RFI: Low Profile waist belt i.e. TRUSS, Clutch

[ECVMatt]

Good Afternoon To All,

As my signature line alludes, I am a principal of a school in a medium sized urban area. My school is 15 miles from my home. In the past the neighborhood where I work has participated in riots that have spread from the larger urban area immediately to the north. The last time this happened I was in a college located in the center of the riot. Although I eventually I made it home safely, it changed my perception of personal safety.

With the last few months bringing back similar memories from the past, I prepared a kit that would allow me to walk or ride a bike from my school if vehicle travel was not plausible. I have already stashed a bike at work. I have over-sized pants, a ghetto-gray over-sized hoodie, good shoes that don't stand out, gloves, bandana, boo-boo kit, some Cliffbars and water. I have been storing the items in a small backpack that can be worn under the hoodie. I also have soft armor that I normally keep in my office.

Now that those items are in place, I would like to add a weapon to the mix and try to move the IFAK, water pouches, Cliffbars, plus a Glock 17 and three additional magazines to my body. I would like the option of ditching the backpack quickly, as in giving it to someone to get away, and still have some small items to help get me home and keep me safe along the way. I am trying to stay away from a battle belt or anything that would defeat the low profile look of my clothing. I am looking for something that would ideally sit above the belt line, keep the items secured, not inhibit movement too much, and hopefully have some degree of comfort. While I love great gear, the likelihood of my actually needing this is small, so I don't want to spend 100's of dollars, but would if it is the best option (I know that is very wishy/washy).

I have looked at the Clutch, but it needs additional holster/mag pouches and the price seems to go up quickly. I have also briefly looked at the TRUSS.

https://specgear.com/product/truss-holster/

Although it seems a bit dated, I like the concept and it seems to provide a good combination of storage, support, and concealment. It also looks like the company might be up for sale or in transition to a new owner.

I was just wondering if anyone has a similar set up or some previous experience with a low profile carry system.

Hopefully I will just be able to jump in my truck and drive home, but I thought that the last time and it did not work out so well.

Thanks for any help that others may be able to provide.

Cordially,

Matt

[Joe S]

Not fit to say on the carry systems, just wanted to say that I wouldn't include the water or food in the system. Definitely the food. Even in rough terrain, you don't need the food to get home, it just makes you feel better.

Water is different depending on climate and the terrain, but still, not very comfortable and concealable, and easier to scrounge in many urban/suburban areas.

Add cash and a battery backup for your cell before food. Both as more likely to get you home riding comfortably in the backseat of a taxi if you can't get to your car in the parking lot.

[RJ]

Just a suggestion, because it’s a little hard to decipher from your post, but can you list exactly what it is that you want to carry with you?

As in, is it just an IFAK, cliff bars, water, a G17 and 3 spare mags? Under an oversized hoodie?

Any particular reason you can’t just use a Kydex OWB holster, and maybe a Blade Tech dual mag pouch, on a e.g. Graith Specialist Belt, and shove the other items in your pants?

[Up1911Fan]

I've considered a CLUTCH but am waiting to see what the similar device Philster has been teasing.

[Sig_Fiend]

I actually have a SpecGear TRUSS buried in my "box 'o holsters". I don't have a lot of experience with it, but I've worn it 5 or 6 times with an over-sized, button down shirt. It did work for me in terms of moving the mass of carry gear into different places that people would be less likely to notice. For fun, I tried carrying a G17 with 3-4 mags and a fixed blade. It concealed surprisingly well. The shoulder straps definitely help with the weight. For a smaller carry gun, like say a G19, G48, etc. it's pretty easy to make it totally disappear. This thing would work particularly well if you have well-developed pecs, lats, and a slimmer waist... but then that's true of most waist/upper body holsters.

I didn't keep using it just because I never really had a need for NPE carry, it was just more of an interest. The box o' holsters also demanded I check some form of belly band off the list, and at the time, this looked liked one of the better options.

[ECVMatt]

Thanks for the help so far. I was looking to move things off my hips for a few reasons. First, is comfort carrying multiple items over a short distance. Secondly is to place the items that I want to carry in a location where they will not scream "Gun" or "Cop" should I get mixed up in a crowd and bumped. It would also be nice to have every thing in one package that was relatively easy and quick to put one. Lastly, I could possibly ditch the backpack altogether.

I know that I am going covid crazy and over thinking this. A couple of the local cops stopped by my school today and I told them what I was thinking about. We are good friends and I have worked with them for the last 20 years or so. They also said I'm crazy and should just stay at the school. I am prepared to do that as well, but I also have a family at home to look after. When I asked them if they would come get me if I texted them should something happen, they just laughed even harder. I think they then realized why I was considering a way to leave on foot or bike. They were nice enough to help me refine a couple of routes home and agreed at some point it might not be a good idea to stay at the school.

Since I am trapped at home, I will continue to think about a solution and post an update if anyone is further interested. Even if it is an exercise in futility, it is exercise none the less.

Now on to bourbon!

[TOTS]

The easiest route would be a shoulder rig and a small belt pack (refuses to write ’fanny-pack’ because 80s). I have a cheap Amazon $30 nylon shoulder rig that has held up after years of Afghanistan and Africa use. Both would be easily concealed under a jacket or hoodie. A horizontal draw holster wouldn’t even be that slow to draw from.

Also an option but $$ would be a Hill People Gear kit bag. But maybe not as concealable even under a hoodie.

[Willard]

I've considered a CLUTCH but am waiting to see what the similar device Philster has been teasing.

Was unaware of Philster coming up with an alternative. Unity Tactical has been OOS for awhile.

[Av willis]

Also, it looks like Unity Tactical might be collaborating with Vertx to release a scaled down version of the clutch that looks promising. I'll probably either end up getting it or the new phlster product, depending on whether it's px4 compatible.

https://lapolicegear.com/vtx5215-run...utch-belt.html

[Jason M]

https://www.first-spear.com/das-ding-tm

Das Ding!