So I know I feel the need to carry all this:
But that's a lot of stuff to lug around. I mean I can handle the Glock 23 or the Glock 22 but both would be near impossible at the same time without wearing a coat all year round. Also carrying one extra mag is just more extra weight let alone three. Then a wallet, keys, phone, etc. It's a good bit of weight. But we all realize that.
So todayI'm at a local shop and I see this sling bag thing. It looks just like a messenger bag and it is meant to carry an AR folded. You can also carry a pistol is this little chest pouch. It looks tiny but actually is designed to make carrying a full size pistol easy. I check and they are reasonably priced so I buy it. I make sure I can return it if it won't work and head home. Once here I find out it can fit my underfolder AK just fine with a mag inserted. Two extra mags can easily be carried but a mag pouch will be necessary. I don't have a MOLLE mag pouch but a trip to one of the uber tacticool placed tomorrow should remedy that. I think you could fit more mags by the way but it would really add to the weight even more.
The bottom line is that once everything is in it looks like this:
I forgot to mention that I ride a motorcycle to work often and I carry around a somewhat large Swiss Army laptop bag often. I'd say about 90% of the time during the work week. I also work out in the mornings and then head to work so a backpack of some kind for me is pretty standard. I have 20mm ammo can panniers on both sides of my bike (I ride an XR650L) and my laptop and gym bag fit in them well. However this won't. But it's secure enough I will have no issues riding with it on. It even has elastic keepers to secure the straps so they won't flap around. The other added benefit is that it keeps a pistol easily accessible even with gloves on. The pistol pouch has a strap that comes out of the pouch and then velcros to the chest strap. You can grasp the strap and rip open the zippered pouch very quickly and pistol comes out. This is great since I wear a riding jacket and my IWB is hard to get to with it on.
So tonight I tried it out for the first time and will do more so tomorrow. I didn't do a Wally Walk but I did go to Walgreens to drop off a prescription and then to dinner. On the way I stopped and got my car washed. I took the bag with me and got not one strange look. Just another guy who didn't want to leave his bag in the car. At Walgreens I almost wore it in but decided against it. I wouldn't be long and I wanted to try out storage in the car. I've found the best place to keep it is on the passenger side floorboard of the back seat. It's easy to get in and out and because my car has tinted windows and all black interior it disappears back there. I have a lot of gunlocks and I think I can probably figure out a way to secure it if I'm leaving it in the vehicle for an extended period of time. However if I'm not running in and running out I'll probably just take it with me. Next I went to dinner with my parents at Fleming's in the Woodlands. I valeted and as I got out I popped the trunk and told the guy I wanted to put my bag back there. I paid attention to his reaction upon seeing the bag and there was none. Got out of the restaurant, got my bag and put it in its spot and drove home. Came in and tweaked a few things and watched some movies.
I would take some pictures with it on but the wife is out of town until tomorrow. Once she gets back ill have her take some and I'll post them.
The only cons I see right now are the way that the rifle is secured in the main compartment. It's just with Velcro straps and they are kind of cheap. I plan on replacing them with some snap straps to speed up deploying the rifle. Also the mags will need a pouch as well. The pistol pouch works great and it has a compartment for a water bladder. The padding is good and you don't feel the weight of the rifle and other gear in the strap. Nor pressing against your back. It's only a half a day with it but so far I like it.
So am I over-prepared? Yup. Do I have what is pretty much a murse? Yup again. But I'm trying to be as ready as I can for the unknown. I don't see any harm in that.
Thoughts?
