Runners, do you carry?

[Shorts]

Just what the title says, do you carry when you run.

I do a lot of trail running where I end up way back in the back somewhere by myself and that makes my husband (and every now and again, me) uncomfortable. I don't (but should) carry my cell. I use to (but don't) carry a pocket knife. I hardly like having to wear a tshirt - I like running without much bulk. Sometimes my dog is with me. I've considered carrying my Beretta 86, but it's too bulky to strap to me.

Anyhow, just curious to hear what other runners do for any kind of protection (no, not an ivitation for the "condoms" comment).

I completely enjoy running with nothing, but the time I need it is the time I don't have it. What are your thoughts?

 

[ruger270man]

I bet if you had a very light gun, such as a keltec, or a kahr PM, you could put it in a fanny pack, and have the fanny pack to your back, instead of forward on you. And make the strap nice and tight so it doesnt bounce around. Its not going to be the quickest rig, but its there if you need it.

 

[KLR]

Small, relatively light handgun in a fanny pack just left of center. On me, I put it on my left hip bone and cinch it down. I actually carry a G-19 rather easily. You might consider one of the ultralight S&W revolvers.

Not sure if this would work as well with a lady's hips- I know your holster requirements are typically different.

 

[Old NFO]

.38 spl S&W Airweight in a small fanny pack right of center. It also contains my DL/CCW, $5 and a cell phone. And yes, cinch it tight... I didn't learn that to start with... /grumble

 

[Blue Line]

You might try a running holster. There are leather ones but the one I have is some kind of breathable material (codura maybe?). It’s like a wearing a cummerbund, basically a Velcro waist belt with a holster attached or mine has a pocket in it to place a small auto or revolver. I forget who made mine, maybe uncle mikes? If you don't like wearing a t shirt this might not be for you although. Typically I wear two, one under one over the belt.

try shooting systems, although this may be too bulky for you. Thier running holster is on the main page.

www.shootingsystems.com

 

[Owen]

I have a Camelback flashflo, that holds my G17 just fine. It gives me about a liter and a half of water, and cinches down pretty nice, with very little bouncing around.

 

[CB900F]

Shorts;

I don't run, but I do bicycle. Since I do it for exercise, and I carry, here's why I do what i do.

I don't have the latest, greatest bicycle, I've got a $45.00 pawn shop special. I don't have a super scandium lightweight wonder gun, I've got a USPc. Howcome? Because if I'm doing it for exercise, then I'm literally getting more for less. More energy expended with a non-tech bike & a heavier firearm. Without the cost of a super-bike or a wonder-gun.

I ride to work & back to home, therefore the distance remains the same as long as I take any reasonable route. Same with the up & down factor. So, if I want more exercise, I don't ride past home, or work, but I can make it a tougher ride, or in your case, run.

Examine your motivations for running, & decide accordingly.

900F

 

[Pilgrim]

I'm too old and too fat to run. I still walk briskly an average of 2.5 miles a day. I carry a Para Ordnance P-14 .45 in a regular Uncle Mike's Kydex paddle holster and one extra magazine. I wear a fisherman's vest with a first aid kit, radio/CD player, water for my dogs, pepper spray, cell phone, and GPS receiver.

Pilgrim

 

[alpineman]

If you don't like to run with much "bulk", this probably won't help, but...

I trail run here in KY and I always wear my Camelback Mule. I've had it forever (from the time before I was a gun owner!) It's on its last legs, but it hauls everything I could need.

The bladder (of the Camelbak .. not mine) holds 100oz of fluid - you could run all day on that. I don't know how many cu/in of space it has, but I always take along my cell phone, TP (when you gotta go, you gotta go ... don't act like it's never happened to you!), a 1st aid kit, space blanket and other sundries. It has a key clip.

There's a sleeve-style pocket right behind the bladder pocket, and it's big enough to hold pretty much any full-size handgun. I run with a Springfield XD-40 with one spare mag and a light.

Again, that's quite a bit of weight, so if you're used to running without anything like that, you'd probably feel like you had an actual mule strapped to your back. It works for me, though. I like to think the extra weight improves my endurance. Ok, maybe not, but it's a nice thought...

 

[Dan Morris]

When I trot...walk, getting ready for hunting season, I carry a 357 in a shoulder holster. This area has been known for bear and cat......not likely I'll ever use it but it is not concealed and few people are out at 0430! Just don't want to get chewd on.
Dan

 

[MillCreek]

Back when I used to run and carry at the same time, I used one of my Bianchi Knock-Out fanny packs. The holster design really minimized flopping about as I ran, and I was able to carry my wallet, keys and cell phone in the fanny pack. Being on the other side of the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry from you, I see a goodly number of runners over here with fanny packs.

 

[roscoe]

I have a P32 with a clip and it stays snug when clipped to my running shorts and underarmor (with the gun inside the waistband and the gun against my skin at about 4:00 oclock). It has never bothers me, or bounces around too much in the underarmor, but it does get a bit sweaty, so I wipe it down with one of those rags impregnated with oily stuff. I don't like running with fanny packs, and never go further than 8-10 miles, so I just carry one bottle with my off hand if it is hot. The Wilderness makes a running fanny pack specifically for firearms that carries two bottles and has a quick-opening gun pocket.

If I had to do trail runs in bear country, or even where dogs were a problem, I would carry a .357 in a Wilderness fanny holster.

 

[Shorts]

Thanks for the input guys. I was leaning towards a fanny pack of sorts. As mentioned, if it is snugged down, it shouldn't be a bother. I can handle exta layers on my waist, hips and thighs. Plus it is where I can get to it quickly, which was a Con I saw carry a BUG on my ankle. That would restrict my movement should I need to get away and draw at the same time.

I don't like bulkiness on my upper body. As it is, I cannot use my left arm other than some shoulder and elbow control, therefore it is already dead weight when I run. So, therefore, its very diffucult to keep form and stay comfortable when I run long distances. That is my motivation to stay away from bulkiness. If anyone questions how tough it is to carry a dead weight arm, let me know, I'll give you some things you can try next run out to simulate it - not easy.

As for my motivation to run, I do it for rec and exercise (then weight lifting and stationary bike when the run is over).


lol you know, I wish I could just strap a tactical thigh holster to my leg and be done with it I'd get some funny tan lines.

I'll look and see what's around for a good stable fanny pack type. Us girls often are able to strap a cell phone to the back of our sports bra. I'd be great to just strap my pistol to my back, like Bruce Willis did in Die Hard when he duct taped the gun to his back.

 

[thorn726]

Ack! we got a thread about a raped jogger over in berkeley tribe- VERY annoying.

"unless an attacker is 21 feet away and your pepper spray or gun is in your hand already it is useless"

i told them about the 5 foot watergun test, we'll see if anyone takes it.

 

[RickH]

A girl I used to date used an old walkman case, big old walkman-the type that played tapes, to conceal a small am/fm radio and a small colt .25 auto she had inherited. She liked to hold it in her hand when she ran, but it did have a clip and a belt loop that she could have used too.

 

[couesloco]

I hardly like having to wear a tshirt - I like running without much bulk.

Shorts, is something like this out of the question?

http://www.survivalsheath.com/holsters/index.htm

Survivalsheath makes a couple varieties of chest holsters. Just thinking about the need for quick access...I have been looking for something like this for my biking treks in Cochise County - the illegal alien alley of the SW.

Couesloco

 

[Shorts]

couesloco, no, that's not out of the question. In fact, that carry position is what I originally had in mind, I just didn't know of anyone that actually made such a beast. I thought a fanny pack was the closests I'd get to a comfortable carry.

For the most part, I'd like to keep my torso from being wrapped up with a belly band of sorts. I'd also like to keep weight off my shoulders when running especially the left one.

In case you guys are wondering if I'm afraid to do a little "work", no, I'm not. After my accident, I actually had to workout for months wearing a full blown halo vest, lined with wool, in S.Tx I don't wanna feel "that" again