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The best S&W Bodyguard 2.0 holster for most carriers is the Rounded Gear Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 IWB Holster, from $41.95. It is our best-selling Bodyguard shell, molded on a dedicated aluminum mold for the 2.0 frame, with cant adjustable from -5 to +20 degrees and adjustable Posi-Click retention. If you carry appendix and want to kill printing at the grip, step up to the Bodyguard 2.0 IWB KYDEX Holster Plus Line, from $61.95, which ships with a claw and a spring steel Monoblock clip. Still carrying the original M&P Bodyguard 380? That frame takes a different shell.
The Quick List
- Best Overall: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 IWB Holster, from $41.95
- Best for Appendix Carry: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 IWB KYDEX Holster Plus Line, from $61.95
- Best OWB: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 Paddle Holster, from $46.95
- Best for the Original Bodyguard 380: Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 IWB Holster, from $41.95
- Best Tuckable, and Best for the Bodyguard 38 Revolver: Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Tuckable IWB Holster, from $46.95
- Best Printing Fix: Holster Claw Kit (IWB/Tuckable), from $15.95
- Best Clip Upgrade: Monoblock Gear Metal IWB Holster Clip, from $9.95
- Best Gun Belt: The Ultimate Concealed Carry Leather Gun Belt, 1.5 Inch, 14 oz., from $69.99
Bodyguard Specs That Affect Holster Choice
| Spec | Bodyguard 2.0 | M&P Bodyguard 380 | M&P Bodyguard 38 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber | .380 ACP | .380 ACP | .38 Special +P |
| Capacity | 10+1 flush, 12+1 extended | 6+1 | 5 |
| Barrel Length | 2.75 in | 2.75 in | 1.875 in |
| Overall Length | 5.5 in | 5.3 in | 6.6 in |
| Height | 4.0 in | 4.1 in | Cylinder-driven, roughly 4.2 in |
| Width | 0.88 in | 0.84 in | Cylinder is the widest point |
| Weight, Unloaded | 9.8 oz | 12 oz | 14.2 oz |
Those numbers decide more than they look like they should. At 9.8 ounces and 0.88 inches wide, the Bodyguard 2.0 is light enough that a soft belt lets it flop and rotate, which is the single most common reason people say a micro gun is uncomfortable. The gun is not the problem, the belt is. A 4 inch height also means the grip is the only part of the gun likely to print, so a claw that rotates the grip into your body does more for concealment than anything else you can buy. The 38 revolver is a different problem entirely: its cylinder is the widest point rather than the slide, so it wants a tuckable shell with a ride height that keeps the cylinder below the belt line.
Which Bodyguard Do You Have?
Bodyguard is a family name, not one gun, and the three current members do not share a holster. This is the mistake we see most often in returns.
| Your Gun | How to Tell | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Bodyguard 2.0 | Released 2024. Flat-faced trigger, 10 or 12 round magazine, tritium front sight. Available with or without bilateral thumb safeties. | Bodyguard 2.0 Holsters |
| Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp | Same frame as the 2.0, with a ported compensator cut in the barrel and slide. | Bodyguard 2.0 Holsters, same shell as the 2.0 |
| M&P Bodyguard 380 | The older 380. Hinged trigger, 6 round magazine, often with an integrated or Crimson Trace laser. | M&P Bodyguard 380 Holsters |
| M&P Bodyguard 38 | A five shot .38 Special +P revolver, not a semi-auto at all. | Bodyguard 38 Holsters |
The useful shortcut: if your magazine holds ten rounds, you have a 2.0. If it holds six, you have the older 380. If it has a cylinder, you have the 38.
Every Carry Configuration, Compared
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 IWB Holster, from $41.95
Best Overall
This is the shell most Bodyguard 2.0 owners should start with, and it is the best-selling Bodyguard holster we make. It is 0.08 inch Kydex formed over a mold cut specifically for the 2.0 frame, it weighs 3 ounces, and the cant adjusts from -5 to +20 degrees so you can tune it to appendix, strong side, or behind the hip without buying a second holster. Retention is user adjustable with an audible Posi-Click. The full length sweat guard with rear sight shield keeps the slide off your skin, and the open-face design clears threaded barrels and suppressor height sights.
Best for: everyday concealed carry of a Bodyguard 2.0 or Carry Comp, at appendix, strong side, hip or back carry.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 IWB KYDEX Holster Plus Line, from $61.95
Best for Appendix Carry
The Plus Line is the same Bodyguard 2.0 mold with the two upgrades that matter most at appendix: a claw, which levers the grip inward against your belt so the butt of the gun stops pushing your shirt out, and a 1.5 inch Monoblock spring steel belt clip with a Cerakote finish, which holds a stiffer bite on the belt than the standard polymer clip. It is optic and RMR cut ready, and it clears suppressor height sights. If you have tried appendix carry with a Bodyguard and given up on it, this is the configuration worth trying before you conclude the position does not work for you.
Best for: appendix carry, dress shirts and tucked-in wardrobes, anyone fighting printing at the grip.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 Paddle Holster, from $46.95
Best OWB
A paddle holster is the honest answer for carry you put on and take off several times a day. This one drops over the waistband without unthreading a belt, holds the gun at 3 or 9 o'clock, and adjusts through the same -5 to +20 degree cant range with Posi-Click retention. At 4 ounces it is barely heavier than the IWB shell. Under a jacket or an untucked overshirt it conceals well for an OWB rig, and on the range it is faster to draw from than anything worn inside the waistband.
Best for: range days, truck carry, cold weather layers, and anyone who needs the holster on and off quickly.
Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 IWB Holster, from $41.95
Best for the Original Bodyguard 380
The older M&P Bodyguard 380 is a narrower, taller frame than the 2.0, and it needs its own mold. This shell is cut for it: 0.08 inch Kydex, adjustable cant from -5 to +20 degrees, adjustable Posi-Click retention, full length sweat guard, and the same fiber-reinforced stealth belt clip. If you have owned this gun for years and been carrying it in a universal nylon pouch, this is the upgrade that makes it reholster properly and stop shifting position through the day.
Best for: M&P Bodyguard 380 owners, including laser-equipped guns, carrying inside the waistband.
Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Tuckable IWB Holster, from $46.95
Best Tuckable, and Best for the Bodyguard 38 Revolver
The Bodyguard 38 is a revolver, so it gets a revolver shell. This one is tuckable, which means the clip attaches below the belt line and lets you tuck a shirt over the gun, and it is claw compatible if you want to pull the grip in further. It ships ambidextrous with no sweat guard, so one holster covers left and right hand carry. For a five shot .38 that most people carry precisely because it disappears, a tuckable rig is what lets it actually disappear under office clothes.
Best for: Bodyguard 38 owners, tucked shirts, business dress, left and right hand shooters sharing one holster.
What Actually Matters When Buying
Material. Kydex holds its shape, so the holster mouth stays open and the gun reholsters one-handed without you fishing the muzzle around. Leather is more comfortable against skin on day one and collapses over time. Hybrid rigs split the difference and are bulkier than either. For a gun this small, the thinner the shell, the better the whole system works.
Retention. Passive retention from the molded shell is what holds a micro gun in place, and it should be adjustable. Ours is: a screw at the trigger guard tightens or loosens the fit until you get an audible click on reholster. A Bodyguard weighs under 10 ounces, so a shell that is even slightly loose will let it move when you sit or bend.
Adjustability. Cant is the tilt of the gun, and it changes concealment more than most people expect. Ride height and clip position change how much of the grip sits above the belt. Buy a holster that adjusts both and you can move carry positions without buying again.
Trigger guard coverage. Non-negotiable. The shell must fully cover the trigger guard, and the mouth must stay rigid so nothing can get inside it while the gun is holstered. This is the reason a molded holster beats a nylon pocket sleeve for waistband carry.
Belt. The most under-bought part of the system. A 1.5 inch gun belt with a stiff core keeps a light gun from rolling away from your body. If you buy one thing beyond the holster, buy the belt.
IWB vs OWB for the Bodyguard
| Factor | IWB | OWB Paddle |
|---|---|---|
| Concealment | Excellent. The Bodyguard 2.0 is small enough to vanish under a t-shirt. | Good under a jacket or untucked overshirt, poor under a fitted tee. |
| Comfort | Very good with a claw and a proper belt, mediocre without either. | Excellent. Nothing is between the gun and your waistband. |
| Draw Speed | Fast once practiced, needs a clearing garment sweep. | Fastest. The grip is fully exposed. |
| Wardrobe Impact | Usually one waist size up, or a belt notch. | None on trousers, but you need a cover garment. |
| Best For | All-day concealed carry, appendix and strong side. | Range, truck, cold weather, on and off through the day. |
Appendix Carry Setup
Appendix is where a Bodyguard 2.0 makes the most sense, because a gun this short does not dig into your leg when you sit the way a full size gun does. Four things get it right.
Run a claw. The claw catches on the inside of your belt and rotates the grip toward your body. On a 4 inch tall gun the grip is essentially the only thing that can print, so this is the highest-leverage change you can make. The Plus Line includes one, or add the Holster Claw Kit to a standard shell.
Set ride height deliberately. Higher ride conceals better and is slower to draw from. Lower ride is faster and prints more at the grip. Move the clip one hole at a time and wear each setting for a full day before deciding.
Wear a real gun belt. A 1.5 inch belt with a stiff core is what stops a 9.8 ounce gun from tipping away from your body when you walk. This matters more at appendix than anywhere else.
Test it sitting down. Sit in your car, buckle the seatbelt, and reach for the seatbelt release. If the grip digs into your ribs or the muzzle levers outward, add cant or drop the ride height. Do this before you carry the setup, not after.
Optics, Lasers and the Carry Comp
Every Kydex holster we build is optic cut, so a red dot equipped Bodyguard 2.0 needs no different shell and no separate decision at checkout. The Plus Line is cut for RMR footprint optics, and every shell in this guide is over-cut at the open face to clear threaded barrels and suppressor height sights.
Lasers are the split. The original M&P Bodyguard 380 shipped in several configurations, including an integrated laser and a Crimson Trace Laserguard, and those add width at the trigger guard. The holsters listed here are cut for the no-light, no-laser configurations of each gun. If your 380 wears a rail-mounted Laserguard, check the fit before ordering.
The Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp is the easy case: the ported compensator is cut into the existing barrel and slide profile rather than added to the outside, so it shares a holster with the standard 2.0. Both our 2.0 IWB and 2.0 Paddle shells list the Carry Comp as a validated fit.
What Else Fits a Bodyguard Holster
Cross-fitment on this family is narrow, and it is more useful to know what does not fit than what does.
| Holster | Validated Fitment |
|---|---|
| Bodyguard 2.0 IWB Holster | Bodyguard 2.0, Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp |
| Bodyguard 2.0 IWB KYDEX Holster Plus Line | Bodyguard 2.0, Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp |
| Bodyguard 2.0 Paddle Holster | Bodyguard 2.0, Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp |
| M&P Bodyguard 380 IWB Holster | M&P Bodyguard 380, no light or laser |
| M&P Bodyguard 38 Tuckable IWB Holster | M&P Bodyguard 38 revolver, no light or laser |
The two questions we get asked most: no, a Bodyguard 2.0 does not fit a Bodyguard 380 holster, and no, a Bodyguard 380 does not fit a 2.0 holster. They are different frames with different trigger guards and different heights, and a holster molded for one will either fail to retain the other or refuse to accept it. The thumb safety and no-thumb-safety versions of the 2.0 do share a holster, because the safety sits inside the frame profile the shell is molded around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Holster For a S&W 380 Bodyguard?
For the original M&P Bodyguard 380, the Rounded Gear M&P Bodyguard 380 IWB Holster from $41.95 is the pick. It is Kydex molded on a mold cut for that specific frame, with cant adjustable from -5 to +20 degrees and adjustable Posi-Click retention. The newer Bodyguard 2.0 is a different frame and needs its own shell.
What Is the Absolute Best Concealed Carry Holster?
There is no single best concealed carry holster, and any guide naming one is guessing about your body and your wardrobe. The best holster is molded for your exact gun, worn on a stiff 1.5 inch gun belt, and matched to a carry position you have actually tested sitting down. For most Bodyguard carriers that means a Kydex IWB shell at appendix or strong side.
How to Choose a Bodyguard 2.0 Holster?
Start with fit, because the Bodyguard 2.0 is a different frame from the older 380 and needs a 2.0-specific shell. Then pick the position: appendix carriers want a claw and a metal clip, strong side works with the standard clip, and range or open carry suits a paddle. Then buy a real gun belt.
What Holsters Do FBI Agents Use?
The FBI does not publish a single issued holster, so specific models named online are speculation. What is documented is a 2023 Bureau request for information seeking duty holsters that fit the Glock 17M and 19M with red dot optics, weapon lights and suppressor height sights. Our Kydex shells clear suppressor height sights for the same reason.
What Holster Does the Secret Service Use?
The Secret Service has not published its holster. Reporting on the agency's 2019 move to the Glock 19 MOS Gen 5 noted that agents would be issued a light and a holster with the gun, but named no brand, and that reporting was never officially confirmed. Treat confident answers as unverified. Agency duty rigs are a poor model for concealing a Bodyguard anyway.
What Does "Cant" Mean on a Holster?
Cant is the forward or rearward tilt of the gun in the holster, measured in degrees from vertical. Every Rounded Gear Kydex holster in this guide is user adjustable from -5 to +20 degrees. More forward cant tucks the grip in and hides it better for strong side carry, while a setting near zero usually suits appendix.
How We Chose
These are our own holsters, and we want to be straight about that. This is not a survey of the whole market, it is a guide to which Rounded Gear configuration fits which Bodyguard and which carry style.
What that means in practice: the ordering is not an opinion. The "Best Overall" pick is the best-selling Bodyguard holster in our catalog by real order volume, not by what we would like to sell. Every product listed was checked against live inventory the day this was published, and anything out of stock was left out. Prices are the current starting price and move with configuration. Gun dimensions were taken from published manufacturer and review-outlet figures and are noted where sources disagree. Fitment claims come from our own mold data, not from assumption.
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