Even without features that make certain clothing conducive to concealed carry, a flannel shirt (or two or three) should be mandatory in every outdoorswoman’s wardrobe. A good flannel shirt signals a change in seasons, wraps you in warmth, while pleasing combinations of plaid allow you to look smart but casual. But when you add in a few seemingly insignificant features that allow for easy EDC—it’s a bonus! That’s exactly how I feel about both the Shirt Jacket and the Stretch Flannel Shirt from the Lena Collection by Vertx.
The “Lena” in this collection is world champion shooter Lena Miculek, who collaborated with tactical clothing company Vertx for a few classic items in its women’s line, including the Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0 I tested last year. For a minute I’d forgotten about these shirts tucked away in my closet. After all, I’d been given samples in April 2025 when seasons on the east coast were teetering at the edge of spring and impending summer. Flannel was far from my mind. But by November we were once again approaching cool-weather territory, and I felt the need for comfort clothes. Sure, hoodies and sweatshirts have earned their indelible spot as fall and winter staples—and great for concealing a pistol—but sometimes those baggy tops make me feel a bit sloppy. Don’t get me wrong, baggy has also earned a spot in my heart, but sometimes when I go out (even just to the grocery store) and want to look a bit more put together, a flannel shirt is the answer.
The Lena Women’s Stretch Flannel shirt (I have the Smoked Tan Plaid color shown off by Lena at top of page; the Mountain Sage Buffalo Plaid is shown here) took me through the fluctuations in the fall season as it transitioned into a fierce winter on the east coast. With just enough stretch to make a comfy fit, I feel like I could wear this shirt every day from October and November, walking my dog, running errands, or even to the office on causal Fridays.
By December a perpetual arctic blast had me upping the warmth factor, topping a turtleneck with the Lena Women’s Shirt Jacket on more days than not, even while simply hunkering down inside my house. While currently it’s still too cold to use the shirt jacket as my most outer layer (we are sub-zero!) temperatures will theoretically return to normal—sometime before April—and the shirt jacket, with its shorter hem length and plenty of pockets for extras, is my go-to piece in my wardrobe.
Besides being snuggly warm and soft, both pieces satisfy my need to put hands in pockets. And as you can see here, both boast a slightly shorter hem for easier concealed-carry access. Otherwise, I am more often than not carrying in a pack like the Everday Carry Pack+.
These are real clothes for everyday wear and everyday carry. There are some other items in the Lena Collection that you should check out, as well as the entire Vertx line. They are thinking outside the box since I first became familiar with this company about 15 years ago when we in NRA Publications (now NRA Media) were introduced to its fabulous line of tactical wear. Now with this category of concealed-carry items attached to the Lena name, I look forward to future additions.
For more on the Lena Collection, go to Vertx.com/lena.
