Cargo and tactical pants, the everywhere EDC

Those who know me know I love being able to carry things with me. It is a serious consideration when getting a new clothing, packs, and the like - how much can I carry with this? This led to my discovery and love of Utilikilts, something I wear quite often. But when I'm on a motorcycle or dealing with work, I find pants preferable for a few reasons. Since my work often includes the use of tools or air travel, I've gravitated towards cargo pants.

As a child of the 80s, I know too much about cargo pants. They were all the rage for years. In Scouts, our uniform pants were based loosely off the military BDU. In fact, surplus BDUs became for many of us the unofficial pants when we didn't have to be in uniform. Camo pants also came into fashion, many of them with multiple pockets. Still, these styles didn't always fly in the work world and stuck out in everyday life. Eventually, jeans became acceptable in more and more places and Carpenter's jeans became popular. Just enough room to tuck a cell phone, but few of us ever needed that hammer loop.

Move forward to today and you can see that cargo pants are still popular, but have moved into more mainstream styles. Very often in solid colors, it is not uncommon to see them in the work place. Additionally, many companies have begun catering to the "tactical" lifestyle stemming from private contractors utilized in the most recent US wars. These individuals desired pants similar in function to military versions, but appearing more relaxed and mainstream. The popularity of them has spread to the common populace once more. I own way more cargo pants (really tactical pants) than I should probably admit. A few of them are in camouflage patterns for playing airsoft, but most of them I use for everyday work attire. Let me lay out how I use them, some pros and cons, and which ones I favor.

I carry a cell phone everywhere, as most of us do. Actually, I sometimes carry 2. I've tried the belt carry option before, but the it gets stuff on my seat belt or makes me too wide for comfort in a plane exit row. It now goes into a pocket. But I hate things that are to thick in my front pockets as it will dig into my thighs when I sit. Putting that phone in a side pocket works out very well for me, especially with the thicker cases on iPhones. Additionally, I carry a wallet (now part of my phone case), keys, multi-tool, cash, and often a flashlight. When I travel I have these items with me, as well as earbuds, gum, my boarding pass, tissues, and sometimes snacks. That's a lot for limited real estate in dress slacks or jeans. I also don't like back pockets if I'm going to sit for too long, so moving thins further down the leg makes good sense.

Cargo vs. Tactical
The recent slew of tactical pants appear, in many ways, like cargo pants but have a few improvements. The large side pockets often have internal pockets designed to hold a gun magazine, but conveniently sized for a smartphone! They can be great for keeping items closer to the leg without bouncing around, and I will often slip pliers and other tools into them. Many also have more pockets and/or pockets designed for easier access. These pockets are sometimes less obvious, having zippers and being placed along seams. While put in place for carrying a small concealed weapon, I find them perfect for cash or other items I want to keep closer to me, especially in areas where I fear pickpockets. In fact, the pair I am wearing right now has such pockets where my hotel key and cash are safely out of sight. This morning when hit up for help by a stranded couple looking to get gas, I was able to pull out some change without tipping them as to my current cash level.

Let's break down pros and cons. On the plus side, you get a lot more room to carry things. That's the biggest one right there. I've also found that the big name tactical pants are better constructed and reinforced in stress areas, a definite plus. They are also more readily available in odd sizes than most pants, since many are made by military contractors who have to serve a broad range of body types, so my 36" inseam doesn't keep me from pants that fit (a major reason I like kilts!)

On the other hand, let's face it, cargo pants look like...well, cargo pants! You certainly wouldn't wear them to an interview, though there are a few that look more like regular work slacks. You're also likely to get a pat down at the airport with the back scatter machine as the extra fabric will show as an anomaly. Plus, more pockets can mean not knowing where everything is. I'll sometimes have to go through each one to find my car keys. I'm working to combat this by placing things consistently in the same place, but it still happens.

Which pants I like
I do like most of the cargo and tactical pants I've worn, but a few are my favorites. While I own a pair of the "Covert Khakis" I linked to above, I don't like the material. As most of the time I'm wearing these pants in an office or airplane environment, I'm most comfy in cotton. If I'm going to be outdoors a lot I'll opt for a poly-blend to shed water. The Coverts are, however, static builders of a level I don't find enjoyable, so they only come out when I need to look more professional but still need to carry tools, like at a trade show.

The style I have the most of are the fairly standard cargo look. Pants such this pair from 5.11 have a specific cellphone pocket large enough to handle smartphones. The fit is nice and comfortable. I've recently picked up a pair of Vertx pants based on the recommendation of a friend. Though I think these are more comfortable and the pockets more subdued, the improved flexibility in the knee is fairly blatant. This undermines subdued nature of the pockets. They do include one of the zippered right front pockets, and I like the flaps in the back pockets to keep your wallet in. You know, if I kept my wallet back there.

My current favorites are also made by 5.11, their Covert Cargo Pants. Having a side zipper pocket on both sides and zipped cargo pockets, they stick out a little less in a work environment. They're also cotton which is comfy for regular day wear. both pockets also have a reinforced area for those of us who carry pocket knives. The side zip pockets have divisions in them for pistol magazines that fit a money clip or hotel key very well. They also come in a nice variety of work friendly colors.

There's certainly nothing that says you need to wear lots of pockets when you're into preparedness, but it does expand your options for what you carry. When I don't (or can't) have my EDC bag with me everywhere, I take comfort in knowing that I have the room to take what I need with me. This is especially true on a plane where I may want everything to keep me comfy during a flight within easy reach. How about you?