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The Bravo Pant 2.0 is a new addition to the fall 2022 lineup of technical apparel from 5.11 Tactical®. The Bravo Pant 2.0 features chino-like styling for a clean-cut smart casual look with a slim fit and maximum comfort. It’s a great pant option wherever looks matter as much as functionality. It replaces the original Bravo Pant in the 5.11 lineup. It has a number of updates to it that are the direct result of user feedback.
5.11 originated the concept of the “tactical pant.” They were originally designed by pioneer rock climber Royal Robbins as durable utilitarian cargo pants for mountain climbers. The name “5.11” comes from the rating system used by mountain climbers to rate the difficulty of climbs, with 5.11 being the most difficult at the time. The original 5.11 pants were adopted by the FBI Academy in 1992. With the adoption by law enforcement, these utilitarian pants became widely thought of as tactical pants.
Although overtly tactical apparel draws less attention these days because its practical attributes have made it quite popular, and not just with the LEO and tactical crowd, it’s still more likely to be noticed by a bad actor. The whole concept of the gray man involves blending in with the crowd, not drawing undue attention and masking one’s skills and weapons. Overtly tactical apparel, while great for the range or outdoor pursuits, is also inappropriate for many settings. Covert tactical apparel, that combines the needed functionality with a low visual profile, such as the Bravo Pant 2.0 with its chino-like styling, is designed to address this.
Chino Pants
Chino pants are a versatile wardrobe staple. They’re a lightweight alternative to jeans and more formal pants. Chinos can work in a variety of settings where jeans cannot. Although they’re best worn as casual pants, they can easily be dressed up or dressed down. Although at their dressiest, chinos can be used to dress down a blazer, they’re very well suited for wear with an untucked polo shirt, casual summer shirt or even a t-shirt for warm weather concealed carry.
The term “chinos” is often used interchangeably with “khakis.” Although there’s definitely an overlap between the two, they’re not exactly the same. When chinos are in the traditional khaki color they can appropriately be called khakis but not all khakis can be appropriately called chinos.
Today’s chinos typically are semi-fitted with a gentle taper through the leg, ending in a close fitting ankle for a sharp appearance. A characteristic feature of the chino dating back to the time of its origin is that doesn’t have pleats, allowing it to be easily rolled up at the hem. It’s also generally is made of a lighter weight fabric, in line with its tropical origins. In a departure from their khaki roots, chinos are available In a variety of colors.
Chinos can trace their origin to British Indian Army trousers from the mid 19th Century. They were adopted by the major colonial powers and introduced to everyday civilian wear after the return of American soldiers from the Spanish-American War. As the cloth itself was originally made in China, the pants were colloquially referred to in Spanish as pantalones chinos (Chinese pants), which became shortened to simply “chinos.”
5.11 Bravo Pant 2.0
5.11 places the Bravo Pant 2.0 into the chino category. 5.11 took a traditional silhouette and employed high-quality materials and a few design tweaks to increase the versatility. It can perhaps be best described as a technical chino, although some fashion purists may quibble with calling a technical pant a chino. So what exactly is a technical pant? A technical pant is a pant constructed of special fabrics that emphasizes function. It transcends typical definitions.
The Bravo Pant 2.0 is made from super-lightweight polyester elastane blend technical fabrics. The poly-blend fabric is strong, durable and comfortable. It’s also fade, wrinkle and stain resistant, as well as moisture wicking and quick drying.
The body of the Bravo Pant 2.0 is constructed of 5.5 oz. 89% polyester / 11% elastane 4-way stretch double-weave fabric. The pocketing is 4.7 oz. 87% polyester / 13% elastane fabric. The fabrics have Enduro-Flex™ properties.
Enduro-Flex fabric is a mechanical stretch fabric that’s engineered to be snag-resistant for long-term durability from wear while retaining its ability to move and stretch with you. The 4-way stretch double-weave fabric is designed to stretch in all directions.
Although polyester elastane fabric is inherently water-resistant, the fabric has a Durable Water Resistant (DWR) finish. A DWR finish is a coating added to fabrics at the factory to make them water-resistant. All DWR finishes will wear off over time and need retreatment. Washing with harsh detergents will accelerate loss. 5.11 recommends machine washing in cold water using a mild detergent (no bleach or fabric softeners). Air drying will also preserve the DWR treatment.
The Bravo Pant 2.0 has a slim fit with a flat front. It has a fixed waistband with inside soft jacquard elastic to fit your waist without being restricting. The pant features articulated backs at the knees to support your range of motion. The pant has self-fabric reinforced belt loops and 5.11’s signature center back “V” nylon webbing belt loop. The belt loops are sized to fit up to a 1.75” wide belt. The front fly has a locking YKK® zipper, logo snap closure and an inner button. The pant features double-needle construction with bar tacks in high-stress areas.
The defining feature of any tactical pant whether overt or low-profile is the pockets. The Bravo Pant 2.0 has traditional four pocket styling with two curved inset front pockets and two welt back pockets, plus the addition of a coin pocket and two hidden back yoke utility pockets, for a total of seven pockets. The pockets are designed to minimize printing and keep weight balanced for comfort.
All of the pockets are well thought out. The inset front pockets feature nylon-6 polymer reinforcement to resist wear and tear from kniives. The coin pocket on right side is deep enough to hold a pistol mag, tactical flashlight or even a tourniquet. The two welt back pockets have hook and loop closure to secure the contents. The two back yoke utility pockets are designed to hold 30-round AR magazines and will also fit many smartphones.
There’s discreet [+] embroidery at right hip/side seam of the Bravo Pant 2.0 and a 5.11 [+] woven label at back right pocket welt. The pant has has high-visibility reflective trim on inner side seam, to enhance visibility for safely when desired by simply rolling up the ankle of the pant.
The Bravo Pant 2.0 is exceptionally comfortable, and the fabric flex and knee articulation allows for a freedom of movement not found in regular chinos. The stretch in the waistband provides the ability to carry a pistol comfortably in an inside the waistband (IWB) holster without requiring a larger size.
The construction and workmanship on the sample provided are excellent. Although I haven’t worn the pant long enough to reliably gauge the durability, given the quality of the materials and construction, I have no reason to doubt that it will prove very durable and long-wearing.
To Sum Up
The 5.11 Bravo Pant 2.0 is an outstanding low-profile performance-driven tactical pant. It combines chino-like styling and technical construction with maximum utility, comfort and mobility. It’s both practical and tactical. It’s a great option anywhere business casual attire is appropriate.
The Bravo Pant 2.0 comes in khaki, black and flint colorways. I opted for the pant in the traditional khaki for my evaluation. The khaki colorway pairs perfectly with my dark coyote 5.11 Norris Low shoes.
MSRP for the Bravo Pant 2.0 is $90.00. The Bravo Pant 2.0 and all 5.11 products are available directly from 5.11 and at authorized 5.11 dealers. 5.11 offers free shipping on orders over $35.00 and free returns.
Source
5.11
511tactical.com
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.