The 5 Best Tactical Pants in 2021

Tactical pants are especially useful for camping and hiking, although they can also be great for everyday use. Not only are they very comfortable and allow for versatility, which is a must when being active, but they also provide lots of pockets for all sorts of gear and tools.

In this list of the 5 best tactical pants, we are going to take a look at who makes the best tactical pants today. Different pants will have different features, such as the number of pockets, and I am sure that one of these products will be perfect for you.

Best Tactical Pants – Top 5

#1 CQR Men’s Tactical Pants

These men’s tactical pants by CQR come in many different colors, some of them being black, khaki, green, and navy blue. Sizes range from 28 waist and 30 leg length to 46 waist and 31 length.

They are great for outdoor activities, and are easily one of the best ripstop pants out there, seeing as they’re constructed with military and law enforcement design.

With a high-strength and high-density allow button and zipper, and a blended mix of polyester and cotton rip-stop these are very durable and can last years.

The fabric breathes well, is lightweight, as well as fade, shrink, and wrinkle resistant. The Duratex fabric is what repels liquids, dirt, and other contaminants.

There’s an elastic waistband for a perfect fit, a D-ring to easily hook-on tactical accessories, and around 8 multi-purpose pockets for various tools and equipment.

The pockets with flaps are deep and secure, and the mag and V-shaped pockets are easy to access even with gloves on. Do keep in mind though, that if you do plan on putting magazines in the pockets, a full sized one will only fit if the top is left loose, otherwise only small ones can fit inside securely.

Other than that, I also found that the back pockets are not deep enough to be very useful, but perhaps it’s a personal preference.

On the knees, there are pad insert linings with a gusseted construction for optimum mobility and freedom of movement; the last thing you’d want when in the wilderness to have restricted versatility and flexibility.

#2 LABEYZON Men’s Military Tactical Pants

These military combat pants by LABEYZON also come in a variety of different sizes and colors – black, brown, gray, greyish green, khaki, or navy blue. As for sizes, the smallest is 28 waist and 28 leg length, and the largest being 42” waist with 30” length.

They are made of 97% cotton and 3% spandex, making them lightweight, breathable, comfortable, and scratch- and wear-resistant.

The waist is adjustable with elastic inserts for a comfortable fit, and there are 9 tactical multifunctional pockets – two at the front and two at the back, and five slanted cargo and small internal pockets. The back pockets are fitted on both sides of the hip circumference so that your items remain secure in the deep pockets.

Easy one of the best combat trousers out there, other features include widened belt loops for belts of all sizes and a plastic triangle ring so that you can link accessories such as a flashlight, glasses, or a keychain.

The knee and crotch area are cut according to an ergonomic design, making them more suitable for flexible movement. Even the leg cuffs have the perfect fit, ideal for tactical boots.

These pants are not only ideal whether you’re going camping, hiking, cycling, hunting, shooting, fishing, but they’re also great even for everyday use.

What’s important to note is that you shouldn’t dry clean these pants, and they should be machine washed at 30 degrees Celsius. It’s important to use non-chlorine bleach, and if tumble dried at normal or medium heat. I’d advise not ironing them, but if you must use low heat without steam.

The closure is with both a zip and button and the zipper seem durable enough but the button worries me. They also do ride up a little high, making them rather high-waisted, which I personally found uncomfortable.

#3 LA Police Gear Cargo Pants

The LA Police Gear cargo pants are available in the colors charcoal, sierra, navy blue, boulder, khaki, OD green, coyote brown, gray, or black. Sizes range from 28 waist and 30 leg length to 44 waist and 36 length. Sizes tend to run small, so be careful when choosing your size.

Features include an elastic waistband for added comfort, a button closure with a YKK zipper, and both angled pockets for easy access and deep pockets with secure Velcro flaps. There’s also a hook and loop which is great for attaching accessories.

The angled front pockets are great for keeping pens, a flashlight, or a knife inside while hiking.

These law enforcement tactical pants are made of 55% cotton and 45% polyester rip-stop fabric, which are both durable and breathable materials. The lightweight fabric only weighs around 7oz, which is ideal when being active.

What’s incredible about rip-stop fabric is that, because of the crisscross construction, if a small tear does occur in the pants that tear will not keep going and get bigger.

The pants fit very well, and it’s easy to move around when wearing them.

Two AR-15 magazines can both fit in the deep cargo pockets, which is amazing. Moreover, the top pockets are even deeper and really wide – the way these pockets are made, there is a sort of ‘shelf’ where you can clip on a knife or flashlight and still keep your hand in your pocket.

There are belt loops on these pants, so you can wear a belt if needed.

#4 Free Soldier Outdoor Tactical Pants

These military tactical pants by Free Soldier come in black, khaki, brown, dark green, gray, or dark camouflage. Sizes vary from 30 waist and 30 length to 42 waist and 32 leg.

Made with 35% cotton and 65% polyester, as well as a DuPont Teflon coating that prevents staining and adds water resistance. They are also fade, shrink, and wrinkle resistant.

There are more than 10 build-in multipurpose pockets, including two front slash pockets, two front thigh pockets, and two back shank pockets that have a hook and loop closure, as well as smaller ECD pockets on the thighs for various tools and equipment.

The strengthened knees and semi loose fit increases flexibility and mobility so that jumping, kneeling, running, and climbing are all super easy to do.

It is important to note that these pants do have a more relaxed fit, and some may find them to be baggy. If you are looking for a tighter fit, these are not the ones for you.

#5 IDOGEAR G3 Combat Pants

The IDOGEAR G3 combat pants are one of the best made tactical pants on the market today. They available in three colors: ranger green, MultiCam, or black camouflage.

Made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, with 4-way stretch woven accents and a Teflon ripstop coating for water resistance. The knees, hip, and crotch are strong yet flexible, helping with mobility allowing you the freedom to be active. The knee pads are removable in case they get annoying or aren’t necessary for some.

Longer inseams would have been ideal, but they are still perfectly fine for hiking, camping, fishing, and plenty of other outdoor activities.

They are also quite cheap tactical pants, as they come at a very affordable price for great quality.

What I really love about these pants is the low-profile waist and knee pad height adjustment system which makes them more functional and professional. You can also adjust the back of the waist, as well as the knee and ankle positions and tightness with hook and loop straps to get the perfect fit.

There’s up to 10 different pockets, two hip pockets with zipper closures, as well as multiple pockets along the legs with flaps.

The fly has a durable YKK zipper that will last longer than most and won’t break or get stuck, and it also has a Velcro closure too.

Keep in mind that the sizes are European, which are a little smaller than US sizes so be careful when choosing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tactical pants?

The LA Police Gear cargo pants are one of the best tactical pants out there at the moment. This is because they are very affordable, comfortable, come in multiple sizes and colors, and have plenty of pockets.

Are 5.11 pants good?

5.11 pants are great. They are usually made up of a blend of polyester and cotton, which are great fabrics because they’re both light and breathable and have lots of pockets. Tactical pants are treated with Teflon as well to make them water and stain resistant.

How do you choose tactical pants?

Based on your needs. Those who often go hunting need tactical pants that have deep enough pockets to fit magazines. Otherwise, most tactical pants are perfectly suitable for camping, hiking, fishing, and so on. All that matters is personal preference regarding the number of pockets and other features.

What is the difference between BDU and TDU pants?

BDU pants is an abbreviation for Battle Dress Uniform, and these were used by the U.S. Military as standard combat uniform pants from the 1980s until the early 2000s.

TDU pants, Tactical Dress Uniform, are basically the newer version and were designed to replace the ‘old-style’ BDU pants.

Therefore, they are essentially the same, except TDU pants are newer and are the improved version of BDU pants.

What are the toughest work pants?

The CQR tactical pants may very well be the toughest work pants, seeing as they are made of polyester and cotton rip-stop with Duratex which repels liquids, dirt, and stains.

They are as breathable as they are durable and long-lasting. The many features these pants have are just the cherry on the cake, such as the 8 deep pockets, D-ring, knee pad linings, and elastic waistband.

What is the strap for on 5.11 pants?

The strap on 5.11 pants is a utility strap, great for securing flashlights or ear protection within close reach.