Women who carry defensive guns already know that hot weather is a real challenge for CCW—the lightweight, gauzy fabrics of summer cling and drape, and could inadvertently reveal your pistol in a strong breeze. There are a number of solutions to the sundress-season situation, and Galco has just announced three new ones: two for off-body carry and one for on-body. Galco likes to call it “hidden open carry,” and we like to call it “hiding in plain sight,” but whatever it’s called, it’s a good way to stay safe in the summer.
The first is Galco’s FasTrax PAC waistpack (pictured above)—which is yet another example of the cyclical nature of fashion. Just a few years ago, defensive experts often derided fanny packs as “Shoot Me First Please Packs” because they were so outdated that wearing one was akin to wearing a sign that said “I have a gun.” These days, fanny packs are all the rage among young trendsetting women, so wearing one is now akin to wearing a sign that says “Fashion Forward.”
By the way, the “fresh” way to wear a fanny pack is diagonally across your torso instead of around the waist—depending on your personal anatomy, this may make the draw from concealment even faster for you! If you choose to wear it the “traditional” way, the FasTrax PAC uses a pivoting holster component and external activation cord, so you can unzip the pack and get a handgun into action much faster than legacy waistpack designs. Available in gray/black nylon, MultiCam Black nylon or black leather; MSRP is $79 - $109 depending on size and material.
Sometimes, however, a waistpack will stand out because it's too casual for the situation. If you’re not opposed to off-body carry, Galco’s next solution is the Defense Planner, one of the most discreet options we’ve seen to date. At merely 8¼ inches long by 6½ inches wide, it still has room for a compact defensive handgun and a spare mag. It’s available in black, Havana brown or tan premium saddle leather, and comes with a locking zipper compartment and detachable wrist lanyard. MSRP is $97, which is well within what you’d expect to pay for a high-quality leather planner that doesn’t offer CCW options!
Last but not least, we’re excited about the iDefense planner, which is on the other end of the size spectrum. At 10" long by 8" wide, it carries not only a defensive handgun, but a tablet computer. The tablet is held in place outside the gun compartment on a sturdy backing plate that’s fully adjustable for tablet angle. The iDefense also features an internal pocket for storage of documents or small items. Like its little sister the Defense Planner, it’s available in black, brown or tan and features a detachable wrist lanyard for extra security. MSRP $184. For more, check out galcousa.com!
