Whether it is military and police law enforcement officers, outdoor tactics enthusiasts, or competitive shooting players, they cannot avoid the topic of “tactical clothing”. It is not a simple “wear-resistant clothing”, but a functional equipment that combines fabric technology, ergonomics and scene needs. Today, we will explain the doorway of tactical clothing from basic cognition to actual combat, and help you choose the one that really suits you.
1. Understand first: What exactly is tactical clothing?
1. Core definition: Born for harsh scenarios
Tactical clothing definition is a functional clothing designed for high-intensity and high-risk scenarios such as military and police, security, and outdoor tactics, and the core appeal is to improve operational efficiency and environmental adaptability while ensuring the safety of personnel. Compared to ordinary clothing, every aspect of its design revolves around “practicality” – for example, the hidden pockets of tactical pants can store equipment safely, and the quick-drying fabric allows outdoor workers to quickly recover from rain or heavy sweating.
2. Key differences from regular outdoor clothing
Many people confuse tactical uniforms with outdoor jackets, but the differences between the two are obvious. I have seen customers mistakenly use ordinary outdoor clothing as tactics for security patrols, and the cuffs are worn out in half a day. The specific differences are clearer in this table:
Contrast dimensions | Tactical clothing | Regular outdoor clothing |
|---|---|---|
Core features: | Abrasion resistance, tear resistance, multi-mount, concealment | Warm, waterproof, lightweight, breathable |
Fabric selection | High-strength fabrics such as CORDURA nylon and Ripstop | Ordinary nylon, fleece, etc., with an emphasis on comfort |
Design focus | MOLLE webbing, hidden pockets, volumetric fit | Simple fit, stylish appearance, portable storage |
Applicable scenarios | military and police law enforcement, tactical training, security patrols | Leisure hiking, daily commuting, light camping |
3. Core functions: four rigid needs are indispensable
The core functions of tactical clothing focus on four aspects, which are also the basis for judging its quality: – Wear resistance: high-density fabrics are used to withstand branch scratches and equipment friction, such as CORDURA nylon fabric is more than 3 times more wear-resistant than ordinary nylon; – Quick drying: Coolmax quick-drying fabric can allow moisture to evaporate quickly, and it is measured that soaked tactical shirts can be semi-dried in 20 minutes at 25°C; – Breathable: Through the breathable mesh under the armpits, fabric ventilation hole design to solve the problem of stuffiness during high-intensity exercise; – Ripstop ripstop: The special lattice texture of Ripstop ripstop cloth can effectively prevent the spread of cracks, even if it is scratched, it will not cause extensive damage.
2. Understand: What are the common categories of tactical clothing?
Different scenarios need to be matched with different categories of tactical clothing, and it is easy to step on the pit by blindly following the trend and buying explosive models. Combined with my years of purchasing experience, these categories are the most commonly used:
- Tactical pants: The core category usually has three-dimensional tailoring and crotch design to ensure that squatting, kneeling, running and jumping are not restricted, and detachable knee pads can be installed at the knee pocket position, which is suitable for military and police, shooting competitions and other scenarios;
- Tactical jacket: divided into soft shell and hard shell, soft shell is suitable for spring and autumn outdoor tactics, with both warmth and elasticity; The hard shell is mostly made of Gore-Tex fabric, which is waterproof and breathable to cope with bad weather;
- Tactical vest: modular design, through MOLLE webbing to mount magazines, walkie-talkies and other equipment, is a must for military and police law enforcement and tactical training;
- Flame retardant tactical clothing: made of Nomex flame retardant fabric, in line with EN ISO 11612 flame retardant standards, mainly used in high-risk industries such as fire protection and chemical industry;
- Tactical underwear: Focus on moisture-wicking and antibacterial, mostly using antibacterial silver-ion fabrics to avoid odors caused by long-term wear.
3. Deep steak: Fabrics and technology are the core of quality
The “hardcore” of tactical clothing is all in the fabric and craftsmanship, and it is easy to be fooled by the “gimmicks” of merchants if you don’t understand these. With these key techniques in mind, you can also become a half-expert:
1. Mainstream fabrics: performance has its own focus
Fabric Name: | Core strengths | Applicable categories |
|---|---|---|
CORDURA nylon | Ultra-high wear resistance, anti-wrinkle and easy to care for | Tactical pants, tactical jackets |
Gore-Tex | Waterproof and breathable, rainwater impermeable, sweat can be drained | Tactical hardshell, jacket |
Polartec fleece | It has strong heat retention, light weight and easy compression | Tactical softshell, liner |
Nomex | High temperature resistance, not easy to burn, self-extinguishing when left of fire | Flame retardant tactical clothing, firefighting clothing |
2. Key processes and coatings
Teflon water-repellent coating is standard on many tactical uniforms, which can allow rainwater to form water droplets on the surface of the fabric to prevent the fabric from soaking; The laser cutting seamless process reduces the seams of the garment, which not only improves comfort but also reduces the risk of wear and tear at the seams. For example, UF PRO’s tactical pants are widely used in this process, and the measured service life is 40% longer than that of ordinary sewn pants.
4. Choose the right color: camouflage and color matching are exquisite
The color of tactical clothing is not “chosen according to the mood”, but should match the environment of the usage scenario to achieve the purpose of concealment or identification.
1. Camouflage system: The environment determines the choice
MultiCam all-terrain camouflage is currently the most applicable, with a good concealment effect in a variety of environments such as jungles, deserts, and mountains, and is used by military and police in many countries. Kryptek High Terrain Camouflage is designed for mountainous terrain, with a strong sense of color layering, suitable for outdoor tactics and field search and rescue; Urban Digital is mainly gray and black, suitable for urban security, tactical photography and other scenarios.
2. Solid color choice: practical and low-key
Black tactical uniform is classic and versatile, suitable for urban law enforcement and security; Wolf gray is more understated than black and is not obtrusive in both outdoor and urban environments; Ranger Green is close to nature and suitable for jungle, wild and other scenes. In addition, night vision compatible with low visibility color matching is exclusive to military and police to avoid exposing targets under night vision devices.
5. Practical Guide: How to choose tactical clothing?
1. Clarify the scenario is a prerequisite
If it is military and police law enforcement, priority should be given to the model that meets the EN 388 anti-cut standard and has IR anti-infrared reflection function; if it is a shooting competition, focus on three-dimensional tailoring and freedom of movement to ensure that there are no restrictions on raising the gun and aiming; For outdoor tactics, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex hardshells and quick-drying tactical pants are standard.
2. Identify evaluation indicators and accessories
Be sure to look at these hard indicators when purchasing: – Wear resistance level: measured by Martindale rpm, the higher the value, the more wear-resistant it is, tactical pants are recommended to choose more than 10,000 rpm; – Fasteners and zippers: Give preference to YKK zippers and Duraflex fasteners, these two brands of accessories have a long service life and are not easy to damage; – Detailed design: hidden pockets, D-ring mounting points, headphone jack design, etc., can improve the convenience of use.
3. Reliable brands are trustworthy
The entry-level can choose 5.11 Tactical, which is cost-effective and rich in style, suitable for tactical enthusiasts; Crye Precision and Arc’teryx LEAF are the first choice for professional grades, the former is the industry benchmark for camouflage design and tailoring, and the latter is the most technologically advanced fabric but more expensive; If it is a bulk purchase, there are also good choices in China tactical clothing factories in China, many can provide OEM/ODM services, and the quality meets international standards.
6. Industry perspective: the present and future of tactical clothing
As a Sourcing Agent who has been deeply involved in tactical equipment procurement for many years, I found that there are two obvious trends in the current tactical clothing market: one is sustainability, many brands have begun to use sustainable recycled nylon and other environmentally friendly fabrics, and OEKO-TEX environmental protection certification and bluesign sustainable certification have also become important references when purchasing; The second is intelligence and personalization, intelligent temperature control tactical clothing, Asian version tactical clothing is becoming more and more popular, and small-batch quick response customization can also meet the needs of different groups. For purchasers, in addition to paying attention to quality and price, they should also pay attention to policy requirements such as ITAR military export control to avoid compliance risks.
7. FAQ: FAQ
- Q: Is tactical clothing machine washable? A: Most of them are okay, but pay attention to the washing instructions. For example, for models with Teflon coating, it is recommended to use neutral detergents, the water temperature does not exceed 30°C, avoid exposure to the sun, and prevent the coating from failing.
- Q: How to judge whether the flame retardant performance of tactical clothing is up to standard? A: Check if there are authoritative certification marks such as EN ISO 11612 or NFPA 2112, which are proof of professional testing.
- Q: What is the difference between the Asian version and the European and American version? A: The Asian version is more in line with the characteristics of the Asian body, with wide shoulders and waist circumference that fits better, and there will be no excess fabric during activities, while European and American versions usually have wider shoulders and longer clothing lengths.
- Q: What is the MOLLE webbing system used for? A: This is a modular mounting system, which can fix tactical bags, magazine bags and other accessories through webbing to achieve personalized combinations of equipment and improve carrying convenience.