We’ve all seen those new survival reality shows…
The ones where someone is dropped off naked in the jungle. Forced to make everything from scratch, including their clothes.
No thanks; I’d rather start with a good pair of tactical pants!
No matter what your day brings, from the job site to the backcountry, good tactical pants are a lifesaver.
I’m talking about lightweight, abrasion resistant materials with built-in stain resistance.
Pants specifically made to combat the harsh sun, fierce wind, and torrential downpours.
Pants with lots of pockets for all your tactical gear and anything else you need.
Tactical pants with rugged construction and functional design details. A good pair of tactical pants will have all these features and more!
That’s why today, we’re going to review 7 of the best tactical pants you can find on the market today. Specifically, I’ll be highlighting the following tactical pants:
- 5.11 TacLite Pro Pants
- CQR EDC Assault Cargo Pants
- Dickies Canvas Tactical Pants
- Helicon-Tex Urban Tactical Pants
- AKARMY Combat Work Pants
- 5.11 Stryke Tactical Pants
- Under Armour Storm Tactical Patrol Pants
As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We're Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.
BEST TACTICAL PANTS ON THE MARKET TODAY
We reviewed some of the top-rated pants on the market today. Now we want to share our suggestions to help narrow down your choices.
1 – 5.11 TacLite Pro Tactical Pants
Their new TacLite Pro pants are an upgrade to their original Tactical cargo pants.
These pants are built with a newer, lightweight ripstop material, made of a 60/40 poly/cotton blend.
This means they breathe and dry quicker than the original – and they resist tears and punctures!
It’s also Teflon coated, so water and dirt roll right off the surface!
The TacLite Pro pants feature a gusseted crotch, which is essential if you want to be mobile. Making these an excellent choice for a bug out situation.
It’s got plenty of pockets all in the right places.
For example – cell phones, extra magazines, and knives get their own dedicated pockets. And each is complete with Cordura reinforcement.
For everything else, use the large thigh pockets, deep hip pockets, and diagonal slash back pockets. If you manage to run out of pockets (not an easy feat), take advantage of the oversized belt loops.
These loops are reinforced to stand up to a heavy utility belt full of gear and weapons additions.
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2 – CQR EDC Assault Cargo
These CQR tactical pants are constructed with a hint of military and law enforcement performance design.
Made with a ripstop fabric blend of 65% poly, 35% cotton – so they resist wrinkles, fading and shrinking.
They have8 Multi-purpose cargo pockets for various tools and equipment.
Lastly, these tactical pants include high-strength, high-density metal alloy snap buttons, and zippers.
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3 – Dickies Canvas Tactical Pants
So I was a bit surprised to see they have a tactical pant as well.
Like most of their workwear line, their tactical pant are out of 100% cotton canvas.
It’s cut with extra room in the seat and thighs, which makes them comfortable.
The wide tunnel belt loops distribute weight well, so a heavily-loaded belt shouldn’t be an issue.
The double layer seat and reinforced interior pockets help with durability. And the double layer knee panels allow you to add knee pads.
They look great, and the Teflon treated outer surface keeps stains to a minimum, so they stay that way.
My only real concern is the water-resistance.
In dry conditions (or minor spills), the cotton material should be fine.
Yet, if the weather turns bad or you take an unexpected dip, it could take a long time for the heavy 8.2oz material to dry.
4 – Helicon-Tex Urban Tactical Pants
With a total of 12 pockets, both interior and exterior, there’s a place for just about everything.
The tailored feel of the pants is offset by the slight stretch in the material.
This leaves you with a full range of motion and no binding when you need maximum agility.
The reinforced stitching and ripstop material mean these pants can take a beating.
But with the internal pockets with strategic, tactical padding means you don’t have to!
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5 – AKARMY Combat Work Pants
These AKARMY Combat Work Pants are 100% cotton, multi-pocket tactical pants.
They are ideal to use as a comfortable casual pant for outdoor activities such as hiking & camping or for relaxing weekends around the house.
However, the “front pocket” zipper is not really a pocket.
It’s only there for show and style but for this price, many people are able to overlook this minor annoyance.
6 – 5.11 Stryke Tactical Pants
While the 5.11 TacLite Pro pants are a traditional cargo pant cut, the Stryke pants have a more modern cut.
With a total of 12 pockets, these are pants made to carry it all.
In particular, the thigh pockets are higher and more streamlined. This keeps the pocket contents from swinging back and forth with every step.
This has always been a gripe of mine with all cargo pants and cargo shorts. Uncontrolled swinging is such a distraction and can affect your balance and agility in a run.
That’s why so I’m a huge fan of the streamlined feature.
I also like the front cell phone (or magazine) pockets – one on each side. This means I can be ambidextrous with my gear, which comes in handy in certain situations.
Like most of the 5.11 tactical pants, the Stryke pants feature a gusseted crotch and reinforced knees.
It also includes a Flex-Tec material has 2-way stretch.
This makes them extremely easy to wear when you’re on the move.
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7 – Under Armour Storm Tactical Patrol Pants
They’ve been making advances with their products recently, but I still can’t shake the image of their signature skin-tight muscle shirts.
So, I was surprised to see how much they’d put into their Storm Tactical Patrol Pants.
These are some great looking and well-designed pants!
First off, they’re one of the few 100% synthetic material tactical pants on the market.
While I love the feel of cotton, I’ve spent enough time mountaineering to know the saying “cotton kills.” Cotton can soak up water and be slow to dry, leaving you exposed to hypothermia.
Synthetic materials are way more efficient at keeping H2O away from the skin and drying fast.
This is VITAL in cold, wet weather.
I’m impressed to see the tactical pant market taking this cue from other outdoor pursuits.
Second, UnderArmor didn’t try to add every feature to these pants.
They’re just the essentials – standard cargo pocket configuration:
- Magazine holders
- Reinforced knees and crotch
- Unhemmed inseam
Really, I wasn’t expecting this, but these are contenders for my favorite on the list!
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As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We're Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.
POPULAR ITEMS TO WEAR IN YOUR TACTICAL PANTS
Now, everyone’s situation is different and what you decide to stash in your tactical pants is entirely up to you.
However, I thought it might be useful for some people new to tactical gear to see a list of the most popular items to carry in your tactical pants.
Here’s a list of popular everyday carry items for your new tactical pants:
- Concealed Carry Firearm
- Spare Magazines
- Cellphone or Smartphone
- Tactical Flashlight
- Wallet or Money Clip
- Tactical Knife / Survival Knife / EDC Knife
- Important Documents
- Fire Starters (Ferro rod / fire piston) / Survival Lighter
- Small Survival Water Filter
- Tactical Pen
- Portable Solar Charger
Of course, I didn’t list every possible piece of gear you could stash in your pockets. However, if you feel like I missed something you deep critical, please leave me a note in the comments below.
WRAP UP
Tactical items are becoming mainstream for anyone who enjoys survival, preparedness, or outdoor adventures. Tactical products now range all the way from tactical backpacks to tactical watches…
And when it comes to down to choosing a pair of tactical pants it all comes down to your specific needs and requirements.
For example, if you’re looking for a solid par of tactical pants for the job site, I’d get a pair made out of canvas cotton. It’s got superior durability on its side.
However, if your pair of tactical pants is for wilderness survival or an emergency bug out – go synthetic.
The good news is no matter which you choose all these pants will have some standard features:
- multiple pockets
- durable construction
- athletic cut for mobility, including gusseted crotch
- technical materials
- designed with utility belt (and holster) in mind – check out our survival belts article for a quality belt to add to your tactical pants
Beyond that, think about what you’d like in a regular pair of pants – since you might want to wear these daily.
If you like a modern slim cut, look for tactical pants with some stretch and a closer cut.
If you prefer (like me) a more relaxed cut, there are options with and without stretch material.
Wet weather means you might want to avoid cotton, while hot, dry conditions might be perfect for it.
I know I don’t want to have to cross over to draw my tactical knife every time. So if you’re a lefty, make sure the pockets can be configured for the way you like to carry your gear.
And if you ever do get dropped off in the remote jungle without your pants, good luck with those palm leaves.
For everything else, choose a solid pair of tactical pants.
Jason K.
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