women’s Summerweight Tactical Pants Propper’s STL III and Women’s Summerweight Pants are well made, inexpensive, and don’t go overboard with how tactical they look. Right beneath the beltline in the back of the men’s STL III or Women’s Summerweight Tactical pants you’ll find a hidden pocket that doesn’t have any zippers, snaps, or magnets that’d give it away during a search. Even if your belt were confiscated, you’ve got one more measure of concealability that you could potentially rely on to stash your goods. Price $50 URL www.propper.com Prometheus Design Werx OR66 Jacket The OR66 pays homage to vintage biker jackets with a level of craftsmanship that’s exquisite. The horsehide exterior is soft to the touch, as is the nylon sateen-lined, cotton twill interior. The hidden zipper pocket in the back of the collar and snap-button interior pockets make for a stylish way of concealing your goods. If you’re looking for a CCW jacket that’s warm enough to withstand a tough winter, but light enough that you won’t feel like you’re hauling a 5-year-old on your back, you may want to take a look at this gem. Or if you just want a cool motorcycle jacket that’ll make you feel like James Dean, look no further. Price starting at $930 URL prometheusdesignwerx.com SCOTTeVEST T5 Sport Coat If you’re looking to get a bit formal with your ensemble, SCOTTeVEST’s T5 Sport Coat makes you feel like you’re wearing something out of James Bond’s closet. It has 19, count ’em 19 pockets, one of which is an RFID-blocking pocket. Another pocket is even large enough to hold your tablet. The polyester/rayon/spandex blend has the kind of comfort you’d expect from a tailor on Savile Row. It even features tabs to thread your earphones or charge cables through. The zippers are nice and unobtrusive, which made finding all the pockets a challenge, but in some cases, that’s exactly what you’d want. You can have it in any color as long as it’s black. We’re chomping at the bit for SCOTTeVest to introduce a pair of slacks to go with it. Price $235 URL www.scottevest.com Wazoo Survival Gear Cache Cap When it’s time to put your thinking cap on (and have it loaded with survival implements), the Cache Cap is a pretty cool option. Carrying a few dollars in the sweatband inside a hat has been common for decades. Inside this standard-size baseball cap are six hidden sleeves with overlapping closure flaps in the lining and bill, allowing you to carry everything from cash to a small ferrocerium rod to a fresnel lens and far more. Price $30 URL www.wazoosurvivalgear.com First Tactical Operator Boots While the concept of carrying a boot knife is nothing new, the Men’s 7” Operator Boots aren’t meant to look discreet — they’re meant to take a beating. The boots also include a knife pocket that could double as storage for other small items. Thread them with some Kevlar or paracord laces and you’ve got some seriously weaponized footwear. Available in coyote — black coming soon, as of this writing. Price $120 URL www.firsttactical.com Explore RECOILweb:The Old West Meets Outer SpaceHBG: Hanko Machine, where high tech meets fine artComplex Routines Made SimpleSIG's Romeo2: A Fresh Take On The Enclosed Emitter MRDS NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. 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