Fanny packs are so back. Not just for old dudes in photographer’s best, but they’ve become a bit of mainstream fashion once more. Look at what the kids wear. It’s hoodies and some form of sports shorts or pants with a lack of pockets, or terrible pockets. Thus, fanny packs are back, often worn as sling bags. If you want a concealed carry-oriented fanny pack, the Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.1 is a helluva choice.
The Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.1
I’ve used a Vertx S.O.C.P. fanny pack for a few years now. My general use case is for unusual situations. Going to the beach or a waterpark? Grab the fanny pack. Mowing the yard? Grab the fanny pack. Going for a hike? Grab the fanny pack. It offered a secure and concealed way to carry my gun, as well as my wallet, phone, pepper spray, flashlight, keys, and whatever else.
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In some situations, I can remove the fanny pack and tote it over my head, like in water. I can also pass it off to my wife. The gun never becomes unconcealed or unsecured. As much as I liked the S.O.C.P, I wanted a smaller option. It’s a bit big, and I realized I did not need all the room. Thus, I went back to the Vertx well and got an Everyday Fanny Pack 2.1.
The Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.1
The 2.1 has another big advantage over the S.O.C.P.: it does not look as tactical as the S.O.C.P. It looks like Nike made it. It is one color, simple, and the logos are hidden. Nothing screams tactical about it. A lot of people will go on and on about being spotted due to “tactical” gear. In the modern era, everything has some kind of MOLLE webbing.
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My wife’s work backpack has MOLLE, and she’s as far from tactical as it gets. My big reason for a discreet look is mostly vanity. Fashion, if you will. The Everyday 2.1 does not catch the eye. It blends in with whatever I wear. I am not the type for small talk, so if you do not notice, you will not approach my introvert self and ask about it.
That is an advantage to me. The smaller, lighter design is more convenient, and you are not giving up much storage space. The belt has a little stretch and give, with a fair bit of adjustment to it. The buckle is fairly large and easy to access; even when worn, it pops on and off.
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We have three compartments. The front small pocket will fit your little goods, like a wallet, keys, etc. The second pocket is our dedicated concealed carry pocket. The rear pocket can carry your large items, like a phone, a light, and pepper spray.
The Concealed Carry Pocket
The Everyday Fanny Pack comes with a modular holster carrier. It’s a loop that is designed to hold your IWB holster. The clip fits around the belt, and you can adjust the device to fit different holsters. You can also move this hook and loop attachment to set the gun up where you want it.
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You can carry up to a Glock 19-sized firearm with optic and light, so you are not stuck with ultra-small pistols. Inside the pack, we have a hot pull loop on the right and left sides. The included micro rapid access tab can hook to these hot pulls and allow you to open the Everyday Fanny Pack with ease.
If you prefer the zipper, you can use the micro tab there, too. As a pro tip, regardless of which way you decided to set up your fanny pack, remove any extra pull tabs. This will prevent you from grabbing the wrong one when you have to draw.
With practice, you can draw quite quickly from a fanny pack. It does not beat IWB, but you can go faster than you would think with practice. It is entirely possible to get a shot on target in less than 2.5 seconds.
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I think I can get it down to under two seconds if I practice. This is made even easier due to the Everyday Fanny Pack’s purposeful design. Those zippers and hot pulls make it easy to get to the gun and get it in action.
Tote and Go
The Everyday Carry Fanny Pack makes it easy to pack my EDC in situations where pockets and holsters are not the best option. With the rise of the fanny pack, it’s become less of a “I am carrying a gun” signal and more of the norm. Especially if you carry cross body. Like any holster-type system, the Fanny Pack requires training and practice. The fanny pack can be another tool for the box.
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