Fanny packs, I don't like them, but I need help.

[pegaman]

Our outfit transitioned to Glock .40s about three years ago. At that time, HQ would not allow officers to use fanny packs. I did not care, because I have never liked them for a number of reasons.

Recently, somehow (God knows how), we got approved through our chief to carry the packs. I am a firearms instructor and was alarmed when another instructor (who carries the pack) went to holster his gun, he literally had to point the muzzle of the weapon toward his gut to get the muzzel under the lip of the interior holster. He acknowledged that was not a good idea (duh) and that we would have to teach the officers not to do this.

My question is, are there any models of fanny packs that have an interior holster that you slip the weapon straight into without having to negotiate an elastic type of material to get it in? I am thinking of an interior holster that is stiffer like a hip rig.

[kennethm3]

Eagle makes a very well constructed nylon fanny pack with a configureable holster inside. The interior nylon is stout enough to reholster onehanded. They also provide a LEO discount. You can check them out at ********** Good luck, stay safe.

[sigy]

Say it ain't so. Fanny packs are just plain wrong. Please don't wear one. :D

[CollegeBoy427]

Originally posted by sigy
Say it ain't so. Fanny packs are just plain wrong. Please don't wear one. :D

Exactly what I was thinking.

zach

[dmclark]

There are NO MODELS that don't scream "I'm an LEO and armed". Tactically, they're a disaster and they look especially neat when the wearer affixes a cell phone and loops his sun glasses on the pack.

Don't wear one. And your Chief should know better or the Firearms Instructors should have advised him before the bad decision to allow them. Oh, you're an instructor and you didn't know they were coming???? What's up with that?? No input into tactical changes??

[universible]

My buddy wears one quite a bit...I make a point at making fun of him as much as possible. He's starting to take a hint...

Ted

[slam]

A Royal Robbins vest is a much better option. It is light weight and will cover a holster.

[pegaman]

"Don't wear one. And your Chief should know better or the Firearms Instructors should have advised him before the bad decision to allow them. Oh, you're an instructor and you didn't know they were coming???? What's up with that?? No input into tactical changes??"

I agree with all the comments and it is my solemn promise to never wear one. The instructor that brought it up is the DFI for the district, otherwise known as HMFIC on the range. So there was no input on it other than him getting it cleared with the Chief.

I could not agree more that a fanny pack is a poor tatical choice. However, my outfit is not known for its tatical choices and allowed them before we transitioned. People bitch, "It is too hot down here to wear a jacket or concealment vest." But when the S hits the fan and they start fumbling around for a rip chord (which by the way only belongs on a chute), someone will realize that allowing them again was a poor choice.

[dmclark]

pegaman: Keep bringing up the tactical problems AND the liability issues associated with the "barrel to stomach" draw. Also, I'd insist (as much as you can) with the PFI that the fanny pack be used in qualifications. Once he/she sees some of those pistol presentations from the fanny pack, maybe they'll have second thoughts.

With some of the new "shirt over" holsters available, you can conceal a .45 under a T shirt. There usually are other issues, like they complainers are too fat to wear and inside the pants holster! DM

[beebop]

A Royal Robbins vest around DC screams Fed as bad as a fanny pack. You see a ton of them around DC in the summer.

[slam]

So do a short haircut, sunglasses, and coiled tube in your ear. What's your point? How many photographers, or for that matter feds, wearing RR vests (or fanny packs) have been capped just because these things made them look like a cop? The bigger issue is being able to safely conceal, carry and draw your weapon. This ain't a perfect world...you do what you can with what you got.

[dmclark]

That depends on operational requirements. If you've got no problem being IDd as a cop/agent, then wear your RR vest or fanny pack. Hell, for that matter, wear your duty belt and gear!

However, the idea of "concealed carry" is just that. Getting "capped" is one concept, but the other is compromising the surveillance or tactical situation of the mission by revealing that you're armed.

We're talking mission issues being compromised. If your with USSS and are walking with a principal, you are expected to look like a USSS agent.

However, the last thing I would want is to send the "armed" signal to any crook/gang banger. I spent a career trying to avoid sending that signal.

[krellum]

A Royal Robbins vest around DC screams Fed as bad as a fanny pack.

True, and not just in DC.

The thing to remember is that all this stuff had (or has) it's place and time. Fanny packs were OK when EVERYONE was wearing them. Not so much anymore. A fanny pack (a brightly-colored one with a commercial logo or something on it, NOT those stupid leather-type ones) MAY be OK if you're at Disneyland and if you're the type of person who could wear one (not too many muscular guys with short hair and the "law enforcement goatee" wearing fanny packs) but otherwise, they're just not out there.

Safari-type travel vests are great if other people are wearing them or you're in an area where a tourist is commonly seen, for example. But there will come a time when the public KNOWS why a lot of cops wear them and when they will be about as tactically advantageous as fanny packs are today.

There's no single concelment method that works and is totally covert all the time. You have to pick and choose your method depending on the circumstances. In another 5 years, there'll be some other mode of dress that everyone will be adopting and which cops will discover to be great for concelament...then that, too will become a disadvantage when people discover what we use it for.

k

[slam]

"However, the idea of "concealed carry" is just that. Getting "capped" is one concept, but the other is compromising the surveillance or tactical situation of the mission by revealing that you're armed.

We're talking mission issues being compromised. If your with USSS and are walking with a principal, you are expected to look like a USSS agent. "

Nope, you were talking about mission issues being compromised - we were talking about safety and concealment. If you need deep cover or surveillance, then no, you don't wear this stuff. You "cram it", suck it up, and go past that stage of comfort in order to be safe from being ID'd. You're right - dress for the mission, and no, I don't care if I am ID'd as a protection detail member when that's obvious that's what I'm doing. You just have to admitt that no matter what you do, you can't keep the fact your a cop concealed 100 percent of the time, so you do your best. The fact is that the people who notice these things the most are OTHER COPS. Most criminals and joe citizens don't recognize it unless they are around it all the time and have figured it out. ie. wives, LEO clerical staff, etc. I give this example:

I was on a plane to DC last week. Up at the bulk head was a young man in his late to mid 20's with a crew cut wearing a long black coat. He sat at the bulkhead with no one in the aisle seat next to him on a packed plane. He made small talk and positive body language with a flight attendant. During the flight he did not remove his long coat, although the cabin was quite comfortable. He got up several times to move 3 rows back to speak with another man of the same age, with short hair, in a row with a aisle seat also empty. Each time he moved the 6-8 feet to talk to this guy he drug a small black (blackhawk) backpack with him. He obviously didn't feel comfortable leaving it just a few feet away even though he could plainly see it and could react if someone tried take it.
These guys were FAMS. I'm not a FAM. I knew what was going on - because I'm a cop. Did anyone else notice what I did. I doubt it.
I don't want to send out "cop vibes" to the bad guys at all. But, if Mr. and Mrs bad guy think I am dressed like this is because I MIGHT being carrying then that might be the deterrent I need.

[krellum]

These guys were FAMS

Unless one of them introduced himself to you and specifically stated that he was a FAM, I wouldn't assume that. Without getting into the nuts and bolts of what these guys do and how they do it, lets just say that they're not as obvious as everyone thinks: the short-haired, militaristic-looking white males are not necessarily FAMs and the people whom you'd least expect to BE FAMs often are.

k

[slam]

Oh, and by the way...after the flight I introduced myself and they were FAMS.

[universible]

Originally posted by slam
Oh, and by the way...after the flight I introduced myself and they were FAMS.

Smart ass...I was thinking the same think as Krellum until you posted that key bit of info :wink: :p

I've met one FAM so far, and would not have pegged him as a cop even...yet alone a FAM...but I use to fly to San Diego all the time, and saw countless clean shaven, short haired guys...they all seemed to be Marines.

Ted

[slam]

Though I was hesitant about approaching them in public, I waited for an opportune moment. Exceptional young men I might add. BUT, there was one other on the plane I did not pick out, further back. They have a VERY difficult job - I don't envy them. It is not a bed of roses.