5.11 Tactical Gear For Men And Women- New Items for 2018

5.11 Tactical Gear for 2018

Across the country, and for most of us here in the Gem State, being able to carry a concealed fire arm or being prepared for any situation is key. With two military bases within 40 miles of each other, we have plenty of trained individuals in uniform.

Perhaps it is safe to say that being prepared and not looking the part is the ultimate goal of our citizens. This brings us to the 5.11 Tactical Defender Flex Jean and Pant series for men and women.

5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex for Women

With more and more women becoming trained in firearms, we are excited to see 5.11 Tactical come out with a women’s specific pant. The Women’s Defender-Flex Pant is a slimmer cut, high rise in the waist that is made from their stretch calvary twill material.

8 pockets ensures you are able to bring your phone, multitool (might we suggest the SOG Baton Series?) and two concealed mag pockets on the hips. In addition, two standard back pockets are available. The two inch belt loops allow for a duty belt or fashion belt depending on your mood.

The stretch in the twill allows for full range of motion and allows you to recovery and move quicker with increased agility when compared to standard jeans.

The 5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex pant comes in a small array of colors and sizes from 0 to 16.

These pants are a sure win for the women in your life who just want to hit the range for the day or head out prepared.

5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex Jean for Men

Jeans are the ultimate ‘Man-Pant’. Whether you are a casual dad, college student, construction worker, etc. you have a favorite pair of jeans. Compared to the 5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex, your jeans are insufficient.

Concealed mag pockets are great for small wallets or phones as well.

Available in beautiful washes, the 5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex Jean looks like your everyday jean. They aren’t. With 7 pockets, you are able to carry your EDC gear, cell phone, multitool, etc.

When the mag pockets aren’t being used for their intended purpose, they make a great hiding spot for movie candy. So long cargo pants!

The stretch in the jean material allows for great range of motion and prevents the pants from sagging with wear.

Easily dressed up or down with accessories, the 5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex Jean can work with any outing or occupation. Causal Friday at the office has never been so practical.

Defender Pant and Jean Overall:

The hidden pockets make these great travel pants as pick pockets normally look for the standard 4 pocket pants. We wish there was a single small pocket with zipper closure to conceal extra cash, hotel/car keys or a credit card. The quality of the Defender series is worth the difference in price to normal jeans and pants.

5.11 Tactical Mira and Rush 72 Backpack

Mira 2-in-1 Pack

Mira, Mira on the wall, whose the fairest of them all? Obviously the Mira 2-in-1 Pack. Lets get right to it: it is a beautiful pack and lighter than I would have expected it to be. I have the Mira in Garnet but it also comes in Thyme and Battleship which are also stunning.

Mira 2-in-1 Pack

The removable crossbody on the front is easy to take off and replace. Secured to the outer form of the backpack with loop closures it would be difficult for anyone to grab and run with it.

The zippers are of substantial size which makes them easier to spot for a pickpocket.  Plenty of organized storage can be found in the crossbody. Two concealed mag pockets are located on the top flap.

There is a pocket for anything you could possibly want to have on you. Bilateral mesh water bottle pockets on the outside ensure you always have enough hydration. The main bag has a padded pocket that can hold a 15″ Laptop, a protected sunglass pocket and zippered pockets on the flap.

The should straps are also well padded and can be cinched down to create a more secure fit. I found the strap round the neck to be a little too padded. This prevented the bag from sitting comfortably on my shoulders. After wearing it and breaking the bag in, the stiffness lessened and became more comfortable.

The bottom is reinforced allowing you to put it down where ever, without a care of the environment the Mira 2-in-1 is in. As you can see in the photos, the bag is covered in the MOLLE System, allowing you to customize how and what you carry. We suggest purchasing some D-ring Grimloc for the MOLLE System.

In addition, I appreciate the extra space the crossbody and main bag make in between them. I use this space to store my coat when running through a airport or in the car. When traveling with the family, this becomes the ‘lovies’ space. This is definately a backpack that will outlast all the rest and completely worth the money.

5.11 Tactical Rush72 Backpack

As Reviewed by Tim Guill

I am a full time yoga and body weight fitness instructor at Boise Hot Yoga in Boise, Idaho. I am also a an avid rock climber and kettelbell enthusiast. On any given day of the week I need to carry the following items with me:

• Teaching attire x 3
• Workout clothing
• Hygiene kit + Shower Towel
• Street cloths
• Chuck Taylor’s for the gym
• Climbing shoes
• Chalk bag
• My lunch/snacks
• 20 pound Hyperlite Weight Vest
• Water bottle
• Jumprope
• WAY Yoga Mat/Towel combination
• Sunglasses
• Daily use glasses

With such an active lifestyle I have struggled to find a daily use backpack that can handle not only the various items that I need, but one where I can easily access them at a moments notice. While I have found backpacks that can hold all of these items, I have never found one that is both accessible and highly durable until I started using the 5.11 RUSH72.

The RUSH72 features an intelligent pouch layout, dual-zippered front and main compartments with molded grip pulls. The spacious pouches allow me to organize the various list of my list in a manner that is extraordinarily efficient making the transition between the activities in my life nearly seamless.

Furthermore, the 1050D nylon material that makes up the core of the pack’s construction ensures that I can continue to use the RUSH72 for the foreseeable future, no matter what I use it for.

The spacious main compartment (23″ H x 13.5″ L x 8.5″ D) as well as the secondary compartment (15.5″ H x 11.5″ L x 2″ D ) feature spacious areas for packing as well as small zippered areas for further organization. Large side pockets (16.5 x 6″ H x 1.75″ D) are ideal for rolled items, water bottles, hygiene kits, etc..

A fleece-lined zipper sections at the top of the pack fits up to 2 pair of glasses, and a small, fully zippered, compartment can be used however you may need.

But you may ask, “a lot of back packs have smart pocket layouts and are made out of 1050D nylon, what makes the RUSH72 so good?” Well, the answer may surprise you. The RUSH72 has a very interesting feature that I have not seen in day or multi-day packs before; an open space between the main backpack and the secondary pocket on the outside. 

When I first opened the RUSH72 the in-between open pocket design seemed like a detracting factor. The feature seemed to make the pack seem disjointed and the pocket seemed to be something I would not really use (I mean, wouldn’t items I put in it just fall right out?). That was until I put the pack into action.

The center pocket became the perfect space for those quick grab items like my lunch, chalk bag (which I use for both kettlebell work, and bouldering at my local climbing gym), climbing shoes, rolled up towel, etc.. 

Now, instead of having to open my bag up for these quick grab items I can instantly grab them out of this innovative and highly useful storage area. In addition, the side straps and the packs on either side of this open space create enough tension to keep those items snuggly succored.

I have not just used the RUSH72 for work and daily activities, I have also used it for multi-day trips around the US. Considering the versatility of the pack it has quickly become my favored travel bag for the very same reasons that it has become my go to daily use bag.

The RUSH72 comes in a variety of tactical colors, but I would have to say that its overall look is a bit dull. This can be easily remedied with the two velcro spaces on the main, and secondary compartments for a little personal flare. The main features a name strip sized area and the outer a flag sized. A multitude to patches are available from both 5.11 and from various Amazon.com sellers*. 

Final Overview:

The 5.11 RUSH72 is an intelligently designed and durable 72 hour pack that can be used in a myriad of ways. The internal pockets and exterior pouches provide numerous options for organizational preferences and the open space between the main compartment and the secondary is surprisingly useful.

5.11 Tactical Rush72 Backpack

• Built from high strength, water-repellant 1050D nylon (MultiCam: 1000D nylon)
• Admin organization pock to store maps, pens, and documents
• Fleece-line sunglass pockst
• Internal hydration compartment with hangers and toggles
• Clinch waist strap and dual compression straps
• Adjustab
  le dual density closed-cell foam shoulder straps
• 23″ H x 13.5″ L x 8.5″ D main compartment
• 15.5″ H x 11.5″ L x 2″ D front pocket
• 16.5 x 6″ H x 1.75″ D left and right side pockets
• 21″ x 13.5″ hydration pocket
• 3342 cubic inch / 55 liter total capacity
• Contour yoke system with grab and go handle
• Rugged, self-healing YKK zipper hardware
• Integrated drainage frommet

*I opted for a patch of the Colonial Marine Corps/USS Suluco (a reference from the 1986 James Cameron film Aliens)