The Best Tactical Clothing Brands Right Now
When you buy tactical clothing, you want to trust that it’s going to deliver when you need it most. That’s why understanding the different brands on offer can make all the difference when it comes to staying safe, looking sharp, and getting the best value for money.
It’s for these reasons we put together this guide on the best tactical clothing brands. Below, you can find an in-depth breakdown of the very best manufacturers. We look at the products that they offer, from jeans to jackets, how to buy them, and how much they cost.
Let’s dive in with a quick explainer of what’s classed as tactical clothing.
What Is Classed As Tactical Clothing?
The term “tactical clothing” covers a range of different types of clothes, but generally speaking, they’re all designed for high-pressure environments or long periods battling the elements. The most well-known types of tactical clothing are camouflage gear used by police responders, firefighters, and the military. However, there’s a growing demand for good quality and hard-wearing clothes among casual wearers too.
Tactical clothing is purposely designed to tackle harsh weather and difficult terrain in a way that standard civilian clothing doesn’t. Its most common usage is to assist special forces and emergency workers in high-pressure environments, including police officers and firefighters who wear tactical clothing while on duty.
For those who rely on their clothing for protection, it can make all the difference. As we’ll see below, certain brands of clothing also allow you to carry necessities such as first aid kits, speciality lights, and other key tools that help people do their jobs to the highest standard.
The Best Tactical Clothing Brands
Whether you’re browsing the web for Merrell’s tactical boots or a MIRA Safety gas mask, it’s vital to have a firm grasp of the different brands and their speciality areas.
Using our experience in the sector, we’ve compiled a list of the best tactical clothing brands you can buy at the moment. You can find details on products, pricing, overall customer satisfaction rate, and how long they’ve been in the sector.
5.11 Tactical
One of the original, if not the original, names in tactical clothing is 5.11 Tactical. What started as a pant offered by Royal Robbins quickly turned into a full-fledged brand that spawned the growth of an entire industry.
Originally meant for rock climbing (hence the name 5.11), law enforcement agencies such as the FBI quickly realized that these durable and functional pants were perfect for their needs. From there, the 5.11 brand grew and expanded to be one of the names most synonymous with tactical clothing.
Merrell
It’s impossible to discuss the best tactical clothing brands without bringing Merrell into the conversation. By identifying boots that can be worn in both extremes of heat and icy cold terrain, Merrell is the go-to brand for many military equipment providers, private security companies, and emergency service personnel.
After launching in 1981, Merrell pivoted away from specialist hiking boots and began specializing in tactical boots. Although they still have one of the most sought-after ranges of hiking boots anywhere online, it’s their tactical footwear that continues to bolster their already stellar brand reputation.
Merrell Men's Black MOAB 3 Response 8" Tactical Zip Waterproof Boot is the gold standard for footwear and cements their name as one of the best tactical clothing brands. While this will set you back around $200, they have hiking and slimmer-fit style boots for between $60 and $100.
Oakley
Some people are unaware that Oakley is one of the best tactical clothing brands. While they might have more notoriety because of their internationally successful sunglasses range, they also specialize in boots, shirts, and caps.
Their eyewear range is a US standard issue. They work closely with the armed forces, providing sunglasses and eyewear to active personnel. The Californian-based company launched in 1975 and has continued establishing itself as a global name.
In 2021, they announced a partnership with Aston Martin’s F1 team, one of the most valuable F1 teams in the world.
Safariland
US police personnel are well aware of Safariland. The company is a key supplier for many of the country's forces, providing an array of weapons holsters, carriers, and restraints. It’s also a popular choice for those who enjoy hunting.
ASP
ASP is the brand of choice for batons and handcuffs. Although other companies are competitive in this field, and emergency services are always looking for new innovations, ASP has remained one of the best tactical clothing brands in this area for over 20 years.
They also offer a wide range of clothes, including cotton t-shirts, polo shirts, caps, belts, and off-duty Hawaiian-style shirts if you’re feeling adventurous.
Tru-Spec
If you’re looking for camping supplies or high-quality designs for a few days out in the woods hiking, Tru-Spec has one of the best ranges you can find.
Founded over 70 years ago, Tru-Spec products now include camping tents, boonie hats, pants, duty belts, and paracords.
Many consider them to be a one-stop shop for all things tactical and definitely one of the best clothing brands around.
Under Armour
Of all the brands in this section, Under Armour is arguably the most widely known. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, less than 30 years ago, the company is now a multi-billion dollar multinational, boasting over 17,000 employees worldwide.
Globally revered as one of the best tactical clothing brands on the planet, Under Armour fuses together affordability, leisure, and high-quality materials. Although they’re mostly known for designing tracksuits, caps, and shirts, the company also gives Merrell a run for its money as one of the top footwear providers in the tactical clothing industry.
MIRA Safety
MIRA Safety is synonymous with gas masks—and it’s the chosen provider for thousands of companies and governments worldwide. Widely recognized as the premium provider of gas masks globally, MIRA Safety supplies a range of chemical companies, armies, personal security services, and emergency personnel.
They also produce protective gloves and hazmat suits for even greater protection.
As a leading brand in respiratory and gas mask design, no other name matches MIRA Safety for its brand reputation and longevity in this particular area. And they’re a nailed-on choice as one of the best tactical clothing brands on the planet for this reason alone.
LA Police Gear
The LA Police Gear house brand of tactical clothing has been around for over 15 years now, and has grown in quality, value, and variety. The LAPG tactical pants are the most popular line, as they bring the perfect combination of features, function, style, quality, and value to the tactical clothing market.
Aside from the pants, the entire line of LAPG apparel and gear features shirts, tactical boots and footwear, bags & packs, tools, flashlights, hats, and more.
How Can I Figure Out Who Makes The Best Tactical Gear?
We’ve covered some of the best brands above, but when you do your own research, what should you look out for to give you an idea of what’s the best product for you?
The answer to this question depends on what you need the tactical gear for. For instance, if you’re looking for something durable to wear on a hike, you can usually get away with jeans or a light jacket. However, if you’re going on a hunting trip or visiting a climate that deals with extreme heat or cold, you will need more specialist equipment and clothing.
Once you shop around and check out the prices for different types of tactical gear materials and clothing, you can get an idea of what different tactical clothing brands offer in their products.
One of the best ways is to check out online reviews. This can be via social media sites or online blogs. Let’s look at this in more detail.
Independent Reviews
Brands like MIRA Safety have such a revered reputation that you can bypass some of their online reviews. While they have a lot of people who will vouch for their quality, the fact they have longstanding contracts with some of the world’s biggest militaries and private security contractors shows just how trusted they are.
The best tactical clothing brands develop these reputations and ties because of the quality of their goods. Independent reviews can help, but the proof is in the pudding.
However, if you’re looking for less heavy-duty items, such as jeans, jackets, or caps, then independent reviews are definitely something to consider. Companies take them seriously as they’re one of the quickest ways to develop a brand reputation.
Some of the best places to look for independent reviews are the likes of Trustpilot, Google reviews and social media.
Fair Prices For Excellent Quality
We balance quality and cost in every facet of our lives. When we’re searching for the best tactical clothing brands, we can stretch our budgets a little bit more if we know we are going to pay for quality.
However, we also don’t want to get ripped off, and this is where the skill lies. By weighing up the price of the competition for similar items or speaking to family or friends and asking how much they paid for similar items, we begin to get an idea of the sort of fair prices we can pay for the best tactical clothing brands.
Buy The Best Brands Of Tactical Clothing Today
With over 40 brands to choose from at LA Police Gear, the best tactical clothing brands offer products in all shapes and sizes.
Many of these companies have decades of experience in the industry and have supplied their goods to customers and companies all over the world.
Given that they all supply an elite range of apparel, the best tactical clothing brand often boils down to personal preference. It also helps if we can snag a deal or two as well!
Key Takeaways On The Top Tactical Clothing Brands
● Balance cost and quality - don’t overspend if you don’t have to.
● Ensure you read up on the best tactical clothing brands and consider online reviews.
● Consider your whole attire for hiking, not just boots or headwear on their own.
● Consider prices across multiple retailers to find the best price.
● Seek providers specializing in specific areas, such as MIRA Safety for gas masks and Merrell for tactical footwear.
