I've tried several different ones over the years, each with hope that it would be the "ultimate" hiking gun. Black bears are extremely rare and would be the biggest thing I could encounter. It would be people that would be the biggest threat.
I decided that I felt under gunned with a rimfire, unless I'm going out with the intent to do some shooting for fun along the way. I tried my 3" S&W 60 that I thought would be perfect, but then decided it only holds 5 rounds and if I have to strap on a holster, I might as well carry something a little bigger. In the end, I tend to find an aluminum frame 1911 in a pancake holster rides tight to my body (I don't accidentally brush it with my arms), I hardly notice it there, but if needed, I can hit pretty well with it and it packs a punch. That seems to be what I like for now. But it's subject to change.
