This Kydex pocket holster by Fist is designed for the shooter to push the holster down with the thumb during the draw.

I started carrying in my pants pocket about 10 years ago when I got a shirt-and-tie office job. Previously, either working for myself or as an independent representative, my clothing and carry habits were not scrutinized by a legion of higher-ups. While the new office job certainly did not have a prohibition against suit jackets or sport coats, it would have been out of place with the casual atmosphere, not to mention uncomfortably hot in the windowless, stuffy environment.

Picking a gun for pocket carry took some consideration and testing. In my younger years I had often carried a Seecamp .32, but those days were gone--a .38 or 9mm was my minimum. Having a choice, I don't want to fight a fire with an extinguisher the size of a can of spray paint, and I don't want to use a small gun in a big fight. I wanted a fighting caliber if I ever found myself in the unlucky circumstance of having to defend myself.

I quickly found that the increased size and weight of the bigger gun created its own challenges. The first few months of my new job saw lots of on-the-job training, not only business but also the business of pocket carry.

Dress Code
The common adage of carrying a firearm is that you need to dress around your gun. It is just as true with pocket carry as with belt carry. The number-one issue is wearing the right kind of pants. For me, pleated pants offer the best concealment and ease of draw. I know lots of folks who pocket carry in jeans, but I just can't seem to wiggle my hand into the tight pocket or get the gun out fast.

When shopping for clothing, the important thing to look for in pants is to find ones with the correct-size pocket openings. If the opening is too small you won't be able to get the gun out easily. With my hand size and gun that I carry, I find that I need a minimum of six-inch pocket openings to work well.

When shopping, I carry a strip of paper with me cut to the six-inch length to help me pick out which pants will work. Finding pants with wide openings can be a daunting task because most pants won't work. Don't get discouraged. Keep shopping; they are out there.

In addition to the width of the pocket opening, you also need to make sure the pocket depth is deep enough to conceal the gun. However, don't worry about that when choosing your clothes because a tailor can easily extend the pocket length.

Pocket Holsters
While some people like to stick a gun in their pocket without a holster, a properly designed holster is essential for pocket carry. A pocket holster does three things: It keeps the gun in an upright position--without it the gun will rotate and flip; it helps keep pocket lint out of the gun's action; and, very important, it breaks up the outline so it does not "print" like a gun in your pocket.