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.

 

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?

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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

 

Diamond D

 

Here is how I carry my .44...

Simple El Paso Saddlery 1942 tanker rig. Lined.

 

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.

 

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

 

I use the diamond d for my 7.5" super Redhawk .480! have had it for a year or so, no problems

 

This guy on E bay has made rigs for my Glocks, I am sure he can do revolvers.

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Diamond D for revolver. Covers the whole gun slow draw but good retention. Kenai Kydex for Glocks. Fast draw good retention. My 2 cents

 

Thanks for everyone's input! Because I live in Florida, and... because I'd like to try wearing it here too, I ordered the the Kenai Chest Rig. I feel it may be just a little cooler than the leather Diamond D

 

Just reading through the posts and not one of the guys bothered to tell this Floridian OP that winter is fast approaching Montana and Wyoming High Country. Instead of packing a big boomer, he better be packing winter clothes, snowshoes, a satellite phone and plenty of caloric foods. Current nightly lows are in the low 40's, it'll be in the 30's in a week or so...weather changes hard and fast and hopefully he won't have an "Oh dang" moment watching the snow fly. Might ought to reschedule the trip to next mid-June.

 

Bill Keith is correct. Having worked several seasons in a hunting camp in the Wyoming Range, once Sept. comes along (and often earlier), the weather can be surprisingly variable to say the least. I'd say the pistol and holster would be a low priority on the preparedness scale. However, being a leather guy, my vote goes to Diamond-D.

 

Thank you. I'm an experienced hiker and I'm over-the-top prepared for my trip.

I was only asking which holster you all liked; that's all. I landed on the Kenai chest rig.