Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Backpack handgun holster?

Can anyone give me some information on what holsters they use for sidearms while backpacking. I am headed on a back country fishing trip into Griz country and will be carrying a Taurus 44mag ultra-lite. The pack I'll be using is an Osprey. There really isn't any place to carry a holster on the hip belt or shoulder straps that I can tell. I found one on the net that fits like suspenders on the chest. I have even considered mounting it underneath for easy access. Any help or info is greatly appreciated.

Don't have one myself yet but a few here have the Kifaru KU(ultralite) Koala. That is what I'm getting. I have a KU 3700 pack on order and when I get over that finacial bruising the Koala is next.

I've used a chest holster and shoulder holster with good results. Carrying a big .44 in a shoulder holster felt very lopsided, plus there's no guarantee that any old shoulder holster works well with a backpack. I like a chest holster better, and the only time it's ever been in the way was when climbing over a big fallen log. It didn't have any issues with the backpack straps.

I think Simply Rugged and Passport Holsters make chest rigs. I don't know the make of the one I used because it was a loaner.

I have used the Wilderness Safepacker and the Kifaru Koala. I prefer the Koala, but the Safepacker worked well and fit over my waist belt. Another option is the Hill Bros Kit Bag (www.hillpeoplegear.com). It's a smaller version of the Koala.

Scott

You wont run anything else after you try a kit bag. I had a Koala before and it does not even compare to the kit bag. A lot more comfortable and just the right size. www.hillpeoplegear.com

Another vote for the HPG Kit Bag. I had a Koala and while nice, found it bulky for my use. Prior to that, I ran a Safepacker for years that has been relegated to a travel case at this point. The chest pack rocks. Carries all my essentials including my handgun.

Is there anyway to put a holster inside of the HPG rig? Nothing fancy, just to cover the trigger and keep the pistol from floating around. Kind of like how the Koala has velcro for a holster.

There's not much room in there for a holster, especially if you have a larger gun. Once it's tight against your chest, there is no real way for it to float around. If you have any amount of gear in the pockets, that also snugs up the gun. I've not had "floating" issues and I usually carry a 3" S&W 60. By default, the trigger is covered.

Another vote for the Kit Bag. It's PERFECT in so many ways-----------comfort, accessibility, organization, size, price, USA made. Great for hiking, backpacking, mtn biking, and probably motorcyle riding (just haven't got the bike yet). I've got two Kit Bags, and recommend them with confidence.

A pistol won't really float around much, however if you're concerned, I'd suggest an Uncle Mikes IWB holster------the cheap ones with the pocket clip that completely collapse w/o a pistol. You could probably safety pin the holster inside the KB so it doesn't follow the pistol during the draw.

I'll have to keep that in mind. I'm just concerned that my gear in the pouch might snag the trigger. I wouldn't be putting anything too big in there. Just a Glock 30.

The handgun pocket is separate so there is no way your other gear could catch on it unless you put it in with the handgun.

I saw that it was but I'm just concerned the edge of a Leatherman or something like that creating a bulge and snagging the trigger.

There are lots of other handy spots in it to stash your Leatherman. I guess you need to handle one to see what I mean, but I carry a Glock in mine without worry.

That's good to know. That makes me feel better about that. How easy is it to open? The Koala has pull tabs but this uses the zipper pulls. Do they stay pretty well in the same spot or do they (the pull tabs on the zipper) flop around? I like the HPG, the suspension looks better and it doesn't cost extra. It's also smaller.

I've researched this a ton.....I have almost pulled the trigger so many times on custom leather rigs. El Paso Saddlery, Simply Rugged, Mernickle, etc.

I really think the Hill People Gear chest rig probably the best. It's on my short list of things to get this month. And honestly, I would almost make the gun choice fit the rig. I just don't see a monster 460 as deployable in a "Need to use it right now" situation.

I indend on running a worked over Ruger BH in 45LC with 310grn Leadheads.

Evan had a long list of what handguns fit in their bags from various users. Pretty interesting.

Think it's like $105 and it will work with many handguns, not like a custom El Paso Tanker....which was on my short list.

I've got a couple EPS Tankers too. One for a 7.5" BH/Bisley, and one for a 5" 1911. They're very nice, but don't have the versatility of a Kit Bag, lacking both the "in plain sight" concealment and all that nice storage for smaller items.

Best piece of gear for the money that I've bought in a long time. I cannot compare to Koala but I did not like the look of the x-back harness on the Koala compared to the kit bag. Get your hands on one and you realize how much thought went into it.

Versatile is right. Here's two more uses. My son carries his GB mini hatchet in his. The bag comfortably fits under a cheap orange life vest, over one of the more expensive three buckle type vests.

The bag almost never leaves my person.

Son, July 1 at a place called Sunrise:



Yours truly, two days ago at a remote cove on Waldo Lake:

My scandium J frame rides in a pocket type holster in a cargo pants pocket. Anything heavier would be a bother. When I've carried heavier, I go old west style with a gunbelt slung below the hip belt of the pack. Wth that said, the kit bag looks interesting.....how does it work with the shoulder straps on the pack?

Don

IME the Kit Bag really shines when used in conjunction with a backpack. It has included hardware that mounts to the shoulder straps of your pack so that the pack straps bear the weight of the KB while wearing a pack, rather than the KB's harness. Once the pigtail straps and hardware are attached to your pack, you can then quickly detach your pack from your KB when you want to dump your pack. BTW, in case I wasn't clear, the KB goes on first, harness and all, then the pack can go on and off at will while the KB stays on your chest.

The Kit Bag allows you to not only keep a large handgun readily and secretly accessible, but also most of the odds and ends that end up in shirt/pants pockets and the top pouch of your pack. It's VERY nice to have all that stuff right there on your chest in an organized fashion, and to avoid dumping your pack just to get something from the top pouch. IMO this convenience would make the Kit Bag a winner even for folks who don't carry a handgun.

Regarding comfort, I haven't found the KB's harness to interfere with pack fit. But my favorite pack is a Kifaru, which doesn't rely on the shoulder straps being snugged down to carry weight. I haven't tried the KB with my Barney's pack which has big cushy straps.