3 Off-Body Concealed Carry Bags I Use as a Prepared Woman & Practical Mom

Before becoming a mom, I carried almost exclusively appendix on-body. It was simple, consistent, and it worked.

So I found myself diving headfirst into what I like to call the “off-body that stays on your body” carry game slings, packs, and bags that stay attached to me instead of getting tossed in a shopping cart or left on a restaurant chair.

Now that I’m chasing little feet instead of just my own schedule, my carry system has evolved right along with my season of life.

Some days I’m in leggings and sneakers running errands. Some days we’re out for an all-day adventure. Other days it’s church, date night, or family vacations where I want something a little more polished.

After years of carrying and now carrying through pregnancy and motherhood I’ve settled into three setups that cover just about every situation.

1. Everyday Mom Mode: Eberlestock Bando XL Fanny pack

If you see me out on a normal day, chances are I’m wearing casual clothes, my favorite pair of Mumsie baby carrier overalls (yes, that’s a thing!) sneakers, and my Eberlestock Bando XL.

This has become my everyday carry because it does so much more than simply hold my firearm.

It carries:

• My concealed carry pistol

  • P365XL +1 Mag

• Wallet

• Keys

• Phone

• Mom essentials

• A full medical kit

As someone who believes in being prepared, carrying medical gear is just as important to me as carrying a firearm. The Bando XL gives me enough room to do both without feeling bulky.

The Eberlestock Bando XL has earned a permanent spot in my daily routine over all other Fanny packs primarily because of its durability. I’ve been running this bag for over two years, and I don’t baby it not even a little. I pack it completely full, it’s been shoved in and out of backpacks, tossed in the car, dragged through the mud, covered in mysterious toddler stickiness (if you’re a parent, you know exactly what I mean), and somehow it always wipes clean. The zippers are still smooth, the fabric still looks great, and not a single seam has given out. It’s even survived being used as an impromptu seat by my 30-pound toddler more times than I can count.

When your kids seem determined to test the structural integrity of everything you own every 2.5 seconds, gear that actually holds up is worth its weight in gold. Add in Eberlestock’s lifetime warranty and the fact that the Bando XL is surprisingly affordable for how well it’s built, and I honestly think I’d have a hard time wearing this thing out in my lifetime.

Whether we’re at the park, a sporting event, or spending the day exploring, I’ve used it as a quick seat for my kiddo more times than I can count. It’s one of those little features you don’t think about until you’re a mom spending all day on the go.

READ MORE & SEE MY FULL LOADOUT OF MY BANDO XL HERE

2. Adventure Days: Eberlestock Bando + Fade Backpack

Whenever we’re going to be out long enough to need lunch, extra diapers, water bottles, and all the kid gear that somehow multiplies every outing, Eberlestock Fade Backpack is basically my cool mom version of a diaper bag. Why on God's green Earth would anybody ever carry an awkwardly oversized diaper bag on one strap over their shoulder when you got kids running around... I could never. A diaper bag should always be a backpack, but anyways I digress. This is why I love my choice.

I have a slight tactical gear problem… if it’s modular, I’m probably going to love it. If you’ve spent any time around the preparedness community, you already know the feeling. We all pretend we only need one pouch, one pack, one organizer… and then somehow everything has to work with everything else.

Because let’s be honest—good trauma medical supplies aren’t cheap. A quality tourniquet, chest seals, pressure bandages, hemostatic gauze… those items add up quickly. I’m not buying multiple complete trauma kits just so every bag has one, and I definitely don’t have time to swap gear from bag to bag every time we’re heading out the door.

Instead, my entire everyday carry setup stays inside the Bando XL. My wallet, essentials, and full medical kit are always packed and ready. When I drop it into the Fade Backpack, I simply slip my firearm into the backpack’s quick-access concealed carry compartment, leaving the Bando’s straps exposed so they become a built-in grab handle. If I ever need my trauma kit, I can pull the entire Bando out in one motion instead of digging through a backpack while seconds matter.

It’s one of those setups that just works. If we’re spending the day hiking, the Bando rides inside the backpack. If we stop for an errand and I don’t want to lug the whole pack around, I pull the Bando out, throw it over my shoulder, and go. If the backpack ends up in the car or hanging from the stroller for part of the day, my carry setup transitions just as easily.

That flexibility is what sold me. I can adjust how much I want to carry without ever leaving behind the things that matter most.

3. Date Night, Church & Special Occasions: Cakes  Concealed Carry Cross Body Bag

I’m a lady… Sometimes I want to prioritize cute, but I also have little ones depending on me to protect them, so I also have to be prepared.

The good news: my off-body draw is super fast with the new, patented, quick-magnetic Pull-Down quick-release system from Cakes Carry!

Date nights, church, weddings, family vacations, or any time my husband is carrying most of the kid gear are when I prioritize fashion while still carrying responsibly.

That’s where the cakes concealed carry bag has really impressed me.

The standout feature is their Fast Release Technology. Instead of fumbling with zippers, the compartment opens all at once instantly. That may only save a few seconds, but in a defensive encounter, every movement matters.

A Couple Things to Keep in Mind...

Any time you switch to a new carry system, training matters.

First: Practice your draw.

Because this opening system is different from a traditional zippered compartment, you’ll want to build consistent reps and make sure you’re drawing without sweeping or flagging your support hand or your own body. The goal is to build a clean, safe draw so that under stress your body defaults to good habits. I recommend recording yourself in slow motion to ensure you’re not flagging yourself and slowly increasing speed as you maintain that perfect form again and again. Making sure to contextualize your draw for yourself. Are you somebody that often baby carries or has a child on your left or right hip? These are all things you need to consider in the way that you draw. 

Second: Moms of toddlers teach “No Touch.”

One thing I noticed immediately is how easy this purse is to open.

That’s exactly what makes it such a fast concealed carry option, but it’s also something to be aware of if you have curious little hands.

Teaching your children that the purse is off limits is important. Not only to avoid an awkward public opening of the concealed carry compartment, but more importantly for firearm safety. Until they’re old enough to understand, I also stay mindful of where little hands are whenever I’m carrying. I am constantly aware of where my Firearm is when I’m wearing the system. It’s a small tradeoff for an incredibly fast-access design, but it’s something worth mentioning.

MORE ON HOW TO DRAW FROM THE CAKES CARRY BAG HERE

Why I Don’t Use It Every Day

As much as I genuinely enjoy this purse, I personally save it for special occasions rather than daily mom life.

For my everyday routine, I simply carry too much.

Between snacks, medical supplies, water, wipes, and all the other “just in case” items moms seem to accumulate, I need more capacity.

I’d absolutely love to see cakes release a slightly larger version of this purse while keeping the exact same Fast Release Technology. That combination would be hard to beat.

As a Company Safety Isn’t an Afterthought

One of the things I appreciate most about Cakes is that safety and education clearly aren’t an afterthought. They have an entire section of their website dedicated to firearms education, including topics like avoiding muzzle flagging, carrying as a mom, and these topics come with with actual demonstration videos to help women understand what safe carry should look like in practice. As someone who teaches and advocates for women’s firearms safety, this matters a lot to me. You wouldn’t believe how many companies put out marketing material under their own name that demonstrates unsafe practices because apparently making the sale is more important than teaching the customer. Cakes feels different. This is a company designed by women, for women, by a woman who actually knows what she’s doing and, more importantly, seems to genuinely care about the women carrying their products. That combination of thoughtful design, real-world experience, and a commitment to responsible firearms education is exactly the kind of thing I want to see more of in this industry.

I Recommend Overwatch Precision After Market Safety Triggers For All Off-Body Carry

Speaking of safety… especially when carrying in a bag. I definitely prefer having as many layers of protection as I can. With a gun like the P365 XL that doesn’t come from the factory with a manual safety on the frame or an additional trigger safety, I chose to modify mine with an Overwatch Precision aftermarket trigger that incorporates a safety blade. Unless you press that trigger correctly and intentionally with your finger, it makes an unintentional trigger press much less likely. Of course, this is just one small piece of the bigger safety picture: a proper holster that fully protects the trigger, consistent training, situational awareness, and safe handling all matter. But for me, safety is a “more is more” situation. I want to take every reasonable precaution I can at every step. And honestly, I think I enjoy the feel and press of this aftermarket trigger even more than the stock P365 trigger. Overwatch Precision is a small Arizona company, and their trigger options are available across the P365 lineup, including the P365, P365 XL, and Macro. If you also daily carry a P365 XL, I definitely recommend checking them out.

Final Thoughts on daily bag concealed carry options 

Preparedness doesn’t look the same every day.

Some days it looks like leggings and a fanny pack packed with medical gear.

Some days it’s a backpack full of diapers and sandwiches with a pew pew in a back panel. 

Some days it’s a dress, a concealed carry cross body bag, and trusting my husband to haul everything else or keeping the medical in the bear by car or stroller.