Without a pack, you can carry a rear bag on the rifle, on your sling, in a pocket or on a belt. The best choice is the one that has the bag in position when the shot shows up, which means a bag that stays on the rifle.
Sling Steady is built for that: it rides on your sling or attaches directly, with no pack involved.
In our testing, shots landed 28% closer to the bullseye with Sling Steady under the stock, and muzzle rise was about 75% lower. It also helps manage recoil.
On the sling
A sling goes everywhere the rifle goes. A rear shooting rest bag that sits under the stock and rides on your sling goes there too, so it cannot be left in a range bag, a truck or the bottom of a pack. It already hangs at the back of the rifle, and there is nothing to dig for.
Sling Steady rides on your sling or attaches directly, with no tools. No sling comes with the bag. Our install guide shows the steps, and the Y-Clip Sling Adapter ($59.95) connects the bag to a QD sling you own.
Attached directly to the stock
If you do not carry a sling, or want the bag on the rifle without one, it attaches directly. The bag ties into the rear QD point or sling swivel and sits at the toe of the stock. The All-Stock Adapter ($35.95, left or right hand) is nylon webbing with a hook-and-loop strap that wraps the stock and gives the bag a mounting point on any stock. See how the adapter works.
In a pocket
A small bag can go in a jacket or cargo pocket. The catch is that it is then on you and not on the rifle, so you have to take it out and fit it before the shot.
Check the listed size against your pocket before you buy: the Pro 9" is 9" x 2.5" and the Sport 7" is 7" x 2.5".
On a belt
A belt keeps a bag close and off your shoulders. Other bags carry on a strap instead. As listed on 4 November 2026, TAB Gear's Cheater Bag, at $105, has a rapid-adjust shoulder strap and removable elastic straps for the arm or rifle, and Cole-TAC's Cuddle Bag, at $97, has two elastic straps and a quick-adjust shoulder strap.
A belt-carried bag solves the problem of carrying without a pack. It does not solve the step of fitting the bag to the rifle when you set up.
Other makers' tethers
Some bags tether to the rifle too. As listed on 4 November 2026, Short Action Precision's Lightweight Bag, at $44.99 and under 5 oz (not including the swivel; filled or empty not stated), tethers to the butt stock, with options for a sling swivel or an HK hook. MDT's Traveler, $69.99, has a removable lanyard that clips to a QD swivel or HK clip, or loops straight onto the sling, with clips not included. Crosstac's rear squeeze bag, $29.99, has an integrated wrist strap and a sewn-in D-ring to tether it to gear.
The first two attach to the rifle, and all three cost less than a Sling Steady at $89.99, so if you want a lighter or cheaper bag that tethers, they are real options. Sling Steady's connection to the sling is part of how the bag is built and used.
Choosing for your hunt
- Walking all day: a bag on the sling or the stock means nothing to unpack.
- No sling on the rifle: attach the bag directly to the rifle's stud or QD, or use the All-Stock Adapter on rifles without one.
- Small, quick hunts: a pocket may be enough.
The Pro 9" (9.5 oz) is for bolt-action, sport and hunting rifles. The Sport 7" (6.3 to 6.8 oz) is for AR-platform rifles. Both ship filled with SteadyFill and cost $89.99. Sling Steady is a veteran-run company, and the bags are made in the USA.
To leave the pack out of it: Pro 9" · Sport 7"
Related reading: Backcountry rifle support bag · Field positions for hunters · How to install Sling Steady on your sling
Sling Steady is Ready When You Are.