Best Pocket Holsters for .380s and Micro 9s

What a pocket holster has to do

A pocket holster isn't optional. It does four jobs a bare pocket can't:

1. Covers the trigger guard so keys, coins or fabric can't press the trigger. Wikipedia's holster article calls trigger coverage one of the most important functions of any holster.
2. Keeps the gun upright and oriented so the grip is where your hand expects it every time.
3. Stays in the pocket on the draw. Wikipedia notes that pocket holsters often have a textured outer side so they stay in place when you draw.
4. Breaks up the outline so the pocket looks like it holds a wallet or phone rather than a pistol.

Our pocket carry guide covers whether pocket carry fits your life and which guns suit it. This guide is about the holster. Picks come from manufacturer descriptions and retailer listings; we have not tested them ourselves.

The three main styles

1. DeSantis Nemesis: best all-around sticky holster

The Nemesis is one of the most widely recommended pocket holsters, and its design explains why. DeSantis describes it as having a rubberized exterior with a pack-cloth interior and a foam core, with an outer surface the company calls very viscous. In plain English: it grips the pocket and lets the gun slide out.

Best for: most LCP MAX, Glock 42 and similar pocket-size pistols, and anyone new to pocket carry. Skip if: you want a holster that stays open for one-handed reholstering; soft holsters collapse.

DeSantis says every one of its pocket holsters fully covers the trigger guard area. Check DeSantis's fit list for your exact model, including any laser.

2. DeSantis Super Fly: best for larger pockets

The Super Fly uses a similar tacky exterior with a removable, reversible flap, according to DeSantis's pocket holster listings. A flap of this kind is generally meant to help disguise the shape of the grip.

Best for: cargo pockets, jacket pockets and larger pocket guns. Skip if: you wear slim jeans; the flap adds width.

3. DeSantis Pocket Partner: best rigid option

For people who want firmer trigger coverage, a kydex pocket holster holds its shape. DeSantis builds the Pocket Partner in kydex. Rigid holsters usually add a hook or wing that catches the pocket edge and holds the holster back while the gun comes out.

Best for: carriers who value positive trigger coverage and a holster that won't fold. Skip if: comfort against your leg matters most; kydex is less forgiving than a soft holster when you sit.

4. DeSantis Pocket-Tuk and leather options: best for dress pants

Thinner leather and suede pocket holsters suit dress slacks, where a bulky holster would show. DeSantis's Pocket-Tuk uses suede construction with a reinforced mouth, and its Suede Nemesis uses steerhide.

Best for: office wear and lighter trousers. Skip if: you sweat a lot; leather and suede absorb moisture. Our hot-weather carry guide covers sweat and finish care.

5. Wallet-style holsters: best for disguising the outline

A wallet holster, such as DeSantis's Pocket Shot, which the company describes as disguised as a wallet, hides the shape of the gun behind a flat panel. It works when someone glancing at your pocket would see a wallet rather than a pistol.

Best for: deep concealment in a back or front pocket with the smallest .380s. Skip if: draw speed matters; wallet holsters are generally the slowest pocket draw. Read the maker's instructions closely and never use any holster in a way the maker doesn't intend.

Matching the holster to your gun

Two of the best-known pocket guns today are the Ruger LCP MAX and the S&W Bodyguard 2.0, both in .380. Ruger lists most LCP MAX models at 10+1, and Ammunition Depot carries the LCP MAX .380 with a 2.8-inch barrel. Our LCP MAX vs Bodyguard 2.0 comparison covers the pair.

Micro 9s are a tighter fit. Glock lists the G43 at 1.06 inches wide and 6.26 inches long, and many micro 9s with taller grips, like the 43X, are hard to pocket in anything but a large front pocket. That's why .380 pocket guns remain popular: they disappear in jeans and slacks where a micro 9 would show. Our .380 vs 9mm piece covers the caliber side of that trade.

For fit:

• Buy by model. A holster labeled for your exact gun, including any laser or light, is the only way to get dependable trigger coverage.
• Check the pocket, not just the gun. Front-pocket depth varies a lot. The grip should sit just below or at the pocket opening.
• Test the draw empty, with a verified-unloaded gun and no ammunition in the room. The holster should stay in the pocket when you draw. If it comes out with the gun, try a stickier exterior or a hook design.

Ammunition Depot's holster section has a pocket holster filter. If a pocket holster won't work for your clothes, a small IWB like the DeSantis Transit IWB for the LCP, LCP II and LCP MAX is a common alternative for the same gun.

Rules for pocket holster carry

1. Nothing else in that pocket. No keys, phone, knife or coins. Ever.
2. Use the dominant-side front pocket for most draws. Back-pocket carry is slow and hard to draw while seated.
3. Reholster by removing the holster first. Take the holster out, insert the gun, then put the holstered gun back into the pocket. Never push a gun into a holster that's still in your pocket.
4. Get a grip before you draw. Your hand should establish a firing grip on the gun while it's still in the holster, then draw.
5. Clean the gun more often. Pockets collect lint. Our carry gun maintenance guide covers the routine.

A spare magazine in the other pocket

Pocket carriers often keep a spare magazine in the support-side front pocket. Use a carrier that keeps it upright and clean. The 1791 SnagMag for the Glock 43X and 48 is listed by Ammunition Depot as working inside the waistband or in a pocket; DeSantis also makes pocket-style magazine carriers.

How to choose

• Start with a sticky holster like the Nemesis if you're new to pocket carry.
• Go rigid if you want the firmest trigger coverage and don't mind a bit of bulk.
• Pick thin leather or suede for dress clothes.
• Consider a wallet style only for deep concealment, and accept the slower draw.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.