Best Hiking Handguns & Holsters

Hiking can be done for exercise, adventure, exploration, and more. You can find trails near even the most urban areas, so even you city-dwellers can get in on it!

It’s a safe endeavor most of the time, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't pack a med kit, a way to call for help, and a gun (if you can). But which one should you choose?

Allow me to recommend some of the best hiking handguns out there, as well as some considerations that will help you find the right one for you.

Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best Hiking Handguns

Input for this article came from the entire Pew Pew Tactical staff. Our team experience includes law enforcement, military, competition, instructing, and recreational shooting. Oh, and lots of hiking, too!

Someone on our team has shot every pistol on this list. We’ve worn every holster you’ll see here, too, and our recommendations are built on real-world experience.

Every review handgun undergoes a strict testing protocol that requires a minimum of 500 rounds of both FMJ and JHP ammo through it at 5 and 7 yards.

For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more.

Best Hiking Handguns 

1. Glock 20 Gen5 MOS - Best Overall

Best Overall

Glock 20 Gen5 MOS

$620

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$620 at Palmetto State Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Brownells (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 10mm
• Action: Semi-auto, striker-fired
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 4.6"
• Overall Length: 8.1"
• Weight: 30 oz
• Optic-Ready: Yes
• Country of Origin: Austria, USA

As far as I am concerned, Glock made the Glock 20 just for me. I love 10mm ammo, and I love quality firearms with decent capacity.

The G20 gives me 15 rounds of hard-hitting 10mm for any environment or situation. 

As far as hiking handguns go, the Glock 20 offers tons of versatility. It's powerful enough to stop bears with the right load, but it's also appropriate for coyotes, mountain lions, and two-legged threats.

Because it's a Glock, it's reliable, accurate, easy to handle, and affordable. Glocks are easy to customize, which is good because upgrading those sights is a must. 

Other than that, the gun is plug-and-play. 

The latest version of this pistol, the Glock 20 Gen5 MOS, gets a few internal upgrades and a plate-based mounting system so you can add a rugged red dot of your choice!

Need more reasons to love this powerful pistol? Let us count them in our Glock 20 review!

2. Ruger Blackhawk - Best Revolver

Best Revolver

Ruger Blackhawk

$626

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$626 at GrabAGun

Kygunco (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm, .357 Mag (convertible)
• Action: Revolver, single action
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 6.5"
• Overall Length: 12.4"
• Weight: 45 oz
• Optic-Ready: No
• Country of Origin: USA

Single-action cowboy guns kick all the butt. The Ruger Blackhawk is no exception.

One of the most exciting versions lets you switch from .357 Mag to 9mm just by swapping out the cylinder -- no tools required!

This lets you train with cheap, soft-recoiling 9mm ammo most of the time and switch to more powerful .357 Mag ammo if you need the extra oomph.

You can deal with big bears if necessary, as well as hogs, coyotes, and anything else that crosses your path.

The Ruger Blackhawk's single-action trigger delivers a short and crisp trigger pull that allows for outstanding accuracy.

Plus, it's an affordable option in the big-bore revolver world.

3. CZ P10 C - Best 9mm

Best 9mm

CZ P-10 C

$393

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$393 at BattleHawk Armory

Classic Firearms (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Semi-automatic, striker
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 4"
• Overall Length: 7.3"
• Weight: 26 oz
• Optic-Ready: Yes (model-specific)
• Country of Origin: Czech Republic, USA

Yep, your average 9mm still makes for an awesome hiking gun. That's especially true if it's the gun you train with the most. If you ask us, the CZ P10 C is one of the best stock striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols on the market.

This is the gun I often pack. For my area, it's perfectly suitable for the threats I encounter. Lord forbid I walk upon a cottonmouth snake, but if I do, a 9mm isn't overkill.

The P-10C is controllable, lightweight, easy to carry, and reliable. 

I own a standard P10 C, an early model. If I had the option at the time, I'd have gone with an optic-ready version. Red dots make shooters faster, more accurate, and further-reaching. 

What's not to love? Add in a pistol light, and I have a gun I can use regardless of the external conditions. 

Don't forget to check out our hands-on CZ P10 C review, and see how it stacked up in our guide to the Best Glock Alternatives!

4. Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan - Best High-Power Revolver

Best High-Power Revolver

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan

$890

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$890 at Kygunco

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .480 Ruger
• Action: Revolver, double action/single action
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 2.5"
• Overall Length: 7.6"
• Weight: 44 oz
• Optic-Ready: No
• Country of Origin: USA

If you like 'em thick but short, then the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan is for you.

Ruger trimmed the barrel to 2.5 inches and chambered the gun for .480 Ruger. That's a very little barrel for a very powerful cartridge. 

It's much lighter and easier to carry than a standard Super Redhawk, but packs nearly as much power as the fearsome .454 Casull.

This big-but-short gun packs six rounds of this heavy-duty cartridge, and will make short work of animals up to and including aggressive brown bears.

Big sights and the ability to cock the hammer for single-action shots make it easy to be accurate -- although maybe not very fast. 

It packs a huge, padded grip that makes everything more comfortable.  It still recoils like a wild bull bucks, but it's not painful.

The Super Redhawk Alaskan isn't for everyone, and it does take some practice to master. However, it packs lots of power in a small package.

Check out our Super Redhawk review, too!

5. Smith & Wesson Model 60 - Best Compact Revolver

Best Compact Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 60

$734

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$734 at Kygunco

Guns.com (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .357 Mag
• Action: DA/SA revolver
• Capacity: 5
• Barrel Length: 2.1"
• Overall Length: 6.6"
• Weight: 21 oz
• Optic-Ready: No
• Country of Origin: USA

A lot of revolvers are big and heavy. The S&W Model 60 is not just relatively small, but small in general. This 5-shot J-frame revolver packs .357 Mag power into a small package. 

The longer (relative term) barrel makes it easier to shoot than a snub nose, and the small frame makes it easy to conceal.

Potent .357 Mag can deal with most moderate-sized critters.

The Model 60 offers an exposed hammer which means single action is available for accurate shots. As a small-sized revolver, it's also a super comfortable concealed carry revolver.

6. Glock 30 - Best .45 ACP

Best .45 ACP

Glock 30S

$546

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$546 at Palmetto State Armory

Guns.com (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Action: Semi-automatic, striker
• Capacity: 10+1
• Barrel Length: 3.78"
• Overall Length: 6.97"
• Weight: 26 oz
• Optic-Ready: No
• Country of Origin: Austria, USA

Good heavens, are we recommending a .45 ACP pistol that's not a 1911? You read that right. The Glock 30 is an ideal hiking handgun chambered for America's Cartridge, even if it's never won a world war.

As with any Glock, this one is affordable to buy, simple to operate, and reliable as a hammer. Maybe more reliable, actually.

Unlike a lot of .45 ACP handguns, it's very compact and easy to to carry concealed. At the same time, the double-stack magazine holds 10 rounds, which I might point out is more than a full-size 1911.

The Glock 30 is not optic-compatible, which makes it that much more important to upgrade your sights. I recommend a set of tritium night sights (and a sight pusher if you want to install them at home), because most of the critters who mean you harm are active at night.

We're big fans of this underrated pistol. In fact, we named it one of the Best CCW Dark Horses -- read all about it and catch the video!

7. Heritage Arms Rough Rider - Best Rimfire

Best Rimfire

Heritage Rough Rider Revolvers

$140

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$140 at GrabAGun

Firearms Depot (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22LR, .22 WMR (convertible)
• Action: Revolver, single-action
• Capacity: 9
• Barrel Length: 4.75"
• Overall Length: 10"
• Weight: 30 oz
• Optic-Ready: No
• Country of Origin: USA

Yep, a cheap .22 LR revolver might be one of the best hiking guns. For years, I strapped on a Rough Rider whenever I went on an ATV or horse ride, and of course, I brought it along on many hikes.

In my area, I face a number of threats, but snakes are the most common. 

I try to avoid them, and I have backed down from a rattlesnake more than once. However, I'm not going to be defenseless a day's drive from the nearest hospital.

A .22 LR round makes short work of reptiles and even coyotes. 

The Heritage Arms Rough Rider is a single-action rimfire revolver that is superbly affordable and fun to shoot.

Its lightweight design (especially the 4.75-inch variant) is easy to carry. All in all, it's accurate, reliable, and well-suited for hiking.

We got a little goofy reviewing the 16-inch Rough Rider. Check it out!

How to Pick the Best Hiking Handguns

Out in the wild, you'll face numerous threats: snakes, coyotes, mountain lions, bears, and even human attackers that might need ballistic dissuasion. 

Before you choose a hiking gun, you might want to do a quick threat analysis to evaluate where you're hiking and what kind of predators you might encounter.

The threats in Alaska look very different than those in, say, Florida or Maine. So there isn't just one hiking gun to rule them all. 

Hiking Handgun Weight

When searching for the right pistol or revolver for the trail, take weight into consideration.

Weight matters, and less is better when it comes to hiking. Remember that old adage, "Ounces are pounds, and pounds are pain?"

Yeah, it applies here, too.

Ease of Carry 

You'll want to reduce size here and there to make your hiking handgun gun easier to carry and manipulate. One of the best ways is to trim barrel length. 

Hiking handguns are not hunting handguns, so you can afford to trim down on the barrel and grips a bit. You'll want a gun that's easy to carry but also easy to shoot, even single-handed if needed. 

Power

Hiking handguns are the perfect example of why power is relative. Conduct a threat analysis and see how much power you need.

I live in an area that doesn't have large bear populations, mountain lions, or other large scary creatures. Powerful to me is a 10mm. But generally, I carry a 9mm on most hikes or, occasionally, a .22 LR handgun. That's all I need to be safe from the threats in my area. 

Base the power level you need on the threats you're likely to face.

How to Pick the Best Holsters

If you have a hiking handgun, you'll need a good holster for it.

A quality holster protects the gun, ensures safety, and makes it easy to access your gun when needed.  Beyond that, hiking often involves rough or unpredictable terrain. Choosing a holster with proper retention is critical.

For hiking, there are three different styles of holsters you should consider. 

Shoulder Holsters

Shoulder carry places the handgun under your arm and above your waist -- you know, '80s detective style.

With it off your waist, you're less likely to submerge it when you cross streams or get snagged on thick vegetation. 

With a shoulder rig, you still have the option of concealment. Some states prohibit open carry at any time, so this offers some flexibility. 

Chest Holsters

A classic place to carry a hiking handgun is on the chest.

Like a shoulder holster, the gun is off your waist and well-protected. When you pack a big revolver, chest carry is convenient and comfortable. 

Chest rigs offer quick access and maximum mobility. The downside is most of these are essentially open-carry rigs. 

Outside the Waistband (OWB) Holsters

Carrying your hiking handgun on your waist might not elevate the gun, but it's still comfortable (depending on whether or not your pack has a hip belt), easily accessible, and capable of being concealed.

I carry my hiking handgun with an OWB holster for comfort and mobility reasons. IWB holsters are an option, too, but you have to be intentional about setting up any pack with a hip belt and training your draw.

Off-Body Carry

Last but not least, you have the option to carry your pistol of revolver in a small pack that's designed for handguns.

This approach won't allow holster-fast draw times, but it can be a comfortable, secure alternative -- especially for larger handguns like revolvers and 1911s.

The best part? You can mount a holster inside the bag so you don't have to compromise on safety.

Eberlestock Fade Flex

$79

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$79 at Amazon

Wearing a small sling like the Eberlestock Fade Flex across your chest works well with a pack's shoulder straps and gives you a way to keep your sidearm and a few basic necessities with you once you drop your main pack at the campsite. You can wear this one as a fanny pack, too.

Meet the Experts

Heading up this article is Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike. Travis spent a lifetime shooting and hunting before joining the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. Travis is also an NRA-certified instructor and concealed carry instructor in the state of Florida.

Editing this article is Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical. 

Final Thoughts 

Hiking handguns are their own specific category which calls for a weird combination of power, an easy-to-carry design, and a certain level of versatility.

While the above list can get you started, remember to factor in your potential threats. Then go with a firearm that's up to the challenge. 

What's your hiking handgun, and why'd you pick it? Let us know in the comments below. Before you hit the trail in your local national park, be sure to read the rules for carrying in national parks!

Latest Updates

• August 2025: Added the Glock 30. Added a comparison chart and Meet the Experts section. Updated supporting content. Removed FAQ section.
• July 2024: Removed Colt Delta Elite and Blackhawk Omnivore holster. Added supplemental media to CZ P10C.
• June 2024: Added more details to product selections, replaced the Glock 20 with the Glock 20 Gen5 MOS, and updated supporting content.