Tactical pants, bags, wallets.....seriously???

As someone already pointed out, the cost of modularity is additional weight. Another weight penalty is making tactical gear like 10x heavier duty than it is actually neede. When I was younger I had my share of tactical stuff (cargo pants, pouches all over the place, ALICE straps + backpack, etc.) since I didn't have acces to real gear, I started sewing wide nylon straps to my backpack and so on. Now I look back and it all semed truly stupid and funny at the same time.

Now that I am wiser, I stick to alpine climbing gear for most of my needs. Packs weight exaclty what they need to weight to do the job (even less), clothing fits right, streches a bit and dryes faster. I can say I enjoy going out a lot more than I did before.

True, this clothing is not appropiate to sit arround campfires and will not provide any frag protecction... but other than that, it suits me well.

Oh! And black blades look like crap after some use and the coating drags while cutting... :D
 
I think the word "tactical" has been used so much to describe gear that it has lost all meaning. You can get tactical toothpicks, tactical toiletry bags, tactical phone cases, tactical computer bags, tactical beads, etc. So I guess that after you clean your tactical teeth, you will tactically video chat with the enemy and exchange tactical jewelry-making tips?
 
I'm hugely amused that one of the complaints in a thread about the ever-expanding sea of tactical gear is that it's not actually tactical enough.

The word tactical has become a pure marketing descriptor. Whether you love it or hate it, the best thing to do is ignore it and assess the piece of gear in question. If it works for me why should I care if it's tactical or not?
 
I'm not against a lot of the tactical stuff, I have a camelbak daypack I use that has Molle loops on it.

However actually backpacking - that stuff adds too much weight for me. Also I really dislike having a lot hanging off my pack. I'd rather have a bigger pack and have it inside than pulling me backward, or to the side.

Nothing to me on the trail yells greenhorn louder than somebody in all tactical stuff or lugging some big gun around on their hip.
 
David From NC said:
Three words:

Columbia Fishing Pants. My favorite model (like everything good and decent in this world!) have been discontinued. But they rock and feel like nothing on you or restricting your movement.
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Thanks for the lead but I bought some Vertx...Phantom LT I think the model is...and they're really comfy. I recommend them. The kaki is a similar brown to carhartts so they're not crazy looking.
 
Its a marketing gimmick that a smart consumer pays no heed to. But if you're discerning enough (like with all the "survival" crap that comes down the pipe) there is some excellent and innovative gear. Tru-Spec 24/7's are some of the best pants that I've owned, especially when they can be had on sale for as low as 25 bucks. I love my Fjallravens, but one is inexpensive high quality asian-made vs expensive high quality asian-made. Even TAD's are great, especially since they're made in the US. Bags, its pure preference. I love the look of the oldschool bags. but the "tactical" stuff's MOLLE is nice if you ever use it. You can call an ILBE "tactical" with the camo and molle but its probably one of the best bags out there that you can pick up for cheap

The one thing that I shy away from is "tactical" blades. To me, its code for: I don't know what actually makes a knife good, but I'll make it cool and make it huge. The "hard-use" tactical folder market is exploding right now and people have these pocket anchors that do little more than cut paper and tape.

There's a fairly broad line separating those that use tactical gear and those that are operator wannabes. But you see it go overboard in many other things like country cowboys, texans, hipsters, and even bushcraft fudds sporting head to toe in waxed/oiled canvas and leather.
 
The cow said:
Its a marketing gimmick that a smart consumer pays no heed to. But if you're discerning enough (like with all the "survival" crap that comes down the pipe) there is some excellent and innovative gear. Tru-Spec 24/7's are some of the best pants that I've owned, especially when they can be had on sale for as low as 25 bucks. I love my Fjallravens, but one is inexpensive high quality asian-made vs expensive high quality asian-made. Even TAD's are great, especially since they're made in the US. Bags, its pure preference. I love the look of the oldschool bags. but the "tactical" stuff's MOLLE is nice if you ever use it. You can call an ILBE "tactical" with the camo and molle but its probably one of the best bags out there that you can pick up for cheap

The one thing that I shy away from is "tactical" blades. To me, its code for: I don't know what actually makes a knife good, but I'll make it cool and make it huge. The "hard-use" tactical folder market is exploding right now and people have these pocket anchors that do little more than cut paper and tape.

There's a fairly broad line separating those that use tactical gear and those that are operator wannabes. But you see it go overboard in many other things like country cowboys, texans, hipsters, and even bushcraft fudds sporting head to toe in waxed/oiled canvas and leather.
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I have a khaki pair of truspec pants..liked them until a seam started to unravel, and the button messed up and wouldnt latch,
 
upnorth said:
I should pack some tactical T.P. for those times when I have to seriously take a s... out in the bush. I may lose my tactical advantage when screeching from the wet frozen (and rough, don't ask how I know) straw grass.
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I thought Creek was pretty chill, now I know he's a master troll too ;)
 
Smithhammer said:
We I'm not a wizard either - don't you think it would be a little silly if I walked around dressed like one?
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No...it would make me smile. :)
A few years back at university there was a guy who walked around all the time wearing a cloak.
Seriously, not a trench coat or anything, but a real, honest-to-god cloak.

I thought it was great.

I get sick of the monotony of seeing another department store drone trudging along the road towards death we call life.
So wear a cloak, or body armour...wear a mask, cape, and make "Whoosh!!!" noises if you want.
You'll be helping to make the world a less boring place.

Plus, you'll provide fodder for a bunch of bored guys on the internet to whine about. ;)
 
stabman said:
No...it would make me smile. :)
A few years back at university there was a guy who walked around all the time wearing a cloak.
Seriously, not a trench coat or anything, but a real, honest-to-god cloak.

I thought it was great.

I get sick of the monotony of seeing another department store drone trudging along the road towards death we call life.
So wear a cloak, or body armour...wear a mask, cape, and make "Whoosh!!!" noises if you want.
You'll be helping to make the world a less boring place.

Plus, you'll provide fodder for a bunch of bored guys on the internet to whine about. ;)
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Haha...well, I don't own a cloak, but I did recently buy a hooded wool anorak that goes half-way down to my knees. It's awesome for cold weather. I bet if I paired it with a thick leather trapper's belt and hung my Rogue Bowie off of it, I'd get a similar amount of attention. On second thought, I live in rural Idaho - people probably wouldn't even raise an eyebrow...:D
 
Smithhammer said:
Haha...well, I don't own a cloak, but I did recently buy a hooded wool anorak that goes half-way down to my knees. It's awesome for cold weather. I bet if I paired it with a thick leather trapper's belt and hung my Rogue Bowie off of it, I'd get a similar amount of attention. On second thought, I live in rural Idaho - people probably wouldn't even raise an eyebrow...:D
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Yep, what is normal does depend a lot on location and climate. :)
 
Tactical.... get with the program!! :D I am anti-tactical, but I wear cargo pants a lot that cold be considered tactical as police wear them. I use a couple different sizes of 5.11 bags one of which is their messanger bag that I find very useful for carrying my larger lap top or simply slipping in a change of clothes on an out of town trip. Have a small 5.11 shoulder bag that I use for work as I can carry some necessary equipment in it in places like under houses where stuff tends to fall out of regular tool bags and get lost.
 
hollowdweller said:
Nothing to me on the trail yells greenhorn louder than somebody in all tactical stuff or lugging some big gun around on their hip.
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That's pretty funny actually. Sometimes a big caliber gun is fun and sometimes a 22 is more fun. I carry stuff in 5.11 bags and yes even on the trail sometimes. The heavy dutiness is something that I liked about them, but I was not counted ounces either. I was thinking utilitarian and flexibility as circumstances change.
 
Hey!, cloaks are actually the original tactical gear.

The Greek soldiers and messengers are not wearing togas in greek art, its actually a type of wool cloak thats wrapped around the waist, likey to keep it out of the way when actually moving though woodlands and fighting(soldiers used them)
It was used for cold weather, to block wind, rain, snow, and for sleeping in when traveling. How much warmth that was provided depended on if they folded it over itself or kept it single ply and the rest wrapped around the waist.
Cant get much more ultra light then having your hot/cold weather clothing and sleeping kit in a single item.

I have always thought about giving it a go... walking around my farm in undies and a wool blanket and see how useful it really is.
Little worried I will be dragged off to a mental hospital if I try however.

stabman said:
No...it would make me smile. :)
A few years back at university there was a guy who walked around all the time wearing a cloak.
Seriously, not a trench coat or anything, but a real, honest-to-god cloak.

I thought it was great.

I get sick of the monotony of seeing another department store drone trudging along the road towards death we call life.
So wear a cloak, or body armour...wear a mask, cape, and make "Whoosh!!!" noises if you want.
You'll be helping to make the world a less boring place.

Plus, you'll provide fodder for a bunch of bored guys on the internet to whine about. ;)
Click to expand...
 
Phoynix said:
Hey!, cloaks are actually the original tactical gear.

The Greek soldiers and messengers are not wearing togas in greek art, its actually a type of wool cloak thats wrapped around the waist, likey to keep it out of the way when actually moving though woodlands and fighting(soldiers used them)
It was used for cold weather, to block wind, rain, snow, and for sleeping in when traveling. How much warmth that was provided depended on if they folded it over itself or kept it single ply and the rest wrapped around the waist.
Cant get much more ultra light then having your hot/cold weather clothing and sleeping kit in a single item.

I have always thought about giving it a go... walking around my farm in undies and a wool blanket and see how useful it really is.
Little worried I will be dragged off to a mental hospital if I try however.
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Good point!

You'll probably be fine trying it around your farm...someone else's farm might get weird. :D
 
You would think that, but I have a neighbor... She knows things... things only a sticky beek no good spying neighbor would know... She aint shy ringing me up to talk about anything going on my farm... so no.. dont think I will do the whole Spartan 300 in the cape and underwear thing. :)

stabman said:
Good point!

You'll probably be fine trying it around your farm...someone else's farm might get weird. :D
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