SmartCarry for backcountry hiking?

[IDriveB5]

What holsters do you use for hiking?

I would like something that wont get in the way of the hip or shoulder straps of the pack. I also do not want to attach the holster directly to the outside of the pack, since its not uncommon for me to take off my pack and move around without it, either at the campsite or at streams to fill water, etc.

Firearm: SP101

 

[Brian Williams]

I would not suggest a Smart carry for hiking. The opportunity for chafing is real high. I would get a fanny pack or some type of belly pack. Wwhen I hike I like to have a small fanny pack that carries a basic first-aid kit and some survival rations and my S&W 60. I really never take this off except for major clothing changes or a bath.

 

[Grayrock]

My Smartcarry gets used when I can not conceal with a Fobus paddle or small of back Yaqui slide. It gets a little sweaty sometimes. If you have a stainless gun and carry an oil rag with you and wipe it down everyday you should be good. Doing a lot of sitting and standing with a Smartcarry can also lead to some pinching of the jewels. What about a crossdraw set up under a long cover shirt over a t-shirt?

 

[IDriveB5]

Grayrock- I have thought about that, but not sure which to get and whether or not the shoulder straps would pinch under the straps of the pack.


Brian- how do you manage the fanny pack with the hip straps of the pack?

 

[Grayrock]

The cross draw I was talking about, the one I have is a tooled leather belt holster for my Ruger Vaquero Birdshead 4 & 3/4" barrel. I tuck a T-shirt, then put the belt holster on my left side(about 10:30 or 11 o'clock position), then a long button-front cover shirt over and either a game pouch around my waist or a back pack on my shoulders and the gun is out of sight but easliy grabbed with my right hand.

 

[IDriveB5]

Oh ok, I get what you are saying. I think that would interfere with the hip straps of my pack.

Similar:

 

[WNC Seabee]

I use a SafePacker when backpacking.

here's a link: Safepacker

It's hard to tell from the website, but it's pretty ideal. There is a "flap" that wraps around the back side of the safepacker and velcros to the front, making an very big "belt loop" on the back. I wrap this around my pack's hip belt and hardly notice it's there.

Then, when I drop the pack for camp chores, fishing, etc. it's a super easy process to pull the velcro open, remove from belt and snap on an over the shoulder purse....ummm....I mean man bag.....style strap or attach to my regular belt.

Oh...and the best thing is it looks absolutely nothing like a holster so you don't freak out the crunchy soccer mom types. When asked about it (once), I reply that it's my 1st responder kit.

Draw speed, with practice, is more than acceptable.

 

[skinewmexico]

I'd get a gun that would fit in a hip belt pocket. Man, that looks like a heavy pack.

 

[Mainsail]

I have that very pack, and it’s not heavy. What you put inside it makes it heavy though. I just did a hike into the Wonder Mountain Wilderness here in Washington. There are no roads or trails in or into the Wilderness, so it’s cross-county navigation. On our first attempt I carried my Alaskan in a chest holster, the second time, when we made it to the lake, I carried my GSR in a military holster on the hip belt adjuster. I’ve never considered the safepacker.

The hike involves utilizing a (poorly) maintained trail along the Skokomish River for 2½ miles, then climbing the ridge to a saddle and then down to the lake. The hillside is ~45° or so for six hours, then a short jaunt down to the lake. In the Topo below, you can see the draw just to the east of Tumble Creek, we followed that up.


As we came through the saddle, we got our first view of the lake with the sunset lighting the ridge beyond.


Remote lakes offer great fishing rewards, and we easily caught several Trout up to 16” or more.





The lake is beautiful!




Looking east into the heart of the Wilderness:


Sunrise:

 

[IDriveB5]

Wow, that is some pretty country. A whole lot different than the old Appalachains. Did you pack that grill all the way out there?

 

[ScottyT]

I like a thigh rig for backpacking to get thing out of the way of my hip belt but still easily accessible. Day hikes I just go with my every day SERPA CQC.

Of course I have the luxury of OC, which some in less free states might not share.

 

[mljdeckard]

I also use a thigh-drop down rig when I'm carrying too much stuff on or above the waist for a regular holster.

 

[IDriveB5]

A thigh holster would be a good choice, but I would prefer to stay with a concealed holster if at all possible.

 

[Mainsail]

The Wonder Mt Wilderness is just that, wilderness. No roads or trails in or into the area, and no cell coverage whatsoever. This is some of the most pristine forest left in the US outside of maybe Alaska or Montana. Very few visit the lake that is just inside the boundary, fewer still ever set foot down in the heart of the wilderness. We found some fresh bear scat, still glistening wet, at the north end of the lake. The grill was left by some previous backpacker.

We did six solid hours of hard climbing to get to the top of the ridge. Looking up the hillside:


Looking down the hillside:


River crossing on the narrow log:


I cannot imagine why anyone would want to conceal while they’re backpacking, unless the law requires it. A concealed holster with a heavy pack would be ungodly uncomfortable, and slow.

 

[IDriveB5]

main reason for concealing is the trip to and from and encountering others on the trail, crunchy types. If I were going to a location as far out as Wonder, I would just open carry.
I really like the Alaska Chest holster idea. Might go that route for handgun hunting also.

BTW, thanks for the pics, never heard of Wonder Mountain before.

 

[ScottyT]

My buddy modified a cheapo Uncle Mike's nylon holster to look like a map case with maybe a GPS in it. He made a nylon flap to come over it with a clear plastic cover into which he inserted a random piece of map. It looked very convincing and he is able to comfortably conceal on his pack waist band.

 

[skinewmexico]

I have that very pack, and it’s not heavy.

It is when you're used to a Gossamer Gear Mariposa. I'd love to fish there though, wow! I really like the idea of a fake GPS holder.

 

[Weedmonk]

I usually carry a 4 inch S&W model 66 when hiking / camping. After trying a variety of carry modes, I settled on a bandolier holster that is worn close to the chest with a strap that attaches next to the belt buckle. I also have one for my other "woods gun" - a 6 inch S&W model 686. The weight of my total gear usually influences which S&W I carry.

 

[Curiousity]

cool

 

[lloveless]

You might want to look at simplyrugged.com. Look at their silver dollar pancake with the chesty puller attachment.

 

[loneviking]

Second for the chestypuller rig on the simply rugged pancake holster. Great holsters for revolvers, made by folks in Alaska who have throughly tested these holsters in all sorts of wilderness conditions.

And beautiful country! I'm just below Tahoe and have lots of mountains to wander in as well.

 

[Mickstix]

Awesome photos!! I didnt read through the posts, but is there any reason you can't open carry while out in the woods?? I'd think a nice OWB retention holster would be just the ticket for the "country" atmosphere?? Best of luck which ever way you decide!

 

[B yond]

Some folks in these parts are fond of thigh rigs. Personally, I use a cheapo fanny pack I got from sportsmansguide.com that also carries a water bladder. I let it hang over the belt straps from my pack. When way out there where I probably won't run into anyone, I OC in a nylon Uncle Mike's clipped to the belt strap, and when I put the pack down I just slide it off and clip it to my trouser belt.

 

[Maverick1950]

Concealed carry is very difficult while backpacking if the goal is to have ready access to the gun. If open carry is illegal, that's one thing; but if you're just worried about crunchy types freaking out, I wouldn't worry about it. As more people open carry, there should be less alarm about seeing a hiker with a gun.

I carry my Glock 20 in a Blackhawk Serpa attached to my hip belt using the paddle attachment. It is extremely secure, and I don't even notice it (the way you would with a thigh holster). Yet it is also easy to take off and attach to my pants when I take the pack off.