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A Marine’s 5.11 tactical holiday gift recommendations (for men)

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

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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:

TPT EDC Flashlight

TMT PL Flashlight

PT Ankle Sock

 

Under $50/Budget Gift for Men:

Intrepid Shirt

Drop Shot Belt

6.6 Padded Pouch

 

Under $100 Gift for Men:

Rush12 Backpack

Speed 3.0 Coyote Sidezip Boot

TPT P5 14 Flashlight

 

Over $100 Gift for Men:

Rush24 Backpack

ABR Trainer

XPRT 3.0 6″ Waterproof Boot

 

Featured image courtesy of 511tactical.com

About Nick Coffman View All Posts

Nick is a former United States Marine. He primarily writes about Marine Corps Special Operations as well as digital privacy and security. In his spare time he enjoys hunting and fishing.

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