[flaman]

Hi All,

Soon I'll be heading out for an extended hiking trip to Montana & Wyoming and I'm looking for a carry rig for my Ruger Alaskan 44 Magnum.

Which would be your choice & why- Diamond D Leather Chest Holster or Kenai Chest Rig?

 

[AK_Stick]

Have you hiked with a gun on your chest? I don't find it very comfortable, and it gets in the way a lot.

Kenai is cheaper, Diamond is nicer (and I live close to them so I've had them make me several custom holsters over the years)

That said, I do not like that Diamond D went away from the thumb breaks to a over the top snap that I can't smoothly release, so I'd go with a Kenai if I had to pick one or the other.

 

[flaman]

Have you hiked with a gun on your chest? I don't find it very comfortable, and it gets in the way a lot.

Thanks! So what would be your carry method?

 

[AK_Stick]

I carry on my belt, or with a belt drop if I'm going to have a pack with waist straps on

 

[flaman]

I carry on my belt, or with a belt drop if I'm going to have a pack with waist straps on

Oh dear God... no belt carry for me. I've got no a$$ so I'd be dragging my Alaskan on the ground

 

['Ol Grandad]

Hi All,

Soon I'll be heading out for an extended hiking trip to Montana & Wyoming and I'm looking for a carry rig for my Ruger Alaskan 44 Magnum.

Which would be your choice & why- Diamond D Leather Chest Holster or Kenai Chest Rig?

I went with Diamond D. Love it!
Then again, I've a Kenai for my SBH .44 mag.. So there's that.

 

[porschedog]

Oh dear God... no belt carry for me. I've got no a$$ so I'd be dragging my Alaskan on the ground

I use a smart cart to haul my Alaskan (those who have one will understand).

 

[DirectDrive]

I have a Diamond D for a G20
However, I think the Kenai would be faster to deploy its cargo.

Look at the attachment points.
There is a difference between those two designs other than Kydex vs. leather.

 

[redrick]

I have a Diamond D for my Ruger . It is very well made and I like leather .

 

[Jonny Yuma]

I've got one of each. I've used the the Diamond D to carry a .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk on a five day trip in the Wind River range a three day trip in the Pecos Wilderness. I found it to be very comfortable and it supported the weight of the Ruger very well. Total weight including 12 rounds of .45 Colt was 4.5+ pounds.

I've carried a couple of different guns including a G 20 in a Kenai chest rig on several multi day trips in the Gila and Pecos Wilderness. It's very comfortable as well. I use the Kenai rig on day trips and 4x4 trips as well. It's impervious to sweat , rain and snow. It's retention is excellent and doesn't require a strap. Of the two it's my most used by far. Total weight including 16 rounds of 10mm ammo is 53 ounces.

 

[SouthVA]

I’ve used a Kenai holster for carrying various handguns around the farm, including a G40 MOS, G21, Walther PPQ M2 9mm 5”, and a 6” 686. I most often carry the G40. The holster shell for the Walther is too tight, imho, as I have to really work at it to get the gun out of the holster. The others have good retention, and release cleanly when drawing.

I have no experience with the Diamond D, but it looks like a fine rig. My closest experience to it would be a Galco shoulder holster (vertical carry) which I bought a couple of months back for my 1911; I’ve also been carrying it on hikes around the farm to get used to it. It is very comfortable, and I look forward to wearing it out and about as the weather gets cooler. I bring this up not as a substitute for the chest holster, but because it’s leather, and it gets wet from sweat. I could see where it could possibly stain a shirt worn under it.

The Kenai, being made from nylon webbing and kydex, doesn’t seem to have this issue.

 

[warbow150]

I have a Diamond D for a Glock 20. I used to live about 15 minutes from their store in Alaska. They’re very nice, well made holsters and the folks at Diamond D are squared away.

I never use mine because I hate carrying guns across my chest like that, even with a pack on. Diamond D makes good quality leather stuff, I also have a 45-70 rifle cuff and a belt from them, so their quality is not the issue. I just don’t like chest holsters.

No idea about Kenai, but I’m not a fan of Kydex.

 

[flaman]

I have a Diamond D for a G20
However, I think the Kenai would be faster to deploy its cargo.

Look at the attachment points.
There is a difference between those two designs other than Kydex vs. leather.

Good point! Thanks DD

 

[flaman]

I have a Diamond D for a Glock 20. I used to live about 15 minutes from their store in Alaska. They’re very nice, well made holsters and the folks at Diamond D are squared away.

I never use mine because I hate carrying guns across my chest like that, even with a pack on. Diamond D makes good quality leather stuff, I also have a 45-70 rifle cuff and a belt from them, so their quality is not the issue. I just don’t like chest holsters.

No idea about Kenai, but I’m not a fan of Kydex.

Thanks warbow,
How do you like their shoulder holsters?

 

[LaneP]

No experience with Diamond D but I do have the Kenai for my SRH .454. Very strong retention.

 

[warbow150]

Thanks warbow,
How do you like their shoulder holsters?

I’ve not used one of their shoulder rigs so I couldn’t say. Galco was always my standard for shoulder holsters, and truth be told, I don’t like them much better than I do chest rigs. Great quality, don’t get me wrong, just not something I ever warmed to for long term serious use. That’s just me, though.

 

[CBennett]

Diamond D

 

[Deaf Smith]

Hi All,

Soon I'll be heading out for an extended hiking trip to Montana & Wyoming and I'm looking for a carry rig for my Ruger Alaskan 44 Magnum.

Which would be your choice & why- Diamond D Leather Chest Holster or Kenai Chest Rig?

Here is how I carry my .44...

Simple El Paso Saddlery 1942 tanker rig. Lined.

 

[jr24]

When I used a chest rig, and still had a Redhawk, I had a simply rigged with the straps. It was ok, but I would have loved either option listed in the OP.

looking at them, I’d prefer the kenai, I like kydex and nylon over leather. Lighter and doesn’t get soaked if I get wet or sweaty.

 

[SargeMO]

Kenai- impervious to water, dries out faster and the draw is consistent throughout.