Pistol holster for backpacking?

I carry the Bianchi Military, mainly because it has a full flap. It is slower to draw than a top snap, but it won't come un snapped if you snag it on a limb, leading to the loss of a pistol ( painful and needless experience). I attahced a spring loaded retracting cable to the butt, then pinned the mecninism into the holster flap, to aviod a lost weapon should the flap clasp fail. My friends joke that when the Bear hits me and I drop the weapon, I will be able to find it quickly to club him with it, since I am under gunned.
It also has the option for a sholder carry, with a optional chest harness, which is what I use when fly fishing. This option comes with a top snap, but the teather cable is there for loss prevention.
 
glock 29 in a blackhawk serpa. I could give a you know about concealment. It is by and far the most readily accesible retention holster I know of.
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
A "nylon baggie"?

Safepackers are made using very high quality materials. The main part of the holster, as well as the flap closure are padded to help protect the firearm.

Inside the main part of the Safepacker where the handgun rides is another area where a second magazine can be stored.

The flap has a pocket in it for smaller items which closes using velcro.

The flap is fastened using high quality nylon compression buckles, the back of the holster has a very wide belt strap which can be used to attach the thing to your belt or to a backpack waist belt.

They are more than just a "nylon baggie"......

Andy
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Recipe for a DIY Polyester version, shopping at the at the dollar store
1 - windshield sunscreen (closed cell foam and its aluminized)
1 - book bag -- 10" x 10" (twice as big), shoulder strap, velcro
1 - childrens backpack -- longer, trapezoidal, more polyester, velcro, zipper and compression buckle
1 - sewing kit OR dental floss (if you got needle)
1 - hot glue OR ducktape
1 - stuffed toy (for extra padding if sunscreen isnt enough

comes out to about $6 bucks, not bad for a wee sewing project
I got everything except stuffed toy/sewing kit/pistol :)
 
bradefolums said:
Recipe for a DIY Polyester version, shopping at the at the dollar store
1 - windshield sunscreen (closed cell foam and its aluminized)
1 - book bag -- 10" x 10" (twice as big), shoulder strap, velcro
1 - childrens backpack -- longer, trapezoidal, more polyester, velcro, zipper and compression buckle
1 - sewing kit OR dental floss (if you got needle)
1 - hot glue OR ducktape
1 - stuffed toy (for extra padding if sunscreen isnt enough

comes out to about $6 bucks, not bad for a wee sewing project
I got everything except stuffed toy/sewing kit/pistol :)
Click to expand...

Go for it! I'd love to see pics when you're done! :D

Andy
 
I bought a Lowe Alpine accessory utility pouch that you can find in the camera department of Target or Walmart. It has a built in raincover and conceals a Glock 33 (subcompact frame). Passing backpackers don't give it a second look. It is quick enough draw!!

It looks similar, but larger than this:

AccessoryPocketM_089_large.jpg
 
Form the S&W air weight 38 special, I can carry it just about any way, I like the small camera case for concierge, a nylon right hip holster for outdoor carry of the Browning Buckmark Camper .22
 
This summer I did a 500-mile mountain bike trip in Alaska. Carried the 5.5" Redhawk .44Mag in a simple cheapo nylon belt holster on my normal EDC 1.75" 5-stitch Wilderness Instructor's belt. I got the .44 just for this trip and didn't want to invest in an expensive lefty holster that I'd just have to eat afterward. Also, this trip was WET (check it out here) and I'm glad I didn't have soggy leather.

(Please pardon the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot expression in this pic -- I was right in the middle of a story when he snapped the pic)
IMG_3912.jpg


IMGP2782.jpg


When I'm backpacking, I carry my normal G26 IWB in kydex with the same 1.75" belt. Coming from a long-distance backpacking background, I don't have a hipbelt on my pack so it allows comfortable, normal holster use. At the times when I'm wearing pants/shorts that don't allow a belt, I just stick the holster in the big stretchy Spandura water bottle pocket of my pack. This would be much slower draw if I needed it, but it is less sweaty than IWB.
 
hdglock said:
Kifaru gear is expensive but, I have heard nothing but good things about them
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I know it is expensive (and I am one cheap guy) but it does everything I want. My other option was buying a chest rig from Tactical Tailor and adding different pouches...then the price came out about the same.
I plan on wearing the Koala as a chest pack while wearing my large hiking backpack. It will allow to me to carry all trail essential items, survival stuff and a handgun.
 
being a rather large chested gal
i usually conceal carry in my "bra"
youd be amazed how much you can hide there
and no one
even you guys who cant take yr eyes off my chest
seems to see it
in the woods or in the city
when im carrying
i never let it leave my body
not bags or packs
sometimes those are laying by the rest of my gear
and my sidearm never will be left anywhere laying about
and yes i have a permit
 
dougo83 said:
Based on the OP, what nation would that be? :rolleyes:

RE:OP--I carry my .357 mag in a cheap Uncle Mike's Sidekick that I bought as a backup holster.
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Any nation that the average sheep is afraid of the sight of a side arm without a badge 15 inches above the handle..
Any nation where the assumption is " guns kill people"
Any nation where people freak when they see an 8 inch knife on someones belt and they aren't in the woods, or it isn't hunting season.
Take it from there............:)
 
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tradja said:
This summer I did a 500-mile mountain bike trip in Alaska. Carried the 5.5" Redhawk .44Mag in a simple cheapo nylon belt holster on my normal EDC 1.75" 5-stitch Wilderness Instructor's belt. I got the .44 just for this trip and didn't want to invest in an expensive lefty holster that I'd just have to eat afterward. Also, this trip was WET (check it out here) and I'm glad I didn't have soggy leather.

SNIP

SNIP

When I'm backpacking, I carry my normal G26 IWB in kydex with the same 1.75" belt. Coming from a long-distance backpacking background, I don't have a hipbelt on my pack so it allows comfortable, normal holster use. At the times when I'm wearing pants/shorts that don't allow a belt, I just stick the holster in the big stretchy Spandura water bottle pocket of my pack. This would be much slower draw if I needed it, but it is less sweaty than IWB.
Click to expand...

Tradja, I have two questions for you.

First, how does riding with a big ol' hogleg like that on your hip feel? It's a good place to keep it handy, but seems like it would tend to bang into your leg every pedal stroke.

Two: How do you back pack without a hip belt? I carry a lot of the weight of my pack on my hip belt to save the strain on my shoulders, and I can't imagine carrying a large pack for mile after mile with it just bouncing up and down on my shoulders.
 
Mountainman38 said:
First, how does riding with a big ol' hogleg like that on your hip feel?
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Short answer: GREAT! :D :p:thumbup: Especially when it's just you and a buddy, on bikes, feeling like you're a zillion miles from anywhere and you know that there are big bears (white and brown) not far away. Fun trip.

Mountainman38 said:
It's a good place to keep it handy, but seems like it would tend to bang into your leg every pedal stroke.
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I was worried about this (or about abrasion on pants/leg), but it rode fine. It just kind of hung there stable while I pedaled, mounted, or dismounted the bike. The wide, stiff belt helped a lot, I think.

Mountainman38 said:
Two: How do you back pack without a hip belt? I carry a lot of the weight of my pack on my hip belt to save the strain on my shoulders, and I can't imagine carrying a large pack for mile after mile with it just bouncing up and down on my shoulders.
Click to expand...
Like most long-distance hikers, I got my pack weight down FAST. It makes all the difference. Sure, sometimes I still end up with around 50lbs when there is a 30+ mile waterless stretch or a 10+ day food carry, but most of the time the carry weight is well south of 20lbs. After more than 11,000 miles of long-distance hiking, even occasional 50lb loads are not a problem without a hipbelt. Plus, food (and especially water) weight goes down quickly. I have many harebrained theories on LD hiking physiology, and my take on this one is that somehow the blood vessels in my shoulders adapted.

Mrs. Tradja and I will probably hike the Pacific Crest Trail again this year. Sadly, I will not have a sidearm for the first 1700 miles of the trail that are in Kali. I may or may not carry for the last 1000 miles in OR/WA (I have CHL in both states) since obtaining and then getting rid of my weapon would be a huge hassle. My evolving plan: buy a Makarov or Hi Point in Ashland, Oregon for $120, carry it for the next 1000 miles in a nylon OWB cheapie clip-on, then chuck it in a river just before I enter Canada.

...or not. I've hiked the PCT twice with just a Vic Classic and no gun. I might just save the $120.
 
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