>>2780740Don't open carry. Besides making you look like a retard, it opens you up to any random claiming that you "threateningly touched your gun" or something similar, which might get you into hot water legally (varies by state and country, but it may be considered intimidation or brandishing a weapon).
Also, if somebody is really after you, they'll know you're carrying and plan around it.
>how common it is for hikers to be armedPretty uncommon where I am. Germany though. In the city, around 1/10 people is carrying a knife or gun (generally concealed), in the woods the only other person I've seen carrying was some teen who really shouldn't have had a gun in the first place.
>reaction from other hikersMost don't realize as long as you're not to obvious. I used to open carry my revolver when I was around 19 to make a point. The whole "use it or lose it" bullshit weaponrights activists feed you. afaik, nobody ever noticed. Black gun in a black holster on black pants is pretty much invisible.
Only time someone realized I was carrying was when I was still a kid and carrying a Glock 81 (not a typo, I'm actually talking about the knife). they didn't have the guts to say something to me though, only talked shit when they'd passed me.
>If it doesn't end up being a handgun, what other methods of self defense would be better?Depends. Guns are the best options against animals, but animals won't attack you normally. Against humans (and within the legal borders of self-defense), knives beat guns every time. If you're attacked, it'll most likely be within arms reach, and just unholstering a pistol at that distance is hard. And even if you manage, it ends up a grappling match for the gun.
Get a short dagger instead and carry it in your right front pocket with the hilt exposed. That way, you can index it inconspicously the moment something feels off, and if you need it, drawing it is easy.
