Galco Fastrax Pac Waistpack
Eve Flanigan 05.27.20
Fanny packs were all the rage for concealed carry at one time, fading from popularity about the same time striker-fired pistols became common. Like an old pop song, these dowdy accessories were ripe for a redux. At SHOT Show 2020, a new breed of fanny pack roared onto the scene. The Fastrax Pac isn’t leather, but it’s made by the Great American Leather Company, better known as Galco.
The Fastrax Pac is oval in shape and fits tighter against the body than fanny packs of old. Its waistband is all elastic, providing almost unlimited adjustment. It has two compartments. The gun compartment is closest to the body and can hold up to the average duty size pistol. The front compartment can accommodate a magazine and a bit of first aid gear with room left over for money and ID/credit cards. For those who listen to music or podcasts while exercising or riding public transportation, an audio cable/earbud outlet is built into the outside compartment, allowing a phone or other device to ride safely while keeping the headphone/earbud cord in a consistent, useful place.
Outside, the look is decidedly urban, neutral, and frankly, boring — which enhances discreet concealed carry. Unlike its predecessors that sported a certain profile, usually in shiny black leather, there’s nothing about the gray-tone Fastrax that screams “gun.” Of course, if you want it in camo or leather, Galco offers those as well.
What’s on the inside is what makes Fastrax special. A triangular, stiff, suede-textured panel, criss-crossed with semi-taut cord, forms the holster aspect of the bag. Clear written instructions with examples of brands show how to adjust the cord settings for various guns. My Sig P365 fits on the second-smallest of the available settings. Following the written guide, the gun is secured in this cradle-like structure and readily tucks inside, keeping the profile of the gun invisible.
That cradle’s cord runs to the outside of the bag, where the distal end is designed to fit over one of the two zipper pulls that open the gun compartment. This cord is pulled up with the support hand, creating a nice little distracting movement while the firing hand pulls the non-corded zipper tab. The gun quickly pops out, rotating on the way so as to be in a natural grip position for the firing hand. It all happens faster and smoother than it sounds, though it does require two hands.
Galco’s instructions for the Fastrax are well-written and, unlike many concealment product brochures, give careful attention to completing the gun insertion process without muzzling oneself. Kudos to them for paying attention to safety.
I gave the Fastrax Pac a couple workouts by riding a bicycle and walking dogs. It’s truly comfortable and especially for the bike, offers an easy way to carry that doesn’t interfere with movement. The only downside was two half-moon-shaped sweat marks on the front of my shorts when I first took the pack off after a ride. There is mesh material that allows for some breathability, but any fabric layered on during exercise will result in at least some sweat.
Proper wear of the Fastrax is on the front quarter of the body, with the center around the two o’clock position for a right-handed shooter or eleven o’clock for left-handed shooters. This felt fine for walking, but felt unbalanced while cycling. With the pack centered, a good draw is still entirely doable. As always, attention to what and where the muzzle is pointing in the moment between leaving the holster and being on target is critical.
Like any concealment gear, the Fastrax requires practice to operate like a pro. At the outset, if your gun isn’t the size that fits the inner holster as it comes from the factory, it’ll require a few minutes of study and effort to re-string the holster for a proper fit. Using it correctly, and with tactical efficiency is entirely possible, with some effort on the front end.
My singular criticism of this product is that drawing the gun is a two-handed operation. Of course, that’s also true of many other concealment systems. Aside from that, I believe the Fastrax is a highly desirable option for discreet carry for people with active lifestyles or for anyone who, for whatever reason, cannot carry inside their waistband.
The Fastrax Pac as shown is $89 and available for direct order from Galco Gunleather. A subcompact model for very small pistols is $79. Leather models are $109.
