AO Review – 5.11 Tactical Women’s Britta Denim Jean & Stratos Full Zip
Megan Plete Postol 12.28.22
Women now have more tactical clothing options than ever before. Jeans, tactical pants, leggings, jackets, sweatshirts, and more. There seems to be an option for every wardrobe need. And, what is tactical clothing? It is clothing designed for maximum movement, comfort, and protection – plus lots of pockets! Tactical clothing typically looks like regular clothing except cooler, beefier, and more useful. There are often lots of modifications such as ripstop weaving, reinforced knees, and layered fabrics that make it last longer and work harder than normal clothing. Tactical clothing is also usually constructed with everyday carry in mind. All of this makes tactical clothing ideal for tactical jobs such as law enforcement or first responders, but it is also great for regular people who want to have the full range of functionality and not be held back by subpar clothing. 5.11 Tactical is leading the pack of tactical clothing manufacturers that have a women’s line. Many brands carry a line for women, but 5.11 ensures that its women’s line is every bit as functional and tough as its men’s line. I was lucky enough to try out two releases in the 5.11 Tactical women’s line: the Britta Denim Jeans and the Stratos Full Zip Sweatshirt.
5.11 Tactical Britta Denim
The Britta Slim Denim Jeans from 5.11 surprised me right off the bat. I was skeptical about how they would fit. After slipping them on I realized how wrong I was. The sizing was perfect and they felt soft and snug in a hug-your-hips-but not-hold-you-back kind of way. The Britta Denim Jean comes in three length options: short, regular, and long. I’m a petite 5 foot, one inches, so I opted to try the short cut. Sometimes even as short as I am, the short cut still ends up looking kind of awkward, like poorly sized capri pants. That was not the case with the Britta Denim. The short length was just right. What I really liked about the Britta Slim Denim was the way they fit and felt, nicely fitted through the hip and thigh with a slim leg opening. The waist is cut to hit right at a comfortable sweet spot – high enough to cover past the hipbones but low enough to still be able to freely move around. 5.11 added two additional pockets to the Britta Slim Denim Jean designed to carry a phone, extra magazines, or other accessories. The Britta Denim Jean is available in sizes from 0 to 16. I opted to try the light wash indigo finish. I like how the light wash gives them a casual vibe. These jeans would be great for lots of activities, including hiking, picnicking, a day on the range, attending sporting event, or dare I say it – grabbing groceries.
Britta Slim Denim Details
- Slim Fit
- 70% Cotton/ 25% Polyester/ 3% Rayon/ 2% Elastane
- Washed, Stretch Denim
- 5-Pocket Styling
- Back Yoke Pockets
- Metal Shank Button
- Woven Label at Back Pocket
- Embroidery at Side Seam
- 7 Pockets
- MSRP $68
5.11 Tactical Women’s Stratos Full Zip
The Women’s Stratos Full Zip from 5.11 is another superb product in their robust women’s line. Velvety smooth and soft, the Stratos has a very flattering cut and design. I opted to try out the flint color. It paired well with anything I threw at it, including jeans, leggings, and workout pants. The Stratos is also great for layering. It could serve equally well as an autumn top layer or as a cold winter day middle layer. The polyester fabric design comes with a one-way front zipper with an internal chin guard for extra warmth. Raglan sleeves with elastic binding cuffs provide comfort without bunching up. No reason to hold back from moving freely while wearing this – the Stratos will keep you covered. The minimal description on the website doesn’t quite do this zip-up justice – it is really well made and a delight to wear. The Women’s Stratos Full Zip is available in sizes XS through XL and in colors black, flint, night violet, and ranger green. I just may have to order one in every color.
Women’s Stratos Full Zip Details
- One-Way Center Front Zipper with Internal Chin Guard
- Brushed Tricot Lined Inner Collar
- Raglan Sleeves with Elastic Binding Cuffs
- Hand Zipper Pockets with Polyester Dipped Cord Pullers
- Main Label/Tag-Less Heat Transfer
- 5.11 Woven Flag Label at Left Hem
- 91% Polyester/9% Elastane Grid Jersey
- Wicking and Anti-Odor Finish
- MSRP$74
After trying out a few products from the 5.11 Tactical women’s lineup, I’m eager to head to the website and load up my cart with a few more pieces. A lot of women’s clothing surrounding law enforcement, firefighters, 1st Responders, shooters, and hunters doesn’t get a lot of notice so what did you think of these products? Is this something you would purchase or potentially buy for a friend. As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
