Backpacking with a Firearm

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Barmcd

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Aug 6, 2023
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My son talked me into hiking the Lone Star Hiking Trail next year, we'll be doing about 90 miles over 7 days. Besides being a little worried about hiking that far carrying a backpack at 69, I'm concerned by the location of the trail to metropolitan Houston. It starts NW of Conroe and transverses the north side of Lake Conroe with numerous mid-trail access points along the way. This layout makes it very easy for miscreants to target hikers and make an easy getaway.

I need a way to carry a weapon and backpack that provides quick and easy access to the gun while also keeping it concealed. I normally carry using an IWB holster, but the backpack has a waist belt that will make that impossible. I carried a small day pack with a shoulder holster when we lived in Alaska, but this backpack is much larger and has a harness that goes across the chest making a shoulder holster problematic. Does anyone have a suggestion? I want to keep the gun concealed because I don't want to advertise I'm carrying. I'm actually thinking of carrying my 4" S&W 581 and a few speed loaders instead of my normal Springfield XD-S. EDC.
 
When I have taken longish, 4-5 day backpack trips and you feel every ounce, my typical sidearms have included my .22 LR Airlite 317 snub (Grand Staircase Escalante region) or my 638 Air weight snub with Buffalo Bore .38 Outdoorsman loads (Colorado Continental Divide area near RMNP), backed-up with a .22 LR NAA Mini. All have been pocket carried in my cargo shorts and accessible under my pack belt. Some newer packs (mine is from 2000, so NOT new) have front belt pouches that might work for something small, but then you are sperated from the weapon if you take off your pack.
 
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As much as I would love to have a 581- don't believe I've EVER seen one in the flesh- there is no way I'd pack one on a 90 mile hump....
Go with the XDS (if you dont have anything smaller), and a fanny pack. You can always move it around to find the most comfortable spot, it wont be slapping your thigh, it stays with you when your pack is off, and remains fairly accessible at all times.
 
I know something about backpacking. Don't take a firearm. It's just too heavy and not worth the weight. Look, I carry every single day. I get it. This backpacking trip is probably not the one time that you'll need a firearm. It's much more likely that carrying too much weight will make the trip a worse experience. Look, I had to go to Disneyland once with the kids. One time, I took them to a major league baseball game. I made it through both experiences without being armed and it wasn't because of a dearth of miscreants present. In those cases, I didn't have another choice except to not go. You have a choice, but choosing to carry might very well be a choice to cut the trip short or not make it.

If you're not already doing 30-mile weekend trips with a full pack, to make 90 miles, you're better off planning for 10 days and to do that, you'll want to plan on at least one re-supply point. If you're fit and not overweight, your final pack weight with water and everything should be no more than 20% of your body weight. If you're overweight, use your estimate of an ideal body weight. A gun and ammo are probably at least a pound and they're 100% useless except in an improbable contingency. Even in those circumstances, there are other defenses that can be improvised. You would be taking a greater risk to use your weight allowance for a firearm instead of first-aid kit components that are more likely to be needed and can't be improvised -- and for those who like to talk about "stakes" vs odds, the stakes could be just as high. Even so, you're probably not packing an EMT duffle bag because you want to get somewhere on your feet -- 90 miles in fact. Use your weight allowance for the essentials that are certain to be needed. If your pack is overweight, you should add a day of travel time for every 5% it's over the 20% of your ideal weight.
 
westernrover said:
I know something about backpacking. Don't take a firearm. It's just too heavy and not worth the weight.
Click to expand...
Wholeheartedly DISagree with this. We backpack a lot in the Cascades and Olympics and wouldn't dream of going out even on a day hike without a sidearm. I haven't hiked anywhere in the continental U.S. without packing at least a lightweight auto or j-frame. Where I am, cougars are quite common, as are bear, coyotes (even cantankerous mountain goats, one of which killed a hiker in the Olympics a while back), but most especially, tweakers and other two-legged miscreants looking for victims. We've had day hikers murdered even in the hills of King County.

If one or two extra pounds is too much to carry, one needs to get in shape for the hike.
 
Old Dog said:
Wholeheartedly DISagree with this. We backpack a lot in the Cascades and Olympics and wouldn't dream of going out even on a day hike without a sidearm. I haven't hiked anywhere in the continental U.S. without packing at least a lightweight auto or j-frame. Where I am, cougars are quite common, as are bear, coyotes (even cantankerous mountain goats, one of which killed a hiker in the Olympics a while back), but most especially, tweakers and other two-legged miscreants looking for victims. We've had day hikers murdered even in the hills of King County.

If one or two extra pounds is too much to carry, one needs to get in shape for the hike.
Click to expand...

Yup- There would have to be some pretty special reasons why I would not be armed with at least a minimal platform while backpacking. The emergency signaling benefit alone is worth the small amount of weight.
 
This is a surprisingly difficult issue, and I still haven't come up with a perfect solution.

@Blue Jays has part of the answer, in my opinion. I bought a 340pd specifically for the purpose, and it's light enough to be tolerable even in ultralight and "fastpacking" scenarios.

Where to put it is the trick. I haven't found any waist or shoulder holsters that work. I've had good success with a chest pack, but you'll need to adjust the sternum strap on the backpack - assuming it's adjustable. The draw, from a chest pack, is a bit slow, and most of them absolutely scream "gun!". I bought one in light blue, and attached corded earbuds in a visible location to try to make it look like a cell phone pouch.

I also carry in pouches attached to the hip belt, either integral with the pack or aftermarket add-on. I went so far as to make a stacked cardboard template of roughly the size of the gun to take with me to REI while backpack shopping. This obviously limits the size and weight of the gun, but even then, few packs have hip pouches big enough. Finding one of the right size, with a quick access method like a velcro pull tab, might be the best solution.

My last resort - and my primary carry method with a backpack - is to keep the gun in the lower pouch at the back of the pack. Both my multi-day "heavy" pack and my trail running "fastpacking" vest have such pouches. These have no zippers or buttons and "close" with just an elastic strap. They are meant, I'm sure, as a convenient place to stash frequently accessed items like gloves or snacks. They offer very little security, and getting to the gun without removing the pack requires some contortions. I just haven't yet found anything better.
 
455 Hunter and Blue Jays are right. The guns they cite are very lightweight and can fit in most pockets or pouches. Here are the weights along with some other very light gun options. IMHO, the best options would be the S&W 317 or the Ruger Max with NAA backup.
One gun only, weight top concern, Ruger LCP or LCP MAX
One gun only, big animals top concern, S&W 340PD

Smith&Wesson MODEL 317 KIT GUN, 22LR 8 rds - 11.8 oz
Smith&Wesson MODEL 340 P, 357/38 5 rds - 11.7 oz
Ruger LCP II Lite Rack, 22 LR 11 rds - 11.2 oz.
Ruger LCP, in .380acp, 7 rds - 9.6 oz
Ruger LCP MAX, 380acp 11 rds or 13 rds, 10.6 oz.
KELTEC P32, 32acp, 8 rds, 6.6 0z
NAA Mini, 22 mag, 5 rds, 6.2 oz
 
When backpacking I usually just carry a thinner autoloader Glock 48 at my usual spot 4 oclock or what I advise would be some sort of lightweight revolver in an appendix carry. Those handguns are easy to access and I have found them to be quite comfortable, even with a 40-50 pound backpack the waistbelt just pushes it into your gut a bit vs at 3 or 4 oclock the gun is against your hip.
 
westernrover said:
I know something about backpacking. Don't take a firearm. It's just too heavy and not worth the weight.
Click to expand...
No way in hell I would backpack that particular trail or any trail without a firearm. There are so many other reasons to have one besides protection from the human type predator.
OP there are many good choices in the compact or even micro area that would be easy to carry. Outside pocket on the pack is better than nothing at all...
 
Barmcd said:
This layout makes it very easy for miscreants to target hikers and make an easy getaway.
Click to expand...

Is there any record of this happening? Miscreants in urban areas seem to use vehicles instead of walking more than a few blocks.

On a hike of that length the phrase "Ounces become pounds" comes to mind to this old backpacker. Since you'll carry whatever you choose remember that you have to lug that weight the whole way (and that's a very ambitious schedule) along with the water you'll need to carry. You aren't preparing for an end of the world rabid gangs of cannibals scenario so trim the weight down to one spare. Also, what is "the boy" carrying? He should be carrying as well, or at least lugging the spare spare ammo.

For carry with a backpack, Hill People Gear's chest rigs have a great reputation. https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/1
 
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I will admit that most of my multi-day backpacking is done in truly remote areas that 99.9+% of the criminal element are too lazy to visit, with "what caliber for skin walkers?" being most applicable in some locations. The OPs compact XDS (9mm?) would seem most appropriate in his scenario.
 
Barmcd said:
My son talked me into hiking the Lone Star Hiking Trail next year, we'll be doing about 90 miles over 7 days. Besides being a little worried about hiking that far carrying a backpack at 69, I'm concerned by the location of the trail to metropolitan Houston. It starts NW of Conroe and transverses the north side of Lake Conroe with numerous mid-trail access points along the way. This layout makes it very easy for miscreants to target hikers and make an easy getaway.

I need a way to carry a weapon and backpack that provides quick and easy access to the gun while also keeping it concealed. I normally carry using an IWB holster, but the backpack has a waist belt that will make that impossible. I carried a small day pack with a shoulder holster when we lived in Alaska, but this backpack is much larger and has a harness that goes across the chest making a shoulder holster problematic. Does anyone have a suggestion? I want to keep the gun concealed because I don't want to advertise I'm carrying. I'm actually thinking of carrying my 4" S&W 581 and a few speed loaders instead of my normal Springfield XD-S. EDC.
Click to expand...

You'll have more to worry about any trouble makers from the small towns near the trail than anyone from the Houston area. Not because Houston is void of crime, just that petty Houston criminals wouldn't travel that far for a face to face robbery of opportunity when they already live in a "target rich" environment.

Having said that, back in my hiking/biking/enduro days of the Sam Houston National Forest, I carried a small pistola in a fanny pack. Nowadays, I'd try one of those Hill People Gear chest rigs shown by others.
 
As others have mentioned Hill People Gear chest rig is what you seek.

And a Keltec PMR 30, S&W M&P WMR would be great choices for what you are talking about if you have one. both are VERY light and only putting 25 rounds in the magazines help with overall function.

But the Hill People Gear chest rig will work with what guns you have as well. My suggestion of firearm above just comes from my backpacking/hiking thought of where possible reduce weight.
 
hso said:
Is there any record of this happening? Miscreants in urban areas seem to use vehicles instead of walking more than a few blocks.
Click to expand...

Sure crime happens all too often, everywhere. I’d come closer to expecting it the closer I am to Houston too.

This was my first hit googling it though.

generalacademic.com

Ambushed and Robbed on Houston’s Buffalo Bayou Hike-Bike Trail

Like many Houstonians tired of being indoors and pleasantly surprised by the cool weather last weekend, I took to our city’s increasingly well-developed hike and bike trails to seek fresh air and nature during these often too-isolating times. At approximately 10:30 in the morning on Sunday...
generalacademic.com generalacademic.com
 
Whatever's lightest. I've done some backpacking, but I like the places where there aren't trails and you're unlikely to even see other hikers, let alone miscreants. I always take something, but it's whatever I own that is the lightest. Of your two options, I'd take the... lightest one! I don't own an XD-anything, but I'm guessing it's lighter than a 4" K-frame?

A fanny pack will work if your pack doesn't have an accessible pouch available. If your pack does, just transfer your pistol from that to your pocket when you set your pack down. If you end up settling for sticking it in an "inaccessible" pocket, tell your son where it is, and if you are both together and need the gun faster than you can get your pack off, he might be able to retrieve it. Ideal? No. Better than taking off your pack and fishing for it? Yes.

I'd go for a fanny pack, because you can stick your snacks in it too. You can get one of those kydex trigger guard "holster" things if you don't have something better available already.
 
I hike a five mile trail twice a week. In addition to a ten pound water pack, i carry an lcpII and two extra mags in my front pockets (load is 68 grain xds (20 oz. total weight)). with all the other stuff (wallet, keys, knife, lighter) in those pockets, I wear suspenders to keep my pants up.

I can't even tell the gun is there.

luck,

murf
 
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