Rail Rider's X-Treme Adventure Pant

MSRP: $98
Colors: Khaiki, Slate, Sage
Rail Riders Webpage

Rail Riders VersaTac Pants

I have been using the RailRiders VersaTac pants now for well over a year. I have to say, that I have been VERY impressed!!

RailRiders gets it's name from yacht racing in which the crew "rode the rails" to increase speed. Well, RailRiders has expanded out to all outdoor adventures and there clothing can even be seen on security contractors and special operations personnel as well. In fact these pants were designed with spec ops in mind.

The first thing you'll most likely say is "whoa, that's too expensive for a pair of pants". I know that was my first impression, until I started wearing RailRiders gear, and specifically these pants.

I've been wearing both the mid and light weight styles of these two pants. I'll first speak on this aspect of the pants.

The pair of light weight pants I received came in sage green color. I've worn these comfortably in both the winter and summer, but are a bit cooler in both environments. The mid weight pair are comfortable in both environments but are a little warm in the summer time. They're quite a bit thicker, using 6.6oz canvas weave nylon than the light weights, which use 3oz Duralite nylon.

When it comes to materials used in each, they both have great water resistant properties. This not only helps in light rain, but also helps to repel stains. A few days after receiving the pants I got a nasty grass stain on one of the knees during some hiking in the Adirondacks. This stain set for a day or two before being washed and when washed it came right out with no residual hint. The weave of the heavier canvas material has a slight texture that hints at a ripstop type material, even though it is not.

The only difference in features between the 2 weights is that the mid-weight reinforcements on the knees/seat is made of the same material as the pants, and on the light-weight pants the reinforcements are "RailTex" Nylon...which seems slightly more abrasion resistant than the pant material.

For features, here they are:

- Reinforced seat and knees

- Both the cargo pockets and the back pockets have the option to close using either velcro or buttons. The buttons are held on in a unique fashion. Instead of directly sewing them on, a piece of web material is thread through the buttons and that material is what is sewn to the pants. I find this to be a much more durable design. The stitching has less stress on it than if the the buttons were sewn directly on.

- Side Cargo Pockets
* Bellowed to expand.
* These cargo pockets have a very unique feature. On the front of the cargo pocket there is a full length zipper. This allows entry to the pocket from the front when seated or kneeling. This is one of the best features of these pants in my opinion, aside from heir overall high quality. It's always been an issue with me both in the military, security, and civilian life. While seated, especially in a vehicle, the gear in your cargo pants is extremely difficult to get to. I've been wearing these pants for over a year and have never had these zippers unzip on their own and have not lost anything out of the cargo pockets. If the zipper does get pulled slightly open it opens from the top down, so there would be less chance of losing anything. I've actually had one left open (my own fault for not zipping it up) and the contents still did not fall out. A feature that should be on all cargo pants!!
* An internal pocket for pistol magazines (a tight fir for double stacked mags) or anything else of that size. I've used it for mid sized pocket knives, pens, a jump drive, and many other smaller items.
* These pockets even have their own reinforcement in a way. The pocket itself seems to have an additional layer of cloth underneath the pocket. So any strain put on the attachment seams s reinforced to prevent the pocket from ripping off.

- 2 back pockets with flaps.

- 2 hip pockets with reinforcements for pocket knife use. These reinforcements really save on damage to the material in this area when using clip on pocket knives. The only suggestion I have to make this feature better is to also reinforce the inner pocket area just opposite of where the knife would be. I have seen some wear in this area as can be seen in the picture. These pockets are nice and deep as well.

- Gussetted crotch provides better range of motion. This is something I've seen carry over from the martial arts uniforms that helps with strain on seams.

- Reinforcements at the back cuff. Being only 5'5" tall I find this to be another extremely good feature for myself. I always wear out the back of my pants due to them hanging low on my boots/shoes or from walking on the back of them when not wearing footwear. This is an area that takes a beating from everyday activities and these are the first pants I've worn that have included this feature.

- Wide belt loop opening accommodates most pant belts, including the military "rigger's" belt.

- Another awesome feature is that there is 5 inches of expansion in the waist. This provides a little give for a better range of motion, and also for that extra "winter weight". These pants are extremely comfortable, and I believe this elastic makes a world of difference. It is also good for "inside the waistband" carry of pistols. Most pants don't have this elastic and if you carry a firearm on a regular basis you need to choose between something that's your size or something that is a couple sizes bigger if you carry your pistol in your waist band.

The overall quality of these pants is excellent. I have had some of the stitching on the cargo pocket velcro of the mid weight pants come loose, but this didn't concern me and in my opinion isn't a strike against the quality of the pants. This cargo pocket is on my "weak" side, and I tend to use it more because I don't use my gun hand when getting things out of my cargo pocket. Something I've just grown to do in my lifestyle. So this cargo pocket gets a lot of use. This was a quick fix and I still will say these pants are AWESOME and great quality. I know they're a lot of money, but they're definitely worth it.

For features, great as well. I've used these pants for more than a year and haven't babied them, and they pretty much look like they did the day I got them. In fact I've worn them as much as possible. They've remained comfortable and they are a pair of pants that I will buy in the future as well!!

Weights:
Mid-Weight: 25 oz
Light Weight: 15 oz

Colors:
Mid-Weight: Dark Stone, Forest Green, Natural, Black
Light Weight: Khaki, Black, Sage Green

Sizes: Sm-XXL, Sm-XXL (30 in. inseam)

MSRP: $98.00

Rail Riders Eco Mesh Shirt

This is another great item from Rail Riders. The Eco Mesh shirt is a great summer time shirt. Even being long sleeved this shirt is made for warm weather. One idea behind using a light weight long sleeve shirt in the warmer weather is protection from the sun. This shirt does that well with a UPF of 30+.

When you pick this shirt up you you'll notice that it weighs practically nothing in your hand... in fact they call this 2 ply 3 oz. Duralite material "featherweight nylon". The light weight material, along with the loose fit and side mesh panels make this shirt very breezy. The side mesh panels (made from Coolmax) run up from the waist through the arm pits and all the way to the wrists. There is also a mesh vent about 1/3 of the way down the back.

The neck opening runs low in a V-neck and can be held closed via a velcro tab. There is also a small strip of loop velcro on the inside of the shirt on the side with the velcro tab so the tab can be folded in when you don't want to use it.

The sleeves utilize a strong elastic at the wrists.

On the left chest is what Rail Rider's calls a guide pocket. This pocket runs horizontal and uses 2 velcro tabs for a closure. This pocket is easy to get into and is allows better access when wearing a pack. To keep the weight low and add in ventilation the inner material of the pocket is coolmax mesh as well.

As for sizing. I normally wear a medium t-shirt, so that's what I ordered for this shirt. Being only 5'5" tall the sleeves hung a little low at the wrists. The shirt is a little baggier than I would like, but this is mostly by design to allow air flow through the shirt.

Another aspect of the material this shirt is made of is that it's wicking and fast drying, which make it great for summer wear and wear around water. The material is also very wrinkle and odor-resistant. This wrinkle resistance and the light weight make it great for packing.

I haven't gotten a ton of use out of this shirt yet, but it does seem to be just as durable as the other Rail Rider's clothing I've used....which for those that haven't used their gear it's very durable. I have been getting more use out of this shirt this summer and expect to get more use out of it in the next months. I will update this review as necessary, but I expect great things from all of Rail Rider's gear.

100% Nylon
Coolmax mesh

Total weight: 6.8 oz.

Colors: White, Birch, Coastal Blue, glacier, honeydew, pale yellow.
Sizes: Sm-XXL

MSRP $58.00

Walking the Erie Canal Trail

Rail Riders Jammin' Shorts

The Rail Riders company claims to have the toughest clothes on the planet....well, through my experiences wearing their clothing, I tend to believe their claim. The company's name comes from the yacht racing sports in which the crew "rides the rails" to increase speed. The founder of the company didn't like the chafing resulting from wearing water logged canvas pants for the length of a 24 hour race, so he created the Rail Riders line of clothing.

One piece of their line that I've had the pleasure of wearing and testing is the Jammin' shorts. The first thing I thought would be a problem on these shorts was the included belt. It's a nylon web belt that's got a front release buckle. Any pants I've had with this type of belt have always been a pain because the belt would loosen up and I end up typing a knot in the belt to prevent it from slipping through the buckle and loosening. Well, I've worn these shorts as much as possible in the warm weather and the belt hasn't loosened at all. It really shows that Rail Riders puts quality control up front in their designs. This belt works great, and is much lighter than any other belt I may have worn with the shorts.

Speaking of light weight, these shorts are made of some really great material. They are made of allure textured nylon, which is soft to the touch, repels a light mist or rain (helping with stain repelancy), and is light weight for hot humid days. With this comfort you'd almost expect a loss of durability. Not with Rail Riders. These shorts can take a beating!!! Stitching on the Rail Riders clothing is great as well. Bar tacked at stress points and no loose stitching.

OK, and on for the features, which these shorts are full of.

Pockets - These shorts have plenty of pockets to tote your stuff around in.
- 2 J pockets (hip pockets) that are made of mesh on the inside and have large enough openings to get your whole hand in easily. They are nice and deep as well so you don't lose items, and the mesh is nice for draining water, lighter weight, and letting out heat.
- Right side J pocket also features a velcro closed change pocket.
- Left Side J pocket has a hidden zippered pocket along the seam....I like to call this the "secure" pocket as it's harder to tell it's there and requires unzipping to get into.
- 2 side bellowed cargo pockets. These pockets close with Velcro and have a pull tab to help in opening. These pockets also have 2 drain holes in them. They're nicely sized for shorts, but harder to get your hand into to get smaller items out from the bottom. Not a huge issue, but maybe another inch in width would have been a little help.
- One rear pocket with a velcro closure.

Elastic waist that has several inches of give. This makes these shorts really comfortable!

Gusseted crotch for better range of motion. I recognize this feature from martial arts uniforms I've worn in the past. This is an added piece of fabric in the crotch that allows the legs more range of motion by having more material in this area.

Zippered fly.

9 inch inseam. I like this longer inseam on a short meant for outdoor adventure use!

They're also very packable. They roll up into a very small package and take up practically no room in a pack.

I've used these shorts quite a bit....to test durability I try to use them as often as possible and they look just like they did the day I got them. I have a feeling they'll last for quite some time. The features are great and very user friendly, and the fact that you can use and abuse them and after a washing they look brand new is absolutely great, whether camping, hiking, or just enjoying a day at the beach.

100% Nylon

Colors: Dark Stone, Granite, Grey Green, Natural
Sizes: Sm - XXL

MSRP: $59.00

Coolmax T-shirt

I got this Coolmax t-shirt from Cool Clothing USA which specializes in moisture wicking performance clothing. I have owned Coolmax shirts before and although they were light in weight and breathable I wasn't terribly impressed with the shirt itself. The shirt I owned before shrunk when washed, it held a funky odor even after washing, and it pilled (got little balls of cloth that came off the material and stuck to the shirt).

This shirt does none of that. It's made of Coolmax extreme, which is the best quality of Coolmax. I have worn it several times and washed it several times with no shrinking or pilling. It is also long enough to stay tucked in. It does an excellent job of wicking sweat away and it dries very fast. I have been very impressed with this shirt. It is very comfortable and feels like a cotton shirt but performs so much better. If you're going to be in a hot area or be wearing a lot of hot heavy gear this is a great t-shirt to wear. They come in a variety of sizes and colors including military and tactical colors.

MSRP: $13.95 each

5.11 Tactical Pants

These pants are made by 5.11 Tactical, which originated from the rock climbing/outdoor company Royal Robins. These pants come in both Cotton and Nylon and also come in sizes to fit men and women. They are great tactical pants as well as rugged everyday pants. I have only had these pants for a short time, but so far they have held up well and I love the features. One feature that I wish they had was a dedicated wallet pocket above the back pockets. The back pockets are large, and if a wallet is placed in them it rides low and ends up under your leg when sitting. I normally carry my wallet in the thigh cargo pocket on pants with cargo pockets anyway....so it's not too big an issue. This way, also, you can put things such as AR magazines in the back pocket and have plenty of room. Speaking of cargo pockets...I have seen in one place an advertisement for these pants saying they have the 5.11 BBS (backup belt system, velcro which allows pockets to be attached) in the cargo pockets. Some 5.11 pants do have this...these pants, however, do not.
I noticed two things on these pants that is not mentioned in their description. One thing that can be seen in the picture below is that they have an additional button to hold the fly closed on the inside. Another is the fact that the hemmed versions also have holes in the cuff for you to add a drawstring for blousing like BDUs.
Fading in the coyote color that I bought isn't an issue so far. I have seen coworkers with black cotton 5.11 pants that don't appear black after the first couple washings. They appear a dark green and sometimes a dark navy blue, and seem to fade faster.
Here are some of the other listed features of these pants:
1- Double knee with pocket for kneepad. The pocket opening is on the inside of the pants and opens from the side.
2- YKK zipper fly with Prym snap closure.
3- Solid Brass D-ring off the right front belt loop.
4- Wider Belt loops are more durable.
5- Magazine/cell phone pocket on front of left thigh.
6- Bellowed cargo pockets with velcro closure.
7- Double seat.
8- Rear slash pockets with Velcro. These pockets are large.
9- Elastic waist.
10- Utility strap over right back pocket. This feature comes from the original pants designed for rock climbing and is where carabiners were attached. I have used this strap to attach a small MOLLE cell phone pouch.
11- Reinforced areas on front and rear slash pockets to reduce wear from knife clips.
12- Bartacks and triple-stitched for strength and durability.
13- Made from 8.8oz cotton canvas or 7.4ox nylon canvas.
Sizes: Mens:Even waist 28-44in, even inseam 30-36in or unhemmed.
Womens: Even 2-16, unhemmed available.
The MSRP on these pants is $49.99, but can be found almost everywhere for $39.95.
LA Police Gear always seems to have good deals on 5.11 products and is a reputable place to order from.
Colors: Khaki, Walnut, OD, Black, Grey, Charcoal, Coyote Brown, Tundra, Sage, Fire Navy, Desert Sand (nylon only).