BDU/TDU style work pants, Tru-Spec Atlanco

Tactical Gear Tactical Gear
1

I am looking to upgrade my worn, stained and generally beat up Wall-Mart cargo pants with something a bit more… well… tactical.

I went to a flea market 2 weekends ago and found what appeared to be the end of my search for inexpensive/affordable millitary style BDU pants in a solid color. For $15 a pair I grabbed 4 pairs of pants, Navy, Khaki, Charcoal, and Olive Drab in what was marked on the plastic bags as Large-Regular.

Awesome! $60 for 4 pairs made me happy as a pig in shit! Then I took them home and wore one par the next day. When I went to tie the ankles I noticed they seemed absurdly long compared to some of my USGI Woodland BDU pants. That night I thought about how they seemed huge, and I read the label inside and saw that they were mis-packaged and what I had was Large-Long. I gave all 4 pairs of the long leg pants to my Bro-In-Law that happens to be 6’7". He loves them.

The pants were labeled True-Spec inside, so I tried to locate them and I found this place that does not stock the Tru-Spec Series 1523 or 1289, but will order them in and ship them to me in 2-3 weeks:Atlantic Tactical 1-800-781-2677

So, I guess what I want to know is this, for the $25.95 per pair of model 1523 6 pocket BDU pants, can I do better? This is the 1523 series: True-Spec Series 1523

They have a better series, The 8 pocket Series 1289 that sales for $40.95 each, and this is the series I actually got for $15 a pair at the flea market… but for the last 2 weekends the guy that had them is not showing up. These here are the cats meow, but at $40 a pair… I cringe at buying 6 pair. That kills me food/gas money for 2 weeks based upon my budget and the fact that the shit hole utility company I work for just cut my pay and increased the cost of my benefits. Assclowns.
This is the Series 1289 that I would really like but can not afford: Tru-Spec Series 1289

I like some of the offerings from a company called 5.11 Tactical, but again the price is such that buying 6 pairs of pants is a streatch. If only the flea market dude would show back up!!!

What are some opinions for getting good 6 or 8 pocket rip-stop BDU style tactical work pants in solid earth colors, but keeping things at a budget of a father of 3 with a job that is cutting paychecks?

While I am on that bitch and moan subject, the best I can hope for from my company is that for 2010, I hope to be back to my 2006 pay scale! Ass hats!

Thank you for any advice, I am wearing out my patience searching for a website selling at flea market prices!

2

I really love Propper BDUs for comfort and fit. But they only hold up for so long.

Believe it or not the longest lasting pants I’ve ever owned are the 5.11 TDUs. I’ve had the same 4 pair that I wear once per week for well over a year… maybe close to 2 years.

So even though the 5.11s are priced at $40 per pair, they friggin last twice as long as a regular BDU. And they don’t really fade nearly as fast as a poly/cotton BDU. I have a black pair and a Blue pair that still look great.

The regular old Royal Robins 5.11 pants just fadded and frayed at the cuff too fast. They weren’t worth the money to me.

3

For as cheap as those pant were, I would have just had the wife or a sew shop hem them to the length you needed.

You don’t really need the drawstrings, you can cuff them in several ways if thats the look/fit you like.

As for me. I’ve worn BDU’s for about 18 years now, for different organizations, I actually prefer to wear mine straight legged. They are cooler in the summer heat and I don’t have to tuck them into boots or have band marks left on my legs.

The real advantage to having the draw string is when your in the woods or desert and you don’t want the creepy crawlies to get in your pantalones while you sleep…! :eek:

That being said. I am looking to pick up some 5.11 Pants as I have heard some good things about them, but like you, I love to bargain shop… :slight_smile:

4

Although not a BDU style these Carhartts are lightweight and really comfy with a few leg pockets that come in handy. These pants along with everything Carhartt makes are extremely durable and made for rough work and abuse, I highly recommend them. http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10051&productId=121961&langId=-1&categoryId=10935#

5

Why I really like the closures around the ankles is because I spend a great deal of time in the woods and I am MASSIVELY alergic to poisen ivy… as in, if you tell me your uncle saw poisen ivy in a picture… I will get it. If a person in asia walks in poisen ivy, I get it. If I walk in it, I go to the doctor because within 48 hours it will have taken over most of my flesh, including some spots you don’t ever wish to have it!

So by wearing my hiking boots and a pair of BDU style pants, I can lace up and tie down and minimize the frequency of taking the steriods for the ivy. I also wear a woodland BDU shirt over my T-Shirts pretty much all summer if I am in the woods for the same reason.

Poisen Ivy is the devil I tell ya.

I just talked to the wife, she wants me to wait until this Sunday to make a choice, she wants one more try at finding this guy so we can get the good deal. I may get his name and number, that way I can share the good deal with you guys… assuming we can find this dude again.

6

I still like either the TDU style or the 5.11 tactical pants, they aren’t too militant and are versatile enough to actually be used.

After 20 years of wearing BDU’s I am trying to blend in and be less tactical in my appearance.

7

I like the less tactical look myself. Here’s a new style of Carhartts with actual cargo pockets… never worn them myself but the same cut as the others I mentioned. http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10051&productId=122665&langId=-1&categoryId=10935

8

I’m wearing my only pair of Carharts right now. I don’t like the canvas material. That’s the reason I don’t like the 5.11/royal robins style of pant.

It’s just preference. RipStop just holds up longer and is less frumpy as the day wears on.

9

I’ve had terrible luck with Tru-Spec stuff. I was issued them for a job during the last hurricane seasion and they fell apart in a matter of weeks. I just wore my 5.11s after that, which held up fine.

10

I have several pairs of 5.11 pants, they are probably 5 years old and have held up well I still wear them alot actually.

But for screwing around in the woods, I still like a good pair of BDU or Marpat pants.

11

Wrangler makes Riggs pants out of ripstop and they look pretty slick. These are the Rangers http://www.riggsworkwear.com/Catalog/men/bottoms/ripstop/3W060. No personal experience myself with these FWIW.

12

http://www.bdu.com/closeout-gg-bdu-pants.html

This site has some closeouts for around $15.99.

Google BDU Closeout and similar search terms. I’m sure you can find some cool stuff cheap.

Also LA Police Gear usually has decent closeouts…

The on catch is finding YOUR SIZE…!

I find some great deals then realize they are not my size… :frowning:

13

Same here. The propper BDUs just fit better for climbing arounds. The TDUs work great for urban action, but they fit a little tighter in the crotch.

ANOTHER nice pant, if you can stomach the price, is the TAD GEAR Force 10 pants. I got a pair of Royal Blue on clearance, but the regular price is $95 per pair. They’re very light and loose cut for excellent mobility.

14

Not sure how hard you’re going to be on these, but I like the pants from LAPolice Gear for like $20/pop. They are pretty comfortable and lightweight for summer months.

15

Will these be a material similar to the USGI BDU pants? If so, this is the kill deal of all time and I will owe you a dinner and a beerhttp://www.lapolicegear.com/bdu-pants-acu-pants.html

16

Well,

That site had deals I just could NOT pass up! It is done. Ordered. And I will work on getting 5.11 tactical pants one or two at a time… later. This will keep me going for the summer and fall. Thank you very much, you streatched my dollar farther by a long shot than I thought I would do. Heck dude, this is hard core FLEA MARKET PRICES! Nice. Very nice!

ORDERED:

LA Police Gear RipStop Mil-Spec BDU Pants Size/Color : OD Green-Large/Regular
$14.99 1 $14.99
LA Police Gear RipStop Mil-Spec BDU Pants Size/Color : Coyote Brown-Large/Regular
$14.99 1 $14.99
LA Police Gear ACU Tactical Pants - CLOSEOUT Color/size : CB-36 x 30: Coyote Brown
$16.99 1 $16.99
Operator Tactical Pants - MORE COLORS ADDED! Size/Color : OD-36 x 30: OD Green
$19.99 1 $19.99
Diplomat Bail Out Bag Jr. Color : OD: Green In Stock
$9.99 1 $9.99
5.11 Tactical TDU Belt - 1.5" w/ Plastic Buckle Color : Coyote
Size : Large
$12.99 1 $12.99
5.11 Tactical TDU Belt - 1.5" w/ Plastic Buckle Color : TDU Green
Size : Large
$12.99 1 $12.99
Tactical Shorts CLOSEOUT - GREAT DEAL Color/Size : Khaki-38
$7.99 1 $7.99
Tactical Shorts CLOSEOUT - GREAT DEAL Color/Size : OD Green-38
$7.99 1 $7.99
Subtotal: $118.91
Shipping: $19.99*
Tax: $0.00
Total: $138.90

17

I think they are pretty similar. Probably not exact, but I’m sure it all varies from vender to vender. I’ll def take a nice filet and a cold one! :smiley:

18

I’ve got some of the Tru-Spec TRU pants and shirts for work. The only problem I’ve had in almost two years of switching over to the TRU stuff is the buttons for the fly popping off the pants. I wish they’d just made the fly a zipper or velcro.

I’ve had no problems, fly issues aside, in 5-day a week wear for a solid two years.

I’m considering switching over to the 24/7 line of pants, especially since they’ve come out with a NYCO version that will be very unsoggy for hot summers here in GA.

The 24/7 series are the bees knees, bro. You should check them out if you get the chance.

I’ve had the opportunity to peep on their new TCS shirts, and, despite the design being a positive step forward, the chest material is nothing more than a standard cotton T-shirt; in short, the TCS shirts suck. Atlantco totally dropped the ball on the TCS shirts, and I’m thoroughly disappointed.

19

Well,

Today is the scheduled delivery day! If any of you all want to see pictures of the stiching or anything else about my poor-mans shopping trip, just let me know. I’ll wear the balls off of these at work, so I should be able to tell if they are decent before too long.

I’m excited, I keep listening for the UPS truck!