Pocket holsters are interesting. In the last few years, the quality and design of holsters have improved drastically, and as such, we have lots of high-end companies making awesome holsters. However, pocket holsters haven’t changed much. The Desantis Nemesis has long been my go-to for a good pocket carry piece, but a challenger has arisen known as the Superfly, and in a twist of fate, it’s also a Nemesis holster.
For the last few months, I’ve decided to take things easy every now and then, not with life, fitness, or work, but with how I carry a gun. My main carry gun has been a P365 or P365XL for some years now. It’s still my main gun when I go out with my family, on a long trip, or anytime where I might have a slightly higher chance of confrontation or additional responsibilities. When it’s just me, going to the day job to put in my 40, or when I run to the grocery store, or anything calm scenario, I pocket carry either a .22LR or .32 ACP handgun in a Desantis Nemesis.
When I asked my fellow shooters, writers, trainers, etc., what pocket carry holster they used, they all pointed to the Nemesis. I love the Nemesis, but when the Superfly came across my radar, I decided to give it a try.
What’s The Superfly
The Superfly is essentially built on the Nemesis and looks quite similar in many ways. We get a holster that is based on gun size and not necessarily one gun. The LCP 2 fits in it just as well as the KelTec P32. It’s ambidextrous and easy to swap from left to right-handed use.
The design has two big changes. The first comes in the form of a reversible panel that can be removed and swapped from side to side. The point of the panel is to reduce visibility and to break up the outline of the gun in your pocket. This panel makes it look more like a squarish box in your pocket, not too different from your average smartphone. The panel can be removed or swapped for right or left-handed use.
The second is a redesign of the external texture. The Nemesis was already pretty dang solid in terms of its texture, but the Superfly is, to quote Desantis, more viscous. A two-dollar world is not always worth it, but here I think they capture it well. It’s certainly stickier and does feel different.
The Superfly In the Pocket
I love my Nemesis, but I had high hopes for the Superfly. I was surprised that the guns seemed to fit a little tighter in the Superfly. They still slide in safely and fit well, but they seem more supported, and the little P32 hangs tight.
I use the flap and see its value. When I feel fancy, I carry my pricey Beretta 3032 Tomcat, which is seemingly the thickest .32 ACP on the planet. It doesn’t pocket carry nearly as well as other guns and will certainly print. The addition of the flap keeps it from printing, and when wearing tighter pants or something thin like dress pants, the flap keeps the gun from printing.
Pocket carry is considered deep concealment. What’s the point of concealment if I very clearly tell you it’s a gun in your pocket and you’re not excited to see me?
On the comfort front, much like the Nemesis, I have no complaints. It doesn’t poke, prod, or cause discomfort. It doesn’t rub you raw and isn’t damaging to your internal pocket in any way, either. Good lord, if I get another hole in another pocket, I will lose it.
Much like the Nemesis, the Superfly can be carried daily without any discomfort. It drops into jeans pockets, slacks, and even basketball shorts with relative ease. The Superfly can be carried quite easily, which makes it perfect for a wide variety of situations.
At the Range
As with any holster, you have to train with it, and a pocket holster is no different. I discovered through some training that the Superfly was a fair bit different than the Nemesis when I drew. The Nemesis is the traditional wing design, and I typically pull up and slightly rearward to ensure the wing catches on the pocket and comes off as the gun leaves the holster.
With the Superfly, the gun is drawn straight up, especially when you are carrying it with the flap installed. The Superfly with flap always stays in the pocket as well, regardless of the pants and, seemingly, the pocket size. The more viscous texture that’s present does a better job of ensuring the holster never moves and stays deep in the pocket.
The orientation stays perfect, and I have no problems drawing the gun quickly and efficiently. The holster stays in the pocket when you draw the gun each and every time. The new texture and pad create a much more clingy surface. Clingy like a 16-year-old with his first girlfriend.
I thought the pad might get in the way, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to draw the gun. The flap never gets in the way, and it’s easy to bypass and get your hand on the gun. You can still commit a ‘pre-draw’ and grip the gun easily, just in case.
Versus the Nemesis
The Nemesis is the old classic, the reputable one, and the Superfly is the new guy competing for big brother’s spot. With that in mind, which one am I carrying these days? I turn to the Superfly. It’s just as comfortable and accessible but offers a bit more concealment than the Nemesis. It also never leaves the pocket with the gun, and the pad makes it disappear.
That’s not to say that the Nemesis isn’t a bad holster. I think the Superfly just outclasses it. If I was Desantis, I’d offer the new texture on the Nemesis as well. It’s the superior texture. The Superfly is most certainly my go-to pocket holster for day-to-day carry and likely won’t be changing anytime soon. Like the Nemesis, it’s designed to be long-lasting, easy to carry, and accessible. Check it out here, and if the Nemesis is more your speed, you can find it here.
Which one do you prefer? The Superfly or the Nemesis?
