I have been wearing 5.11 Tactical products since before it was called 5.11 Tactical. As a new firearms instructor in the mid 1990s, if felt like you had to wear their khaki range pants so everyone knew you were the instructor! As the years wore on, their product line grew to include shirts, socks, boots, outerwear and many other items. 5.11 continues to be a leader in the tactical gear industry and introduces new products each year. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out some of their latest stuff and was not disappointed.
Socks
I credit 5.11 with teaching me the value of a quality duty sock. As a life-long hunter, I always had good socks for hiking the backcountry, but when it came to duty use, I just stuck with plain old athletic crew socks I bought in bulk at the local big box store. Then I tried my first pair of 5.11 socks and was immediately hooked. Now I am a sock snob and have a drawer full of the good stuff. 5.11 has revamped their sock line with several new offerings aimed at providing even better socks at an even better value. Check out the Duty Ready Ultra Crew Socks. These come in a 2-pack and are super comfortable. They feature ULTRA arch support and heel/toe cushioning along with their NO QUIT upper cuff. They also have great moisture-wicking and anti-odor capabilities. I have been wearing them for weeks with duty boots and found they do not slip down at all throughout the day and the comfort is excellent.
Boots
I have owned numerous pairs of 5.11 boots and shoes and have never been disappointed. This time around I tried out their new Caliber 6” boot. This is a brown leather/poly boot aimed at general use. It has an oil and slip resistant rubber outsole which serves well for day-to-day use. It is a little mild for hiking but that isn’t what this boot is designed for. I used it on concrete, asphalt and in the dirt at the range and found it to be a comfortable everyday shoe. It is not waterproof, so it worked well in the hot weather. It has an Ortholite insole and the 5.11 Force Foam Internal Heel cushion. This is a fancy name, but it lives up to the hype as my heels never felt sore from extended time on hard surfaces. If you like a classic brown or tan leather boot, this is a great pick.
Backpacks
Nowadays, there is no shortage of “Tactical” backpacks on the market. Some are pretty impressive and others are just a name. If you’ve ever owned a 5.11 backpack then you already know they are made extremely well and are full of features. Whether it’s for travel or day-to-day use, I don’t want my backpack screaming “Tactical” to the world. This is where the LVC18 really shines. The LVC starts by using 5.11’s Center Line design to keep the pack balanced and organized. The outer finish is smooth without noticeable webbing, giving it a clean, civilian look. Inside you will find a ton of storage and organization to keep everything you carry in its proper place. This includes an ambidextrous side entry CCW pocket with a loop panel and retention strap. One of the things I really liked was the expandable water bottle pockets on each side. These work great and hold your bottle securely, but snug down out of the way when not in use. A final nice touch is the tuckable logos, for those times you don’t want to advertise. Let’s face it, 5.11 is synonymous with law enforcement, military, and concealed carry, so have a 5.11 tag handing off your pack might not be want you want in a given situation. I traveled with this pack and found it didn’t feel overly large yet had plenty of room for all my gear including my big laptop. It even tucked nicely under the seat on an airplane!
Jackets
The Plummet Jacket is a neat design and is essentially a zip hoodie on steroids. I have always liked zip hoodies but sometimes you want something a little more durable. 5.11 took this concept and made the Plummet Jacket. It has water-resistant coated overlays on the chest, shoulders, upper back and hoodie to repel water and handle heavy loads. There is an inner chin guard to protect you from the zipper and the handwarmer pockets are also zippered to secure your gear. I really like wearing this one and find it is a nice blend between a hoodie and a jacket.
Shorts/Pants
Not all of us were blessed with a 34” inseam and this is where the Dredger 7” Hybrid Short really shines. The shorter inseam fits a broader range of people while the polyester/elastane material makes them light and comfortable to wear. Featuring 6 pockets, they have plenty of room for your stuff without looking like cargo shorts. Two of these pockets are called back yoke pockets. They are positioned on the back hip area and are perfect for carrying your cell phone. These shorts are very comfortable in warm weather and dry quickly when wet. They’ve become my go-to short for these hot summer days.
The new Trail Pant is a lightweight hiking pant that can be worn for just about any activity. These have some well thought out pocket placements that include low profile cargo pockets which expand when needed but stay smooth and flat when not in use. They are very comfortable with a running gusset and a comfort waistband so they stretch and move with you. I recently wore them while on a trip to Wyoming teaching firearms and hunting and found they worked well for every task.
Shirts
The undershirt sure has evolved since I first became a cop in the early 1990’s. I used to wear a white cotton t-shirt under my body armor all day, then have to hang my vest out to dry all night. By the end of my career, I couldn’t imagine wearing anything under my vest or in hot weather that wasn’t made from a performance type fabric. 5.11 has taken this to the next level with the V.XI Sigurd Performance Shirt. The Sigurd is designed to be worn under body armor and can be used in a uniform capacity. The sleeves feature loop panels so patches can be added if desired. The shirt material is a mesh nylon/elastane and actually feels cool to the touch. It has a rugby style collar that has proven to be a great design when worn with armor as it gives some added protection compared to a t-shirt without being too bulky like a standard polo collar. I wore this shirt under my range vest and found it to be extremely comfortable while keeping me much cooler than my other undershirts.
5.11 is constantly innovating and introducing new products. By the time you read this, more new stuff will be out with more on the way! It pays to routinely check their website or you will miss something good. Try out some of the items I reviewed above, you won’t be disappointed.