How do you carry your handgun while backpacking?

How and what I carry depends on what else I'm carrying, if its a populated area (State Park vs National Forest), and the weather.

Summer time with a light pack would generally mean I'll have a Sig Sauer P220 in a kydex G-Code paddle at the 4 OClock position.
Summer time with a heavy pack would generally result in a Glock 19 in a kydex Blade Tech IWB at the 4 OClock position.
I'm out more in the fall and winter, and try to carry my S&W 629 Mountain Gun in a Bianchi 111 Cyclone holster. The Bianchi is carried in the 3:30 position if I don't have a long gun, and is carried cross-draw if I do have a long gun.

I carry a minimum of two reloads.
 
woody d said:
i carry the same way i do every other day, in my Bianchi paddle holster at 3 oclock.
ive always thought that if i NEEDED my .357 RIGHT NOW thats exactly where i will looking to find one, so i see no need in changing things up.

imo for where i am located this is an ideal trail gun....




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This is probably the best advice given - if you're used to carrying in a specific place, that's where your muscle memory will take you. Thanks for the reminder!
 
If you carry magnums in those lightweights try the 125 grain loads. I guess I am one of "those people", because 158 grain magnums in my smith snubby is a brutality that I don't enjoy. I like to practice with what I use/carry so the whole "with adrenaline flowing you won't even notice" theory is not one I buy into. Nice snubby nonetheless.
 
panzertroop said:
Hill People Kit Bag
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Completely agree with panzertroop...

Backpacking with a concealed handgun has always been a challenge and evolution to find something you can quickly access, is actually concealed (if that is a specific criteria or need) but still comfortable for several miles on rough trails. I can't say enough about how the Hill People Gear Kit Bag does exceptional at all of those. I tried numerous methods as already mentioned…shoulder holster, OWB holster attached to the pack’s waistbelt (not concealed), IWB (can’t access), fanny packs, the Wilderness SafePacker (which is a pretty good option just large) and even the RIBZ "front pack", which is another great method, but not very good at maintaining your draw position for your pistol/revolver. My biggest challenge was to keep the pistol on my body even if I dumped the pack and still be quickly accessible.

I’ve been wearing the Hill People Gear (HPG) Kit Bag mountain biking, kayaking, fly-fishing, hunting, numerous day hikes and several backpacking trips. I’ve only received a couple of inquiries and all were positive on the trail...no one made the connection between a CCW holder and a nicely placed accessory bag. When wearing a backpack, fishing, biking or kayaking, it actually blends in so well, it is “sneaky”.

I put my photos on another post along with a video where I was practicing my drawing while using hiking poles; I’ve found the HPG Kit Bag by far the best CCW method for outdoor’s activities, especially when wearing a backpack. About the only thing I haven’t done is technical climbing, but it still works for general bouldering. Also, we’ve done a lot of off-trail hiking through, up and across smaller rivers and as long as you’re wading, you’ll keep you gear and pistol dry…even if you do take a dunk, I’ve found it easy enough to do the lazy side stroke without it causing much difficulty. I know waterprooof is a nice feature, but the way you carry the bag, it will CCW will get wet or damp if you're in a heavy down poor, high-humidity or an extended dunk in a river...hence the reason I go with a Glock instead of a nicer-finished CCW :D

I don’t attach the Kit Bag to my pack’s shoulder straps. One of my criteria was a holster that would stay on my body if I dropped my pack or wanted to day-hike or scout away from a "base camp". Although the Kit Bag can be attached, I prefer to wear it as a stand-alone. The design is such that a pack, its shoulder straps and waist belt don’t interfere or are uncomfortable (at least not with a little adjustment as comfort is a very personal opinion). The only down side is that it tends to trap heat in the warmer season. With that said, we’ve done backpacking with heat-indexes in the hundreds with close to 100% humidity; you’re sweating anyways and this isn’t going to make it any less comfortable:D

If you’re serious about carrying concealed with full sized pack and necessary waist belt, the HPG Kit Bag is by far the best option I’ve come across and is both simple and extremely functional, robust and actually comfortable. I now own three with one being the new “snubby” that I used when running and would be an even more compact/lighter version for the weight-conscious. Even as you continue to refine and reduce you weight, this is really a great way to balance your setup without sacrificing too much.

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With the Kit Bag, you can still easily and quickly accessible CCW, even with hiking poles which is something both my wife and I are using much more these days:

HPG Pistol Draw



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ROCK6
 
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Hill People Recon. It holds my Ruger SP101 3" .357 mag just fine. In fact, it can also fit my holster. I'm trying to figure out how I want to attach my holster via the dummy loop. A caribiner works, but I can feel it against my chest. Maybe some paracord is the best answer, IDK yet.
I've only went on one hike with it, no long backpacking trips yet. It worked great, no bouncing around or discomfort, just some extra sweat under it.

Now, where do I keep my extra speed loaders. I can attach them to the Recon molle loops, but once I've drawn the gun, the front side of the bag is hanging down a bit. I need to practice different places and see what's best. Maybe they just need to ride on the waist belt of my backpack?
 
Good info in this thread. I was out backpacking a few weeks ago and just decided to front pocket carry my J Frame 642. Basically, the same rig I carry in the summer most of the time. Didn't get in the way of the pack waist belt and I could grab it from my pocket in a second if needed. That said, the Hill People bag is getting a real good look right now. Rock6, what size is yours in the video? Also, does the holster just tear open or did you already have the zipper undone in your vid?
 
WillieD said:
Good info in this thread. I was out backpacking a few weeks ago and just decided to front pocket carry my J Frame 642. Basically, the same rig I carry in the summer most of the time. Didn't get in the way of the pack waist belt and I could grab it from my pocket in a second if needed. That said, the Hill People bag is getting a real good look right now. Rock6, what size is yours in the video? Also, does the holster just tear open or did you already have the zipper undone in your vid?
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Hey Willie! The pictures are from the original/standard Kit Bag; I do have the smaller Snubby for running/mountain biking and I’m really liking it as a dedicated CCW platform. As to drawing, I position the middle layer zippers in the upper right corner and intertwine so they’re easier to grasp quickly. The very back zippers are opened about an inch from the corner (vertical and horizontal), so it’s slightly opened. Once you grasp that middle layer zippers and pull down to your left, it opens the back compartment for very fast access; it’s actually faster than many IWB rigs I own. Hope that answers the question…

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
Hey Willie! The pictures are from the original/standard Kit Bag; I do have the smaller Snubby for running/mountain biking and I’m really liking it as a dedicated CCW platform. As to drawing, I position the middle layer zippers in the upper right corner and intertwine so they’re easier to grasp quickly. The very back zippers are opened about an inch from the corner (vertical and horizontal), so it’s slightly opened. Once you grasp that middle layer zippers and pull down to your left, it opens the back compartment for very fast access; it’s actually faster than many IWB rigs I own. Hope that answers the question…

ROCK6
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Thanks for the info. Pretty nice rig. I think I would go with the original kit bag or the Recon. Is the Recon the same thing as the original minus the front pocket? It's thinner according to specs, but I can't find any good pics of the inside of one. Thanks and sorry for the highjack!
 
WillieD said:
Thanks for the info. Pretty nice rig. I think I would go with the original kit bag or the Recon. Is the Recon the same thing as the original minus the front pocket? It's thinner according to specs, but I can't find any good pics of the inside of one. Thanks and sorry for the highjack!
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Check out their website, but I think the Recon is the same as the Runner's kit bag, but with the MOLLE. Yes there is a front pocket, and that has two internal pockets. The front pocket is not as deep as the Original, like in Rock6's pics. The internal pockets are equal size, they divide half the bag. The MOLLE is attached well, but I haven't attached anything to mine, yet. I wanted the option, and the thinner profile of the Recon bag.
 
I just use an old fanny pack. The gun is hanging right there in front of me. Easy to reach no one would ever think there is a gun in there. Don't look tactical as here in CA people look down on any one who carries a gun. It also don't get in a way of everything else I carry. I just like to keep it simple.

Sasha
 
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