511 pants

[Just another 22 shooter]

Just curious how many, if any, on here wear any of the "tactical" pants or shirts on a regular basis. I have been curious about the pants and how they work for carrying, but not $70 worth of curious. Yesterday I went to a second hand store with my wife and found a pair of 511 pants in my size for $3; so they came home with me. they are the ones that look like Dockers and are quite comfortable to wear.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have three pair of 511 pants and one Polo type shirt. They were on close-out at my local LE shop for $9.99, so I bought them. Bass Pro may still sell them; however, there is now a 511 store here in metro Atlanta.

One pair of my pants has a 1” wide web strap across the right rear pocket that I have yet to figure out the purpose of. The other two pairs have slit pockets in the rear to hold AR mags.

These are comfortable pants to wear and are water repellent and stain resistant. The shirt is a poly/cotton blend but is reasonably cool to wear.

 

[nachogrande]

FOR 3 $ ???

I'd of bought them too. That back pocket strap is to secure the nuclear football passcode book. You don't want that falling into the wrong hands.

 

[Bastogne71]

I've been wearing the 5.11 Taclite pants for years now pretty much every day. I like the lightweight fabric for daily wear, the front pockets are deep enough to to carry a 3" J frame S&W, the belt loops fit a 1 1/2" gun belt, and plenty of pockets for knives, flashlights, magazines, etc. They have given me good wear life - I've only worn out the first pair I bought but that took about 6 years of constant wear and I could have stretched that out some more.

Some complain that they look too "tactical" and will telegraph that you may be a gun person but there are an awful lot of cargo pants out there so I don't think that this is a real problem.

They make several styles but the Taclite's normally go for $50.

 

[Muss Muggins]

One pair of my pants has a 1” wide web strap across the right rear pocket that I have yet to figure out the purpose of.

Helps keep a collapsible baton upright and handy if you don't wear a duty belt . . .

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I wear them just about everyday, but I am a plain clothes LEO. You can actually carry a full-size handgun in the pockets if you needed. They are wash and wear, and are fairly cool in the summer time. The strap across the back is for carabiners since 5.11 started out as making repelling and rock climbing gear. However, the strap can be used for a lot to include use as a rescue grab.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Here you go

Here is the shirt and strap pants in photos 1&2. Photos 3&4 are the same style, front and rear view.

My grandson has taken off his jacket and looped it through the strap a few times. He said it was for hoodies.

 

[blues7]

I can get away with wearing them in my location because they blend in with all the other outdoor / woodsy clothing worn in our area (surrounded by national and state forests).

Pretty much all I wear on a day to day basis and it never gets a second look.

I used to wear them when they were still Royal Robbins brand...one of my early rock climbing heroes when I started with the sport decades ago.

ETA: The strap can also be used, aside from the explanations above, for keeping a spare AR mag in the back pocket at the range. I rarely use it, but it's there if need be.

 

[ColbyBruce]

A few more pics.

 

[kci-mia]

Funny story about those 511 pants...
About a dozen years ago I wore a green one frequently when hunting. One day I climbed up a tree to scan an overgrown pasture. I climbed up pretty high and on my way down I slipped and stopped when that back strap above the rear pocket caught a broken limb. I had some support on one feet and other feet was just dangling...riding the pants way up my waist and causing a lot of stress on my crotch. I struggled for about 10 minutes trying to get some support on both feet so I could lift myself high enough to free the strap from the branch. I ended up cutting the strap with my knife to get down.

 

[Rastoff]

I "bought" 4 pairs of 5.11 pants some years ago basically because they were free. I liked having a lot of pockets and they've worn really well over the years. If I had paid the $65 price tag I wouldn't be unhappy because they've lasted so long. Because of their light weight they're cooler than jeans in the summer. I wear them every day.

However, like a lot of things, I've discovered something I like better; Tru-Spec 24/7 pants. The difference is the Tru-Spec pants have pockets that fit my stuff better. In the thigh pocket there is a divider. This allows me to carry a cell phone and a flash light without them banging into each other. Then they have a small pocket designed for a knife. Plus, they're less expensive than the 5.11 pants.

Are they better? Meh, it's all personal preference. No, I just like them.


Do they scream "He has a gun!"? No, I think that's just paranoia.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I love it when grown men talk about their clothes. Makes me smile.

Mostly, of course, we do it when we are discussing concealed carry. An even bigger smile....

I had a pair of 511 pants that were, for want of a better term, very much like Dockers-type slacks. It was easy to conceal a handgun in the front pocket. Now gone in the fire but I also discovered a brand of clothing called "Tru-Spec".

TRU-SPEC : Tactically Inspired Apparel

© Copyright TRU-SPEC 2018

I buy them at the local Army-Navy store but they are easy to find on-line, directly or Amazon, etc. In darker colors like black, navy, or chocolate you have to look twice to realize they are cargo-style pants. More than enough pockets and handguns EASILY fit into the front pockets. I carry a snubbie K-frame in those pants, in a pocket holster, with ease.

 

[diyj98]

I like the idea of deep front pockets, but could do without the cargo pockets. It would be nice to find something with more of a dockers look that would pass for business casual.

 

[colt_saa]

I love the 5.11 Covert Khakis. The front pockets are sewn for firearms carry. No need for a pocket holster

I am wearing a pair right now

Unfortunately when they went to the Covert Khakis 2.0 they changed to pockets to a standard cut.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Are they better? Meh, it's all personal preference. No, I just like them.


Do they scream "He has a gun!"? No, I think that's just paranoia.

What color?

 

[Rpg]

I’m an outlyer as far as cargo or tacticool clothing: I have no interest in it.

I prefer orvis kaki slacks for casual wear: the pockets are very deep, the slacks are comfortably cut, a 1 1/2” gun belt fits the belt loops and they’re quite presentable.

I have no use for a zillion pockets nor do I want any clothing with Velcro or made from even a fraction of synthetic fabric, nor do I want permanent press.

I do have the lady at the dry cleaners customize my slacks by moving a couple belt loops to allow me to position my holster properly and to act as a failsafe to secure the holster from moving.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The 5.11 pants were originated by the Royal Robbins company, and they were designed for rock climbing. The patented "buddy strap" or "utility strap" was to keep a supply of "carabiners."

Per Wikipedia, a carabiner is a specialized type of shackle, a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to quickly and reversibly connect components, most notably in safety-critical systems.

 

[kwill1911]

Lot's of theories...here's another one. It is for grabbing and dragging your *** off the battlefield if you're wounded.

 

[GeoJelly]

I have worn 5.11 shorts for three summers now. To heck with the tactical stuff - I like them for other reasons! Biggest thing for me is the pocket on the right side is just big enough for an iPhone 6S - and the Velcro pocket on the left is perfect for car keys. The phone pocket is just the right location to keep from either sitting on it - a big no-no at my weight - or putting too much stress on it if were in a true front-pocket location. They have a reinforced section on each rear pocket for hooking up your Benchmade or Spyderco - and the fabric breathes to keep me cool (on those long walks at the mall to get my steps) ...

 

[bigwheelzip]

However, like a lot of things, I've discovered something I like better; Tru-Spec 24/7 pants. The difference is …….

The difference is that they come in waist sizes that fit my husband, unhemmed.


Thanks a lot. He was wanting some cargo pants the other day but had trouble finding any that fit. Great timing.