5.11 Tactical Polyester Full Zip Fleece Sweater, Small, Regatta

Most fleece sweaters are just insulation in a shape you can wear. This one is insulation that lets you get to your sidearm without taking it off. The 5.11 Full Zip Fleece is built for cold-weather field work where you need warmth that doesn't get in the way.

How the concealed carry works. The two handwarmer pockets look like handwarmer pockets, but each one has a hidden pass-through panel built into the lining. You keep your hands in the pockets and reach through to a holster on your lower waistband. No unzipping, no peeling the sweater off, no fumbling with layers when you need to draw. If you run concealed at outdoor games in colder months or just want a layer that plays nice with a holster, this is what you reach for.

Warmth without the bulk. It's 100% polyester fleece with a brushed finish — soft on the inside, durable on the outside. The elastic bindings at the cuffs and waist hem seal in heat and keep the garment from riding up when you're moving. The full YKK zipper runs the whole way up, with a garage at the top so it doesn't dig into your neck, and a double-layer fold-over collar that blocks wind. You can zip it all the way up on a cold morning or leave it open over a base layer when things warm up.

Pockets that do different jobs. Besides the handwarmer pockets, there's a zippered chest pocket for the stuff you need to keep secure — a field ID, a multi-tool, whatever you don't want falling out when you duck behind cover. Across the lower back is a low-profile lumbar pocket for one-handed access to a radio or a mag. Not everything needs to go in your plate carrier.

Built to take it. The shoulders and elbows have welded reinforcement panels for scuff resistance, and all the stress points are bartacked. 5.11 makes this kind of garment for people who lean on railings, drag over concrete, and brush through brush without treating it like a suit.

This is the Regatta two-tone colorway in deep blue. The size in the box is Small. If you want to layer a plate carrier over it, size up — fleeces don't leave much room for armor on top.