Be sure to use zipper way after every use if you want that zipper to last. Both nylon and metal waterproof zippers need wax even if they say they don't. From a scuba drysuit diver, the waterproof zippers work very well when waxed. Also leave it unzipped when not in use. This well make the plastic zippers last much longer.
If you go to a scuba shop, they have it.... But if it's just for a bag then regular parifin wax from the grocery store will be fine. Scuba divers pay a couple thousand dollars for a dry suit, so we want to take extra care because getting the zipper replaced is close to the price of a new Glock
I didn't mention this in the video (in hindsight I totally should have), but whether I have a gun with me in the water or not I will typically have a small pepper spray clipped to my swimsuit!
Excellent video. I knew a guy who addressed the problem by carrying a stainless-steel NAA revolver in a small waterproof dive bag attached to his waistband IWB. He could open the bag and draw it out or shoot through the bag. At the time, it made sense....
Do something similar, I carried the North American arms 22 mag 5 shot revolver in a concealable little pouch in my swimming trunks that's normally reserved for house keys etc they're common in men's swimming trunks. Then at the end of the day after I was in the ocean, I would go back to the hotel room rinse the pistol under freshwater and then set it on a towel muzzle down to drain. This worked fantastic. When I got home there was a slight bit of surface rust underneath the grips which was easily removed with the little gun oil and steel wool.
I carry a jframe .38 special while kayaking in a zip lock bag or non-lubricated condom inside a small fanny pack. If needed i can shoot through the plastic with a good grip and no cycling issues with the jframe.
I use a waterproof fanny pack. Like, meant for kayaking waterproof. Watershed is a great brand but $, remote designs is a much more budget & great brand! Thats the one I use. The owner is a youtuber & I've commented on his videos about using it for my gun, he liked the idea! Its nice knowing hes not anti gun if im recommending his products.
Thanks for this. I am a swim teacher in South Africa. I will definately give this a try. My previous pack I used that was supposed to be waterproof, always got water in and it was a bit bulky, so it got in the way, especially when holding babies for swimming lessons.
This is incredible! Thank you so much for sharing. I live in South Florida and have spent the last 10 years unsuccessfully trying to find a solution for this very problem.
For me, the beach/swimming is definitely a place I don't carry. It's also not a place I worry to much about either, large outdoor spaces in broad daylight, with people in bathing suits on don't send my alarm bells off. But I'm also a 6+ foot tall man, if I were a woman I would almost certainly feel differently.
That was my general thought. There are just times when living life supersedes trying to take a gun everywhere, particularly when you're main - at least stated - concern is just general degenerates who are roughhousing or had too much to drink. With that said, I realize others may feel different.
For outright swimming this is probably the best I’ve seen. I attended an athletic event where I had to submerge myself in mud at one point and had a shocking level of success keeping my gun clean/dry by wearing arrowhead tactical shorts using an Uncle Mike’s soft holster. I also had an undershirt tucked inside and obviously a shirt on the outside for concealment. I found that how snug the cloth holster is after breaking it in paired with the moisture barrier it has were able to keep everything except the grip totally dry and clean. Obviously with extended submersion this would not be sufficient but if you’re not gonna carry a bag it’s an option.
Interesting, that's the first time I've seen a waterproof/dry-bag fanny pack. Have you tested submerging it for longer periods to see how much seepage you get? Also, is it available in any kind of multicolored/patterned print? It looks like the Glock is printing a bit through the front face, and some visual breakup would probably help that. The last time I went kayaking, I ended up throwing my phone, keys, wallet and regular gun-toting fanny pack into a dry-bag and carabinering it to the kayak (which was a good thing, since I capsized at least once on that trip). I figured the need for a super-fast draw would be minimal on the water itself, and I was prioritizing keeping my stuff dry and not at the bottom of the lake. It wouldn't work well at all for, say, a trip to a pool or other swimming excursion.
I haven't submerged it for longer periods of time. I've worn in it rushing river water, and submerged it with zero seepage, but not longer periods. I'm not one to stay in fresh water for long periods of time, it's too cold for me haha. Typically if I'm at a pool I will forgo the gun altogether.
You might want to look at the Salt knife series made by Spyderco. Their are knives that are made with a high nitrogen tool steel that makes them almost impervious to corrosion. Having a knife you can draw from a pocket might be faster than trying to open a bag
Honestly this is super smart. I think having a gun on you while you swim is just over the top but honestly it is so well done I can't even be mad at it. Great video!
Yeah I didn't watch this for purposes of actually carrying while swimming, but to be armed to & from and keeping it secure while being in the water. Tessah's solution seems to be the most practical thing I've seen, but I think I'm more likely to stick with the knife and/or pepper spray options.
Shootings have happened before at beaches. Honestly would be one of the worst places to be unarmed. Trying to run in sand is more difficult for most people.
I don't doubt that they happen and normally I don't factor the likelihood of shootings or being attacked at places I would go into whether or not I'm carrying. If I did, I'd avoid places with a high likelihood if at all possible. But as for the beach or other places I'd go swimming, it comes down to the practicality of concealed carry. Minimal clothing, inability to securely leave a firearm on the beach while in the water, not to mention sand, sunscreen, etc. It's similar to the calculus that comes with going somewhere that guns are prohibited (with physical enforcement).
water proof fanny pack is a good addition, as far as swim carry I have been doing it for many years, Minnesota is where all the lakes are, I use Ruger Lcp 380 in the water by putting it in zip lock bag and then in pocket, I don't dive or jump in water so gun stays in pocket even if swimming over my head, water proof fanny pack would be good for a bigger gun, no crowds where I swim but that is something certainly to think about getting, I am always looking for better options, I used water proof boxes before but that fanny pack you can wear, so a best option I can think of to especially with a bigger gun and some added capacity
Such a great video! Thank you so much for making it! I’ve faced the same dilemma for years and I’ve never found a solution until this video. Thanks again!
Having used a variety of "waterproof" products and enclosures, and seen many fail, I would note the the FTC has long prohibited the use of that word. No reputable manufacturer will use it. The correct legal term is water RESISTANT, to a spcified depth and time. So you'll see ratings like "IP 68 water resistant" meaning it can be submerged, when new and clean, for something like 3 feet for 30 minutes. Even a "waterproof" divers watch is only rated for 1 year after servicing and gasket replacement. So a pouch with a water tight zipper....don't bet your life on it. Flushing a wet gun with fresh water, followed by alcohol (to evaporate the water) and then a thin protective cleaning oil "should" keep it fresh overnight, but I'd still strip and clean it once the watersports were over. And of course, replace the ammo. Even milspec ammo can resent a good bath. Might want to poll some SEALS on their protocol. I suspect a lot of cleaning is involved.
I have a POM pepper spray keychain safety-pinned to my swim trunks. I'm afraid the pocket clip is too loose in water (though the sprays do float!). The Apple River stabbing case gave me the idea of taking a pocket knife, so may consider that. Appreciate this video!
Years ago while canoeing I always carried a Glock 27 in an Uncle Mikes fanny pack holster. Neoprene insert and virtually waterproof set up all around. A few years ago I carried on the beach and in the water in a neoprene holster a Kahr P380 inside swim trunks. Gun got saltwater wet and some sand but cleaned in the aribnb afterwards.
Clear nail polish on case mouths(very thin layer to that won't cause feeding problems) & over the primer will waterproof the ammo. Most modern autos can take a full dunking with no problem so just field strip, wipe down & oil as usual when I get home. Wouldn't work for swimming but does fine in my usual holster for kayaking or canoeing.
I deep carried my S&W 43C in an enigma with boardshorts and a rash guard on a hike where we spent over an hour swimming in the river. Did this hike three separate times in fact. Still haven't cleaned it for a year and shoots like a charm. Wouldn't do this in the ocean though...
First I've seen your channel and this topic intrigued me. This is one context where there isn't really applicability for a desire to open carry unless someone makes a waterproof gun somehow lol. So that said, the solution you presented looks pretty solid! One thing I noticed when you removed the backing card is that I could see what appeared to be the bag-side of one of the velcro anchoring patches on the back of the card that should have stayed adhered inside the bag, but stuck to the card velcro instead. If I'm correct, you might consider sewing the bag-side velcro halves in place in the bag, either only on an inner liner if possible, or if you'd have to sew through to the outside of the bag, use Shoe Goo on the outside to seal up the stitched area. If you haven't heard of Shoe Goo, it's more meant for shoes of course, but it's an excellent gooey pliable glue that is also waterproof. I think it may last longer versus trying to apply silicone. In the end it still may become a maintenance item. The only point of course would be ensuring that the backing card and holster never come out with your gun or flex too much when drawing as you use this more and the structure you've set up ages and wears over time.
Yeah, you're totally right. Someone might guess that theirs a gun shaped object in there. I actually have a second plastic insert that I made for the bag, but I compleeeetely forgot to put it in before making the video. Typically I have it in there, and that breaks up the shape nicely :) This bag is multipurpose for me, so sometimes I remove the plastic inserts in order to carry SSD's and other important electronics. It's super handy and versatile, but I need to remember BOTH plastic inserts haha.
When not able to carry on or off body, but still have a gun reasonably close, I’m curious if you’ve heard of Console Vault. I have one in my center console and it’s basically a steel box with a combination lock on it. When I go somewhere “non-permissive” I can safely leave my gun in my vehicle and feel confident it won’t be stolen. I also have an alarm system that makes my truck unable to be started without turning the alarm off (for those who might comment “What if your truck gets stolen?”) The reason I brought this up is the way you talked about this subject, it doesn’t sound like you have a solution for leaving a gun in your vehicle. I could be wrong of course. Great content!
I do have a safe that I could use in my vehicle, but my lifestyle is such that I quite literally never use it. I used it quite a bit in my first year of carrying, but after a while I learned that I could plan my non-gun errands all in one go and just leave my gun at home. If I'm going somewhere that I know I either can't have a gun or I don't want to have a gun, then my gun stays at home. I realize not everyone can do it that way, but I'm able to, so I do. I don't think I have used my safe inside my vehicle since 2021, it's something I intentionally avoid. For reasons that @jstud99 gives a perfect example of.
@tessabooth @jstud999 I’m mid-50’s and have never had a vehicle burgled. I’ve lived in a large city of 3.5 million people for 4 of those years but most of my life has been living in a city of 100K+. I’m sure auto burglaries have plenty of contributing factors, but I carry daily and always have another gun and spare mag in my center console. I also have a rifle and other kit in another vault in the back of my SUV. This has been my “normal” for the last 7+ years. Never a problem. Just lucky I guess.
@@BitcoinNBullets Yeah, personally for my use case, I'm much more likely to have my gun taken from my vehicle than I am to 1) need to use it and 2) need to use it AND be able to retrieve it from my vehicle without having the opportunity to also drive away. Everyone's use case looks different, but guns are taken from vehicles every single day, so I try to avoid leaving my gun in my car, even if it's in a safe.
Smart and very reasonable compromise. It doesn't stand out enough to call attention by screaming "Gun in here" and can easily be passed off as kids meds I carry at all times which no one would even blink at. Good choice of firearm not because of brand per say but that design even if wet will function reliably. If you are worried you can water proof the ammo with nail polish. Look up any number of videos on how this is done, and even test the rounds out for reliability. With that, the gun can be completely submerged mag and all....picked up out of water and will still fire al the rounds. Great video!
Favorite female Gun tuber...Knowledgeable, a good shot, Communicates clearly and intelligently. Like a dude, but a chick. Only woman I recommend to follow to all my female and male acquaintances and friends. Keep it up Tessah! 100k right around the corner.
Yeah, you're totally right. Someone might guess that theirs a gun shaped object in there. I actually have a second plastic insert that I made for the bag, but I compleeeetely forgot to put it in before making the video. Typically I have it in there, and that breaks up the shape nicely :) This bag is multipurpose for me, so sometimes I remove the plastic inserts in order to carry SSD's and other important electronics. It's super handy and versatile, but I need to remember BOTH plastic inserts haha.
I was on a white water trip once and had my Ruger LCR in my cargo shorts pocket. It worked, but got really wet. This would have been a much better option.
Ha! I was just trying to figure out another way to carry at the pool when we’re on vacation next month. Only option, really, is the ol fanny pack. I hadn’t ever thought about a water proof fanny pack, though….i strap my fanny pack high chest and have my piece inside of a water proof bag lol.
I carry a G43 in a ziploc in my cargo pocket on my trunks every time I swim. I also have my CHL in there, too. Where I live, I've gotta have it on me if I'm packin'.
This is excellent, the solution I was thinking of before this (at a public pool) is to keep a swim bag near by with the goods, and use a kensington lock to lock it to the lanes diving block, but obviously youd have to be nearby and the draw would be awfully long. Didnt know these waterproof swim packs existed, may have to look into it!
That's a great solution. I've been using waterproof bags with J-frame inside of a regular fanny pack. Also, I need you to quit being twice as smart as me at half my age.
I was thinking along these lines over the weekend... the one water resistant fanny pack I have access to ATM though is translucent and a roll-top with three zippers... will look for something along these lines. Thanks!
Dial-down the retention on the holster and put the gun in a zip-lock bag. This allows the gun to come out of the holster quicker and in a rapid deployment situation your first rounds can be fired through the bag, then tear the bag off the weapon.
@tessahbooth The bag of course is sealed after it goes over the gun prior to holstering. Then, If you must draw that weapon, fire it and then strip remains of the bag from the gun, where to put that bag afterward is relatively trivial. Back in the bag, next to the holster is recommended.
@@XrayMike17plus1depending on the size of the bag, it seems like it would be difficult if not impossible to actually pull the trigger because one would not be able to get their finger in the trigger guard due to the plastic. And not all plastic baggies are that easy to tear through, especially in a high stress situation where fine motor skills are basically non existent. It may seem like a good idea in theory, like telling women to carry car keys between their fingers for self defense, but practically it isn't. And, like a coat of any sort with fasteners like buttons or a zipper on a child in a carseat, it has the potential to cause the gun to come out of the holster when it is not intended.
Thx for your work and posts 👍💥💪🏼 Self defense is a multi faceted complex issue. Sometimes retreat - hot sauce (oc) or blade must be considered. Jury may not see things as you did. 😮
Great solution! Finally took my wife and four kids to the beach in California (I live in Phoenix too) I carried in a fanny pack, with the gun in a zip lock bag! Not ideal! I'll have to check out that bag.
That’s a pretty weird thing for a dude to say to a married woman, especially when it’s in a comment on the internet where it will just publicly marinate…
From my experience only rolltop drybags are submersible. I use a 5 or 10 liter roll top dry bag with a shoulder strap . It floats around when I swim .that Fanny pack u have looks water proof but probably not submerged . I would test it with nothing in it in the bathtub first
If I may make a suggestion: place a first aid cross or "RESCUE INHALER - ASTHMA" on the front of the fanny pack. People carrying any sort of pack in the water is unusual, and such a sign may help alleviate suspicion. Great video. I used to work PSD, and a solution we came up with for a principal who frequented the beach was to use an industrial vacuum packer on a hammerless J-frame. To make it shootable without having to remove the plastic, we cut a small slit forward of the trigger and had a gunsmith fill in the cylinder fluting to reduce resistance on the cylinder's rotation. It made carrying on body in board shorts possible. The sights were useless, but the sights on a J-frame at the time didn't do much anyway. We never used it in anger, but we did practice drawing and shooting with the setup. Some of us may even be guilty of taking bets to see who could shoot the best from the hip with the gun underwater. Good times!
You're missing the obvious: Heckler & Koch P11 underwater pistol with an APS underwater rifle in case you need more firepower. Isn't living in the South during the summer basically swimming with a gun on? Just as important as having a stainless steel pistol that can handle infrequent immersion is having fully sealed ammo. Most quality defensive ammo should be sealed around the neck and primer to prevent moisture ingress.
i really like how you explain things for conceal carry review, by chance can you do a review for the NeoMag beltless receiver and Tier1 Constantine carry belt ? I know both of these are competition to the engima system but trying to make a best decision as I can't have all 3.
Very cool, from the thumbnail I would've guessed some kind of pocket rocket in a plastic bag inside the pack. In my experience waterproof zipper is an oxymoron, but let us know how well it works!
Hello from a fellow Oregonian! This place's beauty is rivaled by none, I just wish it was more 2A friendly. Little better than Washington, and much better than California, but who knows for how much longer. Great concept with the bag, how much did all of that end up running, cost wise (minus the Glock)?
Look up the Ukoala Bag. Get a small firearm with a small version. G43, p365, 43x etc. Glocks will operate underwater or with water in there. They're also saltwater resistant. They're also one of the easiest guns to break down in the world.
The Ukoala bag isn't really designed for this use case. Although it seems to be an option that provides fairly quick access off body, I have always felt that the Ukoala bag was very "telling" for anyone who has experience carrying a gun.
Interesting video. I think you definitely need to put some padding inside the fanypack, as your gun is clearly printing. You're leaving no doubt as to what you have in there .... anyone can see it.
It looks more like the old fashioned hair dryers or some sort of battery powered hand toy than a gun. People think printing is a lot more obvious than it is when they are aware of what it is themselves. Most people do not carry and will not look twice.
I kinda lucked out and just use my parents pool. They have a safe in the basement they let me use for it. It's inaccessable, but it's private property in the backyard in a very safe neighborhood, so it's not the worst scenario to he without a firearm.
If you're no longer a resident of your home state of Oregon, how do you legally conceal carry when you go back? I don't think Oregon has reciprocity with any other states and only allows neighbor state residents to obtain non resident CCW permits.
You can just use normal Fanny pack and let your Glock submerge. I’ve got a vid showing a 43x soaked for 9 hours then shooting straight out of the water at the range. Just strip and dry it when you get home takes 5 minutes
We'll have to see! I'm not terribly concerned about my Glock getting damp, however this is something I really only use a couple times a year so I would expect it to take quite a while to experience any leaks.
Can you provide the blueprint of the piece you made for attaching the firearm to? I am looking for some solutions like that when I can carry while doing water activities like kayaking, paddle boarding etc. I might try to carry it across the shoulder and place it in front of my chest.
Have you considered switching the orientation of the plastic backer to be at the front of the bag? That might help with the printing. Maybe even a left handed holster in that case
I actually have a second plastic insert that I made for the bag, but I compleeeetely forgot to put it in before making the video. Typically I have it in there in front of the pistol, and that breaks up the shape nicely :)
