Hill People Gear Kit Bag info needed

Kit Bags ARE noticeable, so, not advisable for trying to get a gun into a declared gun-free zone, but, notably, there are knock-offs being marketing as trendy urban/club wear, so, they are not that far out-of-place, even in urban environments, among the herbivores. I always recommend rewarding the original developers of an idea, so, have no idea about the particulars of any of the knock-offs.

First Spear is the vendor who makes HPG’s rugged nylon gear, and, First Spear has made some very interesting small packs, of various sizes and shapes, but their line-up has been trimmed, in recent years.

The Kifaru Koala is not a knock-off of the Kit Bag, but an independent development, also made to a very high standard.

The Safepacker, made and sold by The Wilderness, can be worn, with a strap, cross-body. I am carrying a service-sized revolving pistol, in a Safepacker, in that exact way, today, as I am about town, on various errands. (I have a small autoloader in a pocket, too.) One could also use one’s own straps to rig a Safepacker to be worn as a small daypack.

www.thewilderness.com

Eberlestock makes very high-quality nylon gear, too. Some of their stuff might serve your purposes, perhaps by re-purposing a binocular pouch to be a pouch for a small pistol.

Makes me glad I live where I live, its commonplace to see people open carrying on the trail or anywhere on public lands. It is even not out of the ordinary to see open carrying in town, so this never has really been a consideration.

Are you wanting to not be noticeable on the trial or are you thinking after you are done hiking not being noticeable with it in town?

If its the former, you could always buy a binocular chest case like hunters use and use it for your carry pistol. Have some molle sewed to the chest side of the inside of the binocular pouch and attach a simple kydex holster for your pistol. People would just think you have binoculars.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018073689?pid=518747
Here is one, but there are a great many options you could consider at any sporting goods store.

When I hunt I have my binocular case on first, and my pack goes over the top of the straps of the bino case, the sternum strap of the pack I'm wearing goes across just above the top flap on the bino case.

It should be common and within the law for people to carry while hiking weather its in a liberals area or not nevertheless you could put a micro 9mm or 380 in your pocket or a non lethal idea is to carry bear spray.

GE-Mini-Gun said:

On the trail...where we would be hike brings in some (A LOT) of people out of Northern VA...read DC suburbs, they have been known to call the local police on people open carrying. Once back in town, I'm GTG.

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I assume you are within your laws in carrying on the trail?

If so, and people are doing what you say, it sounds like the gun owners in the area need to just promote their liberties by open carrying on the trails. Not much the cops can do, and they will get tired of getting called out to question citizens within their rights. We don't have to be belligerent about open carrying but on hiking trails especially gun owners should exercise their rights and put an end to this nonsense. And if I got hassled by the cops several times for exercising my rights I would be contacting their superiors and letting them know that their dispatchers need to be taking down names and contacts of the callers who call an emergency line for a non-emergency and start assessing fines to pay for the wasted use of manpower.

But, I'm getting away from the topic, sorry about that. I think what I suggested in my previous response would work for you.

I have two HPG kit bags, one for hiking and one for fishing. I got tired of constantly rearranging. I like them a lot.

I have a HPG chest pack and like it very much. No one would know if you are packing unless they're familiar with the pack. And what you have in your pack is nobody's business.

I have one, like it a lot and highly recommend it. It may not be the best option for urban carry since it will be out of place and stand out. But anytime you're in a setting where backpacks are the norm it fits right in and works great for carrying a gun.

I've used mine on hikes in National Parks where carry is legal, but it is best kept concealed. I also volunteer with a SAR team and often use it on searches. On some searches it is a good idea to carry. Most of the time we are for looking for people assumed deceased and often in areas around homeless camps and drug infested areas.

The last search I participated in was in a wooded area behind a truck stop where a 20 year old girl came up missing. They were working on the theory a trucker murdered her and dumped the body. It was a pretty rough spot and I was carrying in my chest pack. There were 6-8 other guys from another team wearing the same packs. I never asked, but am certain they were all carrying as well.

I don't love chest packs but for reasons wore the HPG one with several things including a full sized pistol for a while. It's fine. I do not think its a lot more comfortable/less-intrusive with a ruck than it should be.

I also hike and backpack plenty: so with that interference WHY can't you have things on the beltline? I have done plain old IWB with a full sized ruck, also done a pouch (think Safepacker) attached to the ruck belt, then transfer if I will be away from the pack a while or a distance, or a fannypack worn backwards, ruck goes on top of that (layers and vertical)

My fannypack (also worn for runs, at the gym) has two pockets so "normal stuff" goes in the outer one and even people around me a lot have zero idea there's a gun, light, Izzy, etc in the back of it.

Which leads to the next point on concealment; these things (yes, even the front-fannypack) are things non-armed backpackers have. They don't stick out at all. The chest packs are Unusual so if there's a reason to think you might be armed, or just paranoid landowners, etc. then lower profile seems good to me.


(I have SO had guys in pickups with shotguns arrive when I was doing nothing wrong, not on their land, etc and anything that looked too tactical etc might well have spooked them into /pointing/ the shotguns, so I very much like to remain low profile. Concealed carry is a tactical advantage).

They have 2 versions. This is designed to look a little less tactical and more runner friendly. I may end up with a 2nd one like this for more urban settings. Plus it is a little lighter weight.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

I currently have this. The webbing is useful for carrying my GPS and phone.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

Right, the only people who will suspect a gun are the ones who don't care because they are probably carrying too. I've never had anyone ask about mine. But there are 2 zippered pockets. I keep a handgun in one compartment, and other stuff in the other pocket. I figure that if anyone ever asks me about it I'll just unzip the pocket without the gun to show them my hiking supplies.

I still don't use mine in normal urban settings. One advantage of the chest pack is being able to carry a bigger gun. In urban settings I use a smaller, easier to conceal conventionally gun that I carry IWB.

I am on the fence of ordering a Chesty Puller harness from Simply Rugged for my pancake holster or a Hill People setup for a Ruger GP100 5”.
Anybody want to push me in a direction?

jmr40 said:

They have 2 versions. This is designed to look a little less tactical and more runner friendly. I may end up with a 2nd one like this for more urban settings. Plus it is a little lighter weight.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

I currently have this. The webbing is useful for carrying my GPS and phone.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

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I've also got the recon bag that I wear when hiking with a back-pack, especially when the pack has a waist belt and won't work well with holster carry. I've run into lots of other hikers and nobody's noticed, or at least let on that they have. I also wear it sometimes mowing on my tractor as it's convenient to carry a pistol, cell phone, Leatherman, flashlight etc.

SSBN617b said:

I am on the fence of ordering a Chesty Puller harness from Simply Rugged for my pancake holster or a Hill People setup for a Ruger GP100 5”.
Anybody want to push me in a direction?

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Unless HPG has added a newer, larger size to their line-up, I do not believe that any of their Kit Bags will accommodate a 5” GP100. You may want to communicate with them, to verify fit.

Their larger Attache might fit a 5” revolver, but it is not purpose-built as a chest rig.

I've used them extensively for backcountry stuff, orienteering setup, match ops, etc. They do not scream "gun".

Thanks Rexster

Here is the HPG chest pack that I use when hunting. I added the bino and water holder. I attatched a knife and sheath to the bottom. Plenty big enough for a full size 1911 in the rear pouch. They are pricey but very good quality.

M12 holster attached to the pack belt. As long as you aren't breaking any laws the police cannot stop you and demand you stay and talk with them. Yes, even if someone calls them.

There are two reasons I don't like the HPG packs.

1. If you ever need to draw from the pack, you will need to remember to contort your off-side arm in an unnaturally elbow-high position to avoid shooting it. If you believe you can do that under stress, it might not be a concern for you. They used to have a video demonstrating this contortion but I can't find it now.

2. Heat. If you plan to do any serious hiking you will sweat down your back where your backpack rides. Put another pack on the front and the nice open area that lets your torso breathe is now covered and sweating as well. Far more hikers/backpackers experience health threats due to dehydration and hypothermia than any threat a gun will solve. I know hikers that carried their camera gear in a front pack for short hikes, but not for long hikes, challenging terrain, or backpacking.

My wife uses a Versipak Maxpedition and absolutely loves it. She wears it for hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and general out with friends stuff.

I did reach out to them concerning a GP100 five inch barrel but I guess they were too busy due to the holidays. I will try again.

Get a Gregory backpack if you want a heavy duty backpack. Gossamer gear for cutting edge lightweight.

Scuba diving companies sell cordura pouches that go on the belts of a BPW for storing marker buoys and such.

A kydex Glock 23 holster can be sewn right into one.

Old binocular case also make discrete OWB carry rigs.

Only kinda sucks when you hike into a town that insists that packs stay outside of restaurants and shops (you smell bad, and your pack is often why). So now your pistol is unsecured. But those areas generally are safe to drop your pack into the pile outside. Nobody is going to mess with it. And your pack isnt the only one "loaded".