This might be an idea:
https://www.opticsplanet.com/condor-draw-down-waist-pack-gen-ii.html

 

I use a Hill People Gear Kit Bag.

100% comfortable with a pack for miles and miles. The back is nothing more than mesh. This is exactly what the product was designed for.

 

I use a Hill People Gear Kit Bag.
View attachment 677228 View attachment 677230

100% comfortable with a pack for miles and miles. The back is nothing more than mesh. This is exactly what the product was designed for.

You will be all set in case there is an airdrop of Chinese or Russians or Cubans
Or aliens

 

I just carry my usual way, iwb.

 

You must not use a hip belt with your pack then.

 

I have an Eberlestock X-1 pack (day pack) that will accomodate a hunting rifle in a built in scabbard. I also use that same pack when hiking and bow hunting. With the lower part of the scabbard folded up and tucked in, the upper portion will accommodate and conceal any handgun from a large magnum revolver with a 6" barrel to your G26. I sometimes use mine as such while bowhunting. With small guns, you need to put something below the gun. Not the fastest draw, but deep concealment isn't easy or comfortable when carrying a pack that has a hip belt.

 

If you have a rucksack or daypack with straps over both shoulders, on of those holsters that ride in the middle of your chest should probably work well, especially if you can rig it to the straps with buckles on both ends of the holster/pouch.

I bet there is someone out there that makes acomplete off the shelf product with both the pack and the chest pouch that would meet your needs.

If you don't mind something military looking there are countless possibilities.

Regards,
Happyguy

 

Chest holsters are very comfortable and they distribute weight easily making it less cumbersome.

I have a Quicklok which is my favorite. The straps are stiffer allowing a smoother draw.

I have the Gunfighters, Inc Kenai chest holster which is good but you have to draw quickly since the elastic is more stretchy.

One of the most versatile chest holsters is the 2Aholster since it allows for barrel up, barrel down or horizontal barrel carry. I do recommend the more durable heavy duty version, though. Mine is the lightweight variety.

All are veteran owned businesses.

Kenai is out of Washington
Quicklok is out of Alaska
I can’t recall where 2A is from


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Muzzleblast_MD (Instagram)

 

Forget the bird shot. Load up with good ammo. You don't need bird shot for snakes when hiking. Except maybe for cottonmouths on the river, snakes don't come rushing to attack you.

If you discover one closer than half it's body length from you, you'e not paying enough attention. But even then, if you just stand still it won't bite you.

Ever been to a west Texas rattlesnake roundup? Two or three guys in a small cage with literally hundreds of rattlers. They're wearing ordinary street shoes and socks. None of them get bit, becasue when a snake is near, they just stand still until the snake moves.

 

Steve, what part of the country you in and where are you hiking?

 

When I'm using a backpack I use something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/WYNEX-Camouf...0515805610&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvqmt=p&keywords=hill+people&qid=1578153407&sr=8-16

 

Why the need for concealment?

 

A lot of my rucking sessions are done near a public park that has soccer fields and the like. I simply don't want to spook the natives.

 

Perhaps this may be a game changer... I plan to get either a milsurp ALICE pack or a MOLLE pack in the near future. Would the straps on either of these packs be compatible with a holster? I haven't researched this myself yet, perhaps later this weekend.

 

Having humped ALICE all over the world you may want to consider getting a chiropractor on retainer. There are FAR superior packs out there.

The HPG Kit Bag I mentioned can attach directly to a number of the their packs.

 

I use a vertx transit sling pack for carrying off body. Comfortable and easy / quick access to my gun. They make a number of different types of packs , all with a CCW compartment.

 

View attachment 677292 View attachment 677294 I use a vertx transit sling pack for carrying off body. Comfortable and easy / quick access to my gun. They make a number of different types of packs , all with a CCW compartment.

I love mine! Best carry option for me.

 

I have a single sling bag that has a designated quick access pouch for a pistol. I simply pull the bag around to the front and its set up so that my strong hand can easily get the gun. I use this as an option when I do not want to OC with a church group or something similar.

 

I have a first generation Maxpedition sling bag that I considered using for quick jaunts at the park. It would be perfect for keeping the essentials near by, but never tried it paired with a pack before.

 

In all weather I carry on my hip in a good leather snap holster. I just make sure it covered by a long shirt. Just make it so others cannot see it. Don't want to scare the lefties. Also make sure which parks you can carry in.

 

Appendix carry. Right there under your control at all times. Nobody will know you have it. The 26 is good appendix carry gun

 

You don't use a hip belt either? You guys must not be doing much actual backpacking if you aren't using a hip belt.

 

Buy some pants with heavy duty pockets, a pocket holster for your G26 and carry it in your front pocket. If its too thick and heavy buy something like a Glock 43 or Sig P365 too.

What part of the country are you in?

If you live out west or in Alaska where bears a a real threat, not just an excuse to buy that 500 S&W or 10mm you have been wanting, I would think open carry would be the best choice. Same if you want to carry while hunting. But around here open carry needlessly freaks out some people so I carry concealed. I want to go for a hike, not make an in your face statement about my second amendment rights. I don't worry as much about printing while hiking though. The people that would mind don't notice, the few people that notice don't mind, I have a gun with me, everybody's happy.

I live in Georgia and have the same issue with packs. I do a lot of hiking in the GA/NC mountains, typically 4 to 8 hours. When its warm enough that I do not have to carry a lot of extra clothing I use a small, narrow pack with no waistband and carry my Glock 43 IWB at about 3:30. That is a little forward of where I normally carry but any further back and the grip starts bumping into the pack. Any time I need a larger pack with a waistband I pocket carry the G43 in a holster in my right front pocket. It is not ideal to pocket carry even a single stack 9 but cargo style pants are pretty common on the trail so most people don't notice. You can buy tactical pants with strong pockets that look like the sort of pants somebody would buy to go hiking, not to carry a gun.

I have a Hill people chest pack but don't use it. I bought it so I could try carrying a larger gun, my S&W 69 with a 4 inch barrel. Chest packs have a few issues when hiking. In the summer they get sweaty. Taking a layer on or off becomes a bigger hassle. The Hill People bag I have is heavy compared to most hiking gear (But very strong and well made). Getting the gun out is slow compared to an IWB holster The gun is carried sideways so it will be sweeping people you walk by. I don't see any possible way a gun could "Just go off" inside the bag but I still do not like sweeping people with a loaded gun. If you wanted to carry a larger gun a chest pack would likely be your best option but is overkill for a G26.

 

I've carried in a cargo pocket, but it beats the hell out of your leg. Considered drop leg but prefer concealed.

That Hill People bag looks promising.

 

I've carried in a cargo pocket, but it beats the hell out of your leg. Considered drop leg but prefer concealed.

I wear cargo pants but never use a cargo pocket for carry. For exactly that reason. The Glock 43 is right on the upper edge of what I would carry in a pocket. It has to go into my front right pocket in a holster with nothing else in the pocket to work. And I have to use a wider belt cinched a little tighter than normal to keep my pants from sagging but do not need to resort to a thick, stiff gun belt.

 

My son gave me a Western Images Leather Works chest rig, www,westernimagesleather.com, for my Sig P220. This is a sizable chunky firearm. The rig gives you the ability to place the rig below or above your ribcage, plus you can change the over the shoulder strap from left to right. This lets you alter the load and or balance. Of course you need a cover garment and have to keep it closed to remain concealed. Zipper or velcro closure leaves the weapon easily accessable. A smaller weapon than the P220 should conceal well and hardly be felt when carried.

 

Do the Hill People.
See Post #3

 

I carry an SP101 in a Safepacker holster, fastened to either my belt, pack belly band, or pack shoulder strap. I have met Rangers on the trail with this arrangement and they made no comment. Carried with Cor Bon DPX ammo, but might go with BB hard cast in the future.

 

Here in the mtns and near the AT, we hike quite a bit,. I always carry my 686 in an old (garage sale) Tex Shoemaker high-ride duty holster...throw a couple of Safariland Comp-II loaders in my pocket and I a GTG...I sling a small leather day-ruck with the essentials...this has been my daily hike load-out in 2 states for over 18 yrs...never had an issue with the belt-carry...holster places the butt up under my right elbow...very unobtrusive...of course I carried that way on-duty for many years, so I am used to it.

 

I guess I am just accustomed too my environment in Southern AZ, near the border (desert/mountains) where most people in the outdoors have guns on them. I have worn my 4" 686 in a Versa Max 2 under my backpack. It conceals easily that way. Presentation is not the quickest, but that's to be expected if you're wanting concealment and a backpack.

 

Depending on how your backpack is made, you can sometimes run a regular leather belt through the backpack's waist belt, which would then buckle at the front, around and on the outside of the backpack's normal waist belt. This might require some strategic cutting of material on your backpack to sneak your "over-belt" through the back and around to the other side, but if you can successfully do this, you can mount many holsters to the outside of the backpack's waist belt to open carry your gun at the hip. This is probably the best way to carry a gun while backpacking. If you'd like a photo to help illustrate, let me know.

The problem with this strategy (same goes for the chest packs some people are suggesting) is that when you take your backpack off, you'll need to figure out what you're going to do with your gun. For me, during the day (i.e., not in camp), I just take care that I'm never too far from my backpack. Once in camp, I would normally transfer the OWB holster and the over-belt from my backpack to my pants, although the process does take more time than I'd like. I tried a bellyband holster at one point, but it wasn't for me. Not enough support.

 

Depending on how your backpack is made, you can sometimes run a regular leather belt through the backpack's waist belt, which would then buckle at the front, around and on the outside of the backpack's normal waist belt. This might require some strategic cutting of material on your backpack to sneak your "over-belt" through the back and around to the other side, but if you can successfully do this, you can mount many holsters to the outside of the backpack's waist belt to open carry your gun at the hip. This is probably the best way to carry a gun while backpacking. If you'd like a photo to help illustrate, let me know.

The problem with this strategy (same goes for the chest packs some people are suggesting) is that when you take your backpack off, you'll need to figure out what you're going to do with your gun. For me, during the day (i.e., not in camp), I just take care that I'm never too far from my backpack. Once in camp, I would normally transfer the OWB holster and the over-belt from my backpack to my pants, although the process does take more time than I'd like. I tried a bellyband holster at one point, but it wasn't for me. Not enough support.

The chest packs are independent of the back pack unless you choose otherwise.

 

The hill people chest carry is my choice for conceaked trail rig. Works well in summer or winter.

 

Regular IWB holster. If you're hiking near soccer fields, you don't need a pack with 30lbs. of survival gear and a hip belt.

 

I carry weight in a pack for the workout. Usually cat litter or something similar.