Last updated October 28th 2026
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By Nick Hall, who wrote our best concealed carry holsters guide.
The best cross draw holster for most people carrying a modern pistol is the Galco Walkabout 3.0. It’s an inside-the-waistband holster that Galco built for strongside or cross draw carry, with clips you can angle for either. If you want an outside-the-waistband cross draw holster for a micro 9mm, get the DeSantis Criss-Cross. If you carry a revolver, the Bianchi 111 Cyclone, the DeSantis Roscoe and the DeSantis Doc Holiday cover everything from a snub-nose to a Colt Single Action Army.
Below are five cross draw holsters with details from the makers and retailers, live prices from our 200+ retailers on October 28, 2026, and the two things most cross draw lists skip: a diagram of where the holster actually sits, and the muzzle sweep problem that makes some ranges ban it.
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Best Cross Draw Holsters at a Glance
| Holster | Carry | Material | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galco Walkabout 3.0 | IWB, strongside or cross draw | Steerhide | Modern compact pistols | Live price |
| DeSantis Criss-Cross | OWB cross draw | Leather | Micro 9mm and .380 pistols | Live price |
| Bianchi 111 Cyclone | OWB, cross draw or strongside | Full-grain cowhide, suede lined | Revolvers and 1911s | Live price |
| DeSantis Roscoe | OWB cross draw | Saddle leather | 2 inch snub-nose revolvers | Live price |
| DeSantis Doc Holiday | OWB cross draw | Leather | Single action revolvers | Live price |
What Is a Cross Draw Holster?
A cross draw holster rides on your weak side, in front of the hip, with the grip pointed forward. A right-handed shooter wears it around 10 or 11 o’clock and reaches across the body to draw. That one change solves three problems a strongside holster has.
- Seated and driving: In a car seat, a strongside gun is trapped between you, the seat and the belt. A cross draw gun sits in front of you where your hand already is.
- Under a coat: An open jacket lets you reach across to a cross draw gun without sweeping the coat back on your strong side.
- Big revolvers: A long barrel on the strong side digs into the seat and your hip. Cross draw lets it ride forward and angled.
The Downside: Muzzle Sweep
When you draw from cross draw, the muzzle travels across the front of your body and across anyone standing to your weak side before it reaches the target. That’s the reason some ranges and shooting matches limit or ban cross draw holsters. If you shoot at a range or in matches, check their rules before you buy one.
You can reduce the sweep with technique. Turn your weak side slightly toward the threat as you draw, keep your support arm high and out of the way, and keep your finger out of the trigger guard until the gun is on target. Practice it empty, slowly, until it’s automatic.
1. Galco Walkabout 3.0: Best Cross Draw Holster Overall
- Carry: Inside the waistband, strongside, cross draw or appendix
- Material: Premium center-cut steerhide
- Mouth: Metal reinforced for one-hand reholstering
- Clips: Cant-adjustable UniClip for belts up to 1 3/4 in., plus an Ultimate Stealth clip
- Extra: Attached spare magazine carrier, angled to clear most carry red dots
- Hand: Converts for right or left hand
Pros
- Works cross draw, strongside or appendix
- Carries a spare magazine too
- Metal mouth stays open
Cons
- Leather needs a break-in
- Bulkier with the mag carrier
- Fit list is model by model
The Walkabout 3.0 is the cross draw holster for people who carry a modern compact pistol inside the waistband. Galco built it in steerhide with a metal-reinforced mouth, so the holster stays open for a one-hand reholster, and the clips adjust for cant, which is the whole trick of cross draw: you tilt the grip forward so your hand reaches it naturally across your body.
It also carries a spare magazine in an attached pouch, and Galco angled that carrier more steeply on the 3.0 to clear most carry red dots on the draw. The same holster works strongside or appendix if you change your mind, which makes it a low-risk way to try cross draw. Galco sells it fitted for specific guns, including the SIG P365 family, the Glock 48 and the Ruger LCP MAX.
Best For: Concealed carry of a compact or micro 9mm, especially if you drive a lot.
2. DeSantis Criss-Cross: Best OWB Cross Draw Holster
- Carry: Outside the waistband, cross draw
- Material: American cowhide, molded for micro pistols
- Belt: Slots fit belts up to 1 1/2 in.
- Retention: Adjustable tension screw
- Fits: SIG P365, P938 and P238, Kimber Micro 9, Ruger LCP II and more
- Hand: Right or left
Pros
- Made only for cross draw
- Molded for micro pistols
- Adjustable tension
Cons
- OWB needs a cover garment
- Belt slots max out at 1 1/2 in.
- Can ride away from the body
DeSantis designed the Criss-Cross specifically as a cross draw holster, and it pitches it for driving and walking around town. It’s molded leather for the small single stack pistols most people carry today, with a tension screw so you can set how hard the gun pulls out. That makes it the easiest way to try cross draw on the outside of the belt with a gun like a P365.
Its belt slots fit belts up to 1 1/2 inches, so a heavy 1 3/4 inch gun belt won’t go through. Some owners report that a very small gun like the P238 can ride away from the body on a thinner belt, so pair it with a stiff belt.
Best For: Outside-the-waistband cross draw carry of a micro 9mm or .380 under a jacket.
3. Bianchi 111 Cyclone: Best for Revolvers and 1911s
- Carry: Outside the waistband, cross draw or strongside
- Ride: High ride, open muzzle
- Material: Full-grain cowhide with a suede lining
- Retention: Thumb snap plus a trigger guard detent
- Fits: Long-barreled revolvers, short revolvers and 1911s, by model
- Hand: Right or left
Pros
- Cross draw or strongside
- Thumb snap holds a heavy gun
- Open muzzle fits long barrels
Cons
- Big, not for deep concealment
- Costs over $100
- Sized by model, order carefully
The Bianchi 111 Cyclone is a classic: a high-ride, open-muzzle leather holster whose belt loop setup lets you wear it cross draw or strongside. It’s hand molded from full-grain cowhide with a suede lining, and a thumb snap plus a trigger guard detent hold a heavy revolver in place.
The open muzzle is why revolver shooters like it. A 6 inch barrel can poke through the bottom instead of needing a longer holster, and the high ride keeps the gun clear of a car seat. Bianchi sells it fitted for specific guns, from the Colt Python and Ruger GP100 to the 1911 Government.
Best For: Hunters, ranchers and anyone carrying a full-size revolver or 1911 open, especially in a vehicle.
4. DeSantis Roscoe: Best Cross Draw Holster for a Snub-Nose
- Carry: Outside the waistband, cross draw
- Material: Premium saddle leather, black or tan
- Belt: Up to 1 3/4 in.
- Retention: Adjustable tension
- Fits: S&W J-Frame 2 in., Ruger LCR and LCRx
- Hand: Right or left
Pros
- Made for small revolvers
- Full shooting grip while holstered
- Takes a 1 3/4 in. belt
Cons
- Revolvers only
- OWB, needs a cover garment
- Limited fit list
The Roscoe is a cross draw belt holster built for 2 inch small-frame revolvers like the Smith & Wesson J-Frame and the Ruger LCR. It’s molded saddle leather with adjustable tension, and DeSantis molded the top so you get a full shooting grip while the gun is still holstered and can reholster with one hand.
A snub-nose revolver is a natural cross draw gun. It’s short enough to ride forward on the weak side without poking you, and it’s the classic car and coat gun. For revolver picks, see our best concealed carry revolvers.
Best For: Carrying a J-Frame or LCR cross draw.
5. DeSantis Doc Holiday: Best Western Cross Draw Holster
- Carry: Outside the waistband, cross draw
- Material: Leather, black or tan
- Fits: Colt Single Action Army with a 3.5 in. barrel and similar single actions
- Style: Western, butt forward
- Hand: Right or left
- Model: DeSantis #083
Pros
- Classic western cross draw style
- Fits short single action revolvers
- Cheaper than most western rigs
Cons
- Single actions only
- Not for concealment
- Limited barrel lengths
Cross draw has deep roots in the Old West, and the Doc Holiday is DeSantis’s nod to it: a butt-forward leather cross draw holster for single action revolvers, sold fitted for guns like a 3.5 inch Colt Single Action Army. It’s the holster for a short-barreled single action you carry on the trail, on horseback or in a cowboy action costume.
It’s a belt holster for open carry, not concealment. Check the barrel length on the fit list before you order, because single actions come in many lengths.
Best For: Single action revolver owners who want the classic cross draw look.
Who Should Carry Cross Draw
- Drivers: If you spend hours in a car, cross draw is the easiest position to reach with a seat belt on. See our concealed carry in a car guide and our best car gun mounts.
- People who wear coats: A cross draw gun under an open jacket is fast to reach in cold weather.
- Revolver and hunting carry: Long barrels ride better on the weak side, and a chest strap or pack belt is less in the way.
- Shooters with shoulder or back issues: Some people find reaching across easier than reaching back to the hip.
If none of those fit you, a strongside or appendix holster is faster and has no muzzle sweep problem. Our how to choose a concealed carry holster guide walks through the positions.
How to Wear a Cross Draw Holster
- Position: For a right-handed shooter, start at 10 or 11 o’clock. Too far back and you can’t reach it, too far forward and it digs in when you sit.
- Cant: Tilt the grip forward toward your strong hand. Most cross draw holsters set this cant for you.
- Belt: Use a stiff gun belt. A cross draw holster rides in front, where a soft belt lets it flop.
- Practice: Dry practice the draw with an empty gun, turning your weak side toward the target to cut the sweep.
How I Picked These Holsters
I started from what people search for and what the top-ranking lists recommend, then kept only holsters that are actually made for cross draw, either as their only position or as one of their listed positions. Each one had to be in stock at our retailers, so you can buy it today at a price we track, and every detail comes from the maker or retailer listings. Prices change daily, and the live price boxes update on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cross draw holster?
The Galco Walkabout 3.0 is our pick for a modern compact pistol. It's a steerhide IWB holster built for strongside or cross draw carry. For revolvers, the Bianchi 111 Cyclone is the classic.
What is a cross draw holster?
A holster worn on your weak side, in front of the hip, with the grip pointed forward. You reach across your body to draw.
Where should a cross draw holster sit?
For a right-handed shooter, at about 10 or 11 o'clock, with the grip tilted forward. Left-handed shooters mirror that at 1 or 2 o'clock.
Is cross draw good for driving?
Yes. It's one of the easiest positions to reach seated with a seat belt on, which is why many people who drive a lot choose it.
Why do some ranges ban cross draw holsters?
Because the muzzle sweeps across the shooter's front and anyone standing to the weak side during the draw. Check your range or match rules before you use one.
Can you conceal a cross draw holster?
Yes, with an IWB cross draw holster like the Galco Walkabout 3.0 under a shirt, or an OWB holster under a jacket.
What is the best cross draw holster for a revolver?
The Bianchi 111 Cyclone for full-size revolvers and 1911s, the DeSantis Roscoe for 2 inch snub-nose revolvers, and the DeSantis Doc Holiday for single actions.
Is cross draw slower than strongside?
Standing, it is a little slower, because the draw path is longer and you have to clear the sweep. Seated or in a coat, cross draw is often faster because the gun is easier to reach.
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