Back on April 1st 5.11 Tactical, a well known manufacturer of Police, Fire and EMS gear posted a video and a link to a new product, the Tactical Duty Kilt (TDK).
To me it was a well produced and conceived April Fool's Day Joke. Why on earth would someone need a Tactical Kilt?
In the days and weeks that followed, many online tried to order the great looking kilt from the great company, but the product page listed that it was not available to be ordered. Instead, one would need to sign up to be emailed when the product was available.
The price - $59.99
Your average starter basic cotton kilt goes for 3 times that.
I ordered 3, one for me and one for the Angry Captain and the Mrs dad.
They arrived yesterday and at first I was skeptical. The kilts arrived as if they were made in a factory, not hand made from my favorite company Alt Kilt. Saying Alt Kilt is high quality is like saying Neil Armstrong once went on a walk. My bar was set pretty high on this one and the folks at 5.11 did not disappoint.
A quick note on 5.11: They could have simply posted a link saying it was a prank, or raised the unbelievable price of $59 bucks, or even skimped on the quality and blamed it on the price. They stepped up and sent out a great product I wish I could order more of.
The Design:
The TDK is a non-traditional kilt, made of rip stop fabric so tough I had trouble getting my kilt pin in the apron. The seams are clean and tight and the front angled pockets are perfect for cash so often falling out of cargo pockets when i sit down in other kilts. The cargo pockets are attached with 4 snaps and can be removed, leaving only the velcro closure covering the snaps, a clean design. Within the cargo pockets are 3 subdivided areas advertised as for magazine storage for shooting, I'll let AD or MC comment on that but mine fits my phone PERFECTLY. No more is my phone again wandering a cargo pocket or buried in a sporran.
The belt loops are centered on the front and include a badge tab, but only accommodate up to a 1 3/4" belt. The front apron includes a hidden snap for modesty and will keep the kilt from flying open on a windy day. It also serves when sitting, allowing a first time kilter to be comfortable and learn how to sit properly before going all out on a tartan kilt.
The Style:
The pleats are few. A traditional kilt has dozens of pleats, the more contemporary kilts have more, this one gets by on the minimum. The pleats are what allow the kilt to move with you instead of being a mini-skirt. The snaps and material go well with the low slung cargo pockets, putting my extended arm right in them no problem. The front pockets, again, are a great touch and take the comfort of this kilt above others I own. The snaps make it easy to get into and out of, but I like the look and feel of buttons better.
The TDK is an excellent starter kilt for three reasons:
1. The modesty snap allows for wearing without a kilt pin and can get you less nervous about a gust of wind landing you on the sex offender registry for exposing yourself at a youth soccer game.
2. The pockets don't require a sporran.
3. The price of $59 means anyone can get started and have a basic item for September or whenever undies just don't seem like the thing to wear.
The Drawbacks:
1. It is so contemporary some hard core kilters may not consider it a "real kilt." Their problem.
2. It's no longer available.
5.11, I think, took a hit in the pocketbooks on this one. They charged $59 for an easily $200-$300 kilt considering the materials, hardware, design and creativity it took to consider the kilt an active duty garment.
I tip my helmet to 5.11 for going through with this order fulfillment and having them out (almost) in time for the Kilted to Kick Cancer events (coincidence?). Like I said, they could have told us it was a joke and we would have laughed and been bummed. Now I'm bummed I didn't order more. If it ever goes for sale again, I'm in.
The 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt is a top quality product for the price and was well designed to boot. Well done.
To me it was a well produced and conceived April Fool's Day Joke. Why on earth would someone need a Tactical Kilt?
In the days and weeks that followed, many online tried to order the great looking kilt from the great company, but the product page listed that it was not available to be ordered. Instead, one would need to sign up to be emailed when the product was available.
The price - $59.99
Your average starter basic cotton kilt goes for 3 times that.
I ordered 3, one for me and one for the Angry Captain and the Mrs dad.
They arrived yesterday and at first I was skeptical. The kilts arrived as if they were made in a factory, not hand made from my favorite company Alt Kilt. Saying Alt Kilt is high quality is like saying Neil Armstrong once went on a walk. My bar was set pretty high on this one and the folks at 5.11 did not disappoint.
A quick note on 5.11: They could have simply posted a link saying it was a prank, or raised the unbelievable price of $59 bucks, or even skimped on the quality and blamed it on the price. They stepped up and sent out a great product I wish I could order more of.
The Design:
The TDK is a non-traditional kilt, made of rip stop fabric so tough I had trouble getting my kilt pin in the apron. The seams are clean and tight and the front angled pockets are perfect for cash so often falling out of cargo pockets when i sit down in other kilts. The cargo pockets are attached with 4 snaps and can be removed, leaving only the velcro closure covering the snaps, a clean design. Within the cargo pockets are 3 subdivided areas advertised as for magazine storage for shooting, I'll let AD or MC comment on that but mine fits my phone PERFECTLY. No more is my phone again wandering a cargo pocket or buried in a sporran.
The belt loops are centered on the front and include a badge tab, but only accommodate up to a 1 3/4" belt. The front apron includes a hidden snap for modesty and will keep the kilt from flying open on a windy day. It also serves when sitting, allowing a first time kilter to be comfortable and learn how to sit properly before going all out on a tartan kilt.
The Style:
The pleats are few. A traditional kilt has dozens of pleats, the more contemporary kilts have more, this one gets by on the minimum. The pleats are what allow the kilt to move with you instead of being a mini-skirt. The snaps and material go well with the low slung cargo pockets, putting my extended arm right in them no problem. The front pockets, again, are a great touch and take the comfort of this kilt above others I own. The snaps make it easy to get into and out of, but I like the look and feel of buttons better.
The TDK is an excellent starter kilt for three reasons:
1. The modesty snap allows for wearing without a kilt pin and can get you less nervous about a gust of wind landing you on the sex offender registry for exposing yourself at a youth soccer game.
2. The pockets don't require a sporran.
3. The price of $59 means anyone can get started and have a basic item for September or whenever undies just don't seem like the thing to wear.
The Drawbacks:
1. It is so contemporary some hard core kilters may not consider it a "real kilt." Their problem.
2. It's no longer available.
5.11, I think, took a hit in the pocketbooks on this one. They charged $59 for an easily $200-$300 kilt considering the materials, hardware, design and creativity it took to consider the kilt an active duty garment.
I tip my helmet to 5.11 for going through with this order fulfillment and having them out (almost) in time for the Kilted to Kick Cancer events (coincidence?). Like I said, they could have told us it was a joke and we would have laughed and been bummed. Now I'm bummed I didn't order more. If it ever goes for sale again, I'm in.
The 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt is a top quality product for the price and was well designed to boot. Well done.
Comments
A quick note on 5.11: They could have simply posted a link saying it was a prank, or raised the unbelievable price of $59 bucks, or even skimped on the quality and blamed it on the price.
Were they handmade, if machine sewed counts as handmade?
They charged $59 for an easily $200-$300 kilt considering the materials, hardware, design and creativity it took to consider the kilt an active duty garment.
They either stupid or you are just a snob. ;) There are good quality kilts out there for < $100.
Their quality and prices are compatible.