2001 Tacoma Extended Cab, 3RZ, AT, SAC, 5.29 gears, ARB FR/RR locker, and a few other mods... Build thread, Post #33
Adventures in and out of your Overlanding Rig... American Adventurist
The arc'teryx blade 24 looks like a great option, clean lines, and multipurpose. A YouTube video review that is actually not bad is here.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well, which is the same thing. EH
Unless you're a Japanese tourist with $20,000 worth of camera gear around your neck and a wife laboring along behind you to pull a wheeled bag with yet more camera gear in it a photographer's vest screams CCW in pretty much every place I've ever been (in the US). If you're looking for something to carry discreetly off-body, Camelbak makes a couple of packs designed for carrying a weapon that may work for you.
Personally I just use a North Face bag or a Kelty. I've got a fanny pack with several patches sewn (Grateful Dead, Widespread, etc) on it that I used to carry hiking.
05 Tacoma TRD, SR5, V6, etc
1978 VW Westfalia
2007 Suzuki DRZ400s
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?
Hunter S Thompson
I'm so amused by the "tacti-cool look" that I occasionally wear a Hawaiian shirt with a pair of 5.11 pants just as a goof. I refer to it as my "Serious Operator Trying To Disguise Himself As A Non-Operator Disguise."
A couple of suggestions . . .
Dillon makes a really nice black nylon laptop bag with a hidden gun compartment in the center. You can carry anything in there. I often use it for a long-slide Glock with attached tactical light.
DeSantis makes a nice belt pouch holster. I carry a Kahr 40 in mine, and wander around all summer in just a T-shirt and cut-off jeans and no one ever gives it a second look.
Finally, Coronado Leather makes some really nice leather vests with hidden gun pockets, if you can handle either the Cowboy or Biker look . . .
Regards
John
"Low-Speed, High-Drag Gray-Ops Specialist"
Thanks for the suggestions! I like the idea of staying with a backpack as it is the ubiquitous commuter companion. Hydration is not necessary since I can carry a water bottle, but it would be nice. My existing camel back is just a bit too small for cameras etc. on adventures to the mountains and I'd like to just carry one bag.
Look for some brand new Maxpedition bags as well as the Camelbak in the gear for sale section - probably in the next couple days!
Chance favors the prepared mind.
All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well, which is the same thing. EH
I've heard of the khaki "photographer's vest" also called a "shoot-me-first-vest."![]()
I think you may be going about this quest backwards. Instead of taking something for concealment and the trying to make it look "normal", just take something "normal" and modify it for concealment of a weapon. An ordinary looking backpack or computer bag would probably be able to carry just about anything short of a S&W .500.
As far as concealing on your body, I've found a slightly over-length sweatshirt works fine to conceal an IWB holster (mine is a Galco horsehide IWB with a Glock 19.) If it's too warm for a sweatshirt, a fleece vest is very common here in CO and looks quite "normal" except on the hottest days. And on those hot days, a short-sleeved floral-pattern shirt worn untucked also does a good job of concealment, the only drawback being that you have to wear a t-shirt underneath it to keep the butt of the gun from rubbing your skin raw.
Martin AKA Zapp Branigan KD0PHH
2007 Toyota 4runner SR5, 4.0 V6
Wife's Vehicle: 1995 YJ "Captain Morgan"
And our Homebuilt Teardrop Trailer "Bubbles!"Other Rides: 2008 Triumph Scrambler; 1997 Mazda Protege (Daily Driver)
"I am the Man with No Name - Zapp Branigan!"
This is exactly what I'm after. I was posting to see if anyone had done this with success using a particuar pack. I bought a lot of maxpedition gear that I never used as I experimented. I can't waste those dollars anymore.
New maxpedition stuff is up in the 'gear for sale' section!
Last edited by Schattenjager; 06-12-2012 at 05:16 AM.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well, which is the same thing. EH
Look at the Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe, and the Heritage by Tucker Gun Leather. If your open to carrying it on you, there's not many more that conceal as well or are half as comfortable. What if some punk teen likes your bag and is able to snatch it and run? I personally don't like the idea of carrying off body just for that reason.