Let’s be honest: most CCW sling packs look exactly like what they are. You might as well wear a sign that says “please rob me first.” Elite Survival Systems thinks they’ve cracked the code with their new Sentinel Cross-Body CCW Pack, and at $69.95, it won’t require a second mortgage to find out if they’re right.
The Sentinel is Elite’s answer to the off-body carry dilemma: how do you keep a gun accessible without advertising it to every soccer mom and mall ninja in a three-block radius? Their solution is a cross-body sling that actually looks like something a normal person would carry to the coffee shop.
What You’re Getting
The dedicated CCW compartment fits full-size handguns up to the dimensions of a Glock 17, red dots and all. It uses an adjustable universal holster with hook-and-loop attachment, and you can swap in Kydex if you’re particular about your retention. Ambidextrous access means lefties aren’t stuck with the shaft for once.
Elite Survival claims “rapid access” from either side. Whether it’s actually rapid in a pucker-factor situation is something you’ll need to practice extensively, because off-body carry already puts you behind the curve. No bag draw is as fast as appendix or strong-side carry — that’s physics and geometry, not marketing.
The construction appears solid for the price point, though “high-quality materials” is pretty vague. It’s Elite Survival Systems, an American company that’s been making gear since 1979, so they’ve got some street cred. But until someone puts serious miles on this thing and reports back, durability remains TBD.
The Off-Body Reality Check
Look, off-body carry isn’t ideal. Your gun isn’t on your body, which means it can be separated from you. Set the bag down at a restaurant? Now you’re playing the “keep one eye on it at all times” game. Someone grabs it and runs? Congratulations, you just armed a criminal. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios — they happen.
That said, sometimes off-body is the only realistic option. Dress codes, physical limitations, or clothing that makes on-body carry impractical all exist in the real world. If you’re going to carry off-body, the Sentinel’s focus on looking like normal people stuff rather than a tactical MOLLE nightmare is the right approach.
Bottom Line
At $70, the Sentinel CCW Pack is priced competitively for what you’re getting. It’s available now at elitesurvival.com and through various retailers, with the usual “check the website for deals” caveat.
Just remember: if you’re carrying in a bag, that bag becomes part of your EDC system. You need to train with it, maintain control of it, and have a plan for what happens when you can’t keep it on your person. The Sentinel might make off-body carry more discreet and accessible, but it doesn’t eliminate the inherent compromises.
Practice. Train. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t set it down in a public bathroom.