Customer Reviews

5.11 #80008 Poly/Cotton TacLite Pro Vest (TDU Khaki, Small)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here are some of the features that I like about this vest: It is longer than most of the vests I have had in the past. The velcro pockets tabs can be closed or tucked under and out of the way. It has snaps to form a waist (I am a woman, not a man and this is a man's vest). The pockets are perfect for cell phone, camera, pens, paper and even paperback books. I haven't used most of the pockets yet.
This vest might be a little "overkill" for me, it is a little heavier, and it is a "tactical" vest, but after researching photographer's vest, this one was basically the longest and most organized.

I purchased this 5.11 vest in March, 2009 and have used it regularly ever since. It gets used primarily for hiking in western Colorado's back-country and on most hikes most all the pockets have stuff in them. The two deep pockets in the back are great for water bottles and in front there is lots of room for a small digital camera, energy bars, flashlight, GPS, sunscreen, extra batteries. etc. Most of the pockets velcro or zip closed so the contents are secure. The two deep pockets on lower left front are great for a few extra magazines and the vest perfectly conceals a shoulder holster if you don't want to be one of those in-your-face open-carry guys. I don't go hiking without this vest.

The 5.11 Tactical Vest was at one time a great vest to wear but it became very popular with law enforcement, military personnel, protective security details and OGA's that I have heard it referred to on many occasions as the "shoot me first vest" which is not a great selling point for most people. If you work for one of the prior mentioned occupations then do NOT get this vest as you will stick out like a sore thumb or worse - become a bullet magnet.

For the rest of you this is a heavy duty cotton vest with tons of pockets. The material is very durable and rugged. All of the buttons and zippers work great. It is 100% cotton so you won't want to use this on a rainy day without a poncho or rain jacket. It is pretty heavy when not wet so getting wet would be a bad combination.

I especially like the pockets in the rear of the jacket which can hold water bottles. There are plenty of places to tuck all of your essential gear such as firearm (it has two interior concealed carry pockets), extra magazines, flashlights, knives, monocular, small first aid supplies, fishing gear, pen & pad, etc. There are so many pockets that you just might have a hard time remembering where you put everything.

Overall, this really is a great vest as long as you have situational awareness of your environment and don't stick out. If you are using it for hunting, fishing and hiking then this is a great vest that I highly recommend.

I got this vest and tried several times to use it for shooting, hunting, etc. But I kept coming back to one point... the vest is WAY too heavy... literally the thing weighs over 3 lbs (for the XXL). Yes, it has a concealed carry pocket, but who needs it? You can take the vest off and beat your assailant with it like a flail.

I will say it is well made, but I sold mine and might consider getting the 5.11 taclite version of this vest made of lighter weight ripstop nylon. Or maybe a fishing vest instead, as I never used the concealed carry pockets anyways (4 o'clock IWB is more convenient and accessible everywhere but in the car).

Heavy duty cotton, triple stitched seams, tons of pockets, and available in XXXL. This is my camping vest. I have this vest stocked for any event that could possible occur on my family's camping trips. From accidents while fishing or needs on a hiking a trail, this vest has enough pockets to comfortably carry all that I require when camping. I especially like the rear water bottle pockets and inner map pockets, very handy. Why carry a waist pack or backpack on the trail when you can wear this?

I really wanted to do a video review for this for those who are like me and hate getting clothing online. (It's so hard to tell from pictures how something would actually look on a person, you know?) For the sake of just getting it out there, though, this written review.

I really like this vest. It is extremely functional and very high quality. Below are what I think are the highlights:

* Pockets - Lot's of 'em. I'd say that if you filled up every one of them, you are probably overloaded. The variety is excellent, too, with pockets dedicated to water bottles, documents, etc., size and shape to accommodate whatever you need to carry. In fact, you can darn near get away without a daypack with this thing if you are going on a short hike.
* Quality - Heavy, smooth-operating YKK zippers are used for the front and one pocket. Hook and loop enclosures are used elsewhere for most of the pockets. Stitching is tight and is doubled (or more) and reinforced at critical stress points. The entire vest is made from a double layer of heavy canvas cotton. The vest is heavy and has the feel of something that will take use and abuse.
* Water Bottle Pockets - I mention this separately because I think it's an especially nice touch: On the back, outside and to each side are pockets that can carry 32 oz. water bottles. The tops of the pockets are gathered with elastic, which is nice.
* Inner pockets - There is a document pouch on the inside back of the vest along with a closeable pocket. Also, there are large pocket areas in between the fabric on either side of the zipper, with integrated panels attached to the inside to keep your gear from rubbing against you.
* For the more tactical-oriented, there are separate loops on the interior for a system belt attachment.
* There are side straps on the outside with snap fittings that allow you to take in a few of inches of girth. I really like this feature that allows you to adjust for comfort and/or fit.
* Price - is competitive, I think, with products of similar quality. There are cheaper utility vests out there, but they are lighter-duty, lower quality, and less functional. Given this vest's quality and durability, it is a good value for the price.

Possible drawbacks:

* Since the construction is of double-wall cotton canvas this baby would get heavy and uncomfortable in a hurry if wet. Make a point keeping out of the rain with this vest, or have suitable rain gear with you. Rain wouldn't hurt the vest, but it wouldn't be any fun to wear. As it is, this is a heavy vest, made to work hard and last. Consider this if you are looking for something lighter or that you will use only occasionally.
* Many hook and loop enclosures. This may not bother you, but I found myself wishing for a few more button enclosures. This is just personal preference and has nothing to do with the functionality of the vest; sometimes I wish I could access my pockets without the tell-tale rrrrriiip sound that hook and loop fasteners make when opening.

Other thoughts:

Other than law-enforcement officers who may use this on the job, this vest is perfect for those who need to carry a lot of gear on their person for work or recreation. This may include camping and hiking, photography, hunting, or a day at the range. While you may blend at the range or a campsite with this vest, you'd likely stick out in other venues. I've got the khaki version because I wanted to stay slightly understated, but it still has a look about it that says... well, tactical. That's something to think about depending on where you'll wear this and the degree to which you wish either to blend or stick out. (Reference the reviewer who - correctly - refers to this as the 'shoot me first' vest)

To speak to fit: I'm fairly slender at 6'3" and 183 lbs. and the XL size I wear hangs loosely on my frame. The bottom of the vest rides about 8 inches below my waist and comes to about the end of my palms with my arms relaxed at my side. I am sure the Large would have fit fine, but I prefer the loose fit to allow for bulky cold weather gear underneath. There is plenty of space in the arm holes to fit the sleeves of a warm jacket.

Some have referred to this vest having a holster for a small firearm. Mine didn't come with a holster, though it would certainly hold one if you were inclined to carry a concealed weapon in one of the inner pockets.

I would like to see 5.11 make this vest in a ripstop cotton material or a fabric that sheds water and/or dries out faster when wet. It's a small thing, because I really love the vest, but wearing this all day when it's hot can get uncomfortable and I think they can make a great vest even better by exploring the use of some other fabrics without giving up durability. Still, this is the best vest of its kind out there at present, in my opinion, and beats the competition in quality and function. I give it four stars rather than five only because I find it less wearable in weather and for extended periods in the heat.

Recommended!

Incredible vest. My husband is a construction supervisor/coordinator, and this vest work just like a tool belt/desk top organizer. Best gift yet!

I was looking for something in a vest that would be durable and could withstand years of heavy wear and tear. The 5.11 Tactical Vest is all that and more. There are pockets galore and in all shapes for tucking away all your goodies.

I know that these are the type vest worn by people in a line of work where mobility, practicality, comfort, and fit are of prime concern. Again, this vest would certainly meet the demands of the most discriminating of buyers.

I have not found one thing that I do not like about the vest. It was everything that I was looking for without any nasty surprises that you sometimes get when you order a product like this (i.e. flimsy material, poor fit, hard to use for much of anything).

I would certainly recommend this product to anyone looking for an extremely fine example of quality and workmanship.

This tactical vest by 5.11 tactical is fantastic! It features a sturdy construction, lots of well placed pockets, zippers, secret compartments and even a concealed gun holster for a sub-compact or pocket pistol. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality tactical vest. I use it for IDPA matches and for the gun range, but for everyday use the only downside is that it is too tactical looking so you might be made out to be carrying a concealed weapon.

The quality of this vest is stellar. Stunning, really. Talk about professional and heavy duty. I couldn't find a single thing in terms of build and quality to complain about. (I was also very pleased to find it had normal hand pockets, which was not to be found in the advertising.) And, I wouldn't return it even if held at gunpoint. Still, I did have some frustrations while getting to know it. Some of my preconceived notions got a little beat up on.

"Tactical" is a marvelous modern buzz word. Today's parade of products that are labeled as such seems endless ... tactical pens, tactical knives, tactical flashlights, tactical pants, tactical gloves, tactical tomahawks, tactical duffle bags ... tactical lunchboxes. (OK, I made the lunchbox thing up.) Sometimes "tactical" implies self-defense. Sometimes it implies combat preparedness. Sometimes it implies covert placement of gear. So, let's get clear about a few details before we get to the meat of the matter.

First, think S.W.A.T. team ... tactical means overtly loading oneself down with gear for the job. A fellow isn't trying to hide the fact that he is ready to meet his duties with whatever gear is needed and strategically placed. Of course, this vest is perfectly designed for "full battle rattle" ... extremely modular and versatile. It's no wonder the garment is popular with law enforcement.

Now, think armed citizen with a CCW permit. Tactical means covertly carrying a firearm without raising suspicion. (Although some might argue that wearing such a vest at all raises suspicion among savvy observers such as police, military and shooting enthusiasts.)

In its advertising, 5.11 tops the vest's bulleted list of features with "designed for concealed carry". Often you'll see pictures of an individual pulling a large or medium frame handgun out of the inner compartment where it's been "tactically" stowed away until needed. That's all good in advertising theory, but I can tell you, if you are planning to stow any firearm in the vest up and around the pectoral area, you are going to bulge. To me, concealed means deeply concealed while looking natural is a must.

I went all in, buying the vest, the holster pouch and the magazine pouch. I spent the better part of an evening trying all manner of positions and approaches to mount a variety of guns in the vest. Alas, even my thin Ruger LC9, when mounted high or even halfway up the chest, created such an obvious bulge that I found the approach unacceptable. Forget concealing a Beretta M92, or a Glock "shorty forty" ... unless of course, you're not trying to hide it.

The vest is certainly wonderful for covering a high riding OWB holster or a more covert IWB holster. It's cut long. On the hip at three to four o'clock is still a good, comfortable method of carry, too, especially for mid-sized and smallish guns.

I did, however, find a couple of ways to carry my LC9 in this vest with complete and natural looking concealment. Both of these options are practical for the right handed shooter, but would be pretty awful for a lefty unless heavily trained in drawing with the weak hand. And, both of them utilized a pocket holster ... in my case, the DeSantis "Nemesis" Pocket Holster which can be seen here:

DESANTIS N38 The Nemesis Pocket Holster Ambidextrous Black Kahr PM9,PM40,MK9,MK40 Nylon N38BJMKZ0

First, the lower right outside pocket houses the DeSantis holster perfectly and the gun does not print through because of the heaviness of the vest material. (The LC9 is also a very thin firearm, which helps, but there was no problem with a S&W .38 snubby either.) A generous pocket flap safely covers the gun from view and closes with two hook and loop closures.

Perhaps the best and deepest concealment is to place the pocket holster in the map pocket on the inside left. Drawing the gun seems quite natural from here by grabbing the vest edge with the left hand and pulling up slightly as the right hand plunges into the map pocket to extricate the gun from the holster. (Just a side note here, which probably goes without saying: a holster that covers the trigger and trigger guard is a must in concealed carry, especially if you are carrying a chambered round. You "no want go boom" from something getting caught up in the trigger. This is why I can't bring myself to just toss a naked gun in a pocket.)

The closest I got to a natural looking garment with larger handguns was to mount them as low in the concealment compartment as possible at the bottom of the vest. This worked better, but the vest is cut mighty long and it seemed awkward for me trying to get way down in there. Still, it's a feasible option if necessary. Again, one would use the weak arm to grab the vest edge and pull it up as the strong hand reaches in and down and finds the gun. This type of mount could be used on either side.

Overall, for me, I decided the best way to use the vest was to remove all the inner connection panels and such (so much for spending the extra thirty bucks for pouches), carry my LC9 holstered in the map pocket and a small BUG in the front right if I feel the need. One advantage I have is that as a photographer, most people know me as such and wearing a gear vest seems normal. I'm often schlepping a DSLR camera around anyway. And by the way, this approach is quite good in the car as you can safely access the firearm even with a seat belt on.

And a final thought ... you'll note that every picture of a person wearing this vest (or any similar product) showcases a relatively thin person wearing a vest that is not particularly loaded down. That's fashion minded. But, some of us no longer look like that. Do yourself a favor ... measure your chest size and cross reference that number with the company's sizing chart. If you're going to bulk up with lots of gear, don't be afraid to buy it big.