I see more than one pair of dainty little feet kicking my butt for that title, but I couldn’t resist…
Back at the beginning of the year, at the firearms industry’s biggest trade exposition, the SHOT Show (stands for Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade for those who came in late) I wrote about 5.11 brand’s new Tactical Yoga pants. And I promised, no, I won’t be the one testing them.
Our designated tester was the lovely Sonja McCarthy, a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a competitive shooter and licensed pistol-packer.
Sonja reports: “I really like them! I tested size medium, and they fit true to size. At five feet tall, they fit all the way to my ankles instead of the usual Capri length, which is another plus in my opinion. I REALLY liked the fact that they were both flexible and supportive, you don’t see the dimpling that some of us over millennial age might show after having two children. The wide waistband helps reduce muffin top. For concealed carry they were tried with a number of holsters. I don’t like wearing belts. The pants didn’t support the weight of a 9mm in an inside the waistband holster on their own. But, I have that problem with all my pants. They do take a belt, which made it much better. They fit my Wilderness Instructor belt just fine, and I just got my Volund Gear Works belt, and that works fine too.”
Sonja adds, “I was able to move around with a great range of motion. Reinforcement in the groin area with heavier material, and the gusseted construction, are really great. The heavier lining inside the thighs makes me believe pilling isn’t going to happen. There’s also reinforcement at the hip, so holster wear on the pants shouldn’t be a problem. I would love to see them come out with a more casual style, like a boot cut yoga pant, losing the tight look. With that, I would wear them all the time.”
At the end of the SHOT Show, I was asked what I thought was the most successful product. I answered, without question the 5.11 Tactical Yoga Pants. Why? Because the purpose of a manufacturer being at SHOT is to promote buzz about their product, and in this, 5.11 succeeded beyond measure.
Thanks to Sonja McCarthy for doing a review I was chromosomatically incapable of doing with credibility…and for lookin’ good doin’ it!
The 5.11 Tactical Yoga Pants fit well and compress tightly to the body.
The pants really needed a belt to support a Springfield Armory XDs in a Concealment Solutions custom made holster with the Ulticlip.
Here Sonja is wearing her XDs in a Cancan Holsters belly band comfortably inside the 5.11 Yoga Pants and very well concealed.
Ready for the range with her Wilderness Instructor belt and XD Gear holster holding Sonja’s Springfield Armory XDm 5.25.
Pants allow enough range of motion for a high kick.
Comfortable enough for playtime with Garrett the Labradoodle. (Yes, he was named after the world’s best popcorn)
This reads like they’re practical as well as tactical!
Thanks be to Sonja for stepping up for the photos… Thank you indeed Sonja, for I am glad I did not come to this blog today to see Mas in yoga pants! 😀
Very amusing, yes, definitely a strong brand awareness move for 5.11.
While I’m here – I’d like to wish all who read this the best spring possible. Additionally I wish great fortune and blessings to those of you reading this who are out afield after Bear and Turkey!
I’ve never seen tactical yoga pants that have belt loops. Very cool, I’ll have to try them out!
Best. Headline. Ever! 😉
Nice little review from Sonja. Glad to hear that they are actually a practical garment, but no I won’t be rushing out to buy a pair. (Did I hear a whisper of “Thank Gawd!”????)
Hmmm . . . when I first heard about this product on another blog I made the comment, “Tactical and Yoga-pants. It’s two of our favourite things in one. Like the beer milkshake . . . “
I thought this was a good article. But, I must say, the people of the East have us beat when it comes to concealed carry clothing. Just think of all the weapons I could hide under a burka! I could probably carry four claymore mines under one of those!
But seriously, the only men who looked good in tights were Batman & Robin. Even the Riddler didn’t look that good in tights. 😉
I passed on the announcement of the tactical yoga pants with the intention that my daughter-in-law would like them. As she had just delivered our new grandson and was working to get her figure back, my wife immediately preemptively struck and I had to take down my post. However, another couple of friends who trail bike thought they were great. One wore hers to our Tuesday supper club a couple of weeks ago. They look practical for a lot of vigorous outdoor activities.
Seeing the pants in action at least dispel the knee jerk reaction of “You gotta be kidding me!”. It’s professionals that could make or break a product like this.
I swear by 5.11 also; they are the only short duty boots that fit above my bum ankle instead of *across* it like all other brands seem to. Hear that 5.11? Don’t change the damn style, OK?
And a total aside: The last pic of Sonja and Garrett practicing martial arts together brought back a wistful memory of me and my late boxer/pit mix Jack (The Best Dog Ever, and I’ll have words with them what say otherwise!) and I practicing Tae Kwan Do in the back yard. A hyperactive jumpy dog makes an awesome sparring partner!
Normally I am a huge and enthusiastic supporter of yoga pants (caveat: worn by the right sort of person, sexist that I am). However, they can be a two edged sword. Yesterday my daughter, who is a collegiate athlete in superb physical condition, and I stopped by WallyWorld to pick up some .380 fodder for her Sig on the way out to the range. She was wearing yoga pants and my eyes were locked forward and doing my best to not notice if anyone else was noticing (in the interest of avoiding a confrontation).
It is said that having a daughter is God’s revenge for what you did with the daughter of another. I can accept my punishment, ignore the yoga pants and take comfort in that she is smart, loves to shoot and holds the school record (which she is increasing nearly every month) at her university in the Olympic clean barbell lift.
It is off-topic but I cannot resist listing this story:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pistol-used-trayvon-martin-shooting-auctioned-070921052.html?ref=gs
It is too bad that we do not live in the science fiction world created by H. Beam Piper in his story “Lone Star Planet”. It would have tickled me to see the words from Piper’s story used by the Judge when the pistol was restored to George. I will give them below (suitably modified) to fit this case:
“I therefore restore to you your weapon, taken from you when, in compliance with the law, you were formally arrested. Buckle it on, and, assuming it again, go forth from this court a free man, George Zimmerman. And take with you that pistol with which you vindicated the liberties and rights of all Americans. Bear it reverently to your home, hang it among your lares and penates, cherish it, and dying, mention it within your will, bequeathing it as a rich legacy unto your issue!”
That would be a better fate than just selling it, IMHO.
To: Dave (the Liberal, non-Uncle one)
I left a new comment to Your’s, in the MY PREFERRED CANDIDATE Blog, in the event you haven’t checked back there lately?
Paul
Comments are closed.