Safety
Before You Carry
Firearms are dangerous. Serious injury or death can result from improper handling. You are responsible for the safe use and retention of your firearm and this pack.
Obtain training from a qualified instructor before you carry. Practice draw and reholster with an unloaded firearm until the motions are deliberate and consistent.
Treat every firearm as loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you have decided to shoot. Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Never put a loaded firearm in the pack until you have first confirmed fit with the firearm unloaded and the chamber empty. Do not use this product with a loaded firearm if you cannot draw and store the firearm in the holster and chest pack safely and effectively while you test it. We offer a money-back guarantee for this reason. We would rather you have gear that works safely than keep your money.
Carrying a loaded firearm in this pack is for trained, experienced users only.
This Pack and the Trigger
The pack ships with a universal holster. Aftermarket triggers, lights, lasers, grip adapters, or other modifications can change fit and raise the risk of an unintended discharge. If your firearm and its accessories do not fit or draw cleanly from the included holster, remove the accessories or use a custom holster from a maker of your choice. Several companies are listed on our Learn More page. Do not use this pack with a firearm or accessory it does not accept.
Do not modify the pack. Do not cock a firearm while it is holstered. Keep the firearm fully seated. Use any retention features the pack provides.
The pack includes a retention strap on the universal holster. We added it after seeing how little security simple hook-and-loop straps give in other off-body bags. Extra material around the buckle is there to help cover the trigger. Unbuckling still puts your hand near the trigger. Practice that motion with an unloaded firearm. Go slow. The strap adds draw time and complexity. Practice until you can draw safely and effectively under stress.
This pack shares space with other gear in both the conceal-carry compartment and the storage compartment. Know where the trigger sits relative to everything you put in. Do not let pouches, tools, clothing, or loose items press on or catch the trigger when you pack, unpack, or shift contents.
A holster does not replace safe handling. Placement of a firearm in this pack does not relieve you of trigger discipline or muzzle awareness. Chest carry can place the muzzle near your support arm or torso during the draw. Practice slowly. Know where the muzzle points at every step.
Limits and Responsibility
No holster or pack is snatch-proof. Do not rely on it to keep an unauthorized person from taking the firearm. Keep firearms out of the reach of children and anyone who should not have access to them. The pack is not a lock or a child-safety device.
This pack is for carry, not storage. Do not leave a firearm or other hazardous items in it when you are not using it. It is not a safe.
Inspect the pack before each use. If it is worn, loose, damaged, or no longer holds the firearm securely, stop using it.
Venture Carry has no control over how this product is used after it leaves our hands. You assume the risk of use. Follow these warnings and the instructions that came with your firearm and all applicable local laws.
Care
Storage
Empty the pack when you are not carrying it. Remove the firearm and anything stored in the pouches.
This pack is for carry, not storage. Do not leave a firearm or other hazardous items in it when you are not using it. It is not a safe. Keep firearms locked and stored per the law and the maker’s instructions when they are not on your person.
Do not store the pack in direct sunlight. UV weakens 500D nylon and takes the stretch out of elastic over time. Keep it in a cool, dry place out of the sun when you are not wearing it.
Cleaning
Spot-clean dirt with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. A drop of mild soap is enough for stains. Lightly scrub the dirty area. Rinse the cloth and wipe the soap off. Do not soak the pack unless you have to.
Do not use bleach, fabric softener, solvents, or harsh cleaners. Do not machine wash. Do not tumble dry. Do not iron. Heat and agitation can damage coatings, stitching, hardware, and elastic.
After salt, sweat, or mud, rinse the affected area with fresh water and let it dry. Salt and moisture left in nylon shorten its life.
Drying and Inspection
Air-dry the pack open in the shade. Do not put it on a heater or in the sun to speed it up. Make sure it is fully dry before you store it. Do not put a firearm back in until the pack is dry and you are ready to carry.
Inspect straps, buckles, stitching, and the holster after cleaning. If anything is worn, frayed, or no longer holds securely, stop using the pack.
Operation
Assembly and First Fit
The straps ship inside the pack. Take the harness out. Lay it flat as shown in the picture below. Attach all four buckles to the pack as shown. If a buckle does not fit, reverse it.
Put the empty pack on first, tighten the straps, and set the fit before you load anything.
For the first fit, unbuckle both lower strap buckles. Put the shoulder straps and harness over your head and onto your shoulders. Support the pack with one hand. Buckle one lower buckle. Switch hands and buckle the other side.
Lift the pack with one hand and hold it where you want it. Rest it on your chest, covering or just above the sternum, for the best fit.
Keep one hand on the pack so it stays in place. Tighten one side strap with the other hand until the fit is snug. Repeat on the other side. Support with one hand and tighten with the other. Work back and forth, a little at a time, so both side straps stay even. Do not leave one side longer than the other.
When the lower straps are snug, tighten the shoulder straps until the pack stays put and still feels comfortable.
Do not cinch the pack so tight that it restricts breathing. Take several deep breaths after you tighten. If your chest cannot expand freely, loosen the straps.
When the fit is set, unbuckle one side only. You can take the pack off and put it back on through that single opening. After the first setup you only need to buckle and unbuckle one side.
Slide the included strap keepers onto the extra length on each of the four harness straps. If a strap is still long, fold it once before you seat the keeper.
Universal Holster
The included universal holster is built to fit as wide a range of firearms and accessories as we could while keeping the design simple. Remove the hook-and-loop holster and test fit outside the pack. Make sure the firearm is unloaded before you test.
Slide the firearm into the holster. Confirm that you can draw the firearm and any accessories, such as an under-barrel light, easily and smoothly. Nothing should catch or snag. If the draw is not clean, remove the accessories or use a custom holster with a hook-and-loop panel that fits this pack. Several makers are listed on our Learn More page. If your firearm is not a fit, we would love to hear from you so we can make adjustments to future models.
If the firearm holsters and draws from the included holster, wrap the retention strap around the grip and buckle it. Tighten the strap until the firearm is held securely. Use the included elastic strap keeper to control extra strap length.
With the firearm still unloaded and in the holster, place the holster in the pack where you want it. The holster and pack are ambidextrous. Set the draw for either hand. Place the holster so the firearm sits parallel to your waistline for a straight draw out the side of the pack. Put a spare magazine in the included magazine pouch for an off-hand draw. Press the holster and magazine pouch onto the hook-and-loop panel so the connection is firm. See the picture below.
Quick Access Conceal Carry Compartment
This compartment is built to cover the firearm and still give a fast opening. In the top corner of the opening flap there are two nylon tabs. Use the right tab for a right-hand draw. Use the left tab for a left-hand draw.
While wearing the pack, partly close the conceal-carry compartment. Zip each side up to the corner of the tab you will use. Pull that tab out through the zipper. Then finish closing the zippers on both sides of the exposed tab. The pack fabric is water resistant. This opening can still let in water in heavy rain or under snow.
To draw, grip the exposed tab with your support hand. That is the hand you will not use to draw the firearm. Pull the tab down and away from your body. The zippers should run open and the compartment should open fully with minimal effort. Do not continue to pull if the compartment does not easily open; check zippers for debris or fabric, assess if the zippers are strained by over-packing, and test zipper function independently. Do not try to draw your firearm while the compartment is only partly open.
Practice this several times. In normal wear the pack should stay put. A real draw is different: pulling the strap down and away can pull or twist the pack, and a backpack or other gear can make that more noticeable. Plan on that movement. Practice the full sequence—open the compartment, unbuckle the retention strap, draw—with an unloaded firearm until the pack’s movement is familiar.
Do not overpack. Too much gear loads the zipper and can keep the quick-open from working. If the tab will not pull down and away cleanly, remove or move items until it does.
In order to ensure safe operation, we always recommend testing your full setup to ensure the pack functions as intended. Practice pulling the compartment open, unbuckling your holster's retention strap, and drawing your firearm.
