Thunderwear: A new approach to concealed carry
by Tim Dees

When my wife, also a police officer, brought home her new purchase of something called "Thunderwear," I thought she might have been shopping the Frederick's of Hollywood catalog. However, once i considered that she loves guns much more than frilly feminine items, I decided to see what she was taking about. Thunderwear is a new approach to concealed carry holsters, and is not like anything else I have yet to see on the market. The basic design looks much more like a nail apron than anything else. An elastic waistband, secured by velcro at either side, wraps around the wearer's middle, just below the navel. The 'apron' portion of the device has several pockets sewn in, suitable for a gun, extra magazines or speed trips, mini-flashlight or Persuader baton. The newer models have a second hidden pocket behind the largest one, sealed with velcro, for hiding a wallet, extra money, or what-have-you. Extra custom features are a handcuff pocket sewn about where the right hip pocket lies, and a badge tab can be added in front.

Tom Fogarty is the inventor and president of Thunderwear. Tom is a former stockbroker who obtained a concealed weapons permit when a neighboring brokerage office was shot up by a disgruntled customer. Like most people who find a need to carry a gun in street clothes, he found that the gun dictated his wardrobe. He experimented with inside-the-pants holsters, paddle holsters, outside-the-pants belt holsters, ankle holsters, shoulder holsters and all o the other types on the market. Although he praised the workmanship of conventional holster manufacturers such as Galco, he found his home climate of Florida inconsistent with the wearing of jackets, long pants and belts to conceal and secure his commonly carried firearms, a Walther PPK and an H&K P7. Fogarty tried to come up with a new approach to carrying his guns. His brainchild came from a social necessity: "What does the law say we have to cover? We always have to wear pants." Fogarty then started working on some type of carry medium that would work under any pair of trousers, no matter how brief, and exclusive of the clothing construction itself. The waistband of a pair of running shorts is hardly strong enough to support the weight of a concealed gun, even if a way can be found to suspend the gun from the waistband.

The first Thunderwear was fashioned from his sketches by a seamstress friend, and was pretty ugly, according to Tom. It was blue that being the color of material then available, and carried the gun horizontally, across the abdomen. This proved not to be as comfortable or accessible as the muzzle-down carry now used, but did keep the weapon both concealed and available, no matter what kind of clothing was wornover it. "The pelvic

girdle makes an extremely stable platform, " says Fogarty. Fogarty tried the new holster out on a dentist friend who was also a concealed weapons permit holder. He went to lunch with his friend, wearing only a pair of tennis shorts, a tank top, and the Thunder wear prototype. As a subterfuge, he left his fanny pack, containing his P7, at the dentist's office keeping his Walther inside the Thunderwear. He made a point of getting up from the table a couple of times during the meal, giving his friends a double opportunity to spot the concealed weapon. Until he was back at the dental office and showed his friend his 'new toy,' surprise was quickly replaced with envy. The dentist wanted a Thunderwear of his own. Fogarty mad a few more holsters for friends, then started selling them as the word spread. He took 8 holsters to a gun show and sold them all from his table. He was more optimistic at his next show, a Soldier of Fortune convention, and took 100 copies. He sold them all, and took orders for 124 more. Since then, he hasn't had time to attend gun shows. Mention in a few gun magazines has netted him almost 1000 interest cards and letters, not to mention telephone calls from customers who can't wait (like me) and contact him directly. Thunderwear is now his full-time business, having left the stock brokerage behind. "Concealment technology has been nearly unchanged for the last 100 years. The only real innovation was to make external packs for guns, such as the fanny pack. Thunderwear is real lightweight(less than 3oz.), and machine washable."

I tried the Thunderwear with both an S&W Chief's Special and a Glock 23 (compact model). I found both to be comfortable and concealable, even with a reload (speed strip or magazine respectively) next to the gun. I work the Chief every day to a training session for police supervisors, and if any of the participants "made" me as carrying a gun, they didn't bring it up. The holster is virtually invisible under a pair of loose trousers, such as Dockers, and shows only slightly with closer fitting clothing like Levis. I could not hid a full-frame S&W 645, but you can't have everything. This is, or course, heavily dependent on your personal anatomy, but i think that most small and medium size guns can be concealed easily. One reservation expressed by some prospective Thunderwear owners is that the gun is not readily accessible. This , as with all other holsters, requires practice for a speedy and safe draw. Fogarty demonstrates the draw at shows by tossing a sponge-rubber ball up and toward the prospect, then drawing the gun before they can catch it. He hasn't had anyone beat him yet. One of Thunderwear's best endorsements came from Alvin Bell, chief of training for Glock, Inc. "I've gotta tell you, I was in law enforcement for 22 years, and this is the best damn holster I've ever worn." Although Fogarty has been approached by police equipment distributors such as U.S. Calvary, the holsters can be ordered directly from him, customized for color and features such as handcuff and badge holders. The gun compartment is of the "one size fits all" variety, which works better than you might think. If you would like more information please click here.

Thunderwear

Dear Tom,

Bravo! Your "invisible holster" is all that you claimed it to be when i met you at the Fort Lauderdale Gun Show. It is truly concealed, comfortable, and does not dig into your ribs or flop over when sitting down. Please feel free to use my name for your testimonials. I have already started recommending it to my friends and associates.

Thank you for a fine product.

Paul Jordan

Thunderwear, Inc.

Dear Tom,
It was good to speak with you today on the telephone. I have enclosed some information about CompuServe and ASLET for your benefit. Also, I noticed in Police Magazine that they have a (free?) section for announcements of new police products. They ask for a 5"x7" B&W photo in vertical format of the product, and a one page, double spaced typewritten announcement of "your product and its application to the law enforcement profession." Send these
to:
POLICE
Attn: Product Patrol Dept.
6300 Yarrow Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92009-1597

I have sent a note to Steve Bunting with ASLET and asked him to send you information on the vendor displays at the January 1993 conference here in Reno. Good luck with your business and I'll hope to see you soon on CompuServe.

Sincerely,

Timothy M. Dees

Dear Mr. Fogarty,

I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation for the sample of your product, which I obtained from you at the Soldier of Fortune Convention this month. I returned from Buenos Aires yesterday, and while I was there I had an opportunity to use the Thunderwear holster on two separate occasions. Both times I carried a Glock 21 in it, and the weapon was neither uncomfortable nor visible. Due to my line of work, I feel that I will get much use from your holster in the future, and I will highly recommend it to my associates in the executive Protection field. Once again, I thank you.

Sincerely,

Troy B. Tolmack

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