I’ve never been a fan of gift shopping and I look for any opportunity to make that process easier. My preferred method is to take care of as much as possible in one shot. 5.11 Tactical is a great spot to do that; they offer a wide variety of men’s and women’s clothing, footwear, gear and accessories.
To help make your Christmas shopping process a little easier, I went through their gift guide, picked out my top choices and reviewed them:
Stocking Stuffer (under $50) – Slipstream OTC Sock
Not the most exciting gift, but some people (like me) appreciate practical items that they generally wouldn’t buy on their own. When people ask me what I want for Christmas, I tend to ask for things that I need but don’t want to spend my money on. These boot socks are incredibly lightweight, comfortable and durable. I’d be fine with a few of these on Christmas morning, and if I have to buy for someone picky then I hope they’re okay with these too because they’re probably getting them.
Advertised features:
- Compression arch for support
- Polyester construction keeps feet dry
- NanoGLIDE® fiber reduces chafing
- Reinforced heel and toe
- Breathable upper weave for moisture release
Budget Gift (under $50) – Survivor Strong iPhone 6/7 Case
File this one under the category of “virtually everyone you know has an iPhone” so it makes a good option for a gift that the recipient can—and will—use. The case I reviewed was black and was low profile, comfortable and didn’t scream “tacti-cool” from a mile away. The side buttons didn’t require extra effort to press and the ports at the bottom were easily accessible.
Advertised features:
- Fits iPhone 6, 6S, 7
- Dual-layer plastic shell
- Non-slip grip exterior
- Can withstand a 6.6-foot (2.2 meters) drop onto concrete
Men’s Gift (under $100) – Defender-Flex Straight Jeans
Who couldn’t use another pair of good jeans? I’ve paid a lot more for jeans that aren’t as comfortable or durable as these, and these don’t disappoint. These are great for everyday casual wear, for outdoor or range activities, or even a dressy-casual outing. The flex in these jeans allow anything in my front pockets (knife, phone, etc.) to basically disappear when moving or sitting. I must add that the jeans need a few washes before they stop “bleeding blue” on your wallet, hands or anything you have in your pockets. Worth the money.
Advertised features:
- Five pocket styling plus two rear hip pockets
- Double needle construction with bar tacks in high-stress areas
- Fitted waistband
- Dual back patch pockets
- 10 oz. mechanical stretch denim (76% cotton / 24% polyester with Lycra® T400 Tough Max™)
- GSA/TAA compliant
Splurge Gift (over $100) – RUSH Delivery X-ray
I almost lost my man-card when I resorted to carrying around an all-black Thirty-One duffel bag as my EDC/range bag. I was more than happy to upgrade to this RUSH delivery bag. It has more than enough compartments and pockets for any use-case and it is going to last a long time. The quality is top-notch. Whether you need something to lug around gear, for your work laptop, or for lugging ammo to the range—this bag is a sweet option.
Advertised features:
- Water resistant 1050D Nylon construction
- Non-slip cross-body stabilizing strap
- Wrap-around web platform
- MOLLE, 5.11 SlickStick®, and TacTec System™ compatible
- 12” H x 20” L x 6.5” D main compartment
- 9.5” x 6.5” water bottle pocket (x2)
- 1560 cubic inch / 26 liter total capacity
- Luggage handle attachment
Honorable Mention Gift Ideas
Under $50/Stocking Stuffer:
Under $50/Budget Gift for Men:
Under $100 Gift for Men:
Over $100 Gift for Men:
Featured image courtesy of 511tactical.com
*Originally published on SOFREP and written by