BORELLI CONSULTING: Recreational Equipment Reviews

5.11 Tactical Pants & Shorts
25 September 2006

I have always found it humorous that the 5.11 Tactical pants and shorts are SO well known in the military and law enforcement industries, but not as popular amongst the recreational outdoor crowd (at least in my area). Why? Because, as I understand it, the 5.11 Tactical Pants were originally designed for rock climbing. The expanding waist, the hidden internal kneepad pockets and the strap on the rear pocket for D-rings... all design features to make the pants more comfortable and of greater utility value for the climber. This week we're going to take a look at the pants, and both lengths of shorts and how they perform out their in the elements.

I've been wearing the 5.11 Tactical Pants, otherwise known as "Royal Robbins" since the mid-1990s. At first I was exposed to them as fantastic for work (as a police officer), but I soon came to realize that as I wore them out at work they were still wonderfully suited for recreational / off-duty use. When I first started wearing them the magazine / knife pocket was on the right side. I never really complained. Since then, I guess because about 92% of the population is right handed and the pants are so popular with law enforcement professionals, the magazine / knife pocket has been moved to the left side as shown. It only makes sense: if you're gun is on the right you'll be grabbing a reload magazine with your left hand (most likely). More often than not, my flashlight is in that pocket.

The waistband of the pants has elasticized sections so that as you gain (or lose?) weight, the pants still fit your waist comfortably. Since the pants are "cut" to waist and inseam length if you happen to be a 36" waist but like your pants a little more snug you can get 34"s and still wear them comfortably. If you are a 34" and want more room to move due to exercise or whatever activity you expect to participate in, you can get the 36"s and they'll still not be sagging in the waist. A belt, of course, is also helpful.

When I started wearing out the long pants at work - which usually meant they were fading - I started wearing them for other activities. For hiking they proved quite useful due to the cargo space available in the two thigh pockets. The back pockets are quite spacious and each closes with a single Velcro tab. Because of the size of the back pockets - and the fact that the seams for them are the side seams of the pants, I often slide / clip my folding knife into my back pocket instead of my front pockets. This keeps the knife out of the way if I have to bend my leg up but keeps it within an inch of where I'd always grab for my knife.

Inside of the legs of the long pants are hidden pockets that accept knee pads. 5.11 Tactical, of course, makes their own knee pads - shaped like rounded Christmas trees - and they work well. But I've also discovered that these pockets will work just fine if you put old computer mousepads in them. Put two mousepads in each pocket and you have a nice layer of protection should you need to kneel for gardening, or any other outdoor purpose. Further, if you're climbing and you run your knee into a hard surface as you raise a leg for your next step, the padding protects your knee from the unavoidable discomfort of the impact.

The 5.11 Tactical Shorts come in two different lengths. The 9" inseam version is show here right - and the shorter "Academy Shorts" with a 5-inch inseam are shown farther down. There is good news and bad news about the shorts.

The good news is that the 9" shorts have the same pockets as the pants. That means plenty of cargo space to include that magazine / knife pocket on the left side. My wife wears these shorts exclusively to work. She works in retail on the overnight shift and finds that these shorts allow her to easily carry all of her work tools. Typically when she leaves the house she has a folding knife and her flashlight (she works at night: a flashlight is mandatory in case of power failures). She also ends up carrying a radio, box cutters, markers, etc. Her cargo pockets fill up and then she starts clipping other items onto the cargo strap that runs across the top of the right side back pocket. The items she's clipped there have run from keys to handheld inventory scanners. The only reason I'm not a fan of these shorts is because I don't like to have the bottom edge of my shorts' legs hitting me in the back of my knee. I like my shorts to stop just a couple inches above my knee. I find this more comfortable (although my friends seem to wish I'd cover more of my legs).

Because of the reduced length of the Academy Shorts, the pocket configuration is different and you lose the key ring / D-ring that is sewn into the pants and 9" shorts at the first belt loop just to the right of the snap / zipper. The primary front and rear pockets on the Academy Shorts are just as deep as on the regular shorts, but the cargo pockets are different and you lose the dedicated magazine / knife pocket. This "loss" is made up for by the design of the pockets on the front right side of the shorts.

The front right side pockets are split so that you essentially have two wide magazine / knife pockets. I typically put my folding knife in the right most pocket while my cell phone fits nicely in the next pocket over. The left side cargo pocket (in all my shorts) does NOT have loops or other internal dividers to separate magazines or folding knives. While the picture makes it look like those magazines fit in their nicely (as would power bars or other snack foods), it's just not so. Once you put the stuff in there it settles to the bottom just like you dropped it in a sack that size. That's not a complaint. It's just how my shorts are and I deal with that.

I particularly enjoy my Academy Shorts for hiking, climbing or trips to the beach. The pocket space allows me to carry all of my necessities but the reduced length makes them less restrictive, increasing range of motion. The pockets are deep enough that, on occassion, I've been known to drop my Glock 26 (mini-9mm) handgun in the right front pocket. Many a time I've stood with my hand in my pocket - holding my gun - while someone caused an issue in a public place. Thankfully I've never had to pull it to deal with any issues.

5.11 Tactical now also makes jeans. I haven't tried them out yet, but once I've given them some wear and tear I'll be sure to write them up as well - for better or worse as the case may be.

You can find out more about 5.11 Tactical Products at http://www.511tactical.com.

BE SAFE!

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Don't forget to check out our Tactical Equipment Review about the Beretta PX4 .40S&W Pistol.

This week's Training Article discussing the need for simple vigilance and the value it holds in preventing further terrorist acts.

For a listing of all reviews in chronological order, GO HERE.

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