8 Essential Pieces of Tactical Clothing
Tactical clothing has been around for quite a while. It’s become immensely popular for camping and survival trips because its original intention was for it to withstand the elements with ease. Tactical gear is also very comfortable to wear, and you can expect it to last for a very long time. However, there are a few things to prepare before heading out with tactical equipment in your tactical backpack and that’s understanding which tactical clothing pieces are the most essential.
Tactical Belts
A lot of people regard tactical belts as nothing more than a strap that holds your pants from falling down. However, that is absolutely not the case. When you’re gearing yourself up with an entire tactical outfit, you’re most likely going to carry a lot of tactical equipment with you. While some of it is going to go in your tactical backpack, you’ll need some of it on you at all times. That’s the reason army belts are so great because you’ll always have your most important pieces of gear strapped on you at all times. Things like tactical knives or flashlights should never be tucked under all that other equipment in the backpack, they should be on you all the time.
Tactical Pants
Originally, tactical pants appeared around thirty years ago when the FBI contacted the clothing brand 5.11 in order to create standardised uniforms between all agents. That resulted in the tactical pants as we know them today, which include several features not typically found on regular civilian clothing. They typically have extra deep pockets, as well as more of them. They also feature strengthened stitching so that they’ll be able to handle frequent movement in different positions and terrains. Some models even have knee pads that are hidden beneath the material. On top of all of this, they’re still very comfortable to wear, and they’re also readily available to all civilians.
Tactical Boots
Footwear is incredibly important in everyday life, but it’s especially important when you consider the situations you’ll be finding yourself in when you need to wear tactical clothing. Boots need to be extra durable in order to survive outdoors experiences such as survival excursions, but they also need to be extra comfortable to wear. That’s exactly the case with tactical boots. Most combat boots are fully waterproof and made out of breathable materials, and can even prevent some light forms of foot injury when you’re out hiking. They are one of the most important pieces of tactical equipment, and you should never find yourself without a pair of sturdy tactical boots on you whenever you’re out on a survival excursion or hike.
Tactical Watches
Most people don’t even take watches as a factor at all when taking into account tactical gear. That might have been the case decades ago, even if tactical watches have existed for a long time now, but today that should absolutely not be the case. Tactical watches are smartwatches that have been designed to withstand the elements. They are sturdy and capable of surviving even hard bumps in their cases. The main reason why they’re so useful is that they’re able to read your biometrics at all times with high accuracy, which gives you valuable insight into your current condition. That way you’ll immediately know if you’re pushing yourself too much at any given time and plan a short rest accordingly.
Tactical Vest
There are two kinds of vests to consider – utility vests and body armour vests. The utility ones are about what you can expect from a tactical vest. They are quite similar to the pants in that they offer deep and multiple pockets, and have been stitched to offer extensive usage without them cracking or tearing. However, body armour vests are quite different because they literally offer physical protection. They protect either from physical assault or accident harm, and sometimes both, and they can even offer protection from bullets. However, that doesn’t mean that they are on par with actual combat vests that are designed to protect the wearer from heavy firefights. In any case, the protection they offer is more than minimal, so you can expect to be significantly protected should the need arise.
Holster
Holsters are similar to military belts in function, as they allow you to wear special equipment that you can reach in any given situation. Everyone is familiar with holsters, but it’s worth noting that they can vary greatly between types. They can be used in a lot of different situations, far more than simply holding weapons. They can carry camping tools, hunting tools, flashlights, or even smaller knickknacks that you weren’t planning on putting in your holster. Holsters can be attached around the waist, but if you want to be a bit subtler, you can wear them beneath the arms.
Flashlight
Flashlights have so many uses it’s a shame a lot of people aren’t using them too often. They’re kind of the basic tactical equipment because you can’t really form a tactical kit without one. They have extensive utility for shedding light in the night or in dark places, but they can also be used for self-defence. Merely pointing a flashlight at an assailant can work wonders for self-defence, and the body of the flashlight is often designed to be used for striking.
Knife
Knives are inherently useful in survival situations, and even on hikes, so everyone should consider investing in a good knife. They have a wide variety of applications, as they can be used for anything from camping to hunting and self-defence. A good knife might appear costly and expensive, but the cost is pretty much always worth it because you’re most likely going to be using that knife for a long time. They can even be personalised with engravings to give them a bit more character.