Squiggy, I love your reviews brother...I dub you our favorite ARFCOM hippie
You're preaching to the choir bro. I've been rocking HPG Kit Bags for some time and even deployed to A'Stan with one but didnt get to use it as much as I wanted to. I use the Original Snubby for backpacking and easily have over 500 miles on that one.
I've done a few reviews here and I know several here use a Kit Bag. Thanks for taking the time to review and share...
Edited to add a previous post:
For me, it started with the search of a decent CCW platform for backpacking. I’ve tried several: fanny packs, SafePacker, the Ribz, etc. My key aspect was not just concealed carry but comfortable integration with a backpack for a dozen miles a day for up to 8-10 days; along with the ability to quickly access. I wasn’t specifically looking for additional storage, but the Kit Bag’s design offered just the right amount of extra storage without making it too bulky or awkward.
I’ve done about 300+miles of AT, trails in/around Cohutta and some day hikes in Washington when visiting. The smaller snubby gets a lot of use mountain-biking and running. The only complaint is that it will enhance your sweat gland performance on your chest area. Most of our backpacking is in the spring and summer, so the southeast, we typically backpack in the worst of conditions for heat and humidity. It’s tolerable and much better than the Ribz.
That disadvantage is far outweighed by the utility. The chest-high placement allows me to keep it on even when fording a waist-high river. It allows me to keep a significant amount of essentials on my person even when I’ve dropped my pack. It integrates perfectly with a pack, even when doing 12-15 miles a day for consecutive days. It also provides a decent amount of balance with my pack. Access to my CCW is fast and easy. It also provides easy access to my map, compass, snacks, headlamp, bug spray, cigarette lighter, duct tape (for repairs), whistle (if needed), and various cordage…all right in front of my.
I’ve picked up the minimalist Kydex trigger guard for a “holster”. I’ve never had my pistol shift out of position and very confident that even the open trigger guard is safe (I don’t typically carry anything but the pistol in the pistol pouch). The Kydex trigger guard actually just adds a little extra retention if you happened to fall and your bag gets ripped open…or I’m kayaking and using my middle pouch as a fly tray platform, I feel a little safer is keeping my handgun secure.
Well, anyways, congrats and enjoy it! Make sure you get out and actually practice drawing from it. I’ve done some shooting drills with my backpack and even with my trekking poles threaded over my wrists.
Here's another reply-post I made over in the Outdoors/Survival side a while back when someone asked about the Kit Bags:
Kit Bag Post
ROCK6