Content Provided by Propper
Blowouts. We hate them in tires, and we hate them in pants. You take a knee on the range and – RIP! – you’re hitting bony flesh on gravel. Ouch! Or you squat to shoot from under a barrier and the crotch splits. Not as painful, perhaps, but far more embarrassing. Welcome to Adventures in Buying Cheap Pants.
Good quality tactical pants shouldn’t fail you at these inconvenient moments. Or at all, for that matter. So how do you avoid getting stuck on the range or on duty with your only pair of pants ruined?
Material Matters
Not all tactical pants are created equal. You want a pair that will last, one that will endure the rigors of training, patrol, off-duty – every environment where you live. One of the most important factors in how well pants hold up is the material. Two key ingredients determine material longevity: ripstop and stretch.
Ripstop
Typical casual or dress pants will continue to tear if snagged or torn. Ripstop does exactly as its name implies: stops a rip from getting bigger. Not only does ripstop material tend to be more durable than many others materials, it helps prevent rips from growing. Look closely. You see those little squares in the material? They serve as tiny speedbumps to reduce the amount of tearing, should the pants snag or rip.
Stretch
Knees and crotches often blow out because the material is pulled too tight. Sometimes it’s because the wearer ordered the wrong size, but more commonly it’s because the fabric lacks the ability to stretch with the wearer. There are two types of stretch: mechanical and material. A mechanical stretch is exactly like it sounds: the threads move and adjust like tiny hinges to stretch out the fibers. (For a more detailed explanation, search online for “warp” and “weft” fiber construction.) A material stretch is composed of elastic fibers, such as Spandex or other similar material that stretches on its own. Sometimes, tactical pant material incorporates both mechanical and material stretch.
Gusseted Crotch
Tactical pants need to move with you, not restrict and bind – especially down there. Have you ever noticed a little triangle of bonus fabric where the legs come together? That’s a gusset. And it’s designed to make your life a whole lot easier. The added material allows for extra range of movement as you run, jump, sit, and squat, reducing the chance of a blowout.
Stitching
One common fail area in pants is the seams. To save on cost, sometimes manufacturers connect the material panels with only a single row of stitches, or they will use two rows but minimize the number of stitches per inch to save thread. While this will last for a while, once you start to put the pants through
