New use for 5.11 Tactical

**MNlad** · 23rd March 16, 07:04 AM

Had a little day surgery yesterday south of the waistline (hernia). Among the long list of instructions prior to the operation was the advice to wear loose fitting clothing—no jeans—to the surgery center. I got more than a few double takes when I showed up kilted.

I've learned from prior experience that when they say, "there may be some swelling," they really mean there WILL be swelling. The surgical nurse took one look at my 5.11 and said it was about the most practical attire she had ever seen at the center for that particular operation.

All went well, and I was on my way home four hours later; the kilt waistband snapped and belted well above the incisions. Yet another occasion where a kilt is the appropriate attire.

Sorry, but no pix. My mind was elsewhere at the time.

**MinusHD** · 23rd March 16, 07:22 AM

I will definitely keep this option in mind for the future (knock on wood). Too bad you didn't get a picture for the current challenge in our Kilted Photo Challenge Game.

**Tarheel** · 23rd March 16, 03:49 PM

I think besides your mind being preoccupied, photos are not necessary after the type of treatment you had. I'll take your word on the outcome knowing the kilt was preventing the discomfort tightly fitting clothes would have. Glad to hear all is well.

**Benning Boy** · 24th March 16, 03:14 PM

Thirteen years ago I developed prostate cancer -- attributed to much agent orange exposure. I opted to have it treated with a combination of external beam radiation and radioactive seeding, which worked quite well. During the external beam phase I was required to lay quite still while an x-ray like machine did it's work. I was tattooed wiith dots in three places so lasers could be used to help position me exactly the same each day. To keep things simple, I wore a kilt, which was fine for driving to treatment, waiting in the waiting room and being zapped. When it came time for the treatments, I walked into the radiation room, lay on the table, and flipped my kilt up so I could be aligned with the lasers and zapped by the big machine. When done, I just reversed the process. The treatment team thought the kilt a very good idea. Others had to go into little changing rooms and get into a hospital gown before their treatments. I was able to avoid that nuisance.

**okiwen** · 24th March 16, 08:03 PM

I have photos somewhere of me with the surgeon just as I was released with the kilt and the leg in a locked brace. He mentioned how very practical and loved it. Wore kilts to work while braced out too.

**mikepalmer** · 26th April 16, 02:42 PM

lLooking at the 511 and wanted to know how the sizing is. Utilikilt is dead on at 40. the TDK looks a bit longer so I might wear it higher than the UK or my stump town. Seem like great folks when I called but could not measure on for me. Your help is appreciated. conquedal@Hotmail.com

**Steve Ashton** · 26th April 16, 03:46 PM

Mike,

It took a while but here are the instructions directly from the 5.11 site.

"Men: Utilize your chest, arm length and neck measurements to determine the proper size for tops, outerwear or jumpsuits; utilize your waist measurement (where you wear your pants) for bottoms."

We always encourage guys to follow the measuring instructions provided by the person who will actually make your kilt. We warn to NEVER use one manufacturers measurements, fit, or instructions to order from a different manufacturer.

A 5.11 is not, and is not intended to be, a traditional kilt. How and where you would wear the waist or hem of a traditional kilt does not apply here. The whole idea with the non-traditional kilt like garments is that they should be comfortable given your personal body shape and sense of style.

**kiltedcontractor** · 16th July 16, 04:06 AM

I have 2 from this years run. They seem to be cut a little small .

**Michael A** · 30th August 16, 06:29 PM

I got my first 5.11 last week. I measure (or at least I did a couple of weeks ago) 35.5 inches around the navel. I measured 24 inches from navel to mid knee-cap, so for a traditional kilt, that is the drop that is being made for me. When I am at my fighting weight I take a 32-33 size jeans, 32 when I cycle a lot. Lately I have even been tight in a 34, so I dieted a lot and shrank it down.

Anyway, the point is, that traditional measurements for a kilt (excluding seat circumference) are the same for me as they are for the 5.11. I wear the 5.11 at or just below the navel, not the jeans pants line (the hip). After my weight loss it is now a wee bit loose in fact, a situation rectified by a rigger's belt.

So in measuring the same for my 5.11 (which has a 24" drop and the usual 2" difference between waist and pants size), my impression is that they ask for the size of your jeans, but if your jeans size is 34, then they send you a kilt with a waist circumference of 36 inches. The fact that they ask for your pants size is not necessarily an indication that it should be worn at your pants height - indeed for many, that would make the kilt too long; I am 6'1" tall.

But that's just me. A taller person would want to wear it below the navel, or even at the hips, if wearing it at the waist makes it too short.

Of course, people should do whatever works for them. It might just be a coincidence that 5.11 and traditional kilt sizing are identical in my case.

**tundramanq** · 1st September 16, 04:33 AM

I'll second and third the buy 2 inches smaller thing. I wear 33 and 34 inch waist Utilikilts now and the TDK 32 is just a smidge looser than the 34 Utilikilts.

I have TDKs from the 2nd thru current years production runs and sizing is consistent thru all.

On the handy front. In August, I just escaped the knee brace from a sprained knee in January. The wrap on brace always seemed to need adjusting to keep it in "just the right" place. I would just stop and do it anywhere.