All posts tagged Woolrich Elite Series Tactical

What’s the difference between Woolrich and Eotac?

It seems that Eotac is no longer in existence, but Woolrich Elite is still out there.  Its no secret that Fernando Coelho was involved with designing and marketting both product lines at some point the products like very similar.   The answer we always tell customers is the designs are different.   We did notice there has been some production changes to the original Woolrich Elite Series product line and the pants and shorts do have a much wanted change in the ID or wallet pocket.   The Woolrich Elite pants pocket designs were a little tighter and the fit was baggier but some people wanted that.

Woolrich has been around forever and it looks like they have survived bad economies and the tactical clothing shake down.  A few weeks ago we got word that another major clothing manufacturer just pulled out of China and is now making clothing in the Western Hemisphere.   Woolrich Elite pants are still made in China, and we have gotten price increase on all of their stuff, but according to the number of disgruntled 5.11 customers that we have, Woolrich Elite pants are the next best thing.

Top

Tactical vests that are already thought out

I understand the need for a Molle vest and there is nothing more versatile than a vest designed for just about anything that can be attached to it, but sometimes you just need a tactical vest that isn’t going to  break the bank and isn’t going to make you have to wonder how many magazine pouches, what configuration ect you are going to need when the answer is pretty much what the basics are.  If you want a tactical vest, you either want a sidearm  holster on it or you don’t.   You most likely need magazines for an M4 or M16 variant and possible storage for pistol magazines.  The Woolrich Elite tactical vests are made of a cotton canvas material which makes them very comfortable to wear but won’t make you feel like you are wearing a parachute.

The 4 pockets out the outside of this vest can hold up to 2 30rd M16 magazines.  If you are using GI magazines it will fit easily, holding 2 for a total of 8 magazines of something like Pmags will work, but it will be tight.   Behind the 30rd magazine pockets are inner pockets that can hold single stack or double stack mags.  I use my Woolrich Elite vests for range bags as well as for tactical purposes.   It’s real easy and smart to keep your shooting glasses, ear plugs, tactical gloves and targets, batteries inside the vest.   That way when you need to go, just throw it on and you’re all set.   I have personally loaded my vest up and none of the stitching has torn.   I will say that a fully loaded vest will be a little uncomfortable if you need to be in the seated position.   The 30rd magazines will start to get in the way.  It would be nice to see another tactical vest from Woolrich that sat a little higher on the chest.

Top

New Woolrich Elite CCW Shirt

I have a beef with much of the tactical apparel community because much of what I see as labeled as “CCW” is really tactical, and they are no where near the same thing.    If the jeans don’t look like Levi jeans and they look like they have pockets all over the place, they aren’t concealed carry.    I also have a serious issue with the 5.11 jeans that I just picked up because they are suppose to be for covert situations, but the pocket designs are useless.   The internal pockets are useless and the hand pockets don’t even hold a 38 Special snubby.

I am not  a big fan of the fit of Woolrich Elite pants because they are a bit over sized in a few areas.   The Algerian field jacket has funky arm lengths.    I did however get to try out the Woolrich Elite Series oxford CCW shirt and I was very impressed with this.   There was a CCW shirt from Woolrich that had similar false magnetic buttons but the patterns were pretty ugly.   This Oxford CCW shirt is real concealed carry apparel and I am very impressed with the Loden and British Tan color patterns.  We were told they are coming out with a few other styles in 2011.

Top

Tactical and concealed carry, they aren’t the same

I’ve been selling and watching the tactical clothing market for over 6yrs now and I’m still not blown away by anyone one manufacturer.   There are good points about several tactical pants makers, but nobody is doing everything right.   I’m still blown away that the 5.11 covert carry pants I picked up a few months ago were so poorly designed that I couldn’t fit a J-Frame revolver in the pants.    How they heck was somebody not fired over that one?   From what I’m seeing on the internet, those pants I got for $40 at a gun shop are selling for $19.99 at some 5.11 tactical dealer and I can see why.  I also find it odd that 5.11 still stamps there logo so that everyone knows they are tactical pants.

I’ve been reading and watching a lot of YouTube videos and getting feedback on Blackhawk and 5.11 pants because they seem to have a lot of variations of tactical pants.  The materials are more diverse than much of what Woolrich Elite and Eotac pants are made from, but I’m not feeling the urge to sink a lot of money in them.   Most people wearing tactical pants want comfort.   I learned that several years ago when there seems to have been a big exodus from 5.11 and so many people complaints about the fit and feel of them.   Pants riding up on an operator and shrinkage were the most common complaints.

Top

Versatile waterproof outerwear

There really aren’t many options that I know of for someone that is carrying a firearm or other tactical gear to be able to still stow his magazines ect. in his outwear and keep the rain off.   Woolrich Elite Series Tactical also has water proof pants that range in sizes from Small-XXL.   Make sure you check out the sizing guide on this one and don’t make any guesses.   Your XL shirt sizes don’t mean you  are going to fit in a XL pant.   I find this to be a good option in the Fall and Spring and it’s always nice to not have to throw on a large heavy coat when you don’t have to.

My Sig 226 9mm is a very large firearm and once of the best balanced 9mm there is.   I usually carry 3-4 15rd pistol magazines and the Woolrich Elite Parka holds all of them without printing.  The front pockets have elastic straps that will hold them in place and a pair of handcuffs and knife also keep me ready for work.   This is too heavy for summer carry, but it’s easy to roll it up and stuff it in the glove compartment or under a  seat if I need to put it away for a Season or two.

Top

Woolrich Elite Outerwear

We were really wondering what was going on with Woolrich a few years ago after some of the people that were involved with the company split off and went on and started their own thing.   We were not sure if they were going to survive this bump in the road, but 2011 gave us a glimpse into some original products that are being added to their product line.  We have always had a high opinion of their quality, but some of the designs of their products really needed improving.   Woolrich has gotten the edge over some of the big tactical clothing companies in 2011.

I recently looked up several shirt companies from a few years ago and they were all out of business.   This year Woolrich Elite took the trophy with their concealed carry and tactical shirts.  The lightweight cotton rip stop shirts are much lighter for hot weather and still have the tactical utility uses.  The Woolrich Elite shirts primarily the CCW and Oxford shirts are outstanding.  They truly are concealed carry shirts that aren’t tactical looking at all.  If you want dress shirts that are cut for CCW this is your best option.

Top

Standard weight tactical pants

I am not a big fan of wearing tactical pants, I find that many of the tactical clothing companies are over do the designs of some of their pockets and I either find them to be too darn big or awkward sizes.  Not every has the same size phone and there really isn’t the need for carrying a knife in every pocket.   I also do not feel as though I need to keep a 30rd magazine inside my pants pocket.   For concealed carry pants there are even fewer options out there.   Try putting a j-frame revolver in regular clothing pocket pants and you’ll find out why there is a tactical clothing market, though.

I am not also not a fan of tactical shorts.  I have been wearing the Woolrich Elite Series tactical 44905 shorts for years, but the cargo pockets are roughly one half of the size of the pants pockets and I always feel as though I have to limit what I am carrying in the summer.   I always feel kind of naked when I can’t wear the Eotac Style 202 tactical pants which are my primary tactical clothing option.  These cotton canvas pants are very well balanced as far as utility needs and the rear wallet pockets are perfect for what I need them for.

Top

Eotac Style 203 vs Style 201 pants

In the early part of 2011 I’m going to do more research and pick up a few more lightweight pants.   I know 5.11 has a lightweight pants that is 65&/35& poly cotton pant.   I have never had issues with my pants holding water, but then again I have never been deployed to Afghanistan and never noticed the difference between the two.   The 5.11 taclite pro pant is something I will pick up, but I gotta drive around and check them out at other dealers before I do so.   I’ve had too many sizing issues between various companies to be able to just order stuff online.

The Eotac style 203 pants do have an edge over the similarly designed Woolrich Elite pants as far as my opinion about the pocket designs, but some people have different bodies and prefer the larger seated cut on the Woolrich Elite.   If I was heavier, I might not like the close fitting that the Eotac pants have.   The only thing I am not very fond of on the Style 201 tactical pants is that the stitching on the lower ankle pockets has a few sharp spots on the insides and every once in awhile I get a small jab in my ankle by a something that feels like it’s pulling a hair out of my leg.   If I wear long socks the issue goes away, but in the summer you can feel it.

Top

Bitter cold, but wet weather CCW

Up here in the Northeast we are getting wacked with an early December.   I’ve been juggling between heavy winter coats and an Eotac 501 half zip sweat shirt.    I have found that wearing a good base layer, T-shirt and a sweat shirt of some sort, usually is good enough to get me through the day.   If I have to worry about covering my head and it’s below 30F I always take my Han Solo Hoth winter jacket.    It works for it’s intended purpose, but I personally don’t like wearing heavy jackets in the winter and carrying a firearm.   The heavy winter jackets don’t breath very well and there have been multiple times I have done my Christmas shopping in this configuration and was dying from the heat once I was in a shopping mall for more than an hour.

I have notice there has been some turmoil with Woolrich Elite products but they came out with several new products this past year that impressed me.  The most impressive item I saw was the Woolrich Elite Parka.   This was one of our number one selling Christmas items and they did a good job designing it.   This Parka is a Waterproof layer you can wear over your clothing and it will breath better than a heavy winter jacket that is water proof.   I don’t like the idea of carrying firearms in out wear, but I can carry my flashlight and spare magazines when I’m wearing this.   In Fall or Spring weather this jacket can be folded up into a glove compartment and be used for those Fall or Spring showers that come out of no where.

Top

Having fun but having the right stuff

I would have to say that the vast majority of those that have anything more than a flashlight and optic on the M4 are probable putting something on our guns that we really don’t need, but just enjoy having on.   There’s nothing wrong with having an LWRCI upper with a quad rail or a MidWest quad rail if you think you can put it to use, but when we actually have to carry the Carbine for any real length of time, we’ll wish we could strip a few extra pounds of weight off the gun.  Many of our Staff have been attending competition shoots lately that have been really well run.   These events are everything from battle scenarios or even Zombie shoots.

Last  year in Pennsylvania we attended a Carbine shoot where the the attendees has to sign in at 8am and once they left the club house, they couldn’t drop off any gear and had to lug it all with them for the day.   All of the competitors were carrying M4 or AR15 variants and a few had AK rifles.    Ammunition loads were approximately 400rds of rifle and 100rds of handgun ammo.    I enjoy these events because we get too see some real hard use of tactical gear and tactical accessories.   We tend to not see things fail at these shoots because the competitors are in the higher class as far as skill and the types of firearms they use.   If you ever want to see what kind of optics work and which firearms and when things jam, go to a competition shoot at your gun club and sit back and watch.

Top
1 2 3 4 5 … 7 Page 3 of 7