Helikon-Tex OTP Outdoor Tactical Pants - Water Resistant, Lightweight Hiking & Work Pants for Men - Perfect for Law Enforcement, Camping & Outdoor Adventures

I've done a lot of searching and a lot of trial and error with pants. People say these pants are expensive...Well, in my experience, the gold standard of civilian tactical pants are the Arc'teryx LEAF Combat Pants, and they're $350 retail. I'm going to use them as the standard to compare with the HELIKON-TEX pants, as no other pants on the market can compare with these two titans. Here goes.TL;DRThe Arc'teryx LEAF Combat Pants are a little better, but the HELIKON-TEX pants are a far better value for the money. If you're shy about the price point, think of it this way: How often do you have to replace your pants because they wore out? Yearly? Every two years? Because I can guarantee you, the fabric in these pants will last much, much longer than cotton or even NYCO pants. You'll save money in the long run, and benefit from superior design in the mean time.Detailed ComparisonShared Features:* The fabric is perfect: 4-way stretch, durable, and comes with a layer of water repellent coating. Nothing else comes close. Cotton? NYCO? Garbage in comparison. If you're a firefighter, get nomex pants. Otherwise, settle for no less than the fabric in these pants.* The design of the pockets is outstanding in both pants, better than all others on the market.* The slimline design of the thigh pockets combined with the stretch fabric means that you can get these pants tailored to have a dress pant silhouette and most people will assume you're wearing dress pants. You get the best of both worlds, outdoing typical "covert" tactical pants. This is especially true if you wear a blazer, it covers the belt loops and thigh pockets. Just see a good tailor if you go that route.Arc'teryx Advantages:* Button closure for the front/crotch zipper.* Belt loops take belts up to 2" wide. More compatible with climbing harnesses and other specialized gear.* Bungee in the leg hem allows for tightening around your boots etc. if you don't want to tuck them in.* Flaps on thigh pockets may be tucked inside with velcro if you're stowing something big or tall.* Drainage grommet in thigh pockets.* Hip pockets are more versatile: They have a generous zipper pocket inside each pocket, so you can carry a wallet and phone easily on one side. With the HELIKON-TEX, I have to put my phone in one of the thigh pocket compartments and have my wallet alone in a hip pocket.* Hip pockets are deeper; one can pocket carry something like a Ruger LC9 without issue, whereas the HELIKON-TEX pants probably can support a Ruger LCP II at most without having the pistol dig into your hip when you sit down.* Design is cleaner looking if you want to be more covert about being a Tactical Ninja.HELIKON-TEX Advantages:* Lighter weight.* Hip pockets are more compartmentalized; this can be good if you have a specific loadout suited for them.* Much more variety of colors available.* Much more variety of sizes available, so you probably won't have to get them tailored (unless you want to be a Dapper Ninja, like me).* Costs around $95 instead of $350. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. And the value here is a major win.FINAL VERDICT: The Arc'teryx LEAF Combat Pants are still the pants to beat in terms of features and quality. Given the value for the money though, the HELIKON-TEX pants are now my first choice except when:1. I need to use a belt wider than 1.5".2. I'm pocket carrying a larger pocket pistol, like a Ruger LC9.3. I need to carry bigger stuff in my thigh pockets.4. I need to not make a ton of velcro noise when taking off my pants or preparing to drop a deuce.5. I need just a bit of extra style points.Finally a company that makes pants with a 36" inseam!!My initial impression after owning a lot of top quality $150-$200 pairs of outdoors/tactical/hunting pants is that these are "nice" pants. They're a little pricy given the materials but not extraordinary. They've got pockets in all the right places and they seem to be built well with quality materials. I ordered the regular "verastrech" pants and was disappointed in the lightness of the material. I can't imagine how light the "Versastretch lite" pants are and was really hopping for a slightly heavier thicker pant. These would be a great pant in the summer or in really warm temps but then who the heck wears pants when it's hot? I'd much rather wear shorts. I'd like to see the same exact pant in a 3-4oz material rather than the 2.0oz material for the fall/winter. I'll keep the pants and wear them for hiking in the summer when pants are required but they'll likely be benched most of the year. If you want a light-weight pant for daily use and must wear pants then they'd be a great buy. I have a work uniform so I won't be wearing these for daily use and I'd rather wear shorts on the weekends in warm weather. Maybe a decent early fall hunting pant in temps above 70 but they're kinda noisy.I have been wearing these pants for about 2 weeks now, and overall I like them, but I do have some issues with them as well. I bought these because I had long ago owned some cargo pants which were a nylon blend (but obviously a different blend than these in hindsight) and they lasted forever so I was looking for something with similar durability. I can't say how long these will last, but here is what I can say so far...The material is not like any other pants I have, it feels weird, not in a bad way, but they definitely feel different than all my other pants, they feel kind of soft and yet slightly rough as well which is hard to explain. They do make a bit of noise when you walk in them more than cotton pants will, but not too noisy to me. The crotch area is a little higher than I would normally like, but not terrible. The fly has a zipper and then velcro where you'd normally have a button on the waist line... exactly WHY there is velcro here is a bit of a mystery to me and I don't really care for it compared to a more traditional snap or loop button. For some reason, the front center waistband area of these pants tends to ride low and so my belt buckle is often riding over it which is very strange and this does not happen in any of my other pants and I own a lot of cargo pants. Yes I did try different positions of the velcro closure but none really solved this issue.If you like to concealed carry a firearm, these pants are NOT a good option for that, at least not in most configurations. Although the pockets CAN hold something like an ultra compact pistol, you will print so badly that is is clear as day to anyone looking at you that you have a gun in your pocket. The same goes for appendix carry or side IWB really unless your shirt is really long. The fact is, these pants are made of a "stretchy" material, so they basically outline any bulges in your pants. So you can forget concealing your mid-large frame gun in them, or any arousal you might have going on if that happens (but that is a different topic)! I did find that the only option if you really want to concealed carry and wear these pants at the same time, is to wear hiking boots and wear a sub-compact pistol in an ankle holster, which is not idea, but it is better than nothing and the lower leg area is baggy enough that it does not print.PROS: Fits as expected, elastic waistband, quality construction, water repellant, comfortable, light weight, not too hot or cold.CONS: Stretch material clearly prints contents of pockets, front-center of waistband area rides lower than my belt buckles, velcro where waistband button normally would be is something I don't like.Unlike the UTP cotton ripstop from helikon the OTP is stretchier and lighter, however, it is less durable (repairable) and offers no wind shielding. Although the listing stated Knee reinforcements with place for soft pads, they don't have it. Sure these trousers are very comfortable but for the price it feels like you are getting less, especially when UTP ripstop is cheaper.Really nice fit, stretches well for any vigorous activities or simply long dog walks. Not baggy looking like some combats, contoured cut makes me look more athletic than I actually am! Also purchased the UTP trouser, this has the same jeans type fit without the swish swish sound of these outdoor pants.For that reason I rate this 4 star and the UTP 5 stars, it's very close and depends on how much the stretchiness is of importance.Great service from Military 1st, will buy again from this seller.Very good overall quality and fit. Pockets conveniently placed. I bought it to go hiking so this doesn't affect me but if you want to go play airsoft or paintball in it, keep in mind that it is the kind of material that makes a bit of noise if you move. Nothing serious but can be a disadvantage if you need to go sneaky. Otherwise the material is pretty comfy, doesn't irritate the skin like some other similar trousers do.Love the Helikon brand. Have bought several pairs of shorts and now long pants. Well made, good fit, very strong material, lots of useful pockets and very forgiving for a travelling waistline with the velcro fastener.Would definitely recommend these to anyone wanting work trousers or just casual wear. Got sick of wearing jeans all the time and these are way more comfortableI have three pairs and virtualy live in them so comfortable