Hill People Gear Kit Bag

[Dave Markowitz]

I've been looking for a comfortable way to carry a pistol while hiking, especially when wearing a backpack that has a waist belt. Last week I decided to try out the Hill People Gear Kit Bag, which is a chest pack intended for packing a handgun concealed while on the trail. Today I used it for the first time on a hike for a couple hours, and I am very pleased with it.

Here are a couple of pictures:





I posted a longer, detailed review on my blog, here. In summary, it's the most comfortable way I've ever packed a gun. I just wish that it wouldn't draw weird looks if I wore it around town.

 

[packpike]

Can you take a photo of this on while wearing your pack? I participate in a 4 day 30+ mile men's hike 1-2 times per year (next one in Oct) and I carry IWB. This chest pack seems like a good idea, but I can't picture how it will fit with the shoulder straps of my pack connected over my chest. I don't want to have to take this off every time we stop for a break.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

HPG has pics on their website. Scroll down on this page.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I have two of 'em, a regular Kit Bag and a Runner's Kit Bag. The Runner's setup is to good that I got the same harness for the RKB. Great stuff! I primarily use mine for camping and hiking but I sometimes do wear it out for my nightly walk. True, it's not inconspicuous but at night it's hard to see it.

The Kit Bags really are roomy! Occasionally I use mine to CCW an HK USP45 Tactical with a rail mounted Surefire X300 Ultra light. That's a pretty big gun.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I was able to put my 5" S&W Model 625 (N-frame) in my Kit Bag.

 

[Mainsail]

I dislike them for two reasons.

First, you have to contort your off-side arm in an elbow high unnatural position to keep it clear of the muzzle during th draw (watch their video). You will need to remember to do that in a stressful situation.

Second, I have trouble getting zippers to work (jacket or backpack) when my life isn't in jeopardy. There's always something getting caught in the teeth and locking it down tight.

I hike with a Bianch M12 holster attached to the backpack belt. It works so well I wonder why there's even a market for the chest pack.

 

[bainter1212]

Thanks for the review. I have been eyeballing one of these for cycling.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I've had zero problems getting the KB unzipped. You do have to practice the draw until you're not sweeping your arm but it's not difficult. I'm guessing (and correct me if I'm wrong, Mainsail) that you've never actually tried a HPG Kit Bag and are just basing this on the video and/or thought experiments. It's really fast and easy to draw from. I agree that it's hard to beat a naked holster on a padded pack belt but that's not an option for everyone isn't even legal in many places. IIRC in Texas you can CCW but not OC a handgun.

 

[Mainsail]

I've had zero problems getting the KB unzipped. You do have to practice the draw until you're not sweeping your arm but it's not difficult. I'm guessing (and correct me if I'm wrong, Mainsail) that you've never actually tried a HPG Kit Bag and are just basing this on the video and/or thought experiments. It's really fast and easy to draw from. I agree that it's hard to beat a naked holster on a padded pack belt but that's not an option for everyone isn't even legal in many places. IIRC in Texas you can CCW but not OC a handgun.

No, I've never owned one. I used to carry a Ruger Alaskan in a chest holster but found the gun grossly heavy and the gun & holster terribly uncomfortable. No matter how hard I tried, and I really tried because I had so much $$$ tied up in it, I just couldn't get used to anything on the front of the pack. Sold the gun and gave the holster to someone here in the forum.



Other hikers with whom I hiked tried carrying their camera gear in chest packs and found them too hot and uncomfortable. It doesn't have to even be a hot day and I have sweat running down my back where the pack lies, now add another pack to the front? For a casual stroll maybe, but for day-long hikes with steep terrain, you'll end up soaked and dehydrated. Front packs are nothing new, but you don't see them on the trails much- there's a reason for that.

Once I went to the Bianchi M12 on the pack belt I found it far more comfortable, safer, and easier to access. I actually have two of them, one has the flap and the other has the thumb-snap in place of the flap.



I have nothing against the HPG pack, but for where I live there are better options. I think the HPG is a LOT better than what some hikers do- put their gun inside their pack. We had an incident with a very drunk Native American on horseback who held a small hiking group at gunpoint, all the while screaming at them and making threats. One of the hikers had a small handgun inside his pack but no way to get to it under those conditions.

Like anywhere else, situational awareness is the best thing you can have.