Backpacking holster

[Pilot]

I just bought a really nice Gregory day pack for use on day hikes and overnights. I'd like to find a less expensive alternative to the Safepacker which looks ideal, but at $80 + shipping is almost the entire cost of my backpack.

Is there another product that I could attach to my shoulder strap on my chest that would conceal and protect the pistol from brush and prying eyes? I know the Safepacker is a high quality product and I will go that route if I have to, but it just seems excessive for a piece of cordura with a flap.

 

[Mainsail]

I hike and backpack with a military Bianchi M12 holster for my G20SF. I don't conceal in a city like Seattle or Tacoma, I'm certainly not going to go through the bother out in the forest. With the flap on the holster it's mostly concealed, is that good enough?

Anyway, the attachment system on the Bianchi allows it to fasten down over the belt on the pack, so no need to try to thread it through slots like you would with a standard belt holster. It works.

 

[Pilot]

Thanks.

I am more worried about brush, dirt, rain, etc. but still have quick accessibility. The Safepacker is perfect, I just don't want to spend the equivalent of what my pack cost me.

Also, I am not big on open carry, but I have in the woods where it is more accepted, so the Bianchi is an option. It would also be an excuse to get a Beretta M9.

 

[Bravo2uniform]

Back Pack Rig

This is what I can my Glock M-23 in:

http://www.survivalsheath.com/holsters/index.htm Look under "Chest Holster"

Works well and is concealable. I particularly like it when I canoe because it is accessable while seated in the canoe.

Kinda spendy like the safepacker, though.

 

[Mainsail]

^^^You wear that with a backpack? It looks painful!

 

[Pilot]

Oy vey. The Chest rig is even more expensive than the Safepacker. I am not against spending money for good products, but all I am looking for is a cordura nylon sleave with a way to attach it to my pack and be accessible.

 

[Bravo2uniform]

My words of advice...

I had this stainless Ruger GP .357 with a 4" barrel that I loved. I carried it in a cheap nylon holster when canoeing and camping.

One day I rolled my kayak...and that was the last I saw of Mr. Ruger. I didn't realize it at the time, either. I noticed down the river a ways when I saw the el-cheap snap was open.

I have been back to the scene of the disaster and dived for the lost pistol to no avail. It is lost, in all its stainless glory, on the bottom of a river.

I feel that if I had had a quality holster I wouldn't have had to make out a police report for a lost gun.

I can shake the chest rig upside down and the Glock won't fall out. I know they are spendy but you have to be careful that your holster doesn't work against you like mine did.

 

[Bravo2uniform]

Not really...

^^^You wear that with a backpack? It looks painful!

No, it's hardly noticeable. Good point, though.

I guess it would noticable / painful if you used a chest strap on a big back pack, though. I use it mostly with a two day pack and I don't use the chest strap on the pack.

Bad thing is, to carry concealed, you must wear two shirts. Fits nicely under a life jacket, though.

 

[Pilot]

I wear my sternum (chest) strap always when I backpack, so that's a no go. Seems like the Safepacker is it or a thigh rig which still has the gun visible to others.

 

[x2501]

I wear a fanny pack with the FP hanging over the backpack buckle. Put the fanny pack on first The tight pack belt holds the fannypack up. When you take the backpack off the gun is still on person.

 

[mtnkid85]

Here is something Ive considered, using this 5.11 pouch to somehow rig between your two shoulder straps as a somewhat diagonal sternum strap. It would defintealy take some fidaling to make it work though...
Could also possibly be kept "fanny packable" to create a little summit pack once your in to where your going.

Anybody on the trail, would just think its a map/camera pocket... which also makes me wonder why do you want to conceal in the woods?


5.11 video of it on a pack they make

 

[Mainsail]

 

[EVIL]

safepacker...

I know it seems expensive ... but people seem to have no qualms about shelling out $70 for Crossbreeds & custom pancake leather holsters when the cost of materials is $15-20

...either spend the dough or cry when your beloved $500+ pistol goes careening down a rivine, canyon, waterfall, lake, river, etc... or learn how to make holsters and save the money.

I make quality pancake IWB & OWB holsters and have no qualms about buying a safepacker, because it is a niche holster for a specific, non-EDC purpose that has a pecular construction not easily replicated at home (neoprene, cordura...)...and I know what goes into the craftmanship of a quality holster, and they are worth the "xtra" money.

If you dump your custom 1911 into a cheap unkle mikes' nylon hip-holster and expect it to survive rugged outdoor adventures...well it will suffer the same fate as B2U's poor Ruger, the poor guy ...

Hope you find your holster zen ...good luck!