Dressing for success in survival situations depends on a lot of things that may be out of your control – things you should be prepared for. Your style of pants can be a fundamental part of surviving the what most don’t expect to happen. In this article I review the new 5.11 Tactical pant styles which show real improvements to a design that didn’t need much improvement.
Disclaimer: Several brands supplied the product for this review. I don’t work for the companies, was not paid to review the products, and no person has any input in the content.
Your clothing is your first line of defense
Pants are a foundational choice for your tactical clothing stack. For that reason, you should consider potential extreme weather conditions, hypothermia, hyperthermia, beating full sun and punishing dry heat, hacking through brush, scraping against sharp rocks, and virtually any other environmental factor. The fabric of your pants shields your legs from sun and rain, scrapes, minor cuts, abrasive edges and stickery plants. The insulative value can shield you from both heat and cold.
511-style Cargo Pants are Versatile for Both Casual and Active Situations
What is a 511-style pant? We know that pants with cargo pockets were mass produced for military purposes in the 30s and 40s. And I’m quite sure folks have been attaching extra pockets as long as pants have been worn. The 511-style name for cargo pants is a colloquial description of a specific style mastered by 5.11 Tactical brand, which owns the trademark. The idea for the name came from the original Yosemite Decimal System for climbing rocks, where 5.11 meant a high level of difficulty. At this point, both the outdoor recreation industry and first responders have broadly adopted the style, and now consumers refer to most cargo pants as “511’s”.
5.11 Tactical Brand Pants are the Real Deal
This is not my first experience with 5.11 Tactical pants. About ten years ago, I got my first two pair of these authentic cargos [TacLite Pro], in colors green and khaki, and I wore them everywhere. At the time, I was an instructor at the local community college and a casual, but professional approach to clothing was appropriate. I would frequently wear the 5.11s with a dress shirt and tie, and managed to pull it off pretty well. My students joked about me being prepared for a campus emergency, but looking like a typical professor. 5.11 pants are perfect for hiking and outdoor activities, and made it easy to transition from the office to a long mid-day walk.
After all that time in the office, about town, and in the dirt, my 5.11 pants have held up well, and they’re still presentable in public. So how can these pants be improved?
An Honest Review of New 5.11 Tactical Pants
I was recently invited to field test several new 5.11 Tactical pants: Apex, Peak, Meridian and Stryke. I am bullish on quality socks and tactical clothing, and have definite prejudices. Plus, I’m not an easy field tester and reviewer. But I do like this style of pant, so I jumped at the chance to field test the newer versions and I wasn’t disappointed.
Top Attributes in Quality 5.11 Tactical Cargo Pants
The pants I personally reviewed included this list of top quality features you’ll also want when considering your choice of tactical pants.
Durable, quick-drying fabric: Look for a quick-drying material that won’t hold moisture. This makes for a comfortable garment that dries quickly in the field, and overnight if it has to be rinsed out in the hotel sink.
Quality zippers: Often overlooked, quality zippers are critical to any clothing that could be used in extreme situations. A broken zipper on a coat or pants drastically reduces the insulative and protective value.
Room to move: The design includes ample room in the thigh and crotch areas so they won’t be restrictive if someone needs to climb or descend rocks and/or paths or crawl over fallen trees on trails. This also applies to pants that will most likely be used in urban areas.
Thigh or cargo pockets are greatly under-rated. Mine get used all the time. But you probably don’t want the highly-visible, military style pockets. The thigh pockets on the Apex, Meridian, Stryke and Peak Cargo pants are inconspicuous until they are loaded. Otherwise, at first glance, these look like ordinary pants.
The thigh pockets are located partially to the front and side. This makes for a streamlined profile that is really nice when walking down an airplane aisle, or buckling into the seat.
Other ticky, nit-picky little things to consider when buying a 511 pant:
Waist fastening: Many jeans have a solid button post that goes through the fabric and fastens. These are OK, but they can shift, leaving a pokey thing that stabs the wearer in the stomach. A good 511 style has sewn buttons or snaps that lay flat, no matter what. My preferred choice is a solid button that can be left undone, if necessary.
Velcro on the pocket flaps: Not a favorite of mine. The velcro is noisy when opening and has a way of sticking to everything. The familiar velcro ripping noise draws attention to your pockets, and can help a pickpocket locate your wallet. I personally prefer buttons.
Too tactical-looking for your purposes? In some situations, you don’t want attention drawn to your clothing and potential “goodies” in bulging pockets. Point in case: You’re in an urban traffic jam and have to abandon your vehicle and walk. Your place of work was evacuated with 1000 other New Yorkers.
There are predators and scumbags everywhere, and they look for easy pickings. Somebody wearing obvious tactical clothing may stand out from the typical commuter crowd, and that’s not a good thing. You want to blend in, but have your necessary survival items safely buttoned away in subtle, but effective pockets. This may not be a concern when out hunting with your buddies, or hiking in a national park. But in the city, it’s something to consider.
Here’s My Review of the New 5.11 Tactical Pant Styles
5.11 Men’s Apex Stretch Cargo Pant
On a recent 10-day European tour of Normandy and the D Day battle areas, with a few days in Luxembourg and Germany, I found myself wearing the Apex 5.11 Stretch Cargo Pant almost exclusively. They were comfortable, easy to move in, and didn’t look too tactical. My daughter Mary, a real world traveler, warned me that the wrong tactical-looking clothing was a “come rob me” invitation to pickpockets and other thieves.
The Apex is also for those who don’t necessarily want a tactical-look. I ordered the volcanic color, which is dark grey/black. A casual glance would assume the Apex are standard trousers. And the side pockets are discreet, laying flat unless they are full of items and gadgets. This is a great choice for the “grey man” approach to clothing.
In fact, I can walk along with a gaggle of tourists who wouldn’t know I’m carrying a survival keychain kit, and other odds and ends that would come in handy in an emergency. Besides, I always carry my pocket notebook with multiple pens, a water flask, and need plenty of places to store my wares.
5.11 Men’s Straight Fit Meridian Cargo Pant
I ordered the sage green color in the 5.11 Straight Fit Meridian Cargo Pant, since I anticipated wearing these outdoors a lot. The Meridians have thigh pockets on the front, and there is a zippered mesh side opening to allow air flow. This is a really appreciated asset in hot climates!
The hip pockets are zippered, which helps you secure your gear, and discourages pickpockets. The thigh pockets have velcro fasteners, which I don’t particularly care for, but they do secure the flaps. The material is lightweight, which is a good choice for pants that may be worn in hot areas.
5.11 Men’s Straight Fit Peak Cargo Pant
These are the pants for someone who wants sturdy, no-nonsense work apparel. My color choice in the 5.11 Straight Fit Peak Cargo Pant is Ranger green in a heavyweight material. The contrasting fabrics and colors reinforce the knees and seat.
The thigh pockets are on the front of the legs, better for theft protection, and this makes for a slimmer profile for moving through airplane and bus aisles. Zippered mesh areas on the sides of the legs assure air circulation in hot weather. Zippered hip pockets discourage pick pockets and help secure gear.
5.11 Men’s Stryke Regular Fit Cargo Pant
These might be the perfect pants for first responders. The Flex-Tac material is rip-stop, stretch material and they’re designed to be durable while moving with you, while allowing breathability.
These are great uniform pants for those in positions where outdoor activity is part of the job, or anyone who works in extreme weather.
5.11 Pant Review Summary
All in all, these new styles by 5.11 Tactical cover the gamut for rugged wear. They also have a place in many urban and survival situations. They cost about as much as a pair of quality jeans, and they will prove to be more durable and long-lasting. They’re the pants that keep me moving, and they won’t let you down.
