In the last post we metioned the 5.11 Tactical Pants, and today it's time to take a look at that particular piece of tactical equipment. Bet you were looking forward to that. Or not. Anyway, the 5.11 tactical pant is a classic and given that it is a perfect example of what we've been talking about - ie tactical equipment for everyone, we felt it was worth a post sooner rather than later.The 5.11 Tactical Pant is basically a very hard-wearing piece of tactical clothing made out of tough cotton canvas (8.5 oz, in case that tells you anything). It has your basic two cargo pockets, two front and two back pockets, and a smaller thigh pocket. It also features a d-ring on the front and a utility strap on the back. The photo on the right gives you some idea - but you can find a bigger version of it, along with close-ups of the various details on 5.11 tactical's website. It comes in as many as 9 different colors (the website says 11, but we can't seem to find the last 3), including khaki (pretty obvious), olive drab (again, obvious), coyote brown (pictured, although a bit darker in reality), charcoal and grey, "tundra" (a sort of non-descript brownish color), "sage" (kinda like a pale OD), navy and black.
Let's take a look at some details. Both front and back pockets are slanted; the're deep and roomy and the back pockets close with a piece of velcro. Not much more to say there.
Above the right back pocket is the utility strap, which we - to be honest - at first weren't too sure why it was there. But it comes in handy for many things, mostly for hanging stuff. It is also tough and attaches well, so can probably be used as a "handle" to drag the person wearing the tactical pants. The cargo pockets are pleated and close with two pieces of velcro on each flap. Nothing more, nothing less. The thigh pocket is located on your left hand side, just above the cargo pocket, a bit to the front and accommodates a pistol mag, but most people will more likely use it for a cell phone or multitool. Noone here has an iphone, but it would probably fit.The 5.11 Tactical Pants also come with some nifty, 'hidden' features. The knees are not only reinforced, but actually has pockets, for lack of a better word, on the inside - where you can slide in kneepads. Very handy for your average DIY-guy, we would think. The ankle hemlines come with openings where you can slide in cords for blousing. (Less useful for the DIY-guy, but very tactical.)
These pants really do epitomize the whole idea of tactical equipment being extremely heavy-duty gear that can be used by anyone and should be used by almost everyone. Seams are not only double- and triple stitched; they are reinforced further by bar tacks in places where extra stress is usually put. They also rank high in terms of functionality. Pockets aren't just there for show, as sometimes seems to be the case with 'civilian' cargo-pants. Similarly, the D-ring and utility strap are not just there for show - they are properly stitched in to actually hold weight. Oh, and did we mention comfort? The waistband is actually slightly elastic (5.11 calls it a 'comfort waistband' - which sounds a bit like something targeting senior citizens), which guarantees a good fit.
Sure, there are some cons as well - no product is perfect. The heavy-duty cotton is not ideal in hot climates. Also, the fact that it is 100% cotton means that colors may fade, but that really is only an issue with black and navy. (The "sage" pants actually look better with time.) Also, we should mention that the orginal 5.11 Tactical Pants now come in two 'climate adjusted' versions. One is the Taclite Pro Pants, which are made from a 65% polyester, 35% polycotton ripstop fabric, and are more suited for warm weather use. The other is the Tactical Flannel Lined Pant, which is made from the same cotton canvas as the original, but is - big surprise - lined with flannel for colder climates. Although based on the original 5.11 Tactical Pants, these really are products in their own right - particulary the Taclite - and we'll review them as such.
Final verdict? Good stuff, good gear. Basic. Simple. Gets the job done, whether the job is tactical or not. Good value for money - the 5.11 website lists a recommended retail price at $49.99, but given that everyone sells these pants you should be able to find a significantly lower price if you shop around.
