Reposted from earlier when the comments weren’t working.
Many of my friends are out working the road tonight, including at least one of the female officers who had input on these and my sister-in-law. Part of the conversation I just had talking to the former reminded me that I hadn’t posted anything about these pants yet – so here they are.
The 5.11 Tactical Women’s PDU Go Pant work off the same premise as those longjohns with the dropping flap-bottom – remember the red “union suit” long underwear? Same basic theory here, but without the big buttons. It’s bad enough as a male officer that once in a while you have to go by the station or other safe location to pull off your duty belt and all your gear for a mid-tour deuce (assuming your call load even lets you). I can only imagine how irritating it is to have to unlimber all of it just to pee…especially if you’re on graveyards and you’re swilling coffee and energy drinks the first half of the shift.
The Go Pants eliminate the need for that, at least for agencies with uniform standards or P&P that will allow it. Silly as it sounds, this is going to have an impact on officer safety and will certainly make things a little easier on female officers during the course of their shift. The trousers are described as “…ultra fade, shrink and wrinkle resistance along with its Teflon treatment for soil and stain repellency…” They’re 65% Polyster, 35% Cotton Twill with 5.11′s Drop Tail.
Hopefully they are working on something similar for those male officers brave enough to grab a little Mexican food during their tour. Having once been on the receiving end of a ‘roll all available units’ call while in a rather vulnerable position, I can assure you I’d have worn something like this, and I know several male officers who would as well.
I haven’t spoken to female officers who’ve worn these pants (yet) but I’ll let you know as soon as I get any feedback on wear durability (don’t want one coming unzipped in a foot chase), comfort and fit.
EDIT: Just got a response from 5.11 (that was fast, thanks fellas). They advise that initial response has been very positive and that they have already received requests for a male version and so may be considering it down the road.
http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Pants/Womens-Pants/Womens-Pdu-Go-Pant.html
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Why couldn’t an officer just unbuckle the duty belt, then trouser belt and drop trou without having to actually take the duty belt off? Also, why does the vest have to come off for a toilet visit?
With respect, forgive my bluntness: It’s because with belt and vest on, it becomes extremely difficult to bend your torso in order to wipe yourself. Often it’s impossible to even reach, sitting or standing. Very sad situation. So, off it all comes, on time that you have to budget, just for that.
Thanks, Mark. Makes sense.
So….I guess the go pant doesn’t require underpants? Or how do they get around that?
There is a reason Crye isn’t sueing them over patent issues…..because its a dead end design…way to inovate 5.11 rip off a design
If you want to make a huge diffence in usability add a gusset to the crotch. The added freedom of movement from a gusset is incredible and doubles the life of the pants. Wish the army would add them to combat uniforms.
The original design appears to have the solution for haste to rid your watse….But as was stated, what of the wearing of any underwear? Guess the zipper flap for those are next in line?
As with the original Crye Combat’s, tanker suits, and so forth; you push them down or dispense with them altogether.
When the back flap is full opened, it allows the pelvic area of the pants to be functionally larger, and as it unzips down the backs of the thighs, allows for choni’s to be pushed down to above the knees without bottoming out on the inside of the pant’s crotch.
In a narrow niche, rather convenient; but when I enjoyed the benefits of such a feature, modesty was not a point of interest.