When you see someone with 5.11 Gear or any brand Name Gear

by **Laager** » Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:50 pm

I'm just wondering if it is me or do other people notice this stuff?

I love my 5.11 Bail Out Bag and really enjoyed the 5.11 Rush Delivery Messenger Bag before it went to live with my son. I guess the question is when you see someone "tricked" out in 5.11 gear or a combo of any of the current issue tacticool gear do you make a special note of it?

I live close to a U.S. Military base and have seen people older and younger than I am running around in 5.11 clothes, a female yesterday was using a 5.11 Bail Out Bag as a diaper bag, I was wondering what else if anything might be in the bag.

Kind of like going to the local gun store on Saturday and seeing a bunch of overweight out of shape guys and girls (in the latest and greatest ACU/BDU style of choice) standing around drinking the free coffee with 1911's, Glocks or M9s in thigh holsters and AR and AKs on single point or dual point slings talking stories. make a mental note (like okay, where's the spare mags?) otherwise just nod, smile and move on to get what I need and get out.

I'm not like making a list or anything, just make a quick mental note that the guy sitting next to me eating lunch is all decked out in 5.11 gear from head to toe, has a folding knife clipped to his pocket. That kind of thing.

by **tony d tiger** » Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:01 pm

Not really - I figure they just like the kit or clothes for the same reasons I do.

Wait a minute... 8-)

by **TacAir** » Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:31 pm

lol

My son calls 5.11 pants 'Internet pants' - a lot of the tech geeks like all the pockets - to hold all their toys.

by **Viper shtf** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:37 am

When I see someone dressed like that, I yell noob, slap them with my edc fish, and run away.

by **crypto** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:44 am

I notice belt lines and pockets when I enter a room. Any time I see someone with a knife and light clipped to the inside of their pocket, I assume theres a pistol on their hip under their shirt.

Beyond that, no. Any bag can hold a gun.

by **Dshk** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:15 am

depends on where you are. in australia, if you see someone walking around with military brand name gear, they're in the military. if you see someone with a 5.11 72 hour bag, they've been deployed overseas or have been gifted that bag by someone who has been deployed.

by **Mall Ninja** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:38 am

crypto wrote:Any time I see someone with a knife and light clipped to the inside of their pocket, I assume theres a pistol on their hip under their shirt.

Hmm, that sounds like a good excuse to leave my shirt untucked so people cant see the knife and light clipped to the inside of my pockets 8-)

I always figured if I noticed someone else wearing a riggers belt I could reasonable conclude they might well be carrying, but I havent yet...mostly though I guess I really dont look at what people are wearing as much as how they are behaving.

by **Clout** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:19 am

The gear doesn't need to automatically assume a stereotypical lifestyle. Take for instance, my father-in-law. He has two daughters (god bless him) and he worked VERY hard to ensure these girls had everything they needed growing up. This also meant that his personal interests took a back seat. Until my younger sister-in-law was graduated and out of the house, this guy had two guns...one was given to him by his father, the other was bought second hand. I swear I saw him wear the same, hole-ridden LL Bean jacket for about 8 winters (you know the royal blue one, with sharp green interior with the tight waist band). His only pants without holes were those he wore to work or to play in his jazz band.

Now that his girls are grown up, it's time to start taking care of himself and his wife. He now likes to buy the nice stuff that he always wanted during the last 25 years but chose to spend on the girls. He buys a lot from Eastern Mountain Sports and now and again some 5.11 items come into play. He has some other "toys" and still works hard for the lifestyle. When I see a guy like my father-in-law at the range, I give him the benefit of the doubt...even if he is overweight. Same thing goes for youngsters along my age lines...you don't known their background. Perhaps they were in the service and prefer the fit and options available with BDUs. Maybe they had a poor upbringing and got themselves a good job to pay for such gear.

Once they flip the douche switch, the benefit of the doubt goes right out the window and it's judging time.

by **Doctorr Fabulous** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:39 am

Tactical clothing always makes he chuckle under my breath, and I assume the worst (internet commando) until I know otherwise.

by **Jamie** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:47 am

I judge/dismiss people that judge/dismiss other people based on the logos on their gear...

I have some good gear, some crappy gear, some expensive gear, some inexpensive gear, and some cheap gear...I bought and use it all for reasons that people who don't know me...don't know...

JMHO, YMMV

Jamie

by **ais4122** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:47 am

Yes I do take notice if someone is wearing 5.11 pants, because not too many people wear it my neck of the woods. Sometimes they appear to be mall ninjas, other times just someone who needs a good pair of utility pants. I have a pair I use for BSA, because I find them extremely useful in a field environment. I also use them for shooting. I also take notice of people with NRA stickers. Not in a negative way, just figuring out who is pro gun. Everyone has a story to tell, and its interesting to try and figure out that story by looking at their appearance, tatoos, bumper stickers etc.

here · by **oldsoldier** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:55 am

I havent worn a pair of jeans since before 2000. Seriously. I have worn cargo pants, of one sort or another, or dress pants, as appropriate, and stay away from jeans. For me, its just choice-I like pockets. I havent put a wallet in a back pocket in I dont know HOW long. I wear 5.11 pants-I wore them when they were strictly climbing clothes, before they became "cool". I wear them now. I like them, they are comfy, and I enjoy roomy pockets. Yes, I carry both a pocketknife and a flashlight in them. And my pistol too. Never been questioned on it. I am also of the ilk that, if I see you have a clip knife & flashlight, I would assume you are armed-but, I dont care, because its not those folks I am concerned with. Its the sketchy tweaker, or folks in the nastier parts of town. Even then, it doesnt concern me what they wear. Just where their hands are, and how they are acting. Clothing plays an absolute last into all of that.

by **Kutter_0311** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:47 pm

As I'm the guy running around in a MARPAT APECS jacket most of the year, I stick out way more than the people in 5.11(unless it's cammie 5.11). I did see a guy in Crye Multicam pants at the ice cream shop once, but took him for a high-end airsofter. Camo isn't really out of place in my AO, but most people in camo are hunters, wearing civ camo patterns. Youngsters often wear milsurp BDU pants, in the wrong size, and look sloppy. We have a small population of Reserve/NG military in town, which seems dwarfed by the population of Marine vets alone, so anyone in mil cammies tends to be mil. I'm not a 5.11 fan as I'm fat, and it never fit me comfortably. I do need pockets, though, as I have 3 little kids, and I need to haul a ton of gear. So, I wore cargo pants and a gunbelt even before I could carry a gun. My pants would drag down a lesser belt. My APECS jacket is the most usable of my jackets, so I wear that one. If I could afford a civ colored one, I would, but those are 2.5x the price of the already expensive milsurp APECS, so I just accept that those in the know will put things together and assume I'm an armed Marine. Guess what? I am. This makes few people uncomfortable, and I don't care about them.

Those that concern me are more often males, 15-35y/o, who act sketchy.

Anyone I can positively ID as a Marine/mil/vet gets logged as backup if SHTF...

by **Doctorr Fabulous** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:35 am

Jamie wrote:I judge/dismiss people that judge/dismiss other people based on the logos on their gear...

JMHO, YMMV

Jamie

Sorry big guy, but the second you see someone, you develop opinions about them. The guy with Condor tactical nylon and 5.11 pants looks less legit than the guy with 5.11 pants and a USGI battle belt. What someone wears tells you a bit about them.

by **ninja-elbow** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:24 pm

TacAir wrote:lol

My son calls 5.11 pants 'Internet pants' - a lot of the tech geeks like all the pockets - to hold all their toys.

That's why I love my OG 5.11 style pants. Those things can hold EVERYTHING!! I'm not even a tech geek. I tend to wear business casual M-F so even my EDC (minimal) kit is messenger bag worthy, but on the weekends? I'm messenger bag free with my +2 5.11 pants of holding. Gum, smokes, iPhone, pistol. mag, MT, wallet, a pad of paper with lists of shit I need to do, flashlight, pen, dice,... frikkin ridicoulous.

by **Vicarious_Lee** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:10 pm

That's it. Any pair of pants that generates this many threads concerning, I'ma have to get inside of. It's gonna be a 5.11 Father's Day this year. Can't wait.

by **MADic** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:44 pm

Anyone of you guys know what pants Leonardo Di Caprio is wearing in the movie "Blood Diamond"?

Godspeed

by **AKFTW** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:53 pm

I have 2 of the LAPG tactical pants, but my everyday wear consists mostly of BDU pants in various solid colors (OD, CB, Gray) and I love those M-65 field pants for winter weather. I don't usually give a second glance to people with MOLLE on their backpacks since even Nike packs have it now. I don't see a lot of name-brand tactical clothing around here though.

by **Power Fail** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:20 pm

AKFTW wrote:I have 2 of the LAPG tactical pants...

I actually prefer these to 5.11s. I will say that the back pockets are nigh on worthless, and I prefer a snap closure to their "button through the slot" closure, but other than that, they're great. The cargo pockets are freakin' enormous, the inner pocket lining is the same material as the rest of the pants, the rings I attach my work keys to are much larger, and they seem to fit better. All that, plus they're cheaper than 5.11s.

As far as judging those who wear them out and about, it doesn't register too much. I mean, I notice it, and I might take a more thorough than normal look at their waistline, but nothing major. They've become more mainstream, some people have a bunch of stuff to carry, and some just think they look cool.

by **run faster** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:42 pm

I never thought of it until this thread, how many of you carry in a cargo pocket? wouldnt it take forever to fish it out? unless it was velcro....that would be pretty quick. Does it flop around on your leg? that would drive me nuts, but definitely seems much easier than carrying in your waist, especially bigger guys like me.

by **Jeriah** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:49 pm

Name-brand tactical gear stands out to me. Milsurp cammies not so much; I notice them but then write 'em off as thrift store score. But 5.11 gear etc., yeah, it stands out. What really gets me is the head-to-toe ensemble of 5.11 etc. gear, all in drab solid colors, like they think they're all "gray man" in their LaRue Tactical ballcap. It's fashion, plain and simple. I don't dislike the fashion, but if they think they're blending in, they're delusional.

by **Justwannalive** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:49 pm

I don't judge, I have to wear my 5.11's 24 hours at a time at work. I can't tell you how many times I wear them outside work just because they have become so comfortable to me.

by **jare-3** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:29 pm

AKFTW wrote:I have 2 of the LAPG tactical pants,

^^^This^^^ I love those friggin pants. They are about as comfy as comfy gets. I did have a nice 5.11 Aggressor Parka until one of my ex-coworkers liberated it. That thing was sweet and cost me a lot of OT to save and buy. Never again. If some a-hole wants to steal my shit, its not gonna be a $250.00 jacket.

by **MadMonkey** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:23 pm

I've been wearing 5.11's daily for the last couple of months and they've held up great through mud, dirt, crawling on concrete floors and such. I'm a big fan.

I'm a gun guy/mall ninja/herpderp and yet even I rarely notice what someone is wearing, especially brand names. I'm more on the lookout for demeanor and such with a casual overview of their colors and style.