Towards the end of summer 2024, 5.11 sent me a care package that had a few articles of clothing. If you follow my work here, you might recall my write up on 5.11’s Chukkas and the 5.11 A/T Mid Boots.
I’m probably a bit overdue on the garment side, but I’m ready to discuss the 5.11 Meridian pant.
The 5.11 Tactical Meridian Pant
Officially, the 5.11 Meridian is a lightweight cargo pant made with a stretch poplin fabric blend. It’s intended to drape the body lightly while remaining strong. The fabric doesn’t restrict range of motion. Their lightweight construction also won’t drag down the wearer after wearing them for extended periods of time. The pant also includes two zippered vents for hot-temperature use.
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5.11 offers it in the typical outdoor color palette, including “volcanic” [charcoal grey], “kangaroo” [yellow-tan], dark earth, mahogany, blueblood [slightly bright navy blue], sage green, and badlands tan [sand]. I’ve even seen 5.11 offer the Meridian pant in the classic GWOT era 3-color pattern DCU (Desert Camouflage Uniform).
5.11 Meridian Pocket Array
Depending on who you ask, cargo pants and cargo shorts aren’t fashionable. However, while the 5.11 Meridian pant makes no apologies for being a practical outdoor cargo pant, it looks smart. By that I mean that couture and the cut of its pockets do not look clunky or dorky. The onboard cargo pockets are practical. 5.11 also didn’t overdo it and stitched pockets to every square inch of the garment.
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Either way, the pocket array of the 5.11 Meridian Pant is the single most important element that drives these pants. Meridian pants have eight total pockets. There are two standard “hand” pockets, a pair of cargo pockets over the thigh, and two pairs of pockets on the rear.
The front cargo pockets have a slanted flap, similar to the flaps on US Marine Corps uniforms. They’re also deep, and their flaps use two velcro tabs to shut. The regular hand pockets are also deep and will hold stuff without fear of it falling out. I routinely jam loaded pistol magazines in the hand pockets while training.
The rear “butt” pockets are zippered, which is a great wallet-protecting feature while spending time outdoors. There’s also a pair of parallel pockets right behind the hip at 4 and 8 o’clock. They’re deep enough to store most phones. Magpul PMAGs will also easily slide in there, too.
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My Personal Uniform
After more than a year of continuous wear at the range across spring, summer, and autumn shooting, they’ve become my de facto range and training pants ever since I received them. Even now, I typically wear them with my A/T Mid Boots.
By this point in time, those two are part of my unofficial official personal range uniform. Whether I’m training, shooting for review, or shooting in a competition, I always rock my Meridian pants. However, I don’t wear them in very cold weather.
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I’ve worn these pants “hard,” without babying them. The fabric hasn’t ripped or torn, nor has the crotch blown out. I typically wear a rigger’s style belt with these to support a gun and magazine carries as needed. The belt loops have also held up accordingly.
Size-wise, they’re comfortable and true to size. The waistband is comfortable and allows for plenty of space to carry a handgun AIWB. It’s the single most important factor for me, considering I train and compete from concealment.
I really don’t mean to exaggerate how comfortable they are. The poplin material makes them feel smoother than the typical canvas or cargo pant fabric. At this point, my pair is so worn in, they’re as comfortable as PJ bottoms.
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Every piece of kit, whether gadget or garment, has a service life. I know at some point in the future, my Meridian pants will have to be retired, too. When that day comes, I’ll be saddened.
Read the full article here
