Volume: 17, Issue: 1 (1st Quarter 2013) - IDPA.com

IDPA
Shooting with Style
By Elizabeth (Liby) Messler, MA Ed.,
Experienced IDPA shooters
always look cool. They have the
right vest, the right pants, the right
shirt, the right hat ... The question
is, how do they know exactly
what to wear? Let me tell you
what I’ve picked up from shooting
with Thunder Tactical Shooters in
Conroe, Texas (north of Houston).
A42239
While fashion rules change all
the time, IDPA is not about fashion.
It is about keeping you safe while
you’re playing the game. Let’s get
you geared up from the ground up.
Feet First
Shoes or boots should be
appropriate for the range. If you
shoot indoors on cement, traction
is vital. You don’t want to slip
while you’re running with a loaded
gun. At the indoor range where I
shoot from time to time, we shoot
in one of the two bays; the floor
there is slick concrete. Through
trial and error, I have found that
running or cross-training shoes
work well there. A Risky Business
slide across the floor with a loaded
From the ground up …
gun is scary for
everybody. Get the
right shoes.
If you shoot
outdoors, consider
the surface first. Our
outdoor bays are dirt
and gravel. Heavysoled
hiking boots or
cross-trainers seem to
work best out there.
Moisture-wicking
socks are great for
hot weather, and socks with arch
support knitted in help with your
comfort level when you’re standing
for a long time. If you shoot a
match that starts early in the
morning, you might be in dewy
or wet grass. Shooting an all-day
major match with wet feet is no
fun, and an invitation for blisters
or worse. If the ground’s damp,
waterproof (not water-resistant)
boots are a must for me. Sturdy
boots that provide ankle support
are perfect. Ask yourself this: can
I run, jump, kneel, and kick in a
door in these shoes—
without breaking a toe?
It happened: one of our
guys broke his runningshoe
clad foot when he
kicked open a door at
a major match, out of
town. Don’t be that guy.
The author, at a TTS monthly match. In the summer,
we go without our concealment garments
because it’s 99 degrees with 99% humidity.
on shorts and a tank top when
you head to the range. Don’t do
it! Kneeling on gravel or a stray
piece of brass in shorts is not fun.
reddotshooting.com
Competition Gear
Firearms
Holsters & Mag Pouches
Parts
Tactical Clothing
Reloading
Home for all your shooting needs!
The largest selection of Blade Tech holsters
Pants and Shirts
and mag pouches anywhere!
When it is 99 degrees
in the shade, with 99%
AND FREE SHIPPING for orders over $50
375 Richard Road Rockledge FL 32955
humidity, it’s incredibly
321-821-3388
tempting to throw
IDPA Tactical Journal First Quarter 2013 25