I was almost contemplating setting up a ninja belt for home use as a “grab and go” for the pistol that would have a pistol, light, mag(s), maybe some ETC, but then talking with a friend he mentioned that he had a “fag bag” set up for this purpose, and it struck me that this might be a better idea.
Depending on the bad you chose you could still have all (or at least some) of the things you’d have on the belt, but you’d have the added element of concealment for when things turn out to be nothing. Checking on that noise by the trashcans in the middle of the night, walking downstairs to check on something only to find it’s the kid, etc.
Several years ago, I purchased a used gun from an individual that came with a Galco Escort Fanny pack. I wasn’t sure what I was ever going to do with it, as I can’t put a fanny pack on without looking for a white tube socks, a pair of open toed sandals, and a set of mickey mouse ears. For me, my wardrobe and environment, no adult male ever carries a fanny pack unless he’s a tourist or carrying a gun.
So, being in possession of a fanny pack and having no practical use for it, I finally stumbled onto using it for exactly what you describe. My bedside Glock 19 resides in it with a Streamlight TLR-1 mounted to it. (I don’t use the internal holster slots, but instead just place the gun in the pouch.
In the exterior cargo pocket, there’s enough room for two spare magazines and a backup light. (a Surefire G2)
I’ve found it’s perfect for exactly the situations you just described. It makes an excellent “grab and go” package for the mundane “things that go bump in the night” situations I routinely encounter. In my case, I have two dogs that feel it’s their duty to go on high barking alert at the slightest activity around the exterior of the house. The Surefire G2 in the exterior pocket get’s more use than anything else as a light to illuminate the various stray dogs & cats, raccoons, possums, skunks and deer that wander into the backyard.
I’ve been using a Camelbak Goblin (H2O bladder removed) as my Gym bag and for this exact purpose. It has plenty of space to hold a compact handgun, spare mags, lights, etc. I also use the top strap to hook anything else on (such as keys).
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[li]Drawing from a fanny pack is slow, even if you practice. If you honestly feel you are in danger in your own home, it may not be the time to play with zippers and pull-tabs. If your thought process is “gun in hand, fanny pack around my waist so I have somewhere to stash the gun if I need to” then it makes more sense.
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[li]A fanny pack that will serve as a utility belt is different than one which does a decent job providing low-profile cover for a weapon. Not a problem if you don’t plan to use it outside of this specific role, since no one standing in his PJs and a fanny pack (of any size, shape, or color) is going to look “lo-pro” by any means.
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[li]You’ll be hard pressed to find a fanny pack that is in any way suitable for supporting gear for a long gun, if that matters to you.
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Also not concerned with looking foolish, and while I know that a “threat” would see the fanny pack for what it is, the neighbors wouldn’t.
Once upon a time I did a good bit of messing around with a fanny pack and working on the draw from one and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Lots of presentations with the blue gun. Not what I’d grab if I knew for damn sure that there was something that needed shooting, but a compromise in certain situations.
Which brings up a general point, which is that if I know something needs shooting, the carbine is coming out. This would also be a tertiary firearm tot he carbine and pistol that are already accessible.
BAC, I’ll give you an example of a scenario that I encountered.
A few months ago we heard a lot of yelling and foolishnes is the street out front. Looked out the window, and I swear to christ it looked like some girls had hit someone and were standing around the car saying “run it over again”. I went downstairs to see what the ruckus was and to see if the “person” they hit needed help, but I would have preferred to have had a gun on me. My mind kept thinking “this is a great trick to get someone to come outside and leave the front door open and get jumped”.
What it turned out to be was a snake (as in, an 8’ plus python or boa), but in the light and given the time of night (and my grogginess) it sure as hell looked like a person from upstairs.
My thinking is that if I had an easy “grab and go” solution to have a pistol on me then I wouldn’t have scared the little Boca-brats and had them calling the cops on me, nor would I have had to be totally unarmed if it was a ruse and their boyfriend was waiting in the bushes for us. Somehow I’m thinking that had I donned my “battle belt” before going to investigate I would have wound up all night explaining to the cops what was going on.
Somehow I’m thinking that had I donned my “battle belt” before going to investigate I would have wound up all night explaining to the cops what was going on.
Ahem, given your example, is this assuming you don’t have your CCW on you? My first thought was “that’s what your carry gun is for.” Admittedly, my second thought was, “I’m not carrying 24/7 at home, so wait a minute…” That being said, I agree with you that the battle belt would be a bit much. Do you have, or would you consider a carry holster that uses belt loop snaps? It doesn’t take more than opening the belt up a notch and tucking in the Versa Max II to be armed if I’m wearing pants that can support a belt (thus a gun).
Another option might be the shotgun and a called out “Y’all need help?” Or, “You ladies need help?” if you’re so inclined. Calling something out might be a good idea anyway, for a couple reasons.
I had an incident a few years back that involved getting rousted out of bed at 4 AM by the local SWAT team because my neighbor/landlord in my duplex was threatening to kill his wife or something. I had the same thought about wishing I had a way to discreetly carry a gun and extra mag if something similar had happened again (though I was in WI where no carry was legal so it probably wouldn’t have been a great idea to march out to the cops with an obvious gun bag on).
I bought an eagle fanny pack and it was decent for carrying a gun, mag, and light but not much else. Pretty bulky and obvious, as well.
I’d like to look at one of the hawkepack (?) fanny packs that look less “gun” but have never spared the cash to pick one up and nobody I know has one.
why not just have a mapbag or medkit bag or even a small atache-style brief case… the medkit bag, in the snake scenario, wouldn’t have aroused any suspicions- you were coming to give aid.
Rob,
For similar reasons/purposes (e.g. in pajamas (which won’t support a paddle holster, I’ve tested it!), situation which doesn’t seem to justify a long gun, desire for low profile, etc), I’ve picked up one of the Wilderness Safepacker holster/bags with a shoulder strap. Just got it so am going to try to see how well it seems it would work for this sort of application. I like the “grab and go” concept of a bag like it – even if I slept in jeans with a riggers belt, I’d have to clip in the holster, mag pouches, flashlight, etc to have the same items as just grabbing the bag would provide.
I have this setup, but it is made by eagle and you can carry it like a backpack. I have a G19 and spare mag. It has room for other stuff too. I like it.
I also like the SneakyBag and have a second on the way. They are very versatile and well made.
Attaches to the body without a need to hold it in hand
Can carry at least a spare magazine and hand held light
Can holster the pistol with a weaponlight attached
While I acknowledge that the fanny pack is going to be slower to access, and especially so one-handed, I think that for my intended use it is the best option to concede that loss of speed to have the gun concealed and the ability to carry a few other small ancillary items.
Now the question is who is making them these days, and especially one that will hold the pistol with a light attached.
Rob… Try maxpedition.com, they have versipacks( best bet IMO)waistpacks, active shooter bags, gearslingers etc…
I saw a few items on there that would fit your intended use…
Fatboy
Proteus
Thermite
Colossus
Octa
Manta
Sabercat
Remora
Jumbo
Jeroboam(small)
Sitka???
Would have suggested a versipack as well, but if concealment is any kind of concern, that would be a deal killer. Had a gal working for me out in Iraq last year who kept her Glock in a versipack and it worked well for her. So much so that I picked a very large one up to use as a camera bag.
I have a fanny pack that we train a few folks on here, but believe it’s the Galco one that has already mentioned. With a bit of practice it can be fast, but it would still involve a bit of time, and so far has proven to be useful only for G26 sized guns. I’ll dig it out tonight to confirm whether it’s a Galco or something else. The fanny pack does allow you to drop a shirt over it and conceal the entire thing if necessary, but I just don’t know that it’s an ideal solution to the problem Rob is trying to address.
Concealment in the sense of going to the mall and walking around isn’t the goal here. It would never leave my yard. I’m just not wanting the gun itself in plain view. In the snake story, the teenage boca-brats would have just thought I was some weird old dude with a bunch of tats that might be gay, they would never make it for a gun pouch, and most of the neighbors (their parents) wouldn’t either.
Several years ago I picked this up from Blackhawk. It can be worn as a traditional “fanny pack” or by extending the length of the belt further, as a sort of “man-purse”…
