Are you looking for some seriously well-made items of clothing that use hardwearing fabrics, are truly comfortable to wear for walks, well designed, well cut and well featured, look smart without being "trendy", and come in classic colours that will not be out of fashion before the clothing wears out?
So was I until I found 5.11 Tactical Clothing. Do not let the "tactical" put you off. OK, the clothing has a following with military police security personnel in the US, but in the UK the outdoor enthusiasts have found and treasure this brand – even uber-bushcrafter and outdoorsman Ray Mears endorses 5.11 products!
The 5.11 range is impressively wide, covering clothing, footwear, packs and much more, but the theme that runs through the range is "quality, comfort and restrained good looks".
The "5.11 Tactical shirt" is a great shirt for the outdoor enthusiast. Made from a 5.4oz 100% cotton canvas to the same high standards as the trousers with triple stitching and a huge number of bar tack reinforcements for strength and durability, it has a cut that gives loads of freedom of movement with being baggy.The shirt boasts a deep cape-cut yoke for ventilation and this is lined with a wicking mesh to keep you feeling comfortable while keeping out any biting insects.
For more ventilation the underarm has reinforced eyelets, while the sleeves can be rolled up and held tidily in place with buttoned tabs.The sleeves feature twin position button cuffs, a button placket and reinforced elbow panels, while the left sleeve also has twin pen slot pockets. The Classic Shirt collar also has concealed buttons for that "buttoned-down" smart look, or left undone for a softer casual look without looking odd, while the front closure has a strong button stand with 7 buttons set closer together than on many shirts, for ventilation control.
The front of the shirt features twin inverted pleat patch pockets with Velcro-closed pocket flaps incorporating a pen slot, while behind these pockets are 6.11's patented hidden document pockets.These discreet pockets have vertical, Velcro tab closed openings and are huge, covering the whole of the chest area and capable of holding a vast array of items comfortably. These pockets can even take an OS Map and close securely.As the shirt hem is gently curved, it looks and feels comfortable worn inside or outside a waistband, and can be worn as an over-shirt on cool summer evenings, or as a standard shirt for most of the year.Available in sizes XS-3XL in colours Black, Khaki, Green, Coyote, Tundra and Navy, the 5.11 Tacitcal Shirt costs around £50 and has proved ideal for wear both on hikes and for more civilised wear.
Again, for those who want a lighter version, the almost identical "5.11 Taclite Pro" shirt is available in the same sizes and colours, but in a 113gm ripstop weave polycotton. I have tried both versions of the shirt and really rate them highly for both walking wear and for wearing around town as smart casual civilised wear.
I have been using the cotton canvas 5.11 shirt for several years now and find them extremely comfortable and practical for wear almost year round for all but the warmest and coldest conditions and in very wet weather.
For the warmer weather the Taclite shirt are proving a great alternative, while in cold weather the cotton shirts serve reasonable well if I "layer up" well. Both the poly-cotton and cotton versions wash well with the cotton clothing fading slowly to give a comfortable lived-in look over time. The poly-cotton clothing dries considerably faster that the cotton versions, which you might find worth bearing in mind if you are going out in wet conditions.
Overall, I rate these shirts very highly indeed, finding them tough, durable, practical, functional, versatile and, above all, comfortable walking clothing.
For more information visit www.511tactical.com Tel 01782 515901
So was I until I found 5.11 Tactical Clothing. Do not let the "tactical" put you off. OK, the clothing has a following with military police security personnel in the US, but in the UK the outdoor enthusiasts have found and treasure this brand – even uber-bushcrafter and outdoorsman Ray Mears endorses 5.11 products!
The 5.11 range is impressively wide, covering clothing, footwear, packs and much more, but the theme that runs through the range is "quality, comfort and restrained good looks".
The "5.11 Tactical shirt" is a great shirt for the outdoor enthusiast. Made from a 5.4oz 100% cotton canvas to the same high standards as the trousers with triple stitching and a huge number of bar tack reinforcements for strength and durability, it has a cut that gives loads of freedom of movement with being baggy.The shirt boasts a deep cape-cut yoke for ventilation and this is lined with a wicking mesh to keep you feeling comfortable while keeping out any biting insects.
For more ventilation the underarm has reinforced eyelets, while the sleeves can be rolled up and held tidily in place with buttoned tabs.The sleeves feature twin position button cuffs, a button placket and reinforced elbow panels, while the left sleeve also has twin pen slot pockets. The Classic Shirt collar also has concealed buttons for that "buttoned-down" smart look, or left undone for a softer casual look without looking odd, while the front closure has a strong button stand with 7 buttons set closer together than on many shirts, for ventilation control.
The front of the shirt features twin inverted pleat patch pockets with Velcro-closed pocket flaps incorporating a pen slot, while behind these pockets are 6.11's patented hidden document pockets.These discreet pockets have vertical, Velcro tab closed openings and are huge, covering the whole of the chest area and capable of holding a vast array of items comfortably. These pockets can even take an OS Map and close securely.As the shirt hem is gently curved, it looks and feels comfortable worn inside or outside a waistband, and can be worn as an over-shirt on cool summer evenings, or as a standard shirt for most of the year.Available in sizes XS-3XL in colours Black, Khaki, Green, Coyote, Tundra and Navy, the 5.11 Tacitcal Shirt costs around £50 and has proved ideal for wear both on hikes and for more civilised wear.
Again, for those who want a lighter version, the almost identical "5.11 Taclite Pro" shirt is available in the same sizes and colours, but in a 113gm ripstop weave polycotton. I have tried both versions of the shirt and really rate them highly for both walking wear and for wearing around town as smart casual civilised wear.
I have been using the cotton canvas 5.11 shirt for several years now and find them extremely comfortable and practical for wear almost year round for all but the warmest and coldest conditions and in very wet weather.
For the warmer weather the Taclite shirt are proving a great alternative, while in cold weather the cotton shirts serve reasonable well if I "layer up" well. Both the poly-cotton and cotton versions wash well with the cotton clothing fading slowly to give a comfortable lived-in look over time. The poly-cotton clothing dries considerably faster that the cotton versions, which you might find worth bearing in mind if you are going out in wet conditions.
Overall, I rate these shirts very highly indeed, finding them tough, durable, practical, functional, versatile and, above all, comfortable walking clothing.
For more information visit www.511tactical.com Tel 01782 515901
