5.11 Tactical #80008 Poly/Cotton TacLite Pro Vest

Extremely useful and extremely durable. Well thought-out. So many pockets, including some big enough for documents. The side pockets are designed to fit 30-round AR magazines and the other side have elastic to hold three Glock or other pistol mags. You can buy a conceal carry holster (separately) for the inside pocket. I used that throughout Iraq, and it was great because the pistol never caught on anything and could not fall out. A good vacation garment too.I like the poly-cotton one better than the 100% cotton one because it is cooler, not as heavy, and dries quickly. The all cotton one holds water and if you get caught in the rain, it will weigh a lot and take a while to dry.Only "complaint" is that you need a consistent system for where you place things -- keys, wallet, phone, badge ,ammo -- or you will lose things on your person. Seriously. So many pockets.

This is a highly functional vest for concealed weapons carry, competition and range work. It is well made. There are a large number of pockets which allows you to customize everything you carry. It is cut a bit small across the chest. I would normally wear a medium but that was much too tight, even with the adjustments snaps undone. I had to return a medium and get the large which is just about right. I thought about going to XL, which would be ok around the chest but would be way to large in the shoulders. In the large size it nicely covers an outside the belt holster and a shoulder rig without printing. The backup belt system interior pockets work well to carry a small pistol and magazines. The Taclite Pro version is much lighter than the regular tactical vest by 5.11, more suitable for warmer weather. I highly recommend this. I give this vest five stars for functionality and use for concealed carry,but dropped it down a star because of the odd sizing. I strongly suggest you try one out at a local retailer if at all possible, to determine the best size for your needs.

This vest has multiple pockets that can hold a generous amount of things. I have counted 16pockets. The others must be belt loops or something else. This taclite 65% polyester/35% cotton vest weights 1lb 12.9oz. empty compared to the 100% cotton version weighing 2lb 6.4oz empty. (I have both versions, my cotton is black). The taclite version is a lighter material like summer weight BDU. You can even see the lines like summer weight. The cotton is very much thicker like winter weight material and feels way more durable and heavy duty. The 100% cotton is slightly more work to wear being that it is heavier and thicker and the thick material doesn't breathe as well as the taclite. So if its cold then the cotton would be nice because of the thickness. I live in hawaii so it is mostly hot all year round so I use the taclite version more. I am 5' 4" and weigh about 220lbs and the large fits me just fine. I have a belly too so when zipping it up I barely make it but I hardly zip this vest up. When zipping it up with gear it might be more difficult. The first pocket on the right breast side is about 5 inches deep and about 4 inches across. You could fit a small Kleenex, index cards, small cell phone. This pocket is not secured so things could fly out if doing cart wheels or flips for example. The next pocket down is 6 inches wide and 3 1/2 inches deep with a hook and loop closure in the center. The hook and loop closure or velcro on the flap is about 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch. The rought side closure on the vest is smaller measuring 1 1/2 inch by a little less than an inch across. There is also a little keychain holder hanging inside on the side closest to your right arm. On my cotton vest this keychain feature broke and crumbled to pieces leaving only a little cotton loop where it once was so be careful and don't trust this keychain feature and be prepared if it does break. I didn't even use mine and one day it just crumbled in to pieces. It doesn't open easily either like there is no lever, you just have to push in and it looks like only a tiny key would fit. Not much can fit in this pocket. i usually carry a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. if you put spare coins in this pocket they might fall out because the hook and loopmclosure is in the center and rhe sides have gaps but only if you were upside down for a period of time then the coins might fall out. its pretty secure. The next pocket has 2 hook and loop closures and measures about 5 1/2 inches deep and a little more than 6 1/2 inches across. This pocket has black elastic loops inside for gun magazines but they are very tight. Maybe a colt 1911 slim magazine could fit. This pocket is much bigger and stretches out more than the others which are flush against the vest. You can fit more bulky items like small bottle. On to the left breast side of the vest there is a small loop with a hook and loop closure measuring about 2 inches across and almost an inch deep. You can hang a police radio mic, knife, or anything with a clip. Be warned that if the item is too heavy then the hook and loop closure will give and open on its on. On my vests I reinforced mine by sewing down the area closest to the hook and loop closure for more support. I usually use this to carry my portable 2 way midland radio. It will hold a good amount but if you get snagged or run then your gear will fall out of this loop if not secure. Next down is a pen pocket and a smaller breast pocket. The pen pocket is about an 1 inch across and about 5 inches deep. You could fit 2 pens side by side however I find that when I put pens in this pocket I tend to lose them because they fall out. If you turn this vest upside down that's the first thing that would come flying out. The other pocket is a smaller breast pocket measuring almost 3 inches across and 5 inches deep. This pocket is so small and tight. I have pretty small hands and I still have a hard time reaching inside the pocket. I guess a lighter could fit but reaching down to get it might be difficult to do with bigger fingers and hands. Maybe something slim and tall that's at least 4 inches would fit. Below the pocket there is a metal half circle metal loop to clip things on measuring a little less than half an inch across about and inch vertically. The next pocket down is secured with a zipper opening and measures 7 inches across and 4 inches wide and has a tiny 5.11 logo on the top right closest to your left arm.. You could put your spare coins in here, loose bullets etc. the next 2 pockets are side to side and separate from each other. They both measure 7 inches deep and 3 1/2 inches across. These are the pockets where you can put those AR mags in. They can fit two 30rd mags in at the same time but it will be very tight and accessing them will be difficult without some violent pulling and yanking. And the flap won't close very well for that pocket. A single 30rd AR magazine will fit fine with easy access. Then there is the famous 5.11 hidden pockets with 3 hook and loop closures holding it shut measuring about a little more than half an inch across and 1 1/2 inch vertical. You can't use this secret pocket unless you have purchases the BACK UP BELT SYSTEM also by 5.11. For some reason it is a little difficult to obtain this system. I had to special order mine through my local 5.11 dealer and wait a while until it arrived for pickup. It is not readily available in stock. I hear stories where the system isn't good and no one uses it. I wanted to have the whole set because it has different features that accommodate the vest. Besides that's what the backup belt system was made for. Let me elaborate on the backup belt system real quick. The backup belt system comes with 5 different pieces of equipment. It has a 2 magazine holder that can be adjusted for different size magazines. It comes with a small holster that can be adjusted with a strap and can be set at an angle or upright however you want. The holster can fit a Glock 17. There is a handcuff case that has hook and loop closure securing really well. There is a mace MK-4 holder or it could be used for a flashlight and it has an adjustable flap to adjust to different size gear. The MK -4 mace can fits perfectly in this the best. And finally there is a baton holder that is open end measuring 4 inches deep. It is secured by a strap that makes it tighter in the middle to hold down either a ASP expandAble baton or it could hold a stinger flashlight. And all of this comes in small bag with double sided zippers. So these signature 5.11 secret pockets are on both sides and you can actually reach in one side and join your hands from the other meaning that it goes through the whole vest. The soft part of the hook and loop closure comes included already inside the vest. You just have to purchase the extra accessories separate which all include the rough side of the hook and loop closure ready to slap on fast. On the inside of the vest there are 2 belt loops on both sides with a button snap on the bottom end of each loop. Maybe these can carry handcuffs but I'm not sure if the button snaps would hold if you ran with cuffs. Between these loops is a large pocket located directly in the middle inside of the vest. It measures 11 1/2 inch across and 8 1/2 inch deep. It has one hook and loop closure in the middle measuring a little less than 1 1/2 inch across and a little more than a half inch verticals. This pockets clap is sewn down on the sides so things won't fly out. This pocket is flush and flat with the vest and putting anything bulky in this pocket will be broken or in the way when sitting down in a chair. Also I sweat a lot on my back so anything would be drenched if in this pocket so I don't use it. Maybe it could fit laminated documents, small towel. Right behind this pocket is another pocket that's not secure. That's why the sides are sewn together because there a slip pocket right behind with the same measurements. On the left breast side inside the vest there is another long and slim pocket. This pocket is 10 inch deep and 6 inch across. This pocket is very long but my hand does it. Maybe good for small umbrella or towel. Something long would be much easier getting if this pocket is in use. Going to the rear now there are 2 loops on both sides. I'm guessing these are to tighten the vest because they bth have two sets of button snaps, 2 per snap on each side right and left to adjust the tension. Then there's the 2 water bottle holders on the left and right. These have an elastic to accommodate and adjust size to fit different gear. The holder can fit a 24oz bottle no problem. I tried putting a 1.5L water bottle that's a little less than 3 1/2 inch across and 12 inch tall. It barely fits but it does snugly. It can fit the first 6 1/2 inch ok but the rest is sticking out. So it doesn't fit but damage may occur either to the sewing or the elastic might be compromised by the girth of such a big bottle. Ad running around with a full bottle might hurt you also. So there are two of these water bottle holders and in between there is another pocket with 2 hook and loop closures measuring about a little less than 1 1/2inch across and a little more than half an inch vertical. This pocket is 8 inch deep and a little more than 6 1/2 inch across. This pocket is also flat and flush and can hold mostly flat items. The pocket can stretch 5 inches wide but the location where it is at will uncomfortable when sitting if any bulky item is placed in. So that's pretty much all of the pockets. The inside tag of my vest says 5.11 TACTICAL SERIES65% POLYESTER 35% COTTON. MADE IN BANGLADESH with a little L TO SIGNIFY LARGEThe inside tag says MACHNE WASH COLD WITH LIKE COLORS. DO NOT BLEACH. TUMBLE DRY LOW. WARM IRON IF NEEDED. I used this vest when I went to disneyland and it helped out a lot! I'm walking around all day in the hot desert sun and I carry a lot of gear. When buying gifts I was carrying an empty backpack in the secret 5.11 pocket. I had a small umbrella, Banana boat SPF 50 sunscreen, small water bottle which quickly ran out and I had to buy lots of those $4 dasani ones which $4 would buy the whole case in my grocery store but in disneyland $4 gets you one (1) bottle water. I carried my flashlight, pen, coins, camera, phone, Kleenex, towel for splash mountain and park tickets. This vest is well made and I had those cheapy vests with many pockets but it ripped. To me this is he of the best quality ones. I'm very happy with this vest. When carrying lots of items it does get heavy and bulky. I had a little trouble when riding the cars ride and other roller coaster rides because the bottom was bulky and I'm bulky already and I had to buckle the seat belt. What I did was I took off the bulky vest and put it in my backpack and I was good after. Also make sure you don't have metal because when you go to places with metal detectors you will be there emptying your pockets for days. Another problem is there are so many pockets that you forget what you put in what pocket or you can't find it period. But these are personal difficulties not the vests fault. I don't use my %100 cotton black one much. For some reason I can see the pockets better on my khaki taclite vest. But the black vest is more incognito when wearing a,black shirt. The khaki color stands out and everyone will look at you and examine your sh!t (gear). It's good for hiking but kind of hot vs. if you are wearing Nike fit dry clothes only. I usually wear a backpack when I hike now. This best is good for all day Waikiki walking and shopping where you don't want to hold tons of bags and want your hands free. I'm happy with my vests. You will be too.

Definitely a good purchase for me. I have been looking for something light weight for the summer that will still cover my belt holster. This has the length and works nicely. The vest is a bit on the heavy side (but well vented) so may not be quite as cool in tropical climates. Construction is beyond expectation - sturdy is an understatement. The inside gun pockets are nicely set up with a stiff fabric in place with Velcro on both sides.The vest, while listed as a 'Tactical Vest' also doubles nicely for me as a photographer's vest. I am sewing my embroidered photog tag on it. It is amazing how much gear I can carry comfortably with still empty pockets available. The mag pouches on the front fit my iPhone perfectly, one of my flash attachments drops nicely into the inside pocket, additional lens in one of the water bottle pockets (water bottle in the other), filters and additional gear in one of the many available pockets. I'm still finding pockets to use.I was tempted to order my normal Large but opted for the XL instead knowing I would load it with gear. The XL fits quite well.

As I get older, I find I need more and more pockets. I wear cargo pants, but these pockets are even more useful. I've used just about every pocket on the vest at one time or another, though some can only be used while upright. It's also a great concealment garment for summer wear. To anyone else who carries it may seem to be too obvious, but I've found the average person doesn't know, nor care, that I'm concealing anything under it. When I'm firing my AR at the range or in a class, this vest has eliminated the need for a mag holster or a separate magazine bag. Have never needed more magazines than this will hold. When not on the range, those pockets hold my reading glasses and eyeglass cleaner.

Bought as a gift for a friend. He was very happy with this as a shooting vest. It was a going away gift which had us stashing surprises and memories in each pocket.

Met and exceeded all expectations... Plenty of appropriate pockets...

Very well made. Has a lot of pockets and is well laid out. Keep in mind that over about 75 degrees outside and it does become uncomfortably hot to wear.

Great product. Bought another for my wife.

little bigger than i expected

Great product. Fits better than expected.

Very Nice!

Great for IDPA

A great fit for IDPA, but you may want to consider a size up from your normal size for competition shooting.

I am a medium in everything I own, this was super big relatively speaking. used the size chart online, go one size smaller,Size chart is way off, having trouble with return...