[AutoFan]

Good news / Bad news.

First the good news - I received my FL CCW permit in the mail today (Yaah!).

Bad news - the CTAC I ordered won't work with the lightweight shorts and shirts I wear most of the time (not to mention I still need to lose a few pounds for IWB to be comfortable).

So I decided to go with a fanny pack holster. Who makes the best ones? I'd prefer it to be fabric, and not black, if possible.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bumper]

Not sure who makes it, but clipse's Million Mom March makes one that nobody would ever suspect you were carrying a gun in. The one I have is a bit too big (thick) and rarely use it. It's made by Three Peaks but I would not necessarily recommend it. You might also consider a belly band for those occasions when a holster simply won't work.

 

[acparmed]

I have a belly bag but I rarely wear it. To me it's just like a neon sign that says, "HEY!! Everybody, I have a gun!!" I prefer to be more discrete.

 

[Gary Brommeland]

I have a belly bag but I rarely wear it. To me it's just like a neon sign that says, "HEY!! Everybody, I have a gun!!" I prefer to be more discrete.

Amen, brother! Unless you're wearing one at the beach or poolside (an environment where a lot of non-gun people also wear them) it just screams GUN!!!
I was having lunch w/ a buddy yesterday ( a former LEO Range Officer). We watched a guy walk by in the restaurant wearing a fanny pack. My friend and I just looked at each other, chuckled and said the word "amature" simultainously to each other.
As long as your shorts have belt loops, you can carry a decent sized weapon with a good IWB holster. I've got guys running all around FL (as well as the rest of the world) in shorts and tees wearing 5" 1911's.
Whether you buy it from me, Del Fatti, Alessi , Bulman, Sparks or whoever - always keep in mind that a top quality holster is an investment - it will give you years and years of really fine performance. A cheapie was just an expenditure of money.
FWIW, Most shooters have a holster graveyard in a box shoved in a closet or under the bed. It usually has a wide range of cheapie holsters and related paraphenalia - none of which works all that well. When you add up the cost of all the cheap stuff, you'll soon see that it would have been far cheaper to have simply bought a good holster to begin with, not to mention that you would also then have something that you can actually use.
I hope that this bit of advice (learned the hard way myself) helps! Good luck!

 

[Tom357]

First, consider that if you are going to carry, you may need to modify your wardrobe a little bit to address the issues that carrying poses. For example, cargo shorts instead of lightweight shorts, and a heavier cotton shirt that doesn't print the way some lightweight shirts telegraph every bump and fold that lies underneath. You may need to go up a size larger than you normally would for your carry clothes.

I respectfully disagree with those who suggest that a fanny pack screams "Gun", to the degree that I think it screams gun only to those who carry (a small percentage of the population) and pay attention (an even smaller percentage). The vast majority of the people you meet don't carry and walk around unaware of their surroundings. It doesn't scream "Gun" to them. It may scream "Geek" or "Tourist" to some, but you can use that to advantage.

I think the Million Mom March bag is one of the best bits of irony to come along in a very long time. If you are still inclined to carry in a bag, consider a Safepacker from Wilderness Tactical. With practice, the draw is the same as or faster than a fanny pack. It is less familiar than a fanny pack and no one gives it a second glance. You do have to dress so that what appears to be a hiking bag doesn't seem out of place. It is also good for car carry, and there are accessories for making it part of a briefcase or dayplanner, if those fit your situation better (debates about off-person carry aside). Just an alternative to consider.

I have heard very good things about a fanny pack called something like "Tommy's Original Gun Pack" or something like that. I don't know if they are still available. They were being made by one guy out of his garage.

 

[Darkmind]

"Best Fanny Pack Holster?"


Why this one of course, silly.

Pic taken by clipse of THR.

 

[havegunjoe]

Fanny packs work fine for CC.

I agree that you must learn to modify your wardrobe if you plan to carry. You must also resign yourself to owning several different holsters to fit different occasions. I own IWB's, a belly band, pocket hoster, and a fanny pack which I disagree, they do not scream "Gun".

I don't know where people live where the wearing of a fanny pack announces a gun, but it sure doesn't around where I live. I found one that works great and is not oversized. I wish I could remember where I got it, I found a place on the net after a little searching. It looked good on the model dispaying it so I took a $35 chance. I figured it was not the end of the world if it didn't work out. Maybe the really large ones scream gun. To me those scream Dork louder. :smile:

 

[scbair]

I have two leather models, made by "Roma." I dunno where to send you to find them, though; I picked them up on two different occasions at local gun shows. I bought a small model for a .38 snub, then picked up a medium to fit my Kimber Ultra CDP.

I think the leather makes them appear a bit more "yuppie" in nature, as opposed to a "ballistic nylon" model. Frankly, I use them for specific, but very different, applications.

The one holding my .45 also holds 2 spare mags, a compact flashlight, and whatever else I think may come in handy. It serves as a "transport" case, for a sidearm that may spend more time locked away in a vehicle than on my person; the .45 is comforting on long road trips.

The smaller model works well t carry a lightweight snub (M642) and a speedloader. Its the most comfortable carry means I've found for my walks around the neighborhood (good, pleasant exercise), or when I'm traveling (in a state that recognizes my CWP, naturally) and want to use the hotel's health/exercise facility.

Normally, the snub (or an even more compact sidearm . . . only under duress!) rides in a pocket holster, with a speed strip or two in a hip pocket.

 

[clipse]

"Best Fanny Pack Holster?"


Why this one of course, silly.

***snip***

Pic taken by clipse of THR.

Dang, you beat me to it.

 

[Gary Brommeland]

Hey Guys

I respectfully disagree with those who believe that a fanny pack does not scream GUN!!!
The average guy walking down the street in condition white may not notice, but he is not a threat to you. Who is a threat? A graduate from a "Scumbag University" (ie a prison).
You can bet that these guys know how to spot a gun in a fanny pack at least as quickly as you can - and they are your principle threat.
Picture this: How about you're in a local bank (or convenience store, ATM, fill in the blank...) and a bad guy with a shotgun comes in to rob the place ? I can pretty much predict the outcome - he will see you as a threat and smoke you on the spot - without a micro seconds' hesitation. Your velcro will not even go "rrrip" before his shotgun goes boom.
A person who has acclimated themselves to an environment of extreme violence (whether as a soldier in combat or a guy just released from Scumbag-U ) has learned that hesitation is his worst enemy. He will make you dead before you have even begun to react.
For this reason, you MUST keep your weapon concealed to the highest degree that is practical - as a "defender" you are legally/morally bound to be reacting to a threat that is ALREADY in progress. You are behind the 8-ball to begin with. To lose your only possible advantage (surprise) is absolute suicide.
'Sorry to be so graphic, guys. However, I would rather hurt your feelings than find out that you got yourselves killed. It is not my intention to be offensive, but rather to help you stay alive. Good luck.

 

[Darkmind]

Dang, you beat me to it.

Sorry I had no idea that you were even in this fourm.

 

[Euclidean]

I think it depends on where you live.

In Austin Texas, due to the wild popularity of messenger bags, PDAs, Ipods, and hiptop computers not to mention the tons of tourists, fanny pack carry would be very much under the radar, especially if you were wearing a UT or "Keep Austin Weird" T shirt.

Austin is Kerry Kountry. I guarantee you very very few of those fanny packs have guns in them.

Now what you don't do is wear your Glock T shirt with a fanny pack. And yes I've seen that just recently as a matter of fact. I used to think it was just a myth but I seen it myself in Wally World.

For better or worse little gadgets are inflitrating our society and the sight of a pouch or pack on someone's waist is becoming a lot more common. If you think it's a giveaway now wait another 3 years and it'll be a common sight in your neck of the woods.

 

[Al Lowe]

I have a belt bag by Uncle Mike's. It works for such things as Makarovs, PPKs and the like. And it doesn't have the tell tale bulge you get from some guns. When I used it, I noticed only one person who even gave it a second look. An off duty cop, who looked at the bag, looked at me, and for whatever reason, kept on going.

However, since the smallest pistol I own now is a Taurus PT911, I've had to come up with a different way to hide my guns. I've looked at a lot of cover garments, and so far, the best, and least expensive (an important combination to me) has been the Scandia Woods Sportsman's vest.

So far, it's worked out real well for me. It's not as loaded with pockets as say a photographer's vest, but it has more than enough for my use. I have not yet tested it's ability to cover a shoulder holster, but it covers my typical OWB holsters quite well.

I'm getting ready to order another one, in slate blue, just so I can have two different colors. :biggrin:

 

[RSSZ]

I WILL NOT own anything related to CCW that has even a small piece/strip of Velcro anywhere on/near it. When i'm after my weapon,extra mag,flashlight,speed loader,etc.,etc.,the last thing that I want to do is give away my position or allert the BG that i'm diggin' around for something to "hurt" him with. That is why even my CCW holster will not have a snap or any other kind of "noisemaker" on it. I adhear to the same philosophy for hunting. This is just one respectful opinion.------

 

[CombatEffective]

I just don't know how many non-gun people would even recognize fanny packs as a carry method. Most folks are pretty oblivious to such things. They scream gun to us because we gun people.

I bought an Uncle Mike's version of a fanny pack this past weekend. I was going on a river trip with some friends, and I wanted carry a pistol, but a holster wasn't a really good option. I would say that I kayaked the river, but I spent a good bit of time chasing my kayak and dumping water out of it. My fanny pack did just fine (carried G27) and I even went through one set of class II rapids sans kayak since it didn't see fit to wait on me.

I doubt that I will use the fanny pack as a primary carry option, but there are applications when I think that it will work just fine.

 

[jdsumner]

My concern with fanny packs is the ease with which they can be boosted. In Florida, a lot of tourists (if they call it 'tourist season', how come we cant shoot'em?) wear them. Tourists tended to keep money and credit cards in said fanny bag. And that tends to draw goblins. A new trend arose amongst those who would gain from you being seperated from your bag. Running up from behind you, a lad of great footspeed and excellent hand/eye coordination could pop the buckle and be to the corner of U.S. 301 and Rhodine Rd before you can say 'darn, and my wallet was in there'. So, some manufacturers put the buckle more towards the front. Now, our fleet footed little goblins simply cut the belt as they went by. Same results for you though...'darn, and my wallet was in there'.
Amongst the weekend gunny types I have the pleasure watching at some of our local fine dining establishments (Sonny's, McYuks, Toco Hell), I have witnessed on more than one occassion someone going to the potty and leaving their bag draped over the back of their chair. One, I want my pistol when I go potty, just in case. Two, thats a good way to have someone walk out with your bag ...'darn, and my wallet was in there'.

There is probably a place and time for the fanny pack. I just personally dont see a lot of times when a fanny pack would beat a good holster. Whether its iwb, or owb, proper selection of wardrobe goes a LONG way to carrying the pistol comfortably and discreetly. And thats the name of the game.

Now, that being said, I just this morning picked up a little item that I plan on using for a while and then posting the results for me. It is the Maxpedition M-5 waistpack. It has a tunnel that you thread your belt through. 'Bout the size of a large camera tote. More pockets than a pool table. Very secure. Very quiet zippers. Holds my new Kahr Arms E9 like a champ. So far, seems a very reasonable way to carry a small/medium handgun when a cover garment may draw more attention than the waistpack. Is it THE most ideal way to carry? No. Do I feel it has a place? Yeah. Am I still gonna order a Max Con V from Brommeland? Yeah.

So, on your journey for the best fanny pack, take a quick look at Maxpedition' s M-5 waistpack and a Wilderness Tactical belt.
Hope this assists you.

Dan

ps..just read CE's post above (kayaking). That is the place/time for a fanny pack.

 

[Monty]

I'll throw my hat in with those who think you can get away packing in a fanny pack; you just have to be smart about it. It has to not look out of place. Ties and fanny packs don't go together, Glock Tees and fanny packs scream gun. I've got a little Northwest Security Products (think that is the name, appears to be out of business) pack. It isn't very big, fit a j-frame or small pistol nicely. I've wore it lots of time and don't believe I have ever been made. When I wear it is when it would look normal to wear a fanny pack anyway. Shorts, tee shirt and fanny pack....no problem. Now more often than not I'll be packing IWB or front pocket but for those times when I want to use the fanny pack and it matches what I am wearing and where I am at, I'll use it and not worry for a second about being made.

Wonder how many of those who worry about getting made with a fanny pack have a big ol tactical folder clipped to their front pocket or Glock or S&W stickers on their truck :wink:

Monty

 

[CombatEffective]

The version that I bought has a belt loop in it as well. Even if the buckle on the fanny pack were popped it would still be on my belt.

Of course if wearing a belt why use a fanny pack when you could use a holster? Like I said in my first response in this thread my fanny pack would only be used for special applications. I usually wear jean shorts, which most of the time would allow me to carry with a holster, but I do have some lightweight casual shorts that a heavy duty belt don't work with well.

 

[Euclidean]

I've also thought about my comment about the little gadgets and I had a realization that if a man my age were walking around with a Sony PSP pouch on his belt, no one would think anything of it. Of course I am drawing a blank as to what one could store in there as it measures roughly 7 by 3 by 1.

I bet there's something. A little semiautomatic mousegun probably...

 

[Kentucky]

I sometimes carry a Keltec .32 and found a perfect 'fanny pack ' for it for when I wear a tucked in shirt rather than a loose out of waist shirt. I bought a Quantaray camera fanny pack from Ritz Camera. It has a zippered bag area in rear and a smaller pouch in the front to carry some extra mags. The case is about 5x7 inches, black and the front pouch is dark green. I had an old baseball cap with an inch long Nike embroidered 'swoosh' on it which I cut out and glued on the front of the fanny pack. The whole rig now looks as if it was made for sporting/jogger/whatever use and doesn't holler CCW so very much.