It is that time of year where many of us are getting into the full swing of the hunting and fishing seasons fall has to offer. I am absolutely one of the individuals in that camp because my calendar is littered with red “X” marks denoting all of the time off I have allocated for adventuring and attempting to fill my freezer with wild game. When it comes to being in the great outdoors my clothing is merely an after-thought; as it should be. I should be so confident in my clothing and gear that I am only intently focused on the hunt or my task at hand. I should not wonder whether or not my garments are up for the task. In this TFB Review, we take a look at another one of 5.11 Tactical‘s newest articles of clothing with their Bravo Pant where I aggressively tested them in torrential rainfall on Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area of Minnesota. Let’s see if the Bravo Pant is deserving of an encore or if I needed to call for evac!

SPECIFICATIONS: 5.11 TACTICAL bravo PANT

Long gone are the days of washed out blue jeans where you can see the imprint of a Skoal snuff can in someone’s back pocket and a tattered front pocket where someone used to (past tense) clip their everyday carry (EDC) knife. As modern shooters, outdoors people, and adventurers we need and demand more from our pants. If that describes you then you likely own or have contemplated getting tactical pants before. The complete specifications for the New Bravo Pant can be read below as presented by 5.11 Tactical, and you can decide for yourself if the specs measure up to your requirements:

• 89% polyester/11% elastane, 4-way stretch double weave, 5.5-oz. water resistant finish
• Enduro-Flex™ fabric engineered to avoid snagging for long term durability and easy wear while retaining its ability to move and stretch
• 7 total pockets, including hand pockets (reinforced with nylon 6), back pockets, and 2 back yoke mag pockets
• Fixed waistband with soft inside jacquard logo elastic
• Poly/elastane fabric for all pocketing

• Reflective trim on fold up hem
• Back knee articulation
• Flag label at back pocket & scope embroidery at left side seam
• Slim Fit
• 4 Colors – Ranger Green, Peacoat, Black & Stone
• 10 Waist Sizes – 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40
• 4 Length Sizes – 30, 32, 34, 36

The color schemes these pants are offered in are all flat, matte choices; offerings that blend in well with the outdoors as well as a potential professional setting. With 7 different pockets to store your wallet, backup magazines, EDC knife, and other carry-ables you have lots of choices for how to arrange your pant to conquer the day at hand. A water-resistant finish goes a long way as well which was tested to the maximum degree for this article (which we will discuss later). Further details of the features of the Bravo Pant are explained in this 5.11 Tactical statement from their website:

You’ve got things you need within reach when you’re on the go, but that doesn’t mean wearing a big, ol’ bulky pant. The Bravo is proof of that. It’s engineered with a super-lightweight, ultimately flexible fabric blend with a durable water-repellent finish. The Bravo supports your range of motion in the waist, via a fixed waistband with soft jacquard logo elastic, and at the knees, which feature articulated backs. And for all your stuff, there are 7 total pockets, including nylon-6-reinforced hand pockets, plus back pockets, and two back yoke mag pockets. Reflective trim on the inner side seam adds an element of safety to this stylish pant. Step into the Bravo and carry your EDC gear with confidence.

UNBOXING & FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 5.11 TACTICAL bravo PANT

Upon taking my pair of 5.11 Tactical Bravo pants out of their packaging the first thing you notice is how stretchy they are; impressively so. It seems to be a recent trend for pants of all types that they are sewing in fabrics that allow more freedom and movement, and I am on board with that. While some pairs of newer pants only have a stretchy waistline, the Bravo pant had free movement everywhere. In the waistline, the buttocks, the knee area, truly everywhere.

The next noticeable element of the Bravo pant is the sheen or smooth aesthetic of the pant. They are incredibly slick and smooth to the touch. This is likely attributed to the water-resistant finish that is built into the pant. I would later greatly appreciate this characteristic during my next fishing excursion I had planned, but we will discuss that later.

A final small enhancement I saw on the Bravo pant was the use of a snap and a secondary button. I do not believe it is a tremendous problem that the main, traditional button used to close one’s pants above their zipper breaks a lot, but that subtle touch of reinforcement just exemplifies how 5.11 Tactical goes above and beyond in even the little things.

FIELD TIME: 5.11 TACTICAL bravo PANT

To give these Bravo pants their metaphorical workout, I had an unassumingly simple task in mind: trout and salmon fishing. Around this time every year in Minnesota, I journey up to Lake Superior to attempt to catch spawning salmon making their way from the depths of our Great Lake to the many tributaries dotting the North Shore. I also head into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in pursuit of brook trout. With the gauntlet laid before me, I set out on my day-trip adventure proudly donning these new pair of Bravo pants.

The weather was perfectly suited for this review: a torrential downpour of rain. I have always viewed the North Shore of MN as a coastal rainforest. That is not its textbook habitat by definition, but the whole area is always lush with undergrowth, foliage, and it seems to always be raining. This day was no exception.

With southern winds blowing strong sheets of rain off of Lake Superior into the small tributary pools I was fishing for salmon, I became soaked instantly… except for my pants. My hat, coat, and boots were soaked to the core, but today’s mission was catching fish so I was not going to turn in early.

With the relentless rain my pants were continually covered in water, but it was simply running off. I got in and out of my car a dozen times hitting up small pools, tributaries, creeks, and streams earnestly searching for where some salmon might be running. So the fact that my pants were not soaked; thus, not soaking my car seat was a major plus.

Aside from the strong water-resistant properties of the Bravo pant, its ability to stretch with all of my movements was invaluable. I was constantly crouched over tying my fishing line using different rigs and hooks, applying fresh bait, and optimistically staring into the waters of Lake Superior hoping to see a fish following my bait. If there were 2 characteristics I needed on that day, the ability to keep water out and still move as I need were invaluable. What happened next in my adventure was something a bit unexpected.

I stopped to check out a creek known for having brook trout that had a very steep and rocky clay bank to the creek bottom. If you can remember the box-office, smash hit (sort of) “Black Sheep” starring Chris Farley from the mid-’90s where he falls down a hill to his dismay after several valiant attempts at stopping… I relived that scenario trying to crawl into a brook trout honey hole, but instead of crawling, I fell… just like Chris Farley.

After coming to a disorientating stop and realizing I had not damaged my fishing pole or tackle, I thanked the fishing gods and assessed my damage. While my coat and pants were caked in clay they were not torn or even scratched!  Being as my coat was already thoroughly soaked, I completely submerged it in the river, shook it off, wrung it out, and put it back on. As far as my pants, I splashed water on the front side and wiped as much clay off as I could and kept fishing.

I have said this in previous reviews of products on TFB that everything I receive for testing, and even personally own, I do not “torture test.” There are no drag-it-behind-a-pickup-truck reviews here. I do resolutely believe though everything is essentially a tool, serves a purpose, and will not be babied. Well, that day was the closest I ever came to completing a torture test with my impromptu Chris Farley impersonation.

The rest of my day chasing timid and elusive brook trout and salmon went more predictably. The sun came out 2 hours before dark, I eventually dried out, and I got more comfortable in my Bravo pant. While I did not catch many fish that day I truly had a memorable experience in the Northwoods of MN and enjoyed every minute of it. Just like I stated at the beginning, your clothing should be an after-thought and it was. I never had thoughts of “will my gear hold up to what is about to happen?” For that, it was a good day.

FINAL THOUGHTS: 5.11 TACTICAL bravo PANT

With a solid 12 hour day of climbing across rocks, embankments, and fishing holes around Lake Superior I had more than enough time to gather some final thoughts about the new 5.11 Tactical Bravo pant. I have more than gushed about this attribute at this point, but the water-resistant finish was invaluable. Also, the stretch fabric which allowed me to be adventurous as need be was pivotal as well. Through pouring rain and rolling down clay hills I never wrecked these pants. The 7 pockets were also nice for storing what I consider my routine EDC package of a wallet, cell, keys, knife, and pistol.

The only thing negative I really have to say about these pants is I wish there were a dedicated knife pocket exterior to the main front pocket. While crouched down (like in the photo above) my knife would pinch with my thigh between my Kydex holster and that could hurt quite a bit and is surprising in the moment. The 5.11 Tactical ABR Pro pant has a nice example of an exterior knife pocket which I like a lot.

In closing, I want to say THANK YOU to 5.11 Tactical for allowing TFB and myself the opportunity to try out one of their newest pairs of tactical pants in the Bravo Pant! That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the 5.11 Tactical Bravo Pant is something durable enough for your everyday demands yet equally agile to keep you constantly moving? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.