There are many options on the market for off-body carry bags. Eberlestock recently released its “Fade Sling,” which looks very intuitive and promising. The Fade Sling is more of a large-format, everyday-carry-bag, though. It contains a quick-deploy area for your concealed firearm but is much different and larger than the bag we will be discussing in this article: the 945 Industries Q.A.P. Series off-body carry bag.
I selected this particular bag after weeks of research and have been carrying in it for the last few months. Right off the bat, it should be understood that the 945 Industries bag is purposely designed for concealed carry. It’s compact and comes equipped with a Kydex holster of your choosing. The Q.A.P. can be slung across your chest or worn around the waist as a defensive fanny pack set-up. I chose to wear it across my chest, as I feel it is the more secure option for me.
Off-body carry is controversial because some believe it is not as fast as drawing from a waistband holster, and your firearm can be torn away from your body more easily. But the right equipment can make all the difference in mitigating some of these concerns. The “Q.A.P.” bag fits comfortably across your chest and places the pistol in the same location a normal chest holster would place it.
The zipper is designed in a way that functions smoothly, and I’ve very seldom had hang-ups when training and drawing my pistol hundreds of times. The built-in pull tab rests on the outside of the bag so with a quick tug, you have immediate access to your firearm. The pull tab can be oriented on the left or right side of the bag for ambidextrous function. With a little bit of training and practice, this bag can be very fast. In my comparison testing of my appendix holster vs. the Q.A.P., I consistently draw both around one second, with the “Q.A.P.” being sub-one second more frequently than not. When discussing pure draw time, the Q.A.P. was slightly faster. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other drawbacks to consider.
It has to be acknowledged that it would be much easier for an assailant to grab hold of the strap of the bag than to grab your inside-the-waistband holster. Even if they were able to grab your waistband, it would be easier to still reach your firearm as opposed to struggling over control of the bag. With this particular design, though, you don’t need to worry about the strap or bag failing. It is constructed to be strong and is made of durable materials. I am thoroughly impressed with the design and construction of my Q.A.P.
Another concern could be a failure of the bag to deploy consistently. Hang-ups of the zipper mechanism or the bag catching on your pistol have been seldom for me, but such issues are possible. It is important to always check the condition of your bag and do some practice draws before leaving your house. I personally believe the positives outweigh the negatives, which is why I own and use one, but I am not advocating for one over the other.
Why did I choose to carry this way? I live in south Florida, where it is hot and humid most of the year. I typically wear a tank top and athletic shorts with a belt-free, elastic waistline. Those type of shorts are not ideal for carrying a firearm. A very light gun like a small .380 or a micro 9 can sometimes be supported by these types of shorts, but your options are limited. That is the main reason I chose the 945 Industries Q.A.P. bag.
Like me, you may find yourself compromising your carry choice because of the type of clothing you are wearing. With the Q.A.P., I carry my Glock 19 equipped with a flashlight, a red-dot and a 15-round magazine. I shoot my Glock 19 significantly better and feel more confidently armed than with a micro 9 or other small carry option. The bag hangs over the shoulder, so weight isn’t an issue. Differently sized bags are available, which will allow you to even carry a full-size handgun if you are inclined.
South Florida is also known for its beautiful beaches. With the Q.A.P design, you can enjoy the beach with your shirt off and still be covertly armed. Depending on the bag and accessories, there's also space for other essentials like your wallet, keys, knife etc., while keeping your hands free. I have one of the original and simplest designs of the 945 Industries bag. I carry my Glock in the large compartment, along with a small pocketknife, flashlight and wallet in the smaller front compartment. I’m able to carry all my essential EDCs and wear the type of clothes I want to stay cool on hot Florida days. For me, the bag has been a game-changer.
The Q.A.P. bag comes in small, large, or XL sizes in two main formats. One is equipped with a purpose-built, Velcro-backed Kydex holster specifically made for the bag. The other comes with a holster with a mounted belt clip but contains a Velcro adapter, so you can switch between belt or bag in seconds. The company offers a wide variety of holster options to choose from when you are selecting your bag at checkout. The holster is held inside the bag with strong hook-and-loop material, and mine has never shifted out of place.
A variety of colors, and three main material types are also available. I have the original Cordura fabric material, but the other two materials are “UltraGrid” and “XPac,” which the company claims offer different characteristic such as water resistance, weight savings and tear resistance. For what it's worth, I spray my Cordura bag with a waterproofing spray every couple of months, and it seems to work just fine.
One of the latest offerings from 945 Industries is the MORPH adaptive carry system. This system allows the user to either expand the bag for extra space when needed or compress it into a slim profile when not needed. I do not have any hands-on experience with the new MORPH bag, but it looks to be of the same quality I would expect from the brand. Add-on pouches for mag storage or general storage are also available that simply attach to the strap of your existing bag. The bags retail between $133 and $250, depending on the configuration you choose.
To me, an off-body carry bag such as this one from 945 Industries doesn’t replace your waistband holster. It is simply another tool in the arsenal that can make carrying more versatile or comfortable in certain situations. Weigh the positives and negatives yourself and remember that training with your method of conceal carrying is what is most important. Check out the 945 Industries Q.A.P. bag here.
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