Kenai Chest Holster comfort with backpack

[coloradoan]

I'm not a big guy, and I'm worried about the top buckle on the Gunfighters Kenai holster interfering with backpack straps. Have any of you had any issues with this top buckle? I know there are some companies that make chest rigs with the top buckle just connected to the holster itself, but the Kenai has some features that I prefer compared to the competition.

 

[Luke S]

I'm pretty sure I had a Kenai chest holster for my S&W Model 69 (the 5 shot 44) back when that was my bear gun. I backpacked with it a lot with no issues. Very comfortable. I sold it because
a. I was switching to a Glock
b. I was starting to hunt more then backpack and a chest holster didn't seem to play well with binoculars on my chest.

So great holster, no sure about binoculars though. Lately I've mostly threaded a Kydex holster onto the left side straps of my Vortex binoculars chest harness. It's "kinda" a shoulder holster that way. But that experiment was with a 13 oz 357 snubnose. I don’t worry as much about a big handgun when I already have a very effective rifle.

Edit - I'm 5 ft 8 inches fir what it's worth.

 

[croben]

I’ve had one for five+ years now and it’s never been an issue under a pack, even with a heavier load.

 

[Raghorn54]

I’ve been running a Kenai (Glock 20) under my bino harness for about six years. Almost always with a pack on. For what it’s worth, haven’t noticed any discomfort from that top strap buckle, and I’m 6’0”. Looking back at pictures, it tends to settle in well to the middle of my pack strap.

No system is perfect (downsides include the extra straps). But I’ve been very happy with the retention and quick access using the Kenai, and have no plans to change.

 

[BigredRusch]

I ran one for a couple of years with a 20 10mm. I never had discomfort from the straps, which surprised me to be honest.

I went away from it because of the layers and straps across my chest. I sweat a lot and it was pretty uncomfortable to have the chest holster and a bino harness layered on the front and a backpack on the back with all the harness’s and straps.

I’m going to a backpack belt holster and maybe a minimal bino harness. We will see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ImperialBull]

I’ve ran one with a sig p320 xten for a couple years. Lots of use under a bino harness with exo and kifaru packs on multi day trips. No issues for me. I’m 5’10, 165 lbs, so not a large individual either

 

[spdski]

I’ve been running a Kenai (Glock 20) under my bino harness for about six years. Almost always with a pack on. For what it’s worth, haven’t noticed any discomfort from that top strap buckle, and I’m 6’0”. Looking back at pictures, it tends to settle in well to the middle of my pack strap.

No system is perfect (downsides include the extra straps). But I’ve been very happy with the retention and quick access using the Kenai, and have no plans to change.

Do you run it at about the same height as the binos sit?

I'm weighing adding one of these for my G20... hip carry is obviously out with a pack and I have to admit I've just been slacking on a defensive pistol while packed up.

 

[gabbott85]

I run one for my g20 behind my bino harness while wearing a kifaru pack and I've never had an issue with buckle placement. Sometimes I will run the Gunfighters drop leg holster as an alternative but I really like the chest rig

 

[croben]

Do you run it at about the same height as the binos sit?

I'm weighing adding one of these for my G20... hip carry is obviously out with a pack and I have to admit I've just been slacking on a defensive pistol while packed up.

I have it set so my bino harness sits on top of it, but the grip sits slightly out on the right side so it’s more easily accessible and splits the upper and lower straps of the bino harness. I’ve tried the holsters that attach directly to the bino harness, both underneath and behind, and I wasn’t a fan overall. I like the ability to drop my bino harness and still have my pistol on me. Only downfall is the extra straps when adding/removing layers. I used this for both G20 and smaller 9mms.

 

[DMTJAGER]

Gave any thought whether or not a well made high quality shoulder holster would work?

 

[Browtinemt]

I have had zero issues under bino harness and pack for around 6 years. I use it very similarly as croben described.

 

[Raghorn54]

I have it set so my bino harness sits on top of it, but the grip sits slightly out on the right side so it’s more easily accessible and splits the upper and lower straps of the bino harness. I’ve tried the holsters that attach directly to the bino harness, both underneath and behind, and I wasn’t a fan overall. I like the ability to drop my bino harness and still have my pistol on me. Only downfall is the extra straps when adding/removing layers. I used this for both G20 and smaller 9mms.

Yup - I run it the same as croben. Pistol out to the side between Bino harness straps. I just make sure there are no extra attachments/pockets out to that side. Has worked for me with a couple different badlands harnesses, and now the Kifaru bino harness.

Quick to get to - can draw with one hand, if necessary. But with both hands free, my draw involves the left hand reaching across and pulling some tension left on the Bino harness while my right hand indexes on the grip and draws. Then both come together on the press-out.

Also a big fan of the aggressive Talon grips (skateboard tape/sandpaper stuff) - less likely to slip if that right hand isn’t perfect, or covered in elk blood.

 

[brolo]

https://www.quicklockholsters.com/product/susitna-chest-holster/

I’ve used both this and the Kenai. I like the Susitna because it gets rid of the top buckle and the buckle right under the pistol grip. The Kenai buckle is right against the grip making it less comfortable and tougher to draw

 

[brolo]

I'm not a big guy, and I'm worried about the top buckle on the Gunfighters Kenai holster interfering with backpack straps. Have any of you had any issues with this top buckle? I know there are some companies that make chest rigs with the top buckle just connected to the holster itself, but the Kenai has some features that I prefer compared to the competition.

View attachment 1032675

I’m a slim 5’8”, 150#…you can remove the male part of the buckle and thread the webbing behind the female buckle to remove a little bulk (first pic, top and bottom/grip buckles). The buckle near the grip was still frustrating for me, so i sawed off most of it to effectively turn it into a rectangular loop. The top buckle doesnt bug me under a pack, so I left it as-is.

You could remove the top buckle and instead use a webbing G hook for something slimmer

https://www.etsy.com/listing/918334931/g-hook-2-inch-g-hook-black-g-buckle?ref=elp_anchor_listing

 

[spdski]

https://www.quicklockholsters.com/product/susitna-chest-holster/

I’ve used both this and the Kenai. I like the Susitna because it gets rid of the top buckle and the buckle right under the pistol grip. The Kenai buckle is right against the grip making it less comfortable and tougher to draw

Does the Susitna have any elastic in it?

Not have worn one (yet), I keep thinking the little bit of elastic in the Kenai will make a difference compared to the brands without. Haven't seen a lot of head-to-head comparisons, so I'm eager to see more posts like this.

 

[brolo]

Does the Susitna have any elastic in it?

Not have worn one (yet), I keep thinking the little bit of elastic in the Kenai will make a difference compared to the brands without. Haven't seen a lot of head-to-head comparisons, so I'm eager to see more posts like this.

The website description says “harness has a built-in elastic band”. I used to have the susitna for a glock 10mm and it was plenty comfy. When i switched to a sig 9mm, i got a new holster and accidentally bought the kenai instead of the susitna.

 

[Horsepuller]

I’ve been using a keni for 8 seasons. Love it. Have purchased multiple shell holsters for different guns depending on where I’m hunting. Often while bowhunting in dark timber I forgo binoculars and clip my rangefinder to the veritical step on the Kenai. Really like that.