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Best Cargo Pockets and review of entire pants

F

fnc

Joined
Nov 13, 2005
Messages
328
I have noticed that many outerwear pants have cargo pockets that are not very
functional. The pockets are sewn flat against pant leg with no blousing or 3rd
dimension considered.

I have seen many in stores and drawings: Duluth Trading has some otherwise
very rugged-looking fire-hose cloth work pants.

Beyond pocket size, I would judge the expansion or ability to hold objects as critical.
Secondarily, please comment on the entire pair of pants, if they are very good or bad
in some other respect.

Can you guys help me with this?
 
I don't know anything about the pants your referring to, but I do recommend regular DCUs or ACUs, BDUs too, but they are full cotton and take a while to dry. Either way they have great cargo pockets and are tough. Comfortable too.
 
I bought a pair of 5.11 pants. All the pockets are setup to be very functional. Very pleased with them and they have elastic in the waist for my ever expanding middle universe! :mad:
 
Check out 5.11 Tact-lite (?) they are rip stop cotton poly and dry quite fast. I rarely will wear cotton for woods bumming or fishing but these 5.11's worked out just fine. They are well made too.
 
Stickman said:
Check out 5.11 Tact-lite (?) they are rip stop cotton poly and dry quite fast. I rarely will wear cotton for woods bumming or fishing but these 5.11's worked out just fine. They are well made too.
Click to expand...

+1 on the 511 Tac-Lites. The cargo pockets are good sized and usable, but I could do without the flashlight and knife pockets. (I'm just too used to carrying those items in my front pockets, anyway!) I haven't figured out a use for the web "strap" or whatever it is that runs horizontally over the right rear pocket.

-- FLIX
 
FLIX said:
+1 on the 511 Tac-Lites. The cargo pockets are good sized and usable, but I could do without the flashlight and knife pockets. (I'm just too used to carrying those items in my front pockets, anyway!) I haven't figured out a use for the web "strap" or whatever it is that runs horizontally over the right rear pocket.

-- FLIX
Click to expand...

I found that (after pictures were taken below) tucking a fixed blade sheath under that strap does wonders when withdrawing a knife from a tight sheath. Plus keeps the sheath tight to the side. Not sure what that strap is for though.
The slash front AND back pockets make pocketing things very easy. The back pockets are real deep.

DSC00020.jpg


DSC00033-2.jpg
 
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Maybe I am the only person who doesn't care for cargo pockets. When wearing BDUs or other loose fitting trousers I find that the gear in cargo pockets tends to move around a lot. I find this very annoying when on the move.
 
5.11's are great for me! However, I wish they hadn't discontinued their awesome nylon pants... bombproof construction.
 
x39 said:
Maybe I am the only person who doesn't care for cargo pockets. When wearing BDUs or other loose fitting trousers I find that the gear in cargo pockets tends to move around a lot. I find this very annoying when on the move.
Click to expand...

If I load them with heavy or rigid items they bug me. I tend to carry my poncho in one and my PSP in the other.

-- FLIX
 
x39 said:
Maybe I am the only person who doesn't care for cargo pockets. When wearing BDUs or other loose fitting trousers I find that the gear in cargo pockets tends to move around a lot. I find this very annoying when on the move.
Click to expand...

ETA:
FLIX said:
If I load them with heavy or rigid items they bug me.
Click to expand...



I find that after a long hike, having rigid, relatively heavy, objects in cargo pockets tends to abrade the skin beneath (right around the knees). I wish they made the cargo pockets a little higher up so they would lie against the thigh and not "swing" around as much while moving. But they're great to hold things for short distances or to stuff lightweight bulky items in. :thumbup:
 
I do not use Cargo Pockets all the time. Usually they would be empty.

I do think they would be useful for working around the house/farm when
you do not have storage apron or carpenters pouches.
In a survival situation, you may have lost your pack and extra storage would be needed.

rksoon,
Thanks for warning us about the abrasion caused to your knee area if cargo pockets
are heavily loaded.
 
Yeah, fnc, they are useful :thumbup: As for my experience with carrying stuff in the cargo pockets, it's just that: my own experience. Might not be so annoying for others. Nowadays, I tend to stick stuff like a beanie or gloves or snacks or a camera gorillapod in them.
 
carrot said:
5.11's are great for me! However, I wish they hadn't discontinued their awesome nylon pants... bombproof construction.
Click to expand...

I agree... they are my favorite outdoor pants. I only have one pair and treat them like gold.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I don't remember where I read this but I remember it was written by someone whose expertise I didn't question;
Carrying things in the cargo pockets requires 3X the energy of carrying the same weight on your back. He equated it as similar to wearing ankle weights, just higher up and with a bit less drain on the body.

Personally, I don't like the way things feel when carried that low on my leg. I like cargo pants, but might only keep a spare key or extra fire steel in the cargo pockets.

Stitchawl
 
I love the Operator Tactical Pants from LA Police Gear. They just got a shipment in and the pants had some stitching issues (cosmetic only) that weren't up to LA Police Gear's standards. They decided to sell them at $14.99 a pair. I ordered 3 pair and have been wearing them every day! :D.

Here are the discounted ones: FUBAR Tactical Pants


here is a pic inside the main cargo pocket:
policestuff_2072_179266922


front of pants have two small pockets and D-rings under front belt loops:
policestuff_2072_179239921


pockets on each leg at the bottom of the pants:
policestuff_2073_141227811
 
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I have had good luck with BDUs by both Combat Cloth and Proper, and find that I can get quite a few years out of them, in the Poly/cotton blend, wearing them as my standard uniform full time during most of my field season (9 months), except during the hottest periods of work in the desert.
I usually purchase them from Brigade Quartermaster or BDU.com.

I find them to be very comfortable, dry quickly, are cooler, and stand up the necessary abuse I subject them to more so than other pants I have used (jeans, Carharts, nylon "hiker" pants).
I find the pockets to be vital for my work (and I usually wear a "crusier" vest, just never seem to have enough pockets for my equipment), although I don't fill them to the brim, because, as others have pointed out, it gets difficult to move when you do that.
I usually carry things like folded zipper bags, extra maps, trash (Cliff bar wrappers, etc.) or just a place to stuff something when I all to often find that I need my hands for something else, and have to put what is in them somewhere quickly. I rarely actually hike with anything in the the pockets.

Although I have worn patches away from sliding on rock, etc., I have never popped a seam, yet.

I have head very good things about the 5.11 pants, expcially about their durability, so will probably try a pair next, when I need to replace my current pants.

Brome
 
+1 on 5.11 Tactical. I have several pairs and have been very happy with them. Being the thin guy, I can usually pick up some really sweet deals on closeouts. I think the last two pairs I bought from LA police gear cost me $3.99 a pair, pretty cool!

Paul
 
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