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The Ruger 57 was introduced just a few years ago, at the end of 2019, and it’s a pretty unusual weapon in that it’s chambered for FN 5.7×28mm.
For that reason, it’s not as popular as some other pistols chambered in more popular rounds, like the 9mm Glock 19 and the SIG Sauer P365.
However, it has definitely gained a niche following.
Unfortunately, that lack of popularity makes it harder to find accessories, including holsters, though it’s certainly improved as the gun has been out longer.
To help you out with that, we’ve done a deep dive into the best holsters for the Ruger 57 to help you find the best of what’s available.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Best Holster for Ruger 57 in 2022
Top 7 Best Holster for Ruger 57
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall Holster:  | Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5
| VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON PALMETTO STATE ARMORY → |
Best Leather Holster:  | DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide
| VIEW ON Amazon →VIEW ON OpticsPlanet → |
Best Belly Band Holster:  | ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band
| VIEW ON Amazon → |
Best Chest Holster:  |
| VIEW ON Amazon → |
Best Paddle Holster:  | DeSantis DS Paddle Holster
| VIEW ON OPTICSPLANET → |
Best Compact:  | We The People Holsters IWB Kydex Holster
| VIEW ON Amazon → |
Best CQC Holster:  | Blackhawk Serpa CQC Holster
| VIEW ON Amazon →VIEW ON OpticsPlanet → |
Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5 – Best Overall Holster
Check Price on Palmetto State Armory
Our overall top pick is the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5, which is also one of my all-time favorite holsters in general.
The Cloak Tuck 3.5 IWB has two attachment points, which are great for distributing the weight of larger guns like the Ruger 57. They hook over your belt or waistband very easily, so you should have no problem taking the holster on and off. If you don’t like the clips, though, the holster is also compatible with Alien Gear’s C-clips, J-clips, or O-clips.
The flexible back panel conforms to the shape of your body, helping conceal the holster despite its larger size. This, plus the breathable neoprene back panel, also goes a long way to make the holster more comfortable.
Finally, this holster is also very adjustable. You can adjust the cant, retention, and even ride height to customize the holster to your needs.
Pros
- Two waistband attachment points
- Replaceable clips
- Flexible back panel
- Neoprene backing
Cons
- Takes up a good bit of space on the waistband
DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide – Best Leather Holster
For those who like a classic holster, the DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide is our pick for the best leather holster for the Ruger 57.
It’s a belt slide holster made from premium saddle leather, molded to fit the shape of your pistol, with slots that are 1 ¾” and double seams for durability. The leather comes in black or tan to suit your preferences, though both provide an elegant, classic look.
It’s a level II retention holster, which means it features both active and passive retention systems. The passive system is friction, while the active system is a snap closure strap that wraps behind the rear of the pistol. This strap is easy for you to release with just your thumb, so you get the extra security of two retention systems without a significantly slower draw.
Pros
- Premium leather with double stitching
- Level II retention holster combines both active and passive retention
- Molded design for an exact fit, unlike many other leather holsters
Cons
- Some might find level II retention redundant
ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band – Best Belly Band Holster
Belly bands are a great alternative to IWB holsters for comfortable carry close to your body, and our absolute favorite belly band for carrying the Ruger 57 is the ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band.
Belly bands, in general, tend to be very comfortable relative to other holsters, but with a soft, breathable perforated neoprene band, the ComfortTac Ultimate Belly Band is still more comfortable than most.
And unlike many other belly bands, which provide poor retention and trigger coverage, this belly band has a snap-on retention strap that is surrounded by leather to reinforce the snap for durability but also to provide complete coverage of the trigger guard when the strap is in use.
In addition to a holster for your gun, the Ultimate Belly Band also has a built-in pocket made from elastic that’s ideally sized for storing a knife, multi-tool, flashlight, or spare mag. There’s also another removable pouch that can store a spare mag.
Pros
- Good trigger coverage, especially for a belly band
- Provides extra storage
- Incredibly breathable, even compared to other belly bands
- Allows for numerous carry locations
Cons
- Best for shooters with thin builds, especially if you want to wear it without a belt for additional support
Hosking Chest Holster – Best Chest Holster
Chest holsters are great for a lot of different purposes, but they’re especially popular for outdoor activities like backpacking, hiking, fishing, and running since shoulder holsters and waistband holsters aren’t always the most practical for these activities. On the other hand, since they position your gun front and center, they’re not always the most concealable.
If you decide that a chest holster is right for you, our recommendation is the Hosking Chest Holster.
This lightweight chest holster provides multiple attachment points for all three straps, ensuring a comfortable fit. Furthermore, the harness has military-grade elastic along the back to allow the holster to fit tight against your body while still allowing for plenty of motion. Side release buckles on all three straps make it easy to put on and take off the holster.
The holster itself is made of Kydex and features adjustable retention. Unlike a lot of Ruger 57 holsters, the Hosking Chest Holster is also available in several different color options, so feel free to go wild.
Pros
- Greater for wearing when you’re active
- Provides a good range of motion while still fitting close to your body
- Available in a bunch of color options
Cons
- Not well suited for concealed carry
DeSantis DS Paddle Holster – Best Paddle Holster
Next is another pick from DeSantis, this time the DS Paddle Holster. This is a simple, easy-to-use, but high-quality paddle holster that’s up there with our all-around favorite holsters.
It has a single attachment point, but the paddle design still helps to distribute the weight of the holster and pistol over a larger area than most holsters while still keeping the holster lightweight and compact. The paddle can be adjusted to provide a forward or rearward cant.
It also comes with a belt clip that accommodates belts up to 1 ¾” wide to give you another carry option for when you need it.
The molded thermoplastic of the holster helps provide a secure fit while allowing for a smooth draw. It provides complete coverage of the trigger guard, but it’s also cut low enough to accommodate a red dot. The dual tension device help ensure secure coverage without impeding draw.
Pros
- Cut low enough to accommodate a red dot
- Belt clip option in addition to paddle
- Durable molded thermoplastic
Cons
- Not great for concealment
We The People Holsters IWB Kydex Holster
The We The People IWB Kydex Holster is a simple, straightforward holster that’s great for those who don’t want something with a lot of bells and whistles.
It’s a form-fitting Kydex holster, so holstering your Ruger 57 is easy. The secure clips make drawing easy as well, and they can accommodate 1.5-inch belts. Unlike some other holsters, though, you’ll definitely want to use these clips with a belt since they’re not great for use directly on the waistband of your pants.
You can adjust the holster’s cant and ride height thanks to 8 different clip positions, and retention is adjustable as well.
It’s very low profile, so it doesn’t add a lot of bulk to your pistol, but it doesn’t break up printing either, which is something to keep in mind for concealment.
The sweat guard protects your firearm from sweat and your skin from rubbing against the firearm, while the undercut trigger guard helps with an easy draw.
Pros
- Adjustable cant and ride height
- Positive click upon holstering
- Undercut trigger guard
Cons
- Positive click isn’t very loud
- Not the most comfortable option
Blackhawk Serpa CQC Holster
The Blackhawk Serpa CQC Holster is unusual among the holsters on this list in a few different ways.
First, it can be used as either a belt slide holster, like the DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide or a paddle holster, like the DeSantis DS Paddle Holster, thanks to the interchangeable back system. However, that’s not all it can do. The belt loop and paddle platforms are included, but it also fits Blackhawk S.T.R.I.K.E., Quick Disconnect, shoulder, and Tactical Holster Platforms.
Second, it’s a level II retention holster. In the case of the active retention system, unlike the DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide, it’s a trigger guard lock that is easily released with a press of the index finger, allowing you to draw immediately.
Third, even though it’s an OWB holster, it’s actually designed with everyday concealed carry in mind. It positions the gun higher than most OWB holsters, well above the waistband, so it can more easily be hidden by a jacket or loose shirt.
Pros
- Versatile carry options
- Level II retention holster combines both active and passive retention
- Concealable, especially for an OWB holster
Cons
- Need to be careful when drawing to ensure that your finger doesn’t hit the trigger after releasing the active retention system
- Level II retention is slower to draw
- Some might find level II retention redundant
These holsters are mostly for 9mm Glock 19 and the SIG Sauer P365.
Buying Guide
Trigger Coverage
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when buying a holster, but safety should be at the forefront of your mind. That’s why we’re starting this buying guide by talking about trigger coverage.
Your holster should completely cover your gun’s trigger guard, preventing accidental discharge. This is absolutely essential for both your safety and the safety of those around you.
You might think that with trigger coverage being such an important safety feature, all holsters would provide adequate coverage. That’s not the case, however, so you have to make sure that you’re buying a safe holster. All of the holsters that we recommend above do have complete trigger protection though.
Retention
Like trigger coverage, retention is another essential safety feature that is unfortunately not found in all holsters.
Retention can fall into one of two different camps: active retention and passive retention.
Active retention holsters keep the gun in the holster by some sort of device or mechanism that acts on the gun and must be released before it’s possible to draw the weapon. Usually, this is a strap across the back of the firearm, but it can also be a trigger guard lock or another device.
Passive retention holsters keep the gun in place by virtue of the inherent shape and/or design of the holster and don’t require an active step to draw the holster. Passive retention holsters almost always depend on friction to keep the gun in place and usually allow the user to adjust how much friction is applied.
Some holsters, called level II retention holsters, have both active and passive retention systems for redundancy.
Comfort
Comfort may not seem all that important, especially after safety features like retention and trigger coverage, but it shouldn’t be ignored, especially for an EDC (everyday carry) holster.
If you plan on carrying all day, every day, that’s at least 8 hours (more for most of us) each day. Think about the last time you wore something uncomfortable and couldn’t get home to change. Now imagine doing that every day. Obviously not ideal. So look for a holster that’s actually comfortable to wear.
Of course, you shouldn’t expect a holster to magically make it feel like you’re not wearing a holster at all—the Ruger 57 does weigh more than 1.5 pounds, after all—but it should be comfortable enough that you can get used to it so you’re not thinking about the fact that you’re wearing a holster all the time.
And even if you don’t plan on wearing your holster every day, it’s nice for it to be comfortable when you do wear it.
Concealability
Like comfort, concealability is most important if you’re looking for a holster for EDC, and especially so if you want to use your Ruger 57 as a CCW (concealed carry weapon).
Since the Ruger 57 is already a full-sized pistol, you want a holster that adds as little bulk as possible. Features like padding or (on appendix holsters) claws are even better.
Concealability isn’t as important if you’re only looking to open carry or just want a holster for the range. On the one hand, it’s nice to have the option for concealed carry if you want it later. On the other, you can always just buy a better CCW holster later on if you decide you want that option.
Holster Type
Finally, you’ll want to consider what type of holster you want. At least in part, this ties into what we’ve already discussed.
For example, an IWB holster is generally best for concealment, but you can get away with an OWB, shoulder, or chest holster with the right clothing as well, especially if you don’t have a small build.
On the other hand, IWB holsters are often less comfortable than OWB holsters. Features like padded backing can help, though.
Think about the draw location, too, though. Some waistband holsters, IWB or OWB, are designed to be worn in particular locations, so if you want to carry at the small of your back, you don’t want to get a holster specifically designed for appendix carry.
And don’t forget to choose the right holster for your draw hand as well.
FAQs
You can absolutely conceal a Ruger 57. However, as a full-size gun, you do need to be more careful about how you carry it compared to smaller weapons. You’ll want to opt for a low-profile holster and choose clothing that will help you avoid printing.
A holster claw is an accessory or part on an appendix IWB holster that pushes against the belt or waistband in order to keep the gun’s grip closer to the wearer’s body. This helps prevent the printing that can occur with this type of holster and can also make carrying more comfortable.
The Ruger 57 has an effective range of about 135 yards, which is much longer than most semi-auto pistols. However, real-world performance will vary.
The Ruger 57 is a great, reliable, and accurate gun, plus a much better range than other semi-autos. It’s definitely worth buying, especially if you’re specifically after a pistol that shoots 5.7×28mm.
Conclusion
That brings us to a close on the best holster for the Ruger 57, and by now, you should have all of the information that you need to pick the right holster for you.
Our overall favorite Ruger 57 holster is the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5 because it’s concealable, comfortable, and highly adjustable, making it an all-around excellent choice for carrying your Ruger 57.
However, all of the holsters that we recommend here are great options and you may find that one of these other holsters actually meets your needs best. You know your needs better than anyone, so go with the holster that seems right for you. And don’t be afraid to try out different options until you find your perfect fit!
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