When working undercover, officers have to find a balance between the need for good equipment and the ability to carry it. Often, compromises have to be made. You might have to trade a full-sized gun for something more compact, or replace a radio with a cell phone. Here are three pieces of gear that I believe plainclothes cops should seriously consider for the next stakeout or other assignment.

Galco Hornet

Speed, comfort and concealability are all important factors when selecting a carry method for your handgun. The new Hornet holster from Galco Gunleather might be the right fit for many officers. The leather scabbard allows a compact handgun to be carried in an appendix position or for crossdraw carry.

For more information, visit GalcoGunLeather.com or call 800-874-2526.

Spyderco Delica4

Having an easy-to-deploy knife is just as important in plainclothes work as it is in uniform patrol. The Delica4 Emerson Opener from Spyderco uses the patented blade-opening device from Emerson Knives to deliver a folding knife that is extremely fast to get into action. The top of the knife has a special hook that catches on the edge of a front pocket and deploys the blade when drawn.

For more information, visit Spyderco.com or call 800-828-1925.

ExtremeBeam SAR 7

No cop should ever be without a flashlight, and ExtremeBeam makes one small enough to be carried everywhere. The SAR 7 is a 130-lumen light that is only 3.15 inches long. It is coated with an anti-glare finish, and a single CR123 battery will power the light for an hour.

For more information, visit ExtremeBeam.com or call 877-579-7878.