So Fanny packs or hip packs or over the shoulder packs, are all the rage with the younger female crowd, so she wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb. My wife carries her Ruger LCP in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster in her Vera Bradley hip pack she bought at Target.

 

If that’s what she’ll carry, look at De Santis, Galco, Wilderness Tactical, Sneaky Pete, Hill People Gear, etc.

 

A lulu lemon over the shoulder pack would hold a j frame and no one would look twice

 

You may want to get her a pocket holster for a coat pocket, for cooler or winter weather.

 

I carry a j frame in a descants pocket holster. it's great. Also, fanny packs don't scream I have a gun. Especially not on women.

 

She's not going to pocket carry. Her pants have worthless pockets.
It has to be the same thing she picks up and puts on the same way all year long or she'll stop doing it when it's too hot for the coat or whatever.
I've been looking without much success. When I bought a fanny pack for a pistol 20+ years ago there were many quality offerings. Now I see a ton of crap.

 

Galco

 

I second Galco. I've had mine for over thirty years and it still works fine. tom.

 

JMO,A Fanny Pack can be a ***** to draw from in a hurry ! Try the wife out with many IWB holsters available, And if a Belt slide holster also.

 

JMO,A Fanny Pack can be a * to draw from in a hurry ! Try the wife out with many IWB holsters available, And if a Belt slide holster also.

I guess you are not married

 

If she can't pick it up and clip it on its not going to work. Sweat pants, dress, etc. won't work with an IWB. This is just the evening walk of a mile or a few after dinner. This isn't dressing for work.
I think the fanny pack is the only option. She's not going to dress to carry.

 

I’ve used the 5-11 at times, it’s pretty flat, molds well to the body and is pretty easy to carry so maybe…

Select Carry Pistol Pouch

Select Carry Pistol Pouch

www.511tactical.com

 

These things scream I HAVE A GUN! .. but that's fine too. It's open carry without the full provocation. Maybe that might prevent an assault.

That's something gun people think but the vast majority of people don't. Plenty of people have a fanny pack in the gym. While I tend to assume like you they are all are carrying. I know for a fact a couple are not.
In the end it really doesn't matter. If she will carry it that way then great. Get it. Better to have it than not...

 

Me and wife are 74 years old, She is petite and 115 lbs her IWB & or Belt slide mini holster from DeSantis works very well for Abeling her to draw quickly !

 

I will add she carry's a Ruger LCRX 38spl snub and light as a feather.

 

If it is used ONLY for carrying the Jframe, then any pack will work. If she wants a pack that holds the mobile phone, Kindle, iPad, family pictures, 2 dozen keys to locks forgotten AND a Jframe, then things become more complex.

First, purpose, then equipment.

 

It is really just to carry the gun. If there is room, I'll put a speed loader and small flashlight in there.... no keys, wallet or phone.
One problem I have with what I have looked at so far is that most are too big.
Shes small @ 4' 10 5/8's and a firecracker. Did a lot of martial arts many years ago. She used to do this round house kick and kick the pull chain on the ceiling fan which was a good bit above my head.

 

I don't like off-body carry and prefer pocket carry, but few women's pants or shorts have adequate size pockets, so I understand the desire for a fanny pack for your wife, OP, and I think it would work for her purposes.

It is really just to carry the gun. If there is room, I'll put a speed loader and small flashlight in there.... no keys, wallet or phone.
One problem I have with what I have looked at so far is that most are too big.
Shes small @ 4' 10 5/8's and a firecracker. Did a lot of martial arts many years ago. She used to do this round house kick and kick the pull chain on the ceiling fan which was a good bit above my head.

Neither of these is big, but they don't have built-in holsters. However, for a very heavy trigger pull DAO one might not be necessary, IF no other items are inside. A small pocket holster could also be used, but with a 642 I wouldn't be afraid to carry it in either of these (again as long as NOTHING ELSE is inside), and I'm an ultra-cautious type lady who wants a thumb safety and holster on all my striker fired pistols.

These each have one smaller outer zip pocket; the LL's is on the back. They are both described as 1-liter size packs but the Lululemon has significantly more space inside and would accommodate a small pocket holster. The Patagonia might be a tight fit with a pocket holster.

Anyway, these two are in style now and would raise absolutely NO suspicions!
(Most of us gals aren't going to want to carry something that's "ugly," LOL.)

Actually, my high school senior granddaughter recommended the Patagonia for me (she knows I only carry small purses) and she carries one just like it everyday as her purse. The peach Lululemon is my summer daily purse; the little Patagonia was just a little too small even for me for a purse. My .38 will fit snugly in the Patagonia and there's plenty of room in the Lululemon. (I don't carry a handgun in them, but they sound like they might work for your wife and be something she might actually be willing to carry.)

Both of these can be used as waist packs or carried crossbody on the chest or the side, which is how I carry mine and my granddaughter does as well.

Neither is expensive and come in many colors on their websites.

I have a 642 but it's stored somewhere. The photo shows these with my old style (not the new 2.0) DAO hammer fired Bodyguard .380 (my usual pocket carry) and with a .38 spl BG which is similar to my 642. Hope this helps some.

They or other similar ones are what any girl or woman would be likely using today.

 

If she's proficient with the set up, why not.
You need to keep up with what's going on around you so nobody cuts it off and runs.

 

I don't think there will be any cutting it off and running here. We are rural with a small city nearby.... emphasis on SMALL.
I'm more concerned with her getting dragged into the corn field or into the trunk of a car.
Loss of the S&W 642 is low on the list of concerns. We have 3 of them along with a 640,649,940. I wish S&W would bring back the 940.. it just works. Loss of that one would be more painful.

 

I’m of the opinion that the only people who think fanny packs scream gun are gun people, to everyone else they are just fanny packs

 

Having worked as a range safety officer, my observations are that most women have a difficult time with the S&W J-frame revolvers chambered in .38 Special and .357 Magnum. This is due to felt recoil and muzzle blast/flash.

I advise a .32 caliber chambering for the S&W I frame and J frame revolvers. If you want .38 Special, consider the slightly larger Colt D frame revolvers for control.

Another option is the small to medium semiautomatic pistols in .380 or 9mm. The Smith & Wesson Shield EZ pistols are really good.

 

I advise a .32 caliber chambering for the S&W I frame and J frame revolvers. If you want .38 Special, consider the slightly larger Colt D frame revolvers for control.

You might want to revise the current Colt D frame recommendation. Seems their hammers are MIM. And a recurring issue is the hook on the back of the hammer is snapping off at various intervals. When this happens the King Cobra, Viper and Cobra may fire for 1 to 2 additional shots before locking up. Or it might lock up immediately.

 

Give Helikon-Tex a try.

Mine is their Oppossum Model.

About a bazillion different color combinations, can fit anything from a J frame to a G19. VERY well made product and relatively inexpensive. Sold on Amazon. Lots of online reviews too.

With a J frame - deployment is VERY fast and easy although you do want to practice imo.

With a G19 - a little slower to access due to need to completely open the compartment. Still not slow though.

In addition to the firearm, also can handle keys, wallet, and your phone. I use mine very often.