I saw the side pocket and wondered if it would fit my pistol. I don't think my 4" S&W .357 is larger than a 1911. It would be nice to have it in a holster for fast access, but it's also a benefit to have it out of sight, out of the elements, and it's less likely to get lost if you get stuck in the thick stuff. It would be sweet to have the other side pocket for my rangefinder and Garmin. I think I'm going to get one.