[vito]

I've seen many threads addressing the pros and cons of using a fanny pack for concealed carry, but my real concern has been that most fanny packs are either inadequate for safe carry, or are sturdy, black and OBVIOUSLY made for a gun. Some readers like myself probably reside in or pass through a state where concealed carry is frowned on, like Illinois or Wisconsin, and certainly do not want to have LEO's or anyone else look at the fanny pack and think there is a gun there. You might want to check out the Cordura Fanny Pack on gungear.com. It looks like a regular tourist-type summer fanny pack, comes in other than solid black color, but is made to handle a concealed firearm. Its not cheap, mine cost $54 with shipping, but I think I made the right choice. I also own a Coronado Leather cross carry bag, but it is large, black leather and looks more like a man-bag than anything else, so I wanted a lighter less obvious choice. I don't think this Cordura Fanny Pack will arouse any suspicion in anyone when I wear it. I'll look just like another mid-60's, slightly overweight senior citizen on vacation in shorts and a t-shirt and yet will know that I am not defenseless should the need arise. Now I just have to decide weather to carry my Ruger P97 or my S&W 640.

[Glockman17366]

"reside in or pass through a state where concealed carry is frowned on, like Illinois or Wisconsin"

"Frowned on"???

Boy, that's an understatement!

[vito]

I was trying to avoid advocating illegal carry, but sometimes one must choose whether safety and peace of mind are most important, or complying with the law.

[cpileri]

Those packs are excellent, the best I have had which numbers quite a few.

I wear one daily without a pistol in it just for carrying stuff. i would put a pistol in it, but in Texas wearing a pack of any kind is like wearing a "Gun In Here" sign on your waist. That's just my preference, to wear one sans gun, but just trying it out when i first got it; it worked well; the zippers are quiet and fast (snag free) and it will hold at the absolute-threatening-to-burst-the seams-maximum a full size Sig 220 with light attached inside a pocket holster (i.e. sig in pocket holster velcroed to the inside of the pack so it stays put).

About the only modification i would make is that a heavy pistol tends to pull open the zippers and risk exposure or possibly losing the contents! So i would take a piece of strong stick-on velcro and put it on the pack strap then the 'other side' of the velcro to loop through one of the zipper eyes and help hold the zipper closed.

Happy 4th!
C-

[MassMark]

If you scan The 642 Club, you'll find one made by CamelBak that looks like just the ticket. Even has the water bladder abd the company name on it...This looks very inconspicuous to me....

[Alphazulu6]

OMG PLEASE DONT CARRY THAT DAMN THING....... A nice Dooney and Bourke Purse would do well for carrying a large frame pistol too either ... and probably look just as good ... haha :D

There are just so many other options out there you can utilize than an 80s gender mistaken fanny pack.

Get a Don Hume holster, pager pal, Desantis, anything but a fanny pack :(

[rdaines]

I still like the Galco waistpacks
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/policestuff_1954_62268674

[Alphazulu6]

I guess it looks OK until you zip it up. Thats a good marketing technique by that company.....though SERIOUSLY I would NOT even consider it. :(

[vito]

Please be specific: what is the problem you see when it is zipped up?

[Zen21Tao]

Here is a must see video for you fanny pack lovers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPHaIYgMcwQ&mode=related&search=

[Hawk]

I'd credit the following if I knew where I got but it's been a long time...

Sorry about the size.

[nemoaz]

IMO, the fanny packs used by hippies and earth nuggets generally aren't ovalled off on the edges. They are generally square and are rarely black. I don't like the steamlined looking packs that look "just big enough to carry a gun." My preference is this http://www.tommysgunpack.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1 in a color other than blakc, of course. One of the things I like about the pack is it is has enough room to carry my wallet, cell phone, and other essentials. I think it looks odd to have your pockets full of wallets and such, and still need a fanny pack to carry.... something.

If you do carry a pack, the rest of your clothes are pretty important. If you wear a 5.11 pants and a H&K shirt, those "in the know" are going to know what's in your fanny pack no matter what pack you have. I always wear sandles and occasionally drive an old VW. Hippyflauge is useful sometimes. Dorkyflauge also works. Wear socks with your sandals and your pants very, very high etc, very odd shirts etc.

[the naked prophet]

Hawk, that picture was taken by clipse, on this forum and on www.missouricarry.com

[kgpcr]

Check this place out. www.gungear.com I own several and they are outstanding!

[Hawk]

Hawk, that picture was taken by clipse, on this forum and on www.missouricarry.com
Thanks. A true classic, that.

[Alphazulu6]

Please be specific: what is the problem you see when it is zipped up?

HAHA ROFL

In the words of my wife (who is better at describing things than I), there is everything wrong with a man wearing a fanny pack. And I am going to have to agree with her. It just didnt look so bad with a nice black pistol blocking 80% of the thing but thats probably not how your going to carry it all open and such.

I just cannot bring myself to NOT flame these things. They are sooo ugly and just a big flag that either your **** or your carrying a piece thats too big to stick in your pants. Please do yourself a favor and not wrap one around your belly.

Good Luck!

[vito]

KGPCR: The gungear.com site is where I found the cordura fanny pack. I agree, it seems to work fine. Some of the packs recommended are clearly for a gun: black, sturdy and with a very heavy belt. The whole point of this was to find a way to carry, maybe in places that one should not be doing so, that was not obvious and yet feasible in shorts and a t-shirt. That is why I stopped using the Coronado Leather cross carry bag (in addition to it looking too much like a ladies handbag). The typical fanny pack user is not wearing an all black, heavy leather model. But the typical non-gun fanny pack is too light and flimsy for safe concealed carry without the pack sagging so much it clearly contains something too heavy for a regular fanny pack. Plus, its nice to have a place to keep my digital camera, sunglasses, cell phone, wallet, etc. other than to have bulging pockets which make it very uncomfortable to drive or even sit down.

[MassMark]

Vito - look into the Camelbak - it has a brand name and a water tube - no one will be the wiser. BTW, I carry my 642 in a Mika pocket holster with shorts and a T-shirt and you'd be hard pressed to notice it. I only have one pair of Northface cargo shorts which I find it impossible to front pocket carry...When I do carry in a bag, it's usually in a quick access pocket in my messenger bag/daypack.

[jimmy]

Agreed with other posters about the importance of color when choosing a fanny pack. I try to avoid "tactical" black. I use a fanny pack on the hiking trail and chose a Bianchi Top Secret in an earth-friendly green color that looks like it belongs in those surroundings and, to me, does not suggest a gun inside. The Top Secret is a good pack, by the way, if a bit slow. Unfortunately, Bianchi offers only black in the current production Top Secret II.

[thereisnospoon]

Why not a man purse?

[mpmarty]

Ya know, I carry a black large "obviously made for a gun" bag all the time. I work at the local phone company, I'm sixty plus years old, average height and in good physical shape. The bag holds my checkbook, credit cards, cellphone and my PT145 with an extra mag. Some folks know right off I'm packin' and others don't. Frankly, I don't give a damn.

[The-Fly]

Fanny packs have their place and time. I live in a college town, and I see LOTS of fanny packs. When its summertime, and lots of people are in shorts, a fanny pack does NOT stand out. While its not my preferred method to carry, its great for quick trips to the store and its 95 or more outside.

[vito]

Just thought I would add, on the Cordura Fanny Pack from gungear.com, I bought the medium size pack, intending it for either my S&W 640 or my Ruger P97DC. Both fit, although I think it is a better choice for the snubbie. If I were planning on carrying the Ruger more often I would probably opt for the large. That noted, there are several compartments for items other than a gun, but at least in the medium sized pack, it is not overly generous in the room outside of the gun compartment. But I can fit my sunglasses in a case, my wallet, cell phone and my keys, andd possibly include my compact digital camera.

[Rexster]

I regularly use a Safepacker from Thewilderness.com, and it is quite very black, but I carry it into some of the tree-huggingest places in a major city, including places posted for no handguns, right past security personnel, and nobody seems to notice. (My badge lets me carry where a CHL/CCW permit does not.) One important factor, I believe, is that I wear in on its shoulder strap, or carried in the hand. Yeah, a bunch of y'all are thinking "guy with a purse" about now, but I think, well, so what? With the proliferation of mini-planners and electronic gadgets, plus the "European" look, which includes men carrying man bags, man purses, whatever, this type of thing draws less attention, IMHO, than the "fanny" pack. Sometimes I do use my smaller Safepacker on the belt, but usually I use my larger one to carry a 4" .357. In the interest of having options if a criminal targets the off-body weapon, I do diligently carry a smaller weapon concealed on my person. I have used an Eagle Creek waist pack made for a point-and-shoot carry, to carry up to a snubby revolver, and its green color does make it look quite innocent. My old, original Desantis Gunny Sack gave me backaches; I mostly used it as a glorified pistol rug, as I recall. FWIW, my area is coastal Texas, where it's summer about ten months of the year.

[Baneblade]

I have a couple of Eagle fanny packs, and I agree... not very... well.. manly. However, they are extremely convenient. My truck gun is in a pack with ammo, cuffs, light, etc.
They would blend in well where I live, if it wasn't so obvious that I was the gun carrying type.
My wife has choice comments to make on the rare occassion I actually wear one.

[nemoaz]

Why not a man purse?Because of outside of the SF bay area or a few clubs in west Hollyweird, I've never seen a "man" carrying a "manpurse." Worse case, you look like a tourist or a dork with a fanny pack. With a man purse...

[MPanova]

Not that I would ever wear one but I thought I might give those who do an idea..If you don't want people to think its for a gun simply have someone stitch a Nike swoosh or Adidas logo on it somewhere in plain sight. Im pretty sure no one will think a shoe company makes a fanny pack for pistols

[vito]

I started this thread but now I am not sure I will actually get to use my new fanny pack. I tried it on, with my S&W640 inside, and it felt and looked fine to me, but my wife gave me unrelenting misery. As much as she hates guns, it seems she hates fanny packs worse. My 13 old son couldn't stop laughing at old dad with his "old man fanny pack". Maybe I should have listened to the naysayers who advised against using a fanny pack. I guess I can go back to just putting it in my camera bag and looking just as goofy as someone with a fanny pack!

[Cannonball888]

If you're not a girly man or a tourist type then wearing a black fanny pack will just scream "gun!" In that case an inconspicuous fanny pack like THIS (http://www.australiagift.com/toy_stores/fanny_pack_kangaroo.html) may just be the ticket for you.

[rdaines]

Wear the fanny pack a few times out in public and see how it feels. I've seen a few out here in the Phoenix area the pack week being worn by some pretty buff guys. They didn't seem self conscious.

[ecureed]

:confused:I live in a college town, and I see LOTS of fanny packs. When its summertime, and lots of people are in shorts, a fanny pack does NOT stand out.:uhoh:

What?? I also live in a college town and I never see people walking around with fanny packs!! Your best chance to see a fanny pack is to go over to the mall and look for the old ladies speedwalking inside. Fanny packs are just weird and not cool for dudes to be sporting around.;)

[arthurcw]

So let me see if I’m tracking all of this.

Don’t do it because it’s not accepted.
If people make fun of you, don’t do it.
Make sure you do only as fashion dictates and never go against it.
Bow to pier pressure so you can look cool.
It’s more important to look cool than be safe.

Yes, I do believe that has been the rally cry for many a great man throughout history; as exemplified by the great quotes that never were (thank God!):

“Let’s not shoot at their Generals, that’s just not cricket” G. Washington
“It’s only the Russians trying to go to them Moon. It’s not like EVERYONE is doing it.” J. Kennedy
“Paul, George, Ringo! I’m serious! We’ve got to cut our hair!” J. Lennon

Wear what you want and to **** with what others think. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid! Be your own man.

Now next we start a thread about carrying Hi-Points in a murse stoked with hand loads.

[.455_Hunter]

I live in Denver Metro, which is a very "outdoorsy" area, just like the rest of the state. I have found that the Mountainsmith series of "lumbar" packs (found at REI or similar outdoors shops) offer a very convient way to carry a fairly large handgun with out arousing any suspicion at all. Mine is bright red, and blends in perfectly, especially when I dress the part of the granola hiker dude with shorts, Chacos, hemp t-shirt, etc. It may not be the most quick draw unit , but is much better than an all black tacticool special that either makes you look like a dork or like you are trying to hide something.

Thanks,

Hunter

Mechanical Engineer
Eagle Scout
US Army Captain (98-02)

[Geronimo45]

Chacos, hemp t-shirt, etc. It may not be the most quick draw unit , but is much better than an all black tacticool special that either makes you look like a dork or like you are trying to hide something.

Careful, now. You get too hippy-flauged and the cops'll want to search you for weed.

Only person I've noticed with a fanny pack was on old-ish lady (late, early 40s - yes, everybody older than me is a geezer by default) - carrying meds there just before major surgery, as I remember.

You want deep concealment? Thunderwear/Smartcarry. The right kind of folk won't ask what's there. The wrong kind you might need to use it on. Or carry a gun under your afro... what movie is that? Seen the clip on TCM... no idea what it's for.

Don't wear a black one. Or one of those folders that clips to your pocket. Dead giveaways, both. Paste a sticker on it. One of those breast cancer stickers would do - nice and pink, harmless.

[R127]

Yeah, I can only wonder about people who are so wrapped up about so-called fanny packs, especially men. I've never known any straight man who pays that close of attention to fashion anyway. Who are they trying to impress? Is it single guys having trouble attracting a woman? Is it a metrosexual thing? Is it just that it's the in thing to worry about or poke fun at? All I see is a utilitarian piece of gear. Heck, it's hard enough to find pants these days with decent pockets, I could use the extra cargo space. I haven't had one of those packs in a long time because I generally pocket carry a Makarov and used a small daypack for everything else but I never wore one on my butt or my belly, I always wore them on the side and found them quite handy for holding an array of things that a man with an active adventurous life or some practical work to get done might find handy.

[nemoaz]

Careful, now. You get too hippy-flauged and the cops'll want to search you for weed. I doubt there are two cops in all of Colorado who could gives a crap about a hippy and his stash. CO is not like TX, brother. But good point, because hippyflauge may not be good in other places. I prefer vacationerflauge if I am in a vacation area (Cali, Fla, Arizona all work). If you are in some God forsaken hell hole where no tourist wouild ever go (basically most of the midwest) you can probably just tuck your gun under your flannel shirt anyway.

Now next we start a thread about carrying Hi-Points in a murse stoked with hand loads.No metrosexual carrying a murse puts a Hi-Point in it. A color coordinated Taurus... perhaps. But never a High Point.

I've never known any straight man who pays that close of attention to fashion anyway.You'll never make it on Queer Eye for the Packin Guy. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

[TonyB]

Yeah,sometimes I get grief over wearing a vest...I've worn vests since I was like 9.....it's kind of my trade mark....only in the past few years have 1 been carrying.I won't/can't do a fanny pack though......too fat...I don't need anything else out there in front.A buddy carries in one all the time..but somehow he doesn't look odd....he's always carrying a bunch of stuff anyway.I usually pocket carry a642.

[.455_Hunter]

Careful, now. You get too hippy-flauged and the cops'll want to search you for weed.

LOL- Very funny!

You haven't spent much time on "the mall" in Boulder on a warm Saturday afternoon. The cops would have to search 75% of the population. :-)

[glocktoberfest]

Vito , wear your fanny pack with pride ! Just make sure your shoes match your pack's color !

[Xenia]

My preference is this http://www.tommysgunpack.com/Product...?ProductCode=1 in a color other than blakc, of course.

This is what i have. However, I hardly use it because it is so awkward to have it on and sit for a meal at a resturant or wear it at work. Being a woman a fanny pack is not as big an problem as far as drawing attention. I had to buy it in black as that is the only way it comes in a left draw.

[Cannonball888]

Wear what you want and to **** with what others think.
Wrong. You MUST consider what others think. We are talking about CCW. If what you are wearing attracts attention whether it's because of bad or unusual fashion then you'd better rethink your set up.

[vito]

I'm going on a road trip next week and plan to use the non-fashionable fanny pack. My wife thinks I look like a idiot with it, but maybe that is just fine if everyone thinks that, and no one suspects it holds my S&W640. I'm 64, much older than most of the readers of this forum, have traveled extensively in this country, and served in the military for 24 years. I have never had the need to have a firearm with me (other than in specific situations while in the military) but don't want to find that the one time I wish I was armed that I'm helpless. Avoiding suspicion, including that of LEO's (when you live in a non-CCW state that is a constant concern), makes the innocuous fanny pack seem like the right choice.

[Alphazulu6]

Wrong. You MUST consider what others think. We are talking about CCW. If what you are wearing attracts attention whether it's because of bad or unusual fashion then you'd better rethink your set up.

Unfortunately this is exactly right and with our public perception my original post about the three suspicions a fanny-pack raises...all three I feel are unacceptible *sips Kool-Aid* :scrutiny:

I have looked around and seen no one but what looks to be "tougher rough individuals" with fanny packs where I live the past few days I have made it a point to note who they are that carry em. This obviously gives me the impression that they do not fall in the first two suspicions I would have about whats in there.. Cops aren't stupid either *sips Kool-Aid* :scrutiny:

Dont do it! Find another way to carry or another weapon than your 1911 your trying to fit in there *sips Kool-Aid* :scrutiny:

:)

[Tezcatlipoca]

Ill join in with the others. Fanny pack = gun.

Unless you're out backpacking, looking like you just came back from back packing, or use it rather than a pocket for you wallet people catch on. I live near a few major tourist areas and even tourists dont bring fanny packs any more. It's not really in my opinion a valid form of concealment as it sticks out like a sore thumb. Because it sticks out, it sticks in peoples minds and makes them think. Is he a hippy is he a tourist or does he have a gun. If a bad guy is thinkin youre packing heat you're a threat and youve got to go first.


Especially when it doesnt move like the rest of your body, looks to be stuffed so full it's going to explode, or is tactical looking.

The camelbak one is good because it appears to have a clear cut purpose besides stash a gun.

[WeThePeople]

Quit stressing out about it.

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I have countless carry options to choose from based on what I am doing. I am a pretty active guy (don't read that as physically fit!) and have searched high and low for different ways to carry as often as possible.

If you're going to be serious about carrying, you'll also have many options. Unless you do the same thing day in and day out, you'll need more than one choice. In fact it's likely that, like me, you'll need many options. If a fanny pack fits one of those niches, then so be it.

P.S. If any of you have figured out a way to carry while scuba diving, let me know!

[Oohrah]

I have the same mind set as Marty:)

[arthurcw]

Wrong. You MUST consider what others think. We are talking about CCW. If what you are wearing attracts attention whether it's because of bad or unusual fashion then you'd better rethink your set up.

Sorry, won’t drink the Kool-Aid.

If I cared what others thought, I would not be packing. It may make them uncomfortable.

Aside from a few Super Ninja Secret Squirrels who seems to always surface in Bruce Willis movies, I doubt any street thug is gonna have a clue what is in the fanny pack (or under a vest) and if they pick me to mug because I have an effeminate/strange article of clothing, good. That means someone less prepared didn’t get stung.

As far as being singled out for opening shots because of a strange article of clothing, I still think the only victims of the “shot me first” Vest (and by extension Fanny Pack) myth are the Rebel Guards at the opening of Star Wars Episode IV.

Mayhaps those who are so concerned about “looking weird" should take a few moments to themselves and give themselves a hug. You are special just he way you are. You don't need the approval of others.

Will I get yelled at by Stacy and Clinton? Probably. Do I give an airborne fornication? Nope.

[tradosaurus]

I would enjoy the Thunderwear carry method. ;)

It's the danger and excitement of having your gun barrel pointed at your personal barrel! :what:

http://www.thunderwear.com/images/bsecurity.jpg

[Ian2005]

I would think a more non-discreet method would be the use of a digital camera bag you can strap around a belt loop to your side would be one of the better choices. And sew a Nike logo to it and noone would ever suspect a thing. Sure you might not be able to retrieve that small pistol out in a record time, but it should be pretty quick with some practice. If any of your wife sews, you could even have them make you a similar small bag to do the same for cheap. And store bought cases are 1/5 the cost of "made for gun fanny packs".
As for Fanny packs, the one time I wore one in the outdoors, I remember just how comfortable it was sitting on my bum, but yeah the wife has given me enough grief over the idea, if only reinforced by VITO's experience to know that I'll never purchase one for daily carry. In the corporate world, I can just put it in my bag anyway, then lock in at my desk if I need to walk away (yeah there's a whole can of beans I know -it's all theoretical anyway as I don't have a small weapon yet).

Anyway, :banghead: On...

[shu]

This is a great thread. But the best line comes from Vito, who started it all.

"I tried it on, with my S&W640 inside, and it felt and looked fine to me, but my wife gave me unrelenting misery. As much as she hates guns, it seems she hates fanny packs worse."