5.11 Trousers

Nonsuch

Life Member
Sep 19, 2008
1,862
1
Scotland, looking at mountains
Help gents.

I am contemplating the purchase of a pair of these trousers and want some expert advice as I am rather fussy about my strides!
  • Are they generously sized at the waist - do you need to order up or down from a normal trouser size?
  • Do they have a deep "rise" ? - I can't abide jeans-type cut on outdoor trousers
  • How do the lengths work out vs normal trousers inside leg?
  • What are the views on all cotton vs synthetic?
  • Which model of trouser do you recommend?
  • Could someone please measure the width at the bottom of the trouser leg? Is it 18 inches circumference or more like 16 inches?
I would really appreciate your advice guys thanks
 

John Fenna

Lifetime Member & Maker
Oct 7, 2006
23,305
3,088
67
Pembrokeshire
I have loads of 5.11 trousers
The waist is generous
The rise is generous
The lengths are acurately described
I like both the cotton and polycotton fabrics
Tactical cotton and Taclite are my favourites so far
The cargo pants size 38 short are nearer 18"
Best range of trousers available for the money IMHO
 

woof

Full Member
Apr 12, 2008
3,647
5
lincolnshire
As John says. i prefer the cotton cargos, and find that i get them in a size smaller, i'm a 36, but always buy a 34 & they fit just fine, leg length is perfect for me. I orderd quite a few pairs when i had control of my own work budget, for a collegue & myself, anyway, his wife complained that he had to much kit, so he sold a couple of pairs to me for £15 each. I had them for a couple of years, before wearing them, then found he'd had them shortend !, still wore them anyway.

Rob
 

Graham_S

Squirrely!
Feb 27, 2005
4,041
66
51
Saudi Arabia
I have a couple of pairs each of the tactical trousers and the TDU trousers.
I find the sizing quite accurate.
The cotton canvas of the Tacticals is fantastic after a couple of washes, it's like well worn in denim in feel without looking scruffy.
The Prolite is ripstop polycotton, I have a pait of the shorts (which I am wearing now) and it's a little stiffer, but they're new so may break in.
The rise in both trousers is medium, it's not "simon cowel" high, but it's not groin skimming either. A good compromise in my view.
The TDUs are copies of the M65 trousers, only without the button fly, and with velcro holding the cargo pockets shut.

Personally I'd get the Tacticals in cotton if I had to choose one pair.

5.11s are about the only trousers I wear nowadays.
 

nodd

Nomad
May 12, 2004
485
0
liverpool
I have a couple of pairs of TDUs one in twill other in ripstop great trouses I went for the TDU as they do them in the larger than I should be waist size. I wish they did the big sizes in the others aswell.As I find it all to be great kit.
 

Wildernessman1

New Member
Nov 6, 2011
3
0
Dunedin Florida
All I wear anymore but I have purchased the zipper and the button fly and I just have to say I prefer the zipper much better. I find the button ones come undone at times and well, although the cool breeze is nice, I do not wanna alarm anyone. ha ha Seriously though, the button fly is a lil too much to deal with when you are in a hurry so I now only purchase zipper. Does anyone know where to go on the net to get them cheap because I pay a lot for mine and they do not always have my size and color. I have tried a couple different suppliers but yeah, I still wish I had a better source. Sometimes they get back ordered and I have to wait forever. Ok, I am done venting now. I love how you can carry your concealed weapons and many other survival tools with you at all times just incase.
 

Hugo

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 29, 2009
2,588
2
Lost in the woods
I have two pairs of cotton canvas and washed them on the HOT cycle to make them a tad better fit as they are a bit on the baggy side when new.
It worked for me.
 

Nonsuch

Life Member
Sep 19, 2008
1,862
1
Scotland, looking at mountains
My cotton Tacticals have turned up and they are an excellent fit. Very nice. Thanks to everyone who contributed advice.
Made in Bangladesh I notice. They keep quiet about that. With labour costs at about $2 an hour these must cost all of 50p to manufacture…so someone's making a nice profit.
 
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