The Art of the Fanny Pack

[4given]

When we reach certain milestones in life our priorities change. Some of us decide to tone down the partying once we graduate from school, and concentrate on our careers. Others sell our sports cars to buy minivans and crossovers to better facilitate life with children. For most of us, the list of changes and compromises grows each passing year.

I am turning 65 this year. I have come to realize I am no longer young, hip or culturally relevant. I look old, I’m bald, I don’t wear skinny jeans or other trendy attire. My gear does not have to be “that brand” Don’t much care about labels anymore. I’m too old to be cool, just an old Boomer.

These days I gravitate toward what is comfortable, functional and practical. Big emphasis on comfortable. Did I mention that practically every part of my body hurts in some way or another? It is becoming increasingly uncomfortable and, in some instances, downright painful to carry anything but a micro compact in a pocket holster. IWB an AIWB just kill me. Can’t do it anymore. OWB in anything but a range holster is becoming more and more difficult. I am sure it is only going to get worse as time goes by.

While I am not yet ready for a “Stairmaster” or a “Hoveround” I believe I am ready to pursue the “Art of the Fanny Pack”! At least I hope there is an art to it.
What to buy, how to wear it comfortably. How to draw quickly and safely. Ways to train. I don’t want to look tactical and don’t care if I look like a dork. I just want to have a G19 or 3” revolver readily accessible as comfortably as practical.

I already have a 5.11 fanny pack and there is room for a G19 in it but nothing else. It’s OK but I am sure I can do better.
Do any of you use a “fanny pack” or something similar successfully? Any sage advice out there? I would hate to have a drawer full of fanny packs next to my drawer full of holsters.

[GJM]

[blues]

I'm a few years older than you, sonny, and I don't know about you, but I'm the coolest SOB in my 'hood.

As an OG, when I carry in this style, I stay with my late 80's or mid 90's vintage Eagle packs. (Purchased from "Lou's" in Hialeah, where discerning LEO's got their gear in the Miami area.)

I have one in G19 and one in G26 size...and they still get the job done.

[pangloss]

Hill People Gear and Mystery Ranch are the two brands I'd start with.

Sent from my moto g power (2021) using Tapatalk

[Savage Hands]

Their new medium sized model is better than the snubby IMO, just a hair more room and sits on my chest better crossbody. Not sure how the medium works for a Fanny Pack as I've never tried it.

Edit: you did list the medium haha https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/.../ProductID/184


IMO if you're going to stick with a G26 or J frame than the snubby kit bag is great but for a G48 or even G19 MOS the medium is the size to go with.
In my experience a G19 or G48 does fit in the snubby but depending on the sights you have it could get snagged by the zipper.

[Le Français]

I have this one in gray. The included "holster" actually works pretty well, at least for safely covering the trigger guard (which, as with any carry method, is really important).

https://lapolicegear.com/lapg-frunk-pack-w-holster.html

Whatever you choose, make sure you practice with it and perhaps consider jettisoning the idea altogether if you notice a large delta between your performance with it and your performance with a holster on the belt. Bear in mind that if you need to draw a handgun in defense of your life, that need might (probably won't, but might) come along with being injured, restrained, taken to the ground, or other factors that might make drawing from a fanny pack—which is not well anchored or easy to draw from one-handed—harder than from a belt holster.

[jnc36rcpd]

Like blues, I also used an Eagle fanny pack. Unfortunately, nylon, like youth, doesn't last forever and I had to replace the Eagle after a tear in the nylon.

I replaced it with a DeSantis Gunny Sack which carries my Glock 19 and spare magazine. The pistol compartment is secured by Velcro. This precludes having to hunt for a pull cord, but is perhaps not as positive a release.

On the other hand, it appears to be the fanny pack in which SDUSM Sam Gerard carried is second Glock in "The Fugitive" so I guess that makes me another cool OG rocking a fanny pack.

[Half Moon]

Nothing I haven't posted before but I like a fanny pack for hiking. For my purposes the DTOM medium suede has worked well. Enough pockets and expansion room, front to rear, for a small medical kit, flashlight, etc:



May not fit your sizing though. Max handgun length is about 7". That puts a 2" K frame in bounds but a 3" is a little too large. Probably the same with a G19. With J snubs the Centennial family (40, 640, 42, etc) do not work well due to not holding securely in the nylon loops. traditional Bodyguard and exposed hammer models are good to go.

If you go the Fanny Pack route, dry fire draw practice a lot. It ain't fast but it sure is slow :-) With a fair amount of practice I can get around a 7 second F.A.S.T from the DTOM but a lot of those seconds are the draw. One thing I did to help was attach a D ring to the drawstring. It provides a larger grab spot to ensure clean and successful opening. Whether that puts more attention to the string though is a possible concern.

As mentioned above, the fanny pack is also not a great solution for compromised position, entanglement etc.

I like mine despite the flaws but there are definitely flaws to consider.

[TGS]

Like blues, I also used an Eagle fanny pack. Unfortunately, nylon, like youth, doesn't last forever and I had to replace the Eagle after a tear in the nylon.

I replaced it with a DeSantis Gunny Sack which carries my Glock 19 and spare magazine. The pistol compartment is secured by Velcro. This precludes having to hunt for a pull cord, but is perhaps not as positive a release.

On the other hand, it appears to be the fanny pack in which SDUSM Sam Gerard carried is second Glock in "The Fugitive" so I guess that makes me another cool OG rocking a fanny pack.

This reminds me that I had offered you a spare Eagle fanny pack last summer while I was still overseas and I totally forgot!

The Eagle is our standard issue fanny pack for when we have to jog/bike with protectees. Qual course gets 1 extra second added to all the times to compensate for the increased draw time.

Did you still want it? I just have to dig it out, think I threw the extra into a storage box deep in the closet.

[Willard]

I have one of these Original Tommy's Gun fanny packs from Kickin' A Packs 'N Stuff. I bought a few years back when they were going out of business and on sale. Seem very high quality and I like mine. Video explains. Fast into action. You can still find on e-bay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jwy0FqEXig