Tactical Pants (I hate that term for them) what is your favorite?

leghog said:
Sadly, these days the canvas used in 5.11 canvas pants isn't nearly as good as the canvas of yesteryear
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It's better.... 65% polyester/35% cotton in the 5.11 Taclite Pro Pants. It's stronger, lighter, more abrasion resistant and it dries much faster than the 100% cotton of yesteryear. It shrinks less than cotton after washing and needs little or no ironing.
 
vorpalblade said:
It's better.... 65% polyester/35% cotton in the 5.11 Taclite Pro Pants. It's stronger, lighter, more abrasion resistant and it dries much faster than the 100% cotton of yesteryear. It shrinks less than cotton after washing and needs little or no ironing.
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Better? Depends entirely on the metric used. No thanks re the polyester. I've been wearing 5.11 since long before they were "tactical" pants. The material these days is not better as compared to the days from Royal Robbins in that tthose old RR's lasted much longer and were much tougher than the current fare. In some of my current pants, I can't even get the stitching to hold out longer than the cloth.
 
Some present day britches like 5.11 and Propper might be called tactical pants, cargo pants or BDUs, whatever. But to me they are just very practical trousers.... I like them best. Royal Robbins doesn't make anything with comparable pocket space. But Royal Robbins has not avoided switching to modern, superior performance, synthetic fabrics like nylon, rayon and spandex in some models. As you pointed out, Royal Robbins and 5.11 have been separate companies for years. Royal Robbins no longer makes specialized pants for climbing. http://www.royalrobbins.com/p-1265-...t.aspx?category=mens-styles&subcategory=pants If Royal Robbins made a pant with the kind of features I need, I would consider trying a pair.
 
Consider the Royal Robbins Billy Goat Utility Cord F12. I've heard great things about them.

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leghog said:
Consider the Royal Robbins Billy Goat Utility Cord F12. I've heard great things about them.
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Thanks for the suggestion and pic. The F12 is a step in the right direction but just one thigh pocket without gussets wouldn't hold nearly as much gear as the competition. I think the word "utility" is more descriptive and less pretentious than "tactical" or even "cargo". If Royal Robbins would take that idea a few steps further in one of their models, they would be competitive with the likes of 5.11, Propper and so on.
 
vorpalblade said:
Thanks for the suggestion and pic. The F12 is a step in the right direction but just one thigh pocket without gussets wouldn't hold nearly as much gear as the competition.
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No gussets needed. It's meant for a cell phone.

Also, Royal isn't trying to compete with 5.11. He gave up/sold that line long ago.
 
leghog said:
No gussets needed. It's meant for a cell phone.

Also, Royal isn't trying to compete with 5.11. He gave up/sold that line long ago.
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If I wore the Royal Robbins F12, I would have to leave most of the stuff at home that I now carry in the spacious pockets of my 5.11 Taclite Pro pants.
 
vorpalblade said:
If I wore the Royal Robbins F12, I would have to leave most of the stuff at home that I now carry in the spacious pockets of my 5.11 Taclite Pro pants.
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You're probably just carrying to much. When I wear 5.11's excepting a bandana in the right rear pocket I have nothing in any of the pockets excepting in the two large from pockets. Excepting a handgun, I don't carry daily what I'm not expecting to use.

I'm wearing canvas wearing 5.11s as I type this. In front right pocket is a wallet, a coin carrier, a cell phone, and keys. In left front pocket is a reading glasses case, a pen, a small stockman, and a comb. In right rear pocket is a bandana. On belt on left hip is a Victorinox Farmer. On belt on right hip is a S&W M13.
 
Arborwear Tech Pants. I've been wearing them for years, and they are my hands-down favorite outdoor pants. They dry pretty quickly, but they aren't too thin or flimsy, and they wear tough. Best of all, they don't make you look like a tactical wannabe. :thumbup:
 
Smithhammer said:
Arborwear Tech Pants. I've been wearing them for years, and they are my hands-down favorite outdoor pants. They dry pretty quickly, but they aren't too thin or flimsy, and they wear tough. Best of all, they don't make you look like a tactical wannabe. :thumbup:
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I looked at the Arborwear Tech Pants on Amazon. They get mostly excellent customer reviews, especially for long wear, same as you said. I like the seven ounce, 100% nylon fabric. And I like the way they look. The large cargo pockets have side gussets and a center gusset so they should expand gracefully with a modest load. I might try a pair.
 
leghog said:
You're probably just carrying to much. When I wear 5.11's excepting a bandana in the right rear pocket I have nothing in any of the pockets excepting in the two large from pockets. Excepting a handgun, I don't carry daily what I'm not expecting to use.

I'm wearing canvas wearing 5.11s as I type this. In front right pocket is a wallet, a coin carrier, a cell phone, and keys. In left front pocket is a reading glasses case, a pen, a small stockman, and a comb. In right rear pocket is a bandana. On belt on left hip is a Victorinox Farmer. On belt on right hip is a S&W M13.
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Carrying too much? If that was my worst sin, the keys to the Pearly Gates would already be bouncing around in the left cargo pocket of my 5.11s. I've always been prone to load up for the unexpected.
 
TAD amphibious pants are great well anything made by TAD is great. They survived mutable combat zones and hiking trips well worth the cash.
 
vorpalblade said:
Carrying too much? If that was my worst sin, the keys to the Pearly Gates would already be bouncing around in the left cargo pocket of my 5.11s. I've always been prone to load up for the unexpected.
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For me, life's too short to go about it burdened down like a pack mule. My infantry days, where if we weren't carrying it we didn't have it, are long in the past.
 
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leghog said:
For me, life's too short to go about it burdened down like a pack mule. My infantry days, where if we weren't carrying it we didn't have it, are long in the past.
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To each his own leghog. Difr'nt strokes for difr'nt folks. I was in Army Airborne back around '63. Never felt burdened.... Just well equipped.
 
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