Over the years, my “pocket pistols” have started migrating to a belt holster for convenience and comfort. But I’ve always a need for ultra-deep concealment. And no pocket pistol is complete without a pocket holster. While a $15 made-in-China nylon special from your local big-box retailer is more than merely adequate for trigger protection, I decided to take a slightly different path. Enter the Mika pocket holster. . .
Robert Mika was a police officer with the L.A.P.D. for 20 years. After securing his pension and moving to Wisconsin, Mika turned his attention to pocket holsters. “I came to realize the importance of having a holster that provides quick and reliable deployment of a firearm,” his website explains. “All too often I would find pocket holsters aesthetically pleasing to the eye yet lacking in the essentials of accessibility, concealment, and comfort.”
Mika addresses the all-important question of accessibility – the ability to draw a gun from your pocket quickly, easily and effectively – by fashioning his holster from non-standard materials. Quite what they are, exactly, he doesn’t say. But the holster’s made from a “moisture resistant material which will keep the inner surface of the holster dry.”
Mika reckons leather holsters retain moisture, which can make a gun stick on its way out. The Mika holster is surrounded by some sort of grip-enhancing material that looks suspiciously like those sheets of rubbery grippy material that we use to line the cabinets in our kitchen. It “grabs” your pocket from inside, keeping the holster from making an unwelcome surprise appearance.
Mission accomplished: the holster stayed in my pocket every time I draw. I’ve tried other, cheaper pocket holsters, and I’ve noticed that, occasionally, when the gun comes out of the pocket, the holster comes out, too. Still on the gun. All else being equal, drawing from a pocket is usually a little slower than drawing from a hip, so why risk ended up a little further behind the curve if you don’t have to?
As for comfort, the mystery Mika material is soft and pliable. It cushions the gun’s sharp edges perfectly, covers the entire weapon and presents a smooth profile from the outside. It’s as concealable as the gun it carries.
Now for the bad news: it’s ugly. So don’t display a Mika holster on your mantel piece of anywhere else outside your pocket. Thanks to word-of-mouth, the current wait time for a hand-made Mika holster is six to eight weeks. After this review, who knows?
Fortunately for TTAG commentators (who seem to balk at anything that costs more than a tank of gas), a Mika holster will run you $30. I’ve spent more for holsters that ended-up in “that” drawer. And this one does what it needs to do. Which just might save your life
Specifications: Robert Mika Pocket Holster
Price: $31.95
Ratings (out of five stars):
Accessibility: * * * * *
The Mika holster makes drawing your pocket pistol a fast and secure process. The “it’s not leather nor nylon” material is soft and moisture resistant, eliminating the problem of “sticky” gun.
Concealment * * * * *
The Mike holster is made to order according to your gun’s make, model and barrel length. So it disappears into the holster, which disappears into your pants.
Comfort * * * * *
The material is pliable and soft, pleasing to your pants and pistol. Available in your choice of color.
Overall: * * * * *
It won’t win any awards for beauty, and it’s twice as expensive as nylon pocket holsters from your local big box store, but Mika’s pocket holster makes it easy to draw, and stays put in the holster where it belongs. It could be a life-saver.
DISCLAIMER: The above is an opinion piece; it is not legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship in any sense. If you need legal advice in any matter, you are strongly urged to hire and consult your own counsel. This post is entirely my own, and does not represent the positions, opinions, or strategies of my firm or clients.