Summer carry can be tricky. Sweat, heat, and minimal clothing don’t mix well with certain guns—especially the ones that feel like you’re strapping a cast-iron skillet to your side. Some handguns just aren’t built for hot weather. Whether it’s their weight, size, sharp edges, or heat retention, these models are better left for cooler months or range days.
Here are 10 firearms that tend to run too hot—literally or figuratively—for comfortable summer carry.
Glock 21
The Glock 21 is a chunky .45 ACP that feels every bit as large as it is. In the winter, its size offers solid control and recoil management. But when summer rolls around, it becomes a sweat magnet.
With a full-size frame and wide grip, it’s hard to conceal under a t-shirt. Add a thick holster to keep it stable, and now you’re sweating through your waistband by noon.
SIG Sauer P226
No doubt the P226 is a dependable workhorse, but it’s also heavy and all-metal. That aluminum alloy frame transfers heat from your body like a radiator.
Wearing this IWB on a hot day will leave you sticking to your holster and adjusting constantly. It might shoot beautifully, but comfort isn’t part of the deal when you’re wearing shorts and a thin shirt.
Desert Eagle (Any Caliber)
If you’re carrying a Desert Eagle in the summer, you’re either showing off or punishing yourself. The thing is huge, heavy, and designed for range fun—not daily carry.
Its sharp edges, barrel length, and sheer bulk make it nearly impossible to carry comfortably, especially when the heat has you sweating bullets before lunch.
1911 Government Model
Classic? Sure. Summer-friendly? Not really. A full-size 1911 with its steel frame and long slide turns into a brick when temps climb.
Wearing one inside the waistband makes sitting uncomfortable and walking sticky. Even in an OWB holster, the weight drags on your belt and soaks your clothes before you’re done with your coffee.
Beretta 92FS
The Beretta 92FS is wide, long, and metal—none of which help during summer months. It’s a reliable sidearm but feels oversized when you’re wearing light clothing.
Its curved trigger guard and long slide print easily under thin fabrics. And once that aluminum frame warms up against your skin, you’ll be thinking about switching to something smaller by lunchtime.
CZ 75B
The CZ 75B is another all-metal favorite that doesn’t translate well to hot weather carry. It’s heavy and has a long grip that can be tough to conceal without a cover garment.
The beavertail and sharp controls tend to dig in, especially if your holster rides high. After a couple of hours, you’ll feel like you’re carrying a frying pan in your waistband.
Springfield XD-M 10mm
The XD-M 10mm offers serious firepower, but the frame and slide are both large and bulky. In colder months, it’s a great trail gun. In the summer, it just doesn’t carry well.
It sits thick in the waistband, requires a sturdy holster, and doesn’t leave much room to breathe. The added recoil also means more muzzle flip, which isn’t ideal when sweaty hands come into play.
Smith & Wesson N-Frame Revolvers
Classic wheelguns like the S&W Model 29 or 627 are just too large for summer carry unless you’re wearing a jacket—which kind of defeats the point.
These guns are hefty and wide, and they don’t exactly disappear under a t-shirt. Plus, leather holsters and summer sweat don’t mix well with blued finishes.
HK USP .45
The USP .45 is built like a tank and carries like one too. Its massive slide, squared-off edges, and wide grip make it uncomfortable when you’re dressed light.
It’s not the worst offender, but it’ll wear you down during a day of walking in the heat. It also prints heavily unless you’re wearing a jacket or overshirt—which isn’t likely in 90-degree weather.
FN Five-seveN
The Five-seveN is light for its size thanks to the polymer frame, but it’s still long and oddly shaped for IWB carry. The grip is tall, the slide is long, and the muzzle tends to poke out when you bend.
On paper it seems manageable, but once you try wearing it all day in the heat, the shape and length make it annoying. It’s better suited for a range bag than a hot waistband.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
