There comes a time in a mans life when he has to bow to certain social norms, forego his freedom and principles, and just put on a pair of damned pants. Situations like ‘work’, ‘church’, and ‘court appearance over those (ever increasing) indecency charges’ require a bit more tact. So while it was somewhat of a social faux pas (to be generous), I actually was glad when 5.11 Tactical approached me to review a few items of theirs, including a pair of leg-shirts.
First thing I wanted to talk about is my 5.11 XPRT Folder knife. 5.11 has a large assortment of Tactical Knives, and this one was not part of the ‘care package’, but it has so changed my life that I wanted to bring it up. I readily admit that until I picked up this knife, I kept only the blade that was in my Leatherman on me. It was (and still is) a pain in the tush to get out, but I always assumed that because I had a knife on me and that I rarely used it, I didn’t need a folder.
Boy was I wrong.
Turns out, you always can use a good blade. The 5.11 XPRT Folder finds use pretty much every day, from opening packages, to cutting off cords and yes, even cutting the occasional bit of food. The blade is heavy and flicks open with ease and it balances pretty nicely in my hands. Not sure this would be a good combat or fighting knife, but as far as utility goes, it’s been fantastic.
Not being a knife guy, I can’t really speak to how it compares to other folders, but some people have mentioned that it’s a bit heftier than other knives. I don’t mind the extra weight, it feels sturdy and helps with the cutting chores as far as I’m concerned. Plus, as someone who carries a Glock 20, I’m used to the extra weight on the belt.
One thing that I was interested in was a Bail Out Bag and 5.11 had just that. Not a full on “everything I need to survive for three months in case of zombies” type of bag, but a smaller something to tote along various tools and whatnot. For testing purposes, it has pretty much turned into a ‘murse’ going back and forth between the office and home.
The bag is constructed out of 1050D Nylon, which one can only assume is twice as strong as 525B Nylon. I’m not a nylon guy, I wouldn’t really know. What I do know is that it is well constructed. Nothing on this thing is loose or poorly sewn. It’s got 3 mag pouches up front (which interestingly hold pens, various USB cables, and ear buds quite well) two side pouches, and an interior section, all of which have various web platform loops on them. Not being an operator, I’ve found you can clip things to them easily.
Inside, it’s not terribly spacious, so this isn’t the type of bag you can just throw a bunch of stuff in and get it out later. It’s not really designed to be a catch all, but more of a rapid response type of bag and for that, I’m sure it works great. It could easily hold a spare pistol, mags, medical kit, and a few smaller multi-tools.
It is pretty comfortable to wear. The back has a mesh that breathes easily, and when slung across your shoulder, everything is easy to reach. I found I could loop the strap over and get out of the car without worrying about the bag flopping all over the place. I can see this bag becoming part of my car, keeping my small medical kit, a flashlight, and some other road-side necessities in an easy to carry package.
And finally….
Look, if you gotta wear ‘em, might as well have a pair of Tactical Pants. I got a pair of the Covert Cargo Pants and even I admit, they’re nice. These are very casual looking for a set of cargo pants; they weren’t out of place in the office where I work. The pockets are all internal and lay flat with the zippers keeping things like my cell phone and keys in place without worrying about them falling out. The rear pockets were Velcro and deep.
Comfort wise, these rocked. The waist band is ‘self adjusting’ which means ‘perfect for those whose waists vary with holiday dinners’. I wouldn’t know chiffon from taffeta, but the fabric was heavy and the stitching didn’t creak when I pulled on it. The front button is a snap, perfect for a quick, tactical egress. I mean, nice pants and all, but when it’s time to get out of them, it’s time to get out of them. I can put my KelTec P3AT in the cargo pocket and you can’t even tell its there. That’s nice, and like I said earlier, the zipper will keep it not only in place, but allow you to quickly get to it if need be.
They’ve not met Mr. Washing Machine yet, so I will have a follow up post to go over how they hold up to the harsh, Florida water and cat fur, which this household has plenty of.
Overall, I’m going to be looking at getting a few more pairs of these at some point. They’re a nice set of slacks for those moments in life that require such things.
I’d like to thank 5.11 Tactical for the opportunity to review the B.O.B. and the Tactical Pants. The knife I threw in for free ‘cuz it’s made that big of an impression on me.
FTC Disclaimer – Getting at the heiney to smooch will be a bit more difficult with the pants, but it’s well worth it. Trust me.