EOTAC Pants

I sometimes find it humorous that my father-in-law has more jeans in his closet right now than I've probably ever had in my life. He has "dress" jeans, work jeans, casual jeans... and then I have to laugh at myself. I have an even greater number of "tactical" pants in various colors and that I wear for different purposes. Not long ago I was introduced to the tactical pants from EOTAC. I began wear-testing them and realized that it's a good things some design characteristics are relatively universal in the product despite the manufacturer. Otherwise I'd be lost when I reached for something.

In the test & evaluation package I received from EOTAC there were two pair of pants. One khaki pair represented their Operator style of pants, while the OD Green pair represented their Tactical style. The Operator pair was provided in their lightweight material while the Tactical pants were in the normal canvas type matrial. Pictured to the right here is the Khaki Operator pant.

If you look carefully at this pair of pants you'll see that it combines design features from common "tactical" pants available on the market today as well as a few features from the Army ACU pants. The two easiest things to identify that have the ACU flavor are the slanted opening on the thigh cargo pockets and the cargo pockets that they have placed on the outside of the calves. Just like the ACU pants, the thigh cargo pockets have the pull string closure, but improved on the ACU design these pockets have magazine loops sewn in to keep the pockets from just being "a closed cloth bucket".

Starting at the waist these pants have everything you'd expect for people in many lines of work today. The "action waist" has cinched elastic side panels that allows the waistline of the pants to more comfortably fit the waistline of your body. (Gain a couple pounds... lose a couple pounds... tuck in a heavier shirt, etc) The front pockets are refered to as "easy access" but that just means the openings are slightly larger because of the way the pockets are cut. It IS easy to get your hands in and out even if the pockets are full or you are wearing thin gloves. In this case, EOTAC took a good design step and made the pocket pouches themselves out of heavy duty ripstop cloth to prevent all those sharp things we carry from ruining the pants too early in their service life. I know that my pocket knife, keys, and the miscellaneous other things I put in my pockets each day will wear out the typical thin cloth pocket pouch pretty quick. Using better material is definitely a good idea.

The back pockets - as is common - are over-sized and secured by a small tack spot (about 1" x 1/2") of hook and loop. At the top of each of the over-sized back pockets is a smaller wallet pocket riding higher and closer to your body - also with a hook and loop closer.

The pants have reinforced knees (like others) with knee pad pockets - but you don't have to take the pants off to put the knee pads in or take them out. The knee pad pockets are easily accessible from the outside of the pant. Lower down the calf pocket is large enough to hold one 30-round magazine (or whatever else you can fit into that size). EOTAC put elastic loops on the outside of those pockets as well. Their published material says those loops are for chem-light sticks, but they'd certainly serve other purposes equally well.

As you read through that did anyone notice that the "magazine" or "knife" pockets so common to the front of "tactical" pants don't exist on the EOTAC Operator design? If you feel the need for them get the Tactical design instead. Shown in OD Green here, the Tactical design from EOTAC has more in common with other manufacturer's pant designs. From the action waist to the front and back pockets, the Tactical Pants and the Operator Pants are alike. Once you get below those front pockets though...

The Tactical design has the magazine/knife pockets on both sides - effectively on the front of the front pockets. EOTAC lists these as "Utility" pockets and has designed them with a reinforced liner. That's a good thing as far as I'm concerned because (for my use) those pockets see a lot of pistol magazines and/or knives going in and out - items with metal edges that will wear a pocket out faster than a cell phone. The thigh-placed cargo pockets are more common as well, with a hook-&-loop flap closure and no magazine loops inside. It's a cloth bucket with a flap lid. The Tactical pants don't have the calf level pockets nor the knee pad pockets.

According to the EOTAC website, both the Operator pant and the Tactical pant are available in:

• Black
• Khaki
• Navy blue
• Od Green

For their designed and intended purpose, what other colors do you need? Yes, yes, I know. SOMEONE reading this thought, "Gray?" A host of other people thought, "ARPAT? MARPAT? Urban digital?" I smile and then say, "Get over it." Those four listed colors answer the needs of the large majority of what we need. How much of a market is there for all the various camo designs and other colors? I'm sure that if the market demand supports it EOTAC will produce it.

Now, a few words of caution: these pants do not feed egos. If you've got a 38" waist and your used to wearing pants that have a 34" action waist - and are thereby deluding yourself that you actually have a 34" waist - you'll need to adjust your outlook when you order these. They FIT. With some other manufacturers you can be a 40", order a 38" and have room to move. If you have a 38" waist order 38" EOTACs. If you order 36" and think you'll have plenty of space, you're mistaken. They are cut to fit the size they are made for. There isn't a LOT of extra room in the crotch / butt of these pants. Be honest with yourself when ordering!!! That said, if you are honest with yourself and order the size you actually are, these pants are comfortable and wear well. It is a common and comfortable feeling that you probably already know because you've worn so many pairs of "tactical" pants before. I really like the EOTAC Operator pants... combining some good features from the ACU pants into the good features of contemporary tac-pants was a good idea. I'm going to have to get some in canvas - although I'll appreciate the lightweight ripstop material this summer for sure.

The EOTAC website lists the Operator pants as starting at $69.99 and the Tactical pants at $59.99. Both are priced well for the industry and these types of designs. A Google search for "EOTAC Operator pants" found me some being sold for $58.95 - a $10 savings over MSRP. Doing the same for "EOTAC Tactical Pants" got me approximately the same result, finding them listed for $48.95 - about $11 below MSRP. So shop around when you order yours.

Stay Safe!