Buying a day pack - carrying a side arm

[Tragik]

Hi all,

This is my first forum post but I've been on here quite a bit for info. It's a great resource and seems like a tight community!

I want to buy a day pack for archery / rifle hunts and was about to pull the trigger on the Kuiu Venture 2300. While I haven't purchased it yet, I did buy their bow holder and "Quick Draw Gun Holder" for rifles. My concern is that whatever day pack I buy, I would like to carry my side on the hip belt with a custom kydex holster. In Mountain West states, that's typically my 4" barrel Taurus 44 mag, and in coastal Alaska, it's my S&W 500 4" barrel (which is an X-frame and very heavy but will probably replace my Taurus in the lower 48 due to Taurus reliability concerns).

I'm having a hard time finding a day pack that is compatible with a hip belt holster. The only one I've found is the Exo K2 2000, but paying $550 for a 2000L day pack isn't really an option for me. Any other suggestions?

I would get something like the Kenai chest holster but I already have my Badlands bino harness on on my chest - also, I've heard the Kenai chest holster moves a bit too much when trying to pull the revolver out.

Any input would be appreciated - thanks!

 

[Jskaanland]

I run malice clips, so any belt with webbing will work.

https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Tai...ocphy=1027622&hvtargid=pla-570439691001&psc=1

It looks like this-
View attachment 85183

 

[JohnnyB]

I tried using holsters on my hip belt but the belts aren’t rigid enough to prevent the gun from binding on draws.

I now use the Kenai chest rig under my Badlands bingo harness and formerly under my FHF harness. It’s not a bad set up unless you are adding or subtracting layers of clothing, then it’s another harness to remove and put back on.

I have tried most every option I could find for carry with my pack and there isn’t a great option, but I am sticking with Kenai for now.

 

[Xxtavixx]

I got a kifaru antero with waist belt for this. Using their gun bearer for rifle. The new shape charge should hold the weight better since it has the internal stays. Expensive but not $500 expensive

 

[AustinL911]

GunFightersInc Ronin holster with their Micro Aggression panel is what I'm running now with my 329PD. It's sort of a hybrid dropleg/hip holster. DOES NOT attach to your pack belt (so it stays with you at all times) and is unbelievably comfortable. It doesn't wear on your leg like a traditional dropleg holster does. I love the thing.

 

[*zap*]

You need a holster on the pack hip belt and another on your pant belt for when you take the pack off, or a drop leg. That's if you do not want to wear a chest rig.

I would probably use a drop leg, take the top leg strap off and adjust the belt loop up high and the bottom leg strap should be just below your crotch. Top of handgun while in holster would be just below the pack waist belt.

Not like in the movies......

 

[GregB]

Get a pack with pals or MOLLE on the belt. If you can get a paddle holster for those models you just slip it on the pack belt, and it makes it quick to take off and put on your waist when you drop the pack that's what I do with my .45. For my .357 I run webbing through the pals to attack my holster. I'll dig it out and post a picture today it will probably make more sense.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'd get a different holster, like a paddle holster. When I wear my daypack, my G20 is on my hip with the waistbelt above that. When I wear my SG pack I put it on the pack's waist belt. Been doing this for years without any issues.

 

[Chico103]

I have the Kuiu icon pro 1850. Use it as a day pack but it’ll haul a whole deer or speed goat. I’ve put a regular OTW leather holster (with regular belt loops) on the packs belt/cinch strap thats on the outside of the hip padding. Sits perfect on there.


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[Mike 338]

Not sure if attaching a side arm to a pack that gets intermittently dropped, is in keeping with the idea of self protection. Wasn't there a guide that was just killed by a griz because his gun was with his pack, which wasn't with him?

 

[*zap*]

Not sure if attaching a side arm to a pack that gets intermittently dropped, is in keeping with the idea of self protection. Wasn't there a guide that was just killed by a griz because his gun was with his pack, which wasn't with him?

Concur. If you do that you need to be wearing a second holster on your belt and you need to transfer the handgun EVERY time you take the pack off. Drop leg if worn correctly is a very good option. You want it up high.....not on you thigh but on your hip.

 

[*zap*]

This is my drop leg, the top goes thru the pant belt and the bottom strap goes just under the crotch. Top of pistol is just below the pant belt. There is no problem with pack hip belt interference and no problem wearing this rig comfortably for a whole day.



These type rig are fully adjustable and will fit a wide variety of handguns.....that is a full sized pistol with a mounted weapon light. Has a spare mag pouch which can also hold a light or tq if you carry your spare on the other side.

 

[Tragik]

Thank you all for the replies - I decided to get the Kuiu Venture 2300. Given how heavy the S&W 500 is, I will wear a chest holster (most likely Kenai). I'll then put my Badlands bino harness on top of the holster, assuming it doesn't interfere with me drawing the revolver. If it does, I'll have to figure something out with the bino harness.

 

[Clinch]

I know it is not what you asked at first, but I’m running a Hill People Gear Heavy Recon Kit Bag with their bino pouch on it. Works pretty well.


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[PA Hunter]

I have the diamond d guides choice holster for my Casull and it can adjust to go around my bino harness.

 

[Ross]

Can’t comment on the holster but the chosen Kuiu Venture 2300 is a solid daypack choice. Have many days afield with it since October and is holding up well.

 

[Tragik]

Thanks all for the replies and great advice. I ended up going with a GS chest holster. I would imagine that it's similar to the Kenai Chest Holster but only about two-thirds of the cost. I'll test it hunting in two months but for now, I would recommend it.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

My current setup (not in brown bear country) is a S&W J-Frame in a nylon OWB holster with a retention snap and steel belt clip. It fits well in the front webbing portion of my KUIU 1850, which puts in in the appendix position, which is also how I conceal carry.

It’s easy to move it from the pack belt to my pants belt and back again with the metal clip, and with the retention strap it can’t fall out even when moving the pack around with the waist belt unbuckled.

For brown bear territory, I plan to carry my S&W 629. I think moving it from your pack belt to your chest is the only thing that really makes sense, I’m trying to find a way to incorporate my KUIU bino harness into the setup so I’m not carrying a bunch of extra stuff. Something like a holster being attacked to the pack belt with a pair of QR buckles and a piece of Velcro to keep it from flopping around.

Set your pack down, uncoil your binos and set them on your pack, unclip your holster and clip it into the bino harness.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

GunFightersInc Ronin holster with their Micro Aggression panel is what I'm running now with my 329PD. It's sort of a hybrid dropleg/hip holster. DOES NOT attach to your pack belt (so it stays with you at all times) and is unbelievably comfortable. It doesn't wear on your leg like a traditional dropleg holster does. I love the thing.

This is my setup currently with my 686 4" (likely 329pd soon) that's about 40oz. However, I did swap out the wide thigh strap with a thin 1" strap which is much more comfortable and easier to adjust for me. Just used it for about 30 miles various days with a handful of overnights, but it feels very comfortable. I like not having to think about swapping between pack and belt holster as I'd hate to get lazy and "just that one time" when I don't is when I'd need to use it.

 

[damnbluedog]

Another option is to get a dropped and offset paddle holster. The paddle will fit between the webbing and the padding on my waist belt while wearing the pack. When you drop the pack, remove the holster and slide it into the waist belt on your pants.