5.11 pants? Should I order?

[PocketBeam]

Are these the pants that are highly recomended? I have never seen 5.11 pants and don't know much about them except many people seem to like them. I can get these for $25, should I jump on it? Would these pants also be good for working a desk job in black color? Thanks for your help as I am about ready to order.

5.11 Pants -Wms
by Royal Robbins

Description:
These pants will hold up to nearly anything! Tired of seats or knees wearing out only weeks after your purchase new pants? Originally designed for mountaineering, the 5.11 is perfect for any activity.

# Made of mountain-tough, Billy Goat(TM) 8.5-oz. cotton canvas with bar-tacked reinforcements at stress points
# Double-seat construction for extra durable wear on long belays or scooting over an edge
# Reinforced, double-ply knees feature a hidden pocket for a knee pad
# Waistband with belt loops and elastic at the sides; zippered fly
# Plenty of pockets
# Gear loop above the right hand pocket lets you secure a lanyard for your keys or knife
# Convenient tool strap above right back pocket to secure your ice axe or hammer for temporary hands-free storage

 

[sween1911]

Royal Robbins 5.11 pants are a STEAL at $25. Go for it! They hold up well and are comfy, with lots of pockets for your cr*p. I have a pair of tan pants and shorts and they're the best! I don't know if the black ones will work for a desk job, depending on how you dress. If you're trying to go shirt and tie and dress shoes, they'll look goofy, but with a polo shirt and sneakers/hiking/Sketcher-type shoes, they'll work.

 

[InTheDark]

My favorite pair of pants are the ****ies double knee work pants with cellphone pocket. They are more durable and more comfortable than the Carhartt jeans I have, plus you can wear them to work without looking like you're going to overthrow the government. They've passed for slacks in a dim environment. But I think they changed something on the new ones, I like the older ones with the metal fastener instead of the button, and no velcro on the cellphone pocket.

 

[nullandvoid]

I wear mine with polo style shirts and rockport shoes for a business casual environment all the time. Of course I'm not positive whether anyone would have commented on them or not anyway... but the 5.11 pockets don't expand out as much so they are not quite as obviously cargo pants since unless you have lots of stuff in your pockets, they don't bulge out. $25 is a great price, I got mine for $40 and I think that was considered a good price.

 

[John N]

I tried a pair of the 5.11 and didn't feel they were up to the hype. I have spots where I have almost worn through, and then the snap on the front came off.

I picked up a pair of Sorel "Convertable Work Pant"s at a local GI Joe's (sorta a brick and mortar Campmor type store) and they are GREAT except that they are "convertable". They have super heavy material, but it is soft (but not quite "brushed"), unlike most of the canvas style pants.

I've been looking around trying to find the non-convertable version of these. I found ones called Sorel "Tool Bin Pant"s at bobwards.com that look like a possibility, but I haven't ordered a set yet to find out. I did order a pair of Sorel Relaxed Fit Canvas Pants from gemplers.com, and those were NOT the material I was looking for. Those are more traditional canvas, much like their "Chainsaw Pant"s.

Patagonia used to make some great ones called their "Stand Up Pant"s, but they seemed to have discontinued them a long time ago.

I noticed a pair of ones that looked a lot like the Stand Up Pants at GI Joe's (almost a copy). These ones made by The North Face. They didn't have any in my size so I popped into the local retail TNF store, but the styles had changed and the ones they had weren't as heavy duty.

Alas! :-(

-john

 

[Skyline]

I like the 5.11 pants quite a lot. They are comfy and reasonably durable -- they aren't BDUs. Then again, they look a lot nicer than BDUs too. I wouldn't wear them for business casual, but any other time, sure!

 

[double_r76]

You should get them, they are probably just old stock. The 5.11 Pants are no longer made under that name by Royal Robbins, that name got taken by 5.11 Tactical when they split off to form their own company. Royal Robbins still makes the same style pants, but they named them something different. 5.11 Tactical also just released the same style of pants made from a nylon material that is lighter and dries much faster than the cotton, but $20 more...

Royal Robbins
5.11 Tactical

FYI, new production 5.11 Tactical Pants moved the thigh pocket from the right side to the left to reduce interference with leg straps on thigh holsters and such.

Finally, is this a source that you can share? I'm shopping!

Thanks,
-Randy

 

[sween1911]

I always wished theyd move the pocket to the left side just so I could put a spare magazine there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Cool.

 

[supes]

I'm wearing some Knaki 511 pants right now with a SOE rigger's belt. They are very comfortable but I wish the back pockets had covers. I have the older version with cell phone type pocket on the right side. I got a pair in OD on order.

double_r76,
Do you know when they started to make the newer ones with the pocket on the left side?

 

[cdf]

They are well made and have good pockets . That is a great price , their shirts are an absolute must have . Enjoy .

 

[sunspot]

I have on 5.11 OD as I write. They are nice. At $25, you should give them a try.

 

[sotyakr]

I've been wearing Royal Robbins 5.11 pants (now known as "Half Dome Pants") and Bluewater shorts at, and away from, work for several years and have been very satisfied with them. Very sturdy and comfortable. Fortunately, there is a Royal Robbins Outlet fairly close by in Berkeley (CA), and they frequently run sales which make 'em very affordable. Earlier this year, they had a bunch of 5.11 brand stuff on sale really cheap, but my wardrobe wasn't in need of any tactical chic. Probably going to stop by there tomorrow to see what they've got in.

 

[double_r76]

[ QUOTE ]
supes said:
double_r76,
Do you know when they started to make the newer ones with the pocket on the left side?

[/ QUOTE ]

The 2005 models are the first to switch the pocket side, including all of the new nylon 5.11 Tactical pants. I'm sure there will be plenty of old stock around for a while, but some dealers already have the new nylon and new cotton "2005" model pants in limited sizes.

Their 2005 catalog show the pocket on the left side, as well as the nylon pants. The new catalog also shows the new "Digital Desert Camo" color offered for the pants, shirt, and boonie hat. Lightfighter Tactical is the only place online that I have seen these new items in stock.

-Randy

 

[PocketBeam]

Thanks for all the information. I will look into the other pants, and I think I will also try these as someone said, they are a steal at $25. I will share the source after I order.

I am looking for personal and work pants. For work they would be in a busness casual office, with polo shirt and dressy shoes, not tennis.

This source only has one color, so it must be old stock.

Sorry I can't type a bigger message thanking each person, but I am sick today, even called in sick to work. Hopefully I will back up to par tomorrow and then I can order and research more the other pant suggestions.

 

[springnr]

A Quick Froggle search turned up some $27 5.11 pants.
______________
About the 5.11 Pants Wms in the first post - Wms = Womens?

 

[Lightbringer]

I got a pair from sunny's awhile ago. i think they are great....they seem to work for business casual great for me. where are u gettin it for that much? i checked the above froggle search...its for canada. i'd grab 'em for $25.

 

[PocketBeam]

The $25 deal turned out to be only for Womens size 4. So the $27 deal seems the best. Or I have seen for about $32 using froogle.

$32 5.11 mens regular


I foudn the Sorels - Sorel convertable

Not much info on them. I ordered the 5.11 from the $32 place. Will give the Khaki a try and come back for black if tehy are good.

Thanks to all for your help.

 

[Darell]

If you're going to SHOT this year - buy 'em there. They'll have everything, and usually at reduced prices.

 

[PocketBeam]

SHOT is a close drive for me, but I don't have tickets. So I will have to watch vicarisly. (sp?) Thanks for the tip though.

 

[KDOG3]

1st question: Whats SHOT?

2cnd: It about time they moved that pocket over to the left. I have the charcoal pair, old style. That pocket on the right drives me nuts. Other than that theyre great. But I plan on getting the Khaki and Black new style.