I do a lot of backpacking and am looking for a good way to CC my XD Service. Requirements are Comfort and Accessibility. I’m thinking some type of pouch that can either be affixed to the shoulder straps or hip belt of a typical recreational backpack, or be suspended from its own harness, (such as for binoculars). I looked at the Soft Armor Trail Pouch at Cabela’s
but the manufacturer says it is sized for small .32 or .380 autos. Ease of deployment is crucial, but I don’t want to broadcast my hardware to other trail users by openly carrying in a traditional holster.
I have done quite a bit of searching, but am still looking. I’m hoping that someone here may have some helpful suggestions.
There is a similar thread here somewhere. Try searching for “jogging” “running” with holster and concealed. It’s been a while but there were several suggestions. I just can’t remember much else.
The kit bag from Hill People Gear is an excellent choice. I’ve been using my almost nonstop since I got it as I’m almost always out in the woods hiking/camping/living. My best friend and I both have one and neither of us have ever gotten strange looks while out on the trail.
When I’m just short-hiking, running, MTBing, etc. I carry my gun in a Mountainsmith lumbar pack, and use the RCS trigger guard thing.
If I’m hiking longer but don’t need to use the waist strap for my small pack, I carry OWB with a RCS holster.
If I need to use the waist strap from the pack:
A. Get a SideArmor holster for your gun. These work best in my opinion because you can rotate the holster, and the belt loops can be made in many sizes.
B. Get some kind of bag that will fit the gun and holster. I found that Dayplanner cases work well.
C. Remove the buckle from the pack’s waist strap on the side you want to carry the gun.
D. Orient the case the way you want to carry it on the strap. Cut holes in the case for the strap to go through. You’re gonna want to make the holes just a bit wider than the belt loops on the holster.
E. Thread the waist strap through one hole of the case, then through both loops of the holster, then through the other hole of the case.
F. Put the buckle back on, and away you go.
This is very secure, as the gun is supported by the holster and the waist strap; the case just covers everything.
To draw the gun, you unzip the case.
Unfortunately, I don’t have pics of my old set-up.
I switched back to Glock a few years ago, and gave my 1911 set-up like that away.
And I haven’t built a new one for Glock yet.
I have experimented with a shoulder strap set-up, and found the waist strap to be the best.
Problem is you don’t have your gun when you take your pack off. And I can’t wear a waist holster under the pack’s waist strap, so I just have to put on an OWB holster.
Only other solution I have used is a shoulder holster, but they can get uncomfortable under the pack straps. Bianchi made a great one in days gone by. About 5 years ago I looked at a Galco one, and it was crap.
I have the Hill People Gear kit bag…it’s awesome. I ran it in the low light phase of a recent Hackathorn pistol class. It garnered a lot of interest from the other shooters. It’s very, very well thought out.
The newer models have a loop in the pistol compartment that you can attach a Raven Concealment trigger guard too. The gun doesn’t flop around when being used. In fact, I don’t even notice it anymore. The curvature of your body kinda locks it in place. The compartment is big enough to fit any practical pictols, upto a fully decked out 1911. Everything is explained on HPG’s website.
These are great kit, very multipurpose. I have one that fits both my 1911 and my Beretta 92, with spare magazine. I use it as a flap holster on a pack, as a transport case, and as a bedside holster (stick the flap between the mattress and box spring and keep the weapon in easy reach). It’s padded to protect the weapon if you fall, and it’s reasonably non-gun-looking. It could just as easily be a map/compass case.
That pretty much sums it up. They originally designed it to work with a holster and then found the holster to be a waste of space and that it worked better without it anyway.
I have one of those Raven trigger guard deals, although it doesn’t work with a gun with a light, of course. At least not at the moment…maybe a trip to the belt sander is in the offing.
Anyway it holds in there fine. I can run with mine on and the gun doesn’t bounce around. I have a Glock 20 in there at the moment and there is plenty of space left. I don’t think you could get a 6" barreled revolver in there…but you might be able to. It’s got space and enough padding to be comfortable.
I’ll say this: after seeing me running one in four days of classes on and off, two different guys placed orders for them. And I am absolutely sure that’s a testament to the gear, not just that they wanted to look like me. It’s a pretty kickass piece of kit.
If you can possibly manage the time, I wouldn’t mind hearing what you’re gonna buy, why you’re gonna buy it, how it will fit your needs, etc.
Thanks.
I can say that HPG Kit Bag looks pretty good. Maybe just a tag too big; I’d rather it just big enough for a gun and maybe a spare mag or 2.
I honestly don’t have the need for one right now. But when the need arises, I’ll more than likely get one.
The only concern I have is that if I need to drop my pack and run for my life, fight, etc. I’ll need to draw my pistol from the Kit Bag, or leave it behind.
Doubtful that will happen in this civilian life I have now, but past thought processes are hard to dump.
Honestly I can’t think of any reason you would have to drop the kit bag in order to run or fight…It’s not that big and I doubt you’d ever get more than six pounds of gear into it, including a gun.
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Maybe I’m not following you here. Why not wear it separately rather than attach it to your main pack if that is a concern? It works fine under all the packs I have tried it with.
With no practical experience, I kinda figured the straps and back piece from the Kit Bag under the backpack/backpack straps might be uncomfortable. So was just referring to attaching it to the pack.