Shoulder bag for carrying: YOUR EXPERIENCE, OPINION, TIPS?

[carlson1]

I am not much of a bag person or a fanny pack, but. . .

I do use a Maxpedition versi-pack for one activity that me and my wife attend in the fall in Oklahoma. It works just fine.

Right now I am in Heart Rehab everyday for hour and twenty minutes. It has put me in shorts and flip flops witch is a billion miles from my normal dress and I am forced to use the fanny pack in order to carry. I am county the hours for when I get through with this rehab, the fanny pack, shorts, and the flip flops. I have twenty one hours to go.

My opinion is the fanny pack is better than the Maxpedition versi-pack.

[C-dub]

Check out my diaper bag thread...it's a messenger style.

Sorry, I'm new here. Where do I find the thread?

I think this is it. Have you seen the search window in the upper right corner yet?

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=68153&p=840946&hil ... ag#p840946" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cedar Park Dad]

Are you trying to say you want to carry a purse?

Very funny, but no. I want a strapped case similar to a laptop briefcase, but smaller - to get my full size XDm in with easy access. During the winter I can use my Kholster, but during the summer I don't want to give up my XDm, so the only compromise is a shoulder bag/case. I've seen some people use a bag with a strap from the opposite shoulder across their torso - that's what I'm thinking of getting or making it myself out of a laptop bag. Just want to know any practical aspects before I spend any time on it.

Because of situational requirements I utilize a just such for CC for a decent portion of the time. An XDM would be no issue in that regard and no one thinks twice about that.

[baldeagle]

Are you trying to say you want to carry a purse?

I carry a purse every day. It's actually a fanny pack, but I carry it like a purse (over the shoulder and under the arm, just like a woman does.) It drives my girls crazy when I call it a purse. They insist on calling it a murse (snort for man purse.) I've never been one to worry about what other people think of me. I wear what's comfortable and don't worry about stupid fashion trends. (I'll never understand why women were high heels.) And my weapon is not in my purse. It's in an IWB holster, so the bad guys would have guessed wrong if they thought that's where it was. It's full of eyeglass cases, insurance papers, dental flossers, fingernail clippers and other junk I need from time to time and don't want to stuff in my pockets.

[Abraham]

A man purse with a cross body fabulous shoulder strap, a gold earring, and some clogs are oh so, ah, European, yeah that's it, European...

Or, you could consider a OWB zippered rectangular pack - this is not a fanny pack in design. It's much more compact and worn on a gun belt.

Like the OP, I find the Texas summer heat not something I can bear wearing a cover garment. To heck with that...

I carry my Glock 19 in a leather zippered rectangular pack on my gun belt.

No one pays any attention to it.

Presumably, they think it something innocuous if they think anything at all...

[johncanfield]

I can't do the man purse thing. The closest I come to that is a computer backpack.
I could simply never do off body carry. Even my wife refuses to carry a gun in her purse. Just too many ways for you to become separated from the firearm for us to be comfortable with that type of carry.

There ya' go.

My summer carry is OWB at 3:30 wearing shorts and a large T-shirt for casual dress. Dressier carry in the summer would be long pants and a button-up shirt not tucked in.

[ATDM]

A man purse with a cross body fabulous shoulder strap, a gold earring, and some clogs are oh so, ah, European, yeah that's it, European...

Or, you could consider a OWB zippered rectangular pack - this is not a fanny pack in design. It's much more compact and worn on a gun belt.

Like the OP, I find the Texas summer heat not something I can bear wearing a cover garment. To heck with that...

I carry my Glock 19 in a leather zippered rectangular pack on my gun belt.

No one pays any attention to it.

Presumably, they think it something innocuous if they think anything at all...

Do you have a specific pack to recommend (link)? How is it different from a fanny pack?

Thanks.

[JALLEN]

Are you trying to say you want to carry a purse?

I carry a purse every day. It's actually a fanny pack, but I carry it like a purse (over the shoulder and under the arm, just like a woman does.) It drives my girls crazy when I call it a purse. They insist on calling it a murse (snort for man purse.) I've never been one to worry about what other people think of me. I wear what's comfortable and don't worry about stupid fashion trends. (I'll never understand why women were high heels.) And my weapon is not in my purse. It's in an IWB holster, so the bad guys would have guessed wrong if they thought that's where it was. It's full of eyeglass cases, insurance papers, dental flossers, fingernail clippers and other junk I need from time to time and don't want to stuff in my pockets.

For years I carried a headset bag filled with glasses, checkbook, calculator, spare keys, business cards, address book, sunglasses, medications I needed, etc. I called it a purse. It was a good idea, served the need exactly. If anyone ever doubted "my orientation" I never heard about it. I've used a fanny pack similar to what you describe as well.

[Abraham]

ATDM,

I've tried to find a photo and for some reason can't, however I found my receipt for my last one bought from: Johnny Wegeman at 407-342-4472 - bought it Oct. 8th, 2012 and paid 38.50 for it.

Black leather, zippered, rectangular gun pack with small zippered front pocket, fits OWB. It's big enough to hold my G19 or a full size 1911 if I had one...but I do carry a fully loaded spare magazine in it.

I looked at J&W Specialities, Inc. on the internet and couldn't find one, but I'll bet he still sells them.

Good Luck!

[JJVP]

I can't do the man purse thing. The closest I come to that is a computer backpack.
I could simply never do off body carry. Even my wife refuses to carry a gun in her purse. Just too many ways for you to become separated from the firearm for us to be comfortable with that type of carry.

There ya' go.

My summer carry is OWB at 3:30 wearing shorts and a large T-shirt for casual dress. Dressier carry in the summer would be long pants and a button-up shirt not tucked in.

That is my all year carry method. OWB at 3:00, shorts or jeans, one size larger than usual golf shirt (XL rather than L). In colder months, I might wear the shirt tucked in and the jacket is the concealment. Never had an issue with being made, not even with my family that knows I carry. Don't know how many times my sons or daughter had inquired if I am carrying. Even though they know I do, they can't tell.

[bdickens]

As a new CHL holder and a person with a Northern ancestry, I am facing challenges carrying in August in Texas. First of all, I absolutely love Texas and believe it to be the best State in the Union. However, our climate here is severely at odds with my genetics.

It compelled me to take a look at the non-traditional carry options. Fanny packs got crossed off my list in a split second, but shoulder bags, when worn correctly and with enough practice, look very appealing for the Texas summer months (I prefer not to pocket carry).

I just wanted to ask y'all if anyone has tips, opinions and (especially) experience regarding this practice/issue. Since I am starting from scratch, I will even be eager to receive hearsay opinions and second hand advice.

Thank you in advance.

My EDC in the summer is exactly the same as in the winter: A Glock 19 IWB on the strong side.

No offense to anyone, but I really don't understand the issue. 90+ degrees and +/- 90% humidity is very hot and very uncomfortable anyway. A gun doesn't make any difference.

[stroo]

I have both a safepacker with a shoulder strap and a maxpedition. I use the maxpedition when I walk my dog, but use the safepacker in my car and for carry in stores at times. I like both for carry when I don't want to carry on body.

[EEllis]

Being old skool I prefer my fanny pack. I have been using one for years and they work. I have been using a Tommy Gun fanny pack that I don't think they even make. It is nylon with a quick access compartment for the gun. I know one of these days I want a new 5-11 pack but just cant seem to cough up the money when what I have works. They also come in various sizes. I have a smaller one and a full size for when I want to carry a full size weapon.

My concern about a fanny pack is that I carry a full size XDm, and I'm 5'10", 155 lbs. I'm afraid it would look way too big and unnatural for me. I would prefer a fanny pack for comfort reasons, but then I'd have to get a smaller gun for the summer. That's why I'm leaning toward a shoulder bag...

If anyone has other suggestions for a pack/bag summer carry, I would be happy to receive them.

Thanks.

I hear you. Just passing on another solution. I have carried one so long I dont' care. I do know that crooks know I am armed, but such is life or I get made as a cop.

That is an issue. I don't know how worried one should be but I do know that if I were willing to shoot a cop and was in the middle of robbing someplace and in walked a dude with a fanny pack then I know it's a cop and .....

[GlockDude26]

[/quote]My EDC in the summer is exactly the same as in the winter: A Glock 19 IWB on the strong side. No offense to anyone, but I really don't understand the issue. 90+ degrees and +/- 90% humidity is very hot and very uncomfortable anyway. A gun doesn't make any difference.[/quote]


except a sigP938, our weather is horrible and it makes no difference weither you have a gun or not

[bizarrenormality]

I have a fanny pack and sewed on a patch from a national park. Nobody looks twice.
Except the ones who want to tell me about their trip to that national park.