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

[ais4122]

ref the tatoos. When I had initially joined the service I had really wanted to get Crossed Rifles - US Infantry on my shoulder blade. Decided against it, but now wouldnt have minded having that reminder with me for the rest of my life. But Ive been out over 15yrs and its way past my statue of limitation.

[averagemutt]

I got my tatt in 2006 when they were starting to crack down on them. I have seen less and less since then, mostly covered up. If your willing to take ass chew that comes with it : )

[jackal556]

I wear 5.11 tac lite pros as my work uniform (I work in the public safety field) and I'm the one that will switch into a t-shirt and go grocery shopping with my coyote boots and EDC knife in the spare mag pocket. A lot of our uniform stuff is 5.11 because it is decent enough quality for the price (I pay the bills for our office).

I'm also in the "rarely wear jeans club". My drawers are full of cargo pants in various stages of decay.

On the tattoo subject: I don't have tattoos. I have scars which have better stories. I have a nice scar on my chin from the carrying handle of a 5.56 M-16A2 Service Rifle (SerNo. 61509XX) and my knees and elbows are pretty scarred up from low crawling and other scars from cuts, burns, etc. I've wanted to get an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor tattoo, but I've got other stuff I can spend money on.

In my line of work, if I see someone with 5.11s it just means that they shop the same place I do. There is a kid I see going to school with a Voodoo Tactical pack as his book bag. Glad to see another generation is coming up.

[Seakers]

I do but I try to stay away from it as a sign of possable training I may or may not have and blend in with the faceless masses until the time has come to reemploy my skills. Most of my gear is Civilion military style even my grandfathers old rucksack (OD Green) a bit bigger then the newer Allice pack or Ruck. But just as strong as them with updated shoulder straps and waist strap. The one thing I do keep near is my boots but most that know about them are military or have been resently.
The hightech boots and are hard to spot if not known what they look like. And an older set of jungle-boots (ready to be broken in) when the weather gets worm/hot with breathable boots will be helpful against any kind of foot rot.

[Seakers]

I avoid acu camo pattern or any current ARMY fatigues. I was raised to never ever "impersonate" a soldier if your not a soldier. That honor should go only to them and I do believe that... However I am not against buying milsur if it is the best for a pouch I need for a bob or backpacking trip... Do I frown upon civs wearing acu to purposely tout around acting mil? Yes!

I'm not x-mil but try to show respect where I can. I wear a lot of real-tree camo.. hehe. hey this might be my chance to ask a question I have always wanted an answer for.

Does it ever bother an enlistee or x-mil to see a guy decked out in "real-tree" camo? I wouldn't think so. Sometimes I feal bad when I see someone with a military licence plate pass my truck that is decked out in "deer hunter" type stickers. Hopefully my support the troops sticker says enough.

No. Realtree says hunter. I get pissed when I see .civ wearing active military pattern to go hang out somewhere (yeah, you in NYC with the MARPAT cut offs. If you ever read this, you suck.) or soldiers wearing their ACUs out. I'd understand if, say, there was a base nearby, and maybe they were on working hours, but if you're gonna wear a uniform to the bar, don't wear a utility uniform.

The caveat to the above is "rangetime" which is the magical time where I don't care what you wear, so much as where your muzzle points.

Agreed Realtree to me says hunter type of person. Not some want to be poser or fake. As for some of the troops running around in their uniforms in a bar just pisses me off. Because of regulations they should be following and are ignoring. And as former military it is not my place to correct that type of behavior or lack of situational awareness they are lacking for putting them selves in that situation for possabilitys of being obducted and held for ransom exc. Specialy when most bars around military posts and bases pat every one down now from what I have been told so not only are they still in uniform but now unarmed on top of it all.

[Seakers]

ref the tatoos. When I had initially joined the service I had really wanted to get Crossed Rifles - US Infantry on my shoulder blade. Decided against it, but now wouldnt have minded having that reminder with me for the rest of my life. But Ive been out over 15yrs and its way past my statue of limitation.

Once a Grunt always a Grunt! I my self am going to get my Airborne wings on my left shoulder, because I earned mine and am proud of that fact especially being a 3rd generation US Army and 2nd Generation Paratrooper.

[Akin]

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.

I'm like you... been wearing cargo pants of one sort or another since the early nineties pretty much exclusively. By the end of high school (1987) I was wearing BDU pants more than jeans, and when I got out of the Army, I pretty much never went back to non-cargo pants. Honestly, I think pretty much every pair of pants in my closet is 5.11... I stumbled upon them in the mid-nineties, and the damn things are just so comfortable that I've never seen a reason to wear anything else.

Well, aside from when I'm at work and I have to wear 100% wool navy blues... we'd been allowed to wear "BDU" style uniforms for a while for everyday wear back in like 2006-07, but too many people thought that meant they could look like slobs that we can now only wear them on special assignments.

Anyway, when I scan a crowd it's like the 5.11s and other tacticool clothes and gear are highlighted in a HUD or something... I think it's mainly fashion though...

[Akin]

I have 2 of the LAPG tactical pants,

^^^This^^^ I love those friggin pants. They are about as comfy as comfy gets.

What are they? *curious*

[AKFTW]

I have 2 of the LAPG tactical pants,

^^^This^^^ I love those friggin pants. They are about as comfy as comfy gets.

What are they? *curious*

http://www.lapolicegear.com/basic-operator-pant.html

Good stuff. The Sierra color is my favorite, it's a really nice earthy brown with a hint of ranger green in there

[skelco]

I have 2 of the LAPG tactical pants,

^^^This^^^ I love those friggin pants. They are about as comfy as comfy gets.

What are they? *curious*

http://www.lapolicegear.com/basic-operator-pant.html

Good stuff. The Sierra color is my favorite, it's a really nice earthy brown with a hint of ranger green in there

haha, I just bought a pair, someone call the fashion police!

[Kommander]

So no one else has had problems with their LAPG pants falling apart or with that seam on the crotch gusset?

[Davo]

When I went from IT to light industrial, I got my first pair of Carhartt washed duck work dungarees, and now that's all I wear unless I'm dressing up for something - or wearing shorts.

I've never liked cargo pockets, but I like lots of pockets. These have a screwdriver-type pocket on the left (mine always has my snus survival tin, flashlight, and a knife) and a never-used hammer loop (cut off on my non-work pants), and a double-type pocket on the right (which holds my phone, a box cutter and a small screwdriver). Plus the regular five pockets and good belt loops able to take a wide belt.

I've been in this environment for six years now and have only retired that first pair, although I do cycle through six or eight pairs at work. And they come in eight colors, plus two Realtree patterns.

[offcamber]

So no one else has had problems with their LAPG pants falling apart or with that seam on the crotch gusset?

Yep, all mine have fallen apart, but they are so cheap I just buy another pair when they start to unravel.

[MADic]

What bugs me more than people wearing legitimate tactical clothes as a fashion item is fashion companies co-opting military clothing and reselling brand name, "fashionized" versions for hundreds of dollars. Like THIS JACKET, for $583 dollars.

[Kommander]

What bugs me more than people wearing legitimate tactical clothes as a fashion item is fashion companies co-opting military clothing and reselling brand name, "fashionized" versions for hundreds of dollars. Like THIS JACKET, for $583 dollars.

To be fair the reason that it costs so much is not because its super cool tactical but rather that the BBC is nothing more than an outlet for conspicuous consumption. No one buys that crap because they think it's worth it, they buy it to show off that they can afford it, never mind the fact that they are essentially buying a rebranded Timex for the price of a Rolex.

[Crazy Wolf]

What bugs me more than people wearing legitimate tactical clothes as a fashion item is fashion companies co-opting military clothing and reselling brand name, "fashionized" versions for hundreds of dollars. Like THIS JACKET, for $583 dollars.

To be fair the reason that it costs so much is not because its super cool tactical but rather that the BBC is nothing more than an outlet for conspicuous consumption. No one buys that crap because they think it's worth it, they buy it to show off that they can afford it, never mind the fact that they are essentially buying a rebranded Timex for the price of a Rolex.

Haha man, that's not even *good*. I can't see that as stylish, practical, or as effective camouflage. That is pure conspicuous consumption, at least with a Rolls-Royce you get a comfortable ride.

[Czechnology]

So no one else has had problems with their LAPG pants falling apart or with that seam on the crotch gusset?

Yep, all mine have fallen apart, but they are so cheap I just buy another pair when they start to unravel.

*raises hand*

Yeah. To be fair, I have like 5 pairs and I wear one of them every day, 5 days a week. The fact that they lasted 2 years with as thin as they are to begin with is impressive.

edit: ok, maybe I'm being a dick. The bright side is you can make fun of my skinny jeans and cholo shorts

Oh I needed your permission? Crap.

[HuevosRancheros]

On another note regarding name brand stuff. I have a penchant for Maxpedition bags for travel and personal carry. I am not military, ex or otherwise. I am a tie and jacket type (maybe some sweet elbow patches to boot!) I use those items because quite frankly, Maxpedition makes a solid, well thought out and for me handy item. Sometimes Tacticool is cool, regardless of the tactical aspect.

If I had to choose to be a poser, I would have to choose between cowboy-lite or Boer War refugee! (Boer of course)

My .02$

[skelco]

edit: ok, maybe I'm being a dick. The bright side is you can make fun of my skinny jeans and cholo shorts

Oh I needed your permission? Crap.

I don't recall anyone ever asking permission to call me a rude name.

Got a pair of those LA Police Gear pantz, they seem pretty nice... look out for the aging hipster mall ninja

[Cybrludite]

Another for the Wrangler cargo khakis. I'm a professional computer nerd, so those are my normal work pants. Very handy when I have to go out on the floors with a spare mouse, network cable, or case fan. Outside of work, it's generally jeans.

The way I look at it, is this:
Cargo pants with a rigger belt, tucked in polo shirt, and vest = Mall Ninja
Cargo pants with a work shirt or a t-shirt that's obscene if you know calculus = Geek

[Czechnology]

I don't recall anyone ever asking permission to call me a rude name.

Got a pair of those LA Police Gear pantz, they seem pretty nice... look out for the aging hipster mall ninja

[RoneKiln]

I grew up next to, and am now once again living next to a very large Military Base. Tactical and camo gear is EVERYWHERE. It was even more prevalent when I was a kid. Everyone had a few pairs of surplus camo pants and a jacket. There really is no value in taking notice of it here. I have a lot of family and friends in the military. I've never heard of any of them ever taking notice of someone not in the military wearing surplus or tactical gear. Of course, the way people around here wear it, it's obviously not a complete uniform or any sort of attempt to pretend to be. I know they hate it when people start telling lies about having been in the military (especially special forces), so I guess they might take notice if it looked like the person was trying to impersonate a soldier with that kind of gear.

For over a decade I lived in a college town. If someone was wearing 5.11 clothes it meant they were a hardcore rock climber or hiker. More often than not they were vehemenently anti-gun and anti-violence for any reason.

In that same town, someone with a knife and flashlight clipped to their pocket were almost guaranteed to be a computer tech or theatre geek. The likelihood they might be carrying a handgun was nearly nonexistant.

[skelco]

I grew up next to, and am now once again living next to a very large Military Base. Tactical and camo gear is EVERYWHERE. It was even more prevalent when I was a kid. Everyone had a few pairs of surplus camo pants and a jacket. There really is no value in taking notice of it here. I have a lot of family and friends in the military. I've never heard of any of them ever taking notice of someone not in the military wearing surplus or tactical gear. Of course, the way people around here wear it, it's obviously not a complete uniform or any sort of attempt to pretend to be. I know they hate it when people start telling lies about having been in the military (especially special forces), so I guess they might take notice if it looked like the person was trying to impersonate a soldier with that kind of gear.

For over a decade I lived in a college town. If someone was wearing 5.11 clothes it meant they were a hardcore rock climber or hiker. More often than not they were vehemenently anti-gun and anti-violence for any reason.

In that same town, someone with a knife and flashlight clipped to their pocket were almost guaranteed to be a computer tech or theatre geek. The likelihood they might be carrying a handgun was nearly nonexistant.

I had very similar experiences growing up next to an Air Force base, the only time I ever got hassled was when I was in my "Quadraphenia" phase and wore my M1951 parka with Air Force master sgt. stripes to take an on-base class, the guards at the gate just made me take it off. Since then, while I like milsurp clothing for it's functionality and history, I've avoided wearing it in a way that someone might mistake me for a service member.

Same here with climbers and outdoors people, that market is huge here so you see people in climbing/technical gear all the time. Anyone in street clothes carrying a gun is a cop, no exceptions.

[DannusMaximus]

The other day at work one of our newer ex military employees asked me if I was Army or Marines based solely on my Hazard 4 slingpack with attached shemagh. I told him that he was making too many assumptions on too little evidence. I dislike being mistaken for police or military for a variety of reasons and this made me want to throw my pack in the river and get a hippie bag like a Timbuk2 messenger. I do reserve the right to wear my West Point Oakleys and Multicam hat whenever I want but that's because they were gifts from brother who is a fourth year West Point cadet.

I find it odd that:

A) You are offended if somebody asks if you are a member of the U.S. military or law enforcement.
B) You don't just choose to say "Nope, never been in the service" if asked and instead pop off to a well-intentioned question.

I get asked from time to time if I'm in the military (something about looking like a meathead with a high and tight) and it simply never ocurred to me to be pissed off about it. Obviously YMMV...