Carry during athletics

[zahc]

Last week I had dropped the wife off at church and went to do a little bit of running around. Having a bit of time to kill, a broke out the longboard for a quick loop around the park. As is common, I managed to take a rather standard tumble, which would have been completely unmentionable but for the fact that I ended up sliding several inches directly on my PF-9, which was IWB. My brain told me that it's practically impossible for the gun to fire, but my right cheek wasn't very amused. The gun was unharmed.

Skateboarding being a full-ground-contact sport at times, when I'm actually purposely going out to longboard, I don't carry because falling on the pistol can be uncomfortable to downright dangerous; I don't even carry keys in my pockets because they can bruise. I think possibly the only safe way to carry would be in one of those belly band contraptions where the gun rides at '12 o'clock' since that area is almost never subject to impact from rolling or sliding maneuvers.

Does anyone else ever have to strike a balance between safety due to the gun carry itself and personal safety, defensively speaking?

A similar situation arose back when I worked at the marina. I didn't carry much more than a Spyderco for fear that an accidental dunking (which did happen now and again) would result in drowning if I was carrying a full battle load.

 

[TallPine]

I carry while horseback riding.

 

[mr.72]

i would think a belly band or smartcarry would be your best option, like you say, carrying at approx 12 o'clock

 

[Packman]

Ooooh...careful with a smartcarry. When you fall, sometimes the angles are funny. I'm not a fan of hard stuff in a position to pinch/smash/squash my package. Bellyband sounds like a better idea.

 

[Mainsail]

I carry openly OWB while running (six miles every other day), in-line skating, or riding the bicycle. I cannot imagine falling on an IWB holstered gun. OUCH! Hope your bruise heals quick!

 

[leadcounsel]

I've seen rigs designed for chest pouch carry for athletics like skiing.

I used to jog with a pistol or revolver in a fanny pack or backpack. I prefered a revolver and just left the striker on an empty cylinder - but also with semi-autos I would just leave the chamber empty.

Yes, I know with modern guns it's perfectly safe to leave one in the chamber, but I just really felt uncomfortable with the constant bouncing from sports to keep a bullet in the chamber. And with a revolver you're giving up one bullet for the peace of mind, and it takes no more effort (such as racking a slide) to bring the weapon to bear and fire a round.

 

[coloradokevin]

Some sports I carry for, others I don't.

Hiking and biking are two examples of where carrying a concealed weapon isn't unbearable to me.

But, I don't carry when I am rock climbing, skiing, road running (sometimes on solo backcountry trail runs I will carry, due to mountain lion risk... but I really hate wearing the gun when I run), etc.

 

[YammyMonkey]

I use a Smart Carry when running, etc. Haven't had any pinch/slap issues even when trail running over pretty rough terrain.

 

[macp]

I spoke with a cop who stated that when running off-duty, he would carry one of those .22 deringers (the kind with the cylinder) in his hand, with a sock over his hand, which looked like a glove from a distance.

 

[BrianB]

...with a sock over his hand, which looked like a glove from a distance.

...and up close he looks like a cheap Michael Jackson fan?

 

[macp]

...and up close he looks like a cheap Michael Jackson fan?

Especially if he was running backwards

 

[Eyesac]

Quote:
...and up close he looks like a cheap Michael Jackson fan?

Especially if he was running backwards

haha!

Anywhoo, I regularly ride my dirtbike (trail) w/ an IWB, never had a problem. There are certainly limits to what I will do and carry, but I've pretty much resigned myself to just carry everywhere while doing anything.