Best place to get BDUs or similar tactical pants?

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big_matt_duq

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Feb 18, 2010
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southwest pa
#1
What do you guys all recommend? I thought it would be easy to just order some but there are so many variations. I just want some comfy pants for shooting, fishing, and tactical house bumming. Should I be looking at surplus stores or just get one of the commercial brands? I want black, khaki, and camo. Is there a difference between the 100% cotton versus blends?

thanks!
 
#3
My employer gives me a clothing allowance and I generally order Tru-Spec pants. I've been using the 100% cotton since I'm in Florida. I think the blend might hold up better however. Only problem I've had with them is that there are smaller pockets on the thigh pockets and I've torn them loose walking past bolts sticking out of the back of guard rails. Torn out the stitching that is. The thigh pockets actually have handgun magazine pockets sewn inside.
 
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#4
It depends a bit on your budget and expectations. For low budget, decent quality pants in cotton or blend, I tend to buy from LA Police Gear. They are always having sales on tactical pants. I tend to prefer the light cotton and lightweight blends, because I too am in Florida. My experience has been that on a price per wear basis, these are some of the best deals around (I do not have a decent selection or Army-Navy stores in my area and prices and selection leaves a lot to be desired). I actually prefer the ones with the stretch waist band, as they provide just a bit more flex when working or at matches and places when I'm being active.

For higher quality pants, there are, as you have said, many good choices and some prefer them over the cheaper varieties. YRMV
 
#5
There are so many choices now with newer fabrics/configurations it can turn into a day of googling. I am in FL as well, decided with poly cotton and some of my old MC cammies. Those are much lighter, better in the few hot months we have.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

 
#7
Short of buying the actual Crye pants or OCP 'surplus' pants off ebay, look at the SKDTactical Improved BDU pant.

All the benefits and upgrades, top quality build, US made. 50/50 blend which is what I use even in the desert in Utah and Arizona. The problem with 100% cotton is that it fades quickly and the material is the weakest as far as holding up against tears/rips as well as being thinner.

I have these in tan and other than blowing out one of the gussets in a few years of abused wear, they are fantastic. http://www.skdtac.com/SKD-Enhanced-Pant-BDU-p/skd.102.htm
 
#8
Just head on down to your local recruiting office. They'll even throw in socks, skivvies, and a fresh haircut. ;)

Short of that, I've had good luck with the Tru-spec mentioned above
 
#9
Another vote for LA Police Gear. The TruSpec 24-7 tactical pant is a great deal for $33 (plus shipping), plenty of pockets, big color selection and It's a rip-stop blend, very tough. I like the 100% cotton for the best comfort but as someone else said, they aren't as durable as the blended ones and wear out faster but they are warmer during cooler weather. TacticalGear.com carries them too and they currently have a sale going on, unlike LAPG, they have the 100% cotton ones in stock too
 
#15
Another vote for LApolicegear.
I wear either the 5.11 tactical taclite pro, 5.11 stryke, or the 5.11 taclite pro shorts in 11"inseam (available in 9" or 11" inseam). Only problems ever is crotch 1st seam stitch let's go after 2+ years. The taclite pro slash rear pocket is the best. Goes from middle of cheek to 3oclock (or 9oclock) and down to top of side pocket. I wear these for everything except church even work (cnc machinist). I don't wear jeans ever.
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#16
Thanks for all the responses. It is really helpful knowing what the quality of some of this stuff is before ordering it. I will have to order a few of the ones mentioned here. Thanks for the tips where to get them too.
 
#17
I'm not one for getting Gung Ho about "the best" anything. I like popular products intended for hunters, that are easily replaced, and cheap enough to buy 2 or 3 of to keep the wear down and have standby pairs of trousers at hand.

The last time I bought cargo pants they were Redheads from Bass Pro, bought off the rack. I have a pair on now.

I also especially like the Alagash Hiking Pants from LL Bean; and they are also my pattern for shorts. Mine are rip-stop and are older than our latest Grandaughter (in second grade).

i don't like the way the USGI military BDU's are sized or their method of making them fit. I can do kinda fine without all that adjusting. I'm 6 1/2ft tall and 170lb; and they don't work that well for me. Besides, at 70, looking military is just not me anymore. I need cargo pockets for my practical things like hearing aids, inhalers, lens towlets, etc. They also hold the occasional mag of 9mm or 5.56 without making me look like Tactical Greg from Shake-a-Leg Falls, somewhere due West and North of me. And buttons suck when you're old, I'd rather scare the poop out of the Javalinas out back doing some rip-rips with the Velcro..

If I was rel-deal tactical, that would be different; tactical, for me, is an occupation, and not a lifestyle or style of apparel... They didn't have cargo pockets back when I was a Mud Marine back in Quang Tri Province

Greg
 
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#18
Greg,

This is outside the "inexpensive" parameter, but you may look at Kitannica. They make longs, that are actually, well, long. Having a 32" waist and a 36" inseam makes finding pants that aren't highwaters a chore. Kitannica is one of the few vendors that I have found that offers longs in small waist sizes, as well as their "long" being a 37" inseam, so you can hem the un-needed length. Plus their clothing is pretty much bullet proof (and made in the US).
 
#19
Try some Prana Zion stretch pants. They are actually rock climbing pants, so the crotch area has super stretchy material. Insanely comfortable, lightweight, and flexible for all those weird shooting positions we get into. Has a cargo pocket on left leg, nothing insanely tacticool. Not hugely baggy nor are they hipster tight. Good all around fit and "look". I got some for shooting but they are so comfy they made their way into the casual routine also.
 
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#21
MarinePMI; I linked to Kitanica, and that stuff is really cool. Couldn't find prices, but the Mark IV and the RSP's are very interesting. It remains to be seen whether my MI recovery is going to support a practical need for such gear, but it's fit and trim, and can definitely accommodate my life support accessories (meds, inhalers, hearing aids, lens towlets, yeah, I'm a wreck...).

I'm a kinda battery operated ground-pounder (but not Crunchie) myself, with the pacemaker/defibrillator implant (on my second since 2005). So far, battery powered implanted support has been my lifestyle. Fun/not fun, who cares, it keeps it tickin'.

The beat goes on...

Greg
 
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