5.11 Tactical women's cargo pants review - Pockets, pockets, pockets!

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REVIEW – I’m a 61-year-old woman (how the heck did that happen?!) who likes to wear cargo pants. That probably makes me weird, and I don’t care because more pockets solve all life’s problems. But I also don’t want to look like I’m on safari when I run to Walmart for some Diet Coke, so I’m picky when it comes to actually buying new cargo pants. There’s also the problem that there aren’t many options for women until 5.11 Tactical recently reached out to offer me two different pairs of their women’s cargo pants. Let’s check them out.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $80.00 – $90.00
Where to buy: 5.11 Tactical and some styles are available on Amazon

What is it?

5.11 Tactical is a company that focuses on tactical backpacks, bags, clothing, and more for men and women. They sent me their women’s Azurite and Spire pants.

Azurite Pants

I’m wearing the Azurite pants in the first image of this review. They sent me the Covert Green color, but these pants are also available in Black.

Some of my images of the Azurite pants look lighter than they do in real life. The images where I’m actually wearing the pants are more true to life than the pictures where the pants are on the table.

The Azurite pants are available in sizes 2 – 16, in regular and long lengths. The very wide, elastic waistband was the first thing I noticed when I took these pants out of the package. Never tuck my shirt into my pants, so this “feature” won’t show, but I still don’t love the look.

5.11 must be worried about the closure security of these pants because the waistband has two large snaps and a button. I find the snaps to be perfectly adequate and haven’t used the button.

If we flip the pants over, to the back, you can see the belt loops and again, that really ugly waistband.

There is one normal woman-sized back pocket and two hip pockets, which are large enough to perfectly fit my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Now for the cargo pockets on the legs. Each pocket has a small plastic snap for the main pocket. Main pocket? That’s right, there are two cargo pockets on both sides.

Under the flap is a second pocket.

Both pockets are very roomy and can easily hold my iPhone 16 Pro Max without even peeking out.

The cuffs of the Azurite pants have a drawstring, which is handy for pulling the pants up above your calves when crossing a river or doing something outdoorsy.

The Azurite pants are made of an 85% polyester and 15% elastane blend, and they have what 5.11 calls Enduro-Flex technology, which gives them a slightly stretchy, relaxed fit.

In the image above, I’m wearing size 6 regular length pants and for reference, I am 5’6″ tall and weigh 132 lbs.

I think this size is a little baggy on me, but they are really comfy for everyday around the house wear.

From the crotch down, I think the size is good, but the waist is a little gappy.

Yeah, I don’t have much of a butt.

I really like the 5.11 Azurite pants. The material is lightweight (it reminds me of a guy’s swim trunks type of satiny material) and stretchy, so it never feels tight. The pockets are all incredibly roomy which is amazing for a pair of women’s pants.

I’m not sure how well they will wear after multiple washings and lots of wear, but I’ve been switching between these pants and the Spire pants for a couple of weeks and haven’t noticed any issues yet.

5.11 Tactical Spire Pants

The Spire pants are available in 6 colors including the khaki color shown here. I was sent the same size 6/regular length in these pants and I’ve found them to have more of a snug fit without being too tight. They also have a straighter (narrower) leg.

The pants are made of a blend of 72% cotton, 25% nylon, and 3% elastane poplin which gives it a slight stretch but not as stretchy or quite as lightweight as the Azurite pants. That said, these pants are comfortable and I think a bit more flattering than the Azurite pants.

There are two decently sized slash pockets on the front that aren’t as deep as the Azurite pants.

And yay, there isn’t a huge elastic waistband this time!

There is no snap closure on these pants, which is a bummer. But there are two buttons. The main button is attached with a webbed strap, which is unique, but I would prefer a snap.

On the back are two smallish bum pockets.

But above each pocket is a drop pocket. How deep are the pockets?

For reference, I have a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in the pockets to show how much it sticks out and how far my hands fit.

What about the cargo pockets? The cargo pockets on the 5.11 Tactical Spire pants aren’t obvious.

Like the Azurite pants, there are two cargo pockets on each side, but both pockets are accessed with a zipper. Inside is a main pocket and a smaller one behind it.

The main pocket is pretty deep.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is completely swallowed. Since these pants fit more snugly than the Azurite pants, I did find it a little more fiddly to insert and retrieve items due to the tightness of the fabric.

Although not shown, there’s also a very small pocket in the cuff of one pant leg. Not sure what’d you’d put there because I’d be afraid it would fall out. And there’s also a tube in the waistband that they call the Flexi-cuff tunnel.

I like these pants for the fit and look.

Final thoughts

After testing both the 5.11 Tactical Azurite and Spire pants, I’m impressed by how these women’s cargo pants blend comfort, function, and a touch of style. The Azurite pants are super lightweight and stretchy. They feel almost like pajamas but with the bonus of large, practical pockets and a relaxed fit. If you want to carry everything but hate feeling squeezed, these are a great pick. On the other hand, the Spire pants offer a slimmer, more flattering fit and clever hidden pockets, making them a solid choice for days when you want to look more put together but still need serious storage.

While the Azurite’s elastic waistband isn’t the prettiest, and the Spire could use a snap closure, both pants are a big step up from the typical women’s cargo options out there. If you’re tired of sacrificing pockets for looks (or vice versa), 5.11 Tactical’s women’s line is definitely worth checking out, especially if you want pants that can handle everything from grocery runs to outdoor adventures.

What I like about 5.11 Tactical Azurite pants

Very comfortable (lightweight and stretchy)
Roomy pockets and lots of them.

What needs to be improved?

More colors would be nice

What I like about 5.11 Tactical Spire pants

Flattering feminine fit
8 pockets, including two hidden pockets

What needs to be improved?

Snaps would be nice

Price: $80.00 – $90.00
Where to buy: 5.11 Tactical and some styles are available on Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by 5.11 Tactical. They did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.