Ruger 57 Holsters – A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for a Ruger 57 holster? Welcome to our guide on carry rigs for the pistol.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. surprised many people with the introduction of the Ruger 5.7. Chambered for the FN 5.7×28mm cartridge, the gun has a slightly irregular shape to accommodate the size of the rounds. This creates the need for specialized holsters.

There are many shooters who like the gun and need a quality concealed carry holster for it.

In this article, I will list all of the currently manufactured Ruger 57 holster options. I’ll also offer my experiences with the different companies and designs. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. All of the opinions are my own.

Alien Gear Holsters

Alien Gear announced a fit option for the Ruger almost immediately after launch. At this time, the company offers several fits including options for inside-the-waistband (IWB), outside-the-waistband (OWB), paddle, drop leg and a chest holster.

Cloak Tuck 3.5 IWB Holster

The Cloak Tuck is the flagship of the Alien Gear catalog. It uses a hybrid-style configuration for IWB carry.

If you are not familiar, a hybrid holster is one that combines different materials. Possibly the most common design is an IWB rig that uses a slab backer with a hard shell. Some designs use a leather backer combined with a Kydex shell.

Alien Gear uses a synthetic backer with a molded Kydex shell. The backer uses something called CoolVent neoprene with pulls moisture away from your body while also allowing fresh air to flow through. This helps to keep your body cooler and prevent stink from bacteria build up.

A few things I like about this holster. First, it is comfortable against the body. The backer has some padding which keeps the hard edges of the Ruger 5.7 off of your body.

Second, the belt clips for this holster are spread out to either end of the backer. This helps to distribute the weight across a wider area of your belt making the carry easier for long periods of time.

I find that the backer works well with the shell to create a secure fit for the pistol. When worn, the my pressed the shell into the side of the gun to “lock” it into the Kydex. While this is not a retention holster that a police officer would wear, it is certainly secure enough to prevent the gun from coming out during normal activities.

This holster is compatible with red dot sights mounted on the Ruger-57.

I like the Clock Tuck 3.5. You can check it out here. You can also read my Cloak Tuck holster review.

Cloak Belt OWB Holster

The Cloak Belt holster is a great option if you are looking for a comfortable OWB holster. It uses the same CoolVent neoprene backer and Kydex shell that is used on the Cloak Tuck.

However, it has hard belt loops that works with gun belts up to 1.5″ wide. The loops work great with the design to keep the Ruger handgun high and close to the body improving its security and your ability to conceal it.

Good news: you can get this holster with an optics cut if you’ve added a red dot sight on your Ruger 5.7.

If you are looking for a good holster with maximum comfort, you’ll want to take a look at this one here.

Cloak OWB Paddle Holster

Paddle holsters are a form of OWB rig that uses a paddle instead of belt loops. The paddle is designed to slip inside your waistband to anchor the holster to your belt.

The major advantage of a paddle holster is they are easy to put on (and take off). I believe the Cloak Belt holster (above) is a bit more solid, but I think this paddle holster is still an excellent choice.

It is an open top design with a Kydex shell that securely holds the Ruger 57 pistol. You can additional details on the holster here.

Cloak Swivel Drop Leg Holster

If you want a drop leg holster for the Ruger 5.7, this is one of the only ones you will be able to find. It uses the company’s precise molding for a secure fit. But, it does not have a thumb snap or other retention device.

Alien Gear designed a double swivel system so the holster will move with your leg. This beats a rigid design where you are fighting the holster with every step!

Get additional information on the rig here.

Cloak Chest Holster

I’d been looking into chest holster options for the Ruger 5.7, but there aren’t very many. Fortunately, Alien Gear offers the Cloak Chest Holster.

I’m quite impressed with the rig. What jumps out at me is how it balances quick access with freedom of movement. Along with security, access is something that’s really important when you’re hiking, fishing, or hunting.

The system uses a harness made of synthetics that are weather resistant. So, no worries if you get caught in the rain or snow.

Something else of note is that you can get this holster with an optics cut. I’ve been using more and more red dot sights – just like the rest of you. If you have a Ruger 57 with a red dot optic, this feature alone makes this chest holster worth considering for outdoor activities.

Learn more about them at the Alien Gear site here.

Blackhawk

Officially, Blackhawk offers only one holster option for the Ruger 57: the Serpa CQC. However, feedback from a reader indicates a second Blackhawk holster also works: the Omnivore.

Serpa CQC

The Serpa CQC is an OWB holster designed for secure concealed carry. Featuring an exterior “lever”, the gun is locked into the holster until activated during the draw.

The Serpa design works, but it has received some negative reviews for a two reasons. The first is a user issue while the other is a mechanical issue.

A number of people believe the Serpa design lends itself to unintentional discharges. While Blackhawk instructs people to draw the gun with the index (trigger) finger laying along the exterior of the holster, some people feel a need to curl their finger in to press on the lever as if it were a button.

If someone engages the lever as a button, the trigger finger would likely remain curved as the gun is drawn creating a situation where the finger may slip into the trigger guard as the pistol clears the holster. It appears that some people have shot themselves in this manner.

Is it a user error? Perhaps, though many people characterize it as a design flaw. Of course a lot of people thought that the Glock’s striker-fired system was a design flaw due to unintentional discharges from user-error.

The mechanical issue is that the lever can be blocked preventing you from drawing the gun if debris gets into the lever area. I’ve not seen this happen in the “real world”, but I have seen videos of people who have intentionally added debris to the lever area which caused the lever release to fail.

I’ve used the Serpa design for many years without any issue. I’m not prepared to condemn the design as I feel that many (most?) of the issues are user-influenced. If you are interested in these rigs, read the instructions and use safe training practices – just like you should with any gun and holster combination.

Get the current pricing on this holster here.

Omnivore

Blackhawk offers an OWB holster called the Omnivore. It is an universal-style holster that works with many different handguns by locking onto the gun’s mounted light instead of the pistol’s frame.

In other words, the kind of gun isn’t what you are worried about for a proper fit – the light mounted is the only thing you should be concerned with.

Two versions are available: one that is fitted for the SureFire X300 light and a second that is fitted for the Streamlight TLR-1 and TLR-2 weaponlights.

Officially, Blackhawk does not list the Ruger 57 as a “fit” for the Omnivore. That alone doesn’t mean it cannot work with the gun.

One of our readers, Adam, advised he purchased an Omnivore sized for the TLR-2 weapon light and it works for his Ruger-57. I would expect that the Omnivore sized for the SureFire X300 would also work.

If you have had any experience with the Omnivore holster and a Ruger 57, please let me know. I want to provide the best possible information for you.

Comp-Tac

Comp-Tac is well known in the firearms industry as a quality manufacturer of holsters and competition gear. The company manufactured a number of holsters for Ruger, but the company does not sell these through its own site.

All of these are available only through the Ruger website.

Infidel Max

An inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster tends to be the easiest way to conceal a pistol – especially one with a long barrel like the Ruger 5.7 has. The Infidel Max is a Kydex design that incorporates a sweat shield to protect the body from the sharp edges of the pistol. It has an adjustable belt clip that allows you to set your preferred cant.

A benefit of this holster is the design allows for a red dot optic mounted on the pistol. At this time, the rigs have an MSRP of $60 and can be purchased here.

International

This is an OWB holster that is made of Kydex. While appearing to be a simple design, it actually is very flexible as it can be adjusted for 16 different carry positions with adjustments for ride height and cant. The rig is an open top design and can fit belts of 1.5-2.0″ wide.

Although made by Comp-Tac, the holster is only available through Ruger. It has Ruger branding on it and has a list price of about $68.

CrossBreed Holsters

CrossBreed Holsters is one of the go-to companies for both high-quality rigs and the early support of new pistols. With the Ruger 5.7, CrossBreed Holsters was ready to go at launch with a pair of concealed carry holsters. Since then, they’ve added a few more.

Let’s take a look.

SuperTuck IWB

The SuperTuck is the famously comfortable inside-the-waistband rig that gave CrossBreed its launch into the firearms industry.

The design is a hybrid of Kydex and leather for optimum comfort while providing ample gun security. CrossBreed uses a precisely molded Kydex shell mounted to a large leather slab. At either end of the leather is a steel spring clip to anchor the rig to a gun belt. This design provides a number of benefits:

• the leather is soft against the skin – much more comfortable than hard Kydex
• when worn, the body presses the gun into the Kydex shell to prevent the gun from tumbling out
• the leather/Kydex combination allows the gun to pull in close to the body improving concealment
• belt clips at the far ends of the leather slab spread the weight of the gun across a larger area to reduce pant sag and further increase comfort
• belt clips are adjustable to alter ride height

As the name SuperTuck suggests, you can tuck a shirt over the gun carried in this IWB holster.

SuperTuck holsters can be had in a variety of colors and are available for both right- and left-handed draws. Click here for more information on it.

I’ve tested the SuperTuck holster with other pistols and found it to be very comfortable. The guns were always held securely; I had no concerns about them falling out when worn. Compared to an all Kydex holster, the SuperTuck was significantly more comfortable to carry. Also, the clip placement really does spread the weight out.

SnapSlide OWB

If you need a simple but effective outside-the-waistband holster, you want to look at the SnapSlide from CrossBreed. This is a strong side carry rig that uses a combination of materials for improved comfort.

Like the SuperTuck above, the SnapSlide uses a Kydex shell that is molded specifically for the Ruger-57 pistol. That shell is fastened to a long leather slab.

The leather portion of the rig has belt slots that will accommodate gun belts up to 1.75″ wide. You can get this as a right- or left-handed draw holster and there are a number of color/leather options. Check out additional photos and information here.

I’ve tested the SnapSlide in the past. While it is not my favorite OWB holster on the market, I did like it. It worked well and was easy to wear. I would not select this for exposed carry in public, but for carrying concealed or on your own land, I think it works well.

SuperSlide OWB Holster

I have to be honest, the SuperSlide holster is not my favorite holster, but it has the versatility needed to make it worth considering. The three-slot design gives you two wearing positions: a standard behind-the-hip position on the strong side and a reverse cant configuration for cross draw.

For strong side carry, I prefer other rigs. But for cross draw, this is an excellent choice. If you spend a lot of time sitting – either in a car or at a desk – cross draw carry is both comfortable and fast.

For more information on this rig, click here.

DeSantis Gunhide

DeSantis has been in the holster business for a long time and may people really like the company’s products. From launch, DeSantis supported the Ruger-57 pistol with more holster options than anyone else.

Dual Angle Hunter Hybrid

This holster is an evolution of the company’s original Hunter holster from the 1970s. Instead of being full leather construction, DeSantis uses a hybrid design that combines a leather upper with ballistic nylon. Both sides of the leather has belt slots to make this an ambidextrous belt rig. The nylon encloses closed-cell foam to protect the firearm.

Currently, the holster is available only through Ruger, so expect to pay the full list price of $44.95.

I’ve used DeSantis holsters throughout my adult life. I’ve found many to be quality rigs. I would consider this one for outdoors or field use only and not for concealed carry purposes. In a hunting context, this rig should be a reasonable choice.

Mini Slide

The Mini Slide is an open top version of the holster below. It does not have a thumb break, so all retention is handled by the friction fit of the gun. A tension screw allows for adjustments to how tight the gun fits.

It is an all leather design that is available in only black. It isn’t the cheapest rig at $71.95, but it is a quality piece of gear. It is currently only available through Ruger.

Mini Slide, Thumb Break

If you are looking for a leather OWB holster for your Ruger-57, you may want to take a look at the Thumb Break Mini Slide. This rig is a staple in the DeSantis catalog and is often used by plainclothes police officers and armed citizens alike.

Made of dyed black leather, the belt slide holster has a generous thumb snap strap that covers the back of the pistol and ensures it says in place. It is specially cut for a red dot optic should you have one on your R-57. Currently, the holster can only be had through Ruger’s website for $74.95.

I like this holster and have used it to carry a SIG P226 when I was still a police officer. It always kept my gun secure and I had no issues with it at all. I recommend them.

Galco

Longtime leather holster maker Galco is now making a rig for the Ruger-57. Hopefully, this means that more models will be available soon.

Fletch

The Fletch is an all-leather OWB holster with a thumb strap to secure the pistol in place. It is contoured for strong side hip carry and has a narrow profile for improved concealment.

Galco designed the rig to fully cover the trigger for improved safety. According to the company, the name Fletch comes from the unofficial nickname of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

N8 Tactical

N8 Tactical is now owned by Crossbreed. However, the N8 Tactical brand continues to offer its own unique take on concealed carry.

OT2 G2 IWB Holster

The OT2 G2 is an inside-the-waistband rig that combines a relatively large backer with a semi-common single belt clip design. It combines comfort and affordability with a reasonably secure method of carrying your Ruger 5.7 pistol.

The belt clip is adjustable so you can change the tilt (or cant) of the gun. Learn more about these rigs on the company’s site here.

Triple K Holsters

If you prefer an all-leather concealment rig, take a look at the offerings from Triple K. They are currently making a pair of holster options for the Ruger-57: the Easy Out and the Lightning.

Easy Out

The Easy Out is an open-top, strong side belt holster.

It is made of top-grain cowhide and will fit belts that are up to 1.75″ wide. Right now, only black dyed leather is available.

Triple K uses a tension screw (visible in the above photo) to provide the proper balance between security and ease of draw for your Ruger-57. This can be adjusted by you without any fuss.

Currently, Triple K does not sell these on its own site. Rather, the company is only selling them through Ruger’s own website. From Ruger, the holsters cost $67.95.

Lightning

The Lightning is another OWB holster, but this one has a snap to secure the pistol in the rig. It has the appearance of being a good field holster as it completely covers the barrel and trigger to help protect the pistol as you move through the woods. It is cut so the gun can be carried with a red dot optic attached.

In addition to being carried on the strong side, the Lightning Ruger-57 holster can be carried crossdraw. The way the belt loop is designed, it can work with belts up to 2.25″ wide on the strong side and up to 1.75″ if worn crossdraw. The MSRP is $96.95, and it is only available on the Ruger website.

Tru-Fit Tactical

If you would like an affordably priced outside-the-waistband holster for the Ruger-57, Tru-Fit Tactical offers this Kydex rig.

It is available in a range of color options and is backed by a one-year replacement warranty. I’ve not tested one of these holsters, but I believe they are the best priced ones on the market right now. If you pick one up, would you leave your thoughts on it in the comments below?

Other Options

There are other options on the market that include floppy nylon rigs and other holster designs I hesitate to recommend. While the selection is still limited for quality Ruger-57 holsters, that will change. Ruger is a popular company and this new pistol is sure to take off. As sales grow so will the number of companies looking to cater to your needs.

Disclosure

GunsHolstersAndGear.com is an independent, for-profit website. I do not charge readers a dime to access the information I provide.

Some of the links on this page and site are affiliate links to companies like Amazon and Palmetto State Armory. These links take you to the products mentioned in the article. Should you decide to purchase something from one of those companies, I make a small commission.

The links do not change your purchase price. I do not get to see what any individual purchases.