Pants
Find hard-wearing military pants for field work, airsoft, job sites and EMS shifts, all from Rothco, a military and tactical supplier since 1953. We've split this section into four groups so you can compare like with like.
- BDU pants: the classic six-pocket battle dress cut in rip-stop, SWAT cloth, tactical and vintage paratrooper styles, plus kids' and women's fatigues.
- Tactical pants: Tactical Duty, Deployment and Extraction pants, P.S.T. pants, Active Flex work pants, soft shell and rain pants, and the Performance Series Edge and Patrol pants for men and women.
- EMT pants: paramedic-style pants with extra pockets for shears, lights and gloves.
- Shorts: BDU shorts in regular and long length, 3/4 pants, vintage cargo shorts and sweatshorts.
Across the range you'll find camo patterns, solid colors for duty and work, rip-stop fabric that stops small tears from spreading, and stretch styles for climbing, kneeling and long drives. Cargo pockets are standard on nearly everything.
A note for service members: these are commercial pants, not issue uniform trousers. Under AR 670-1 and DA PAM 670-1, the Army's duty and field uniform is the ACU or Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform in OCP, so BDU, digital and tactical pants are for training, off-duty and civilian wear. The guide below explains the details and how to choose.
How to Choose Military Pants
All four groups share cargo pockets and tough fabrics, but they're built for different days. Start with where you'll wear them.
BDU Pants for Camo and Field Wear
Choose BDU pants when you want a traditional military look in a camo pattern. The six-pocket layout, drawstring ankle ties for blousing and reinforced knees and seat make them a field standard for airsoft, hunting, reenactments and range days.
Tactical Pants for Duty and Work
Tactical pants trade camo for solid colors and a cleaner profile that works for security, law enforcement and trades. Styles like the Active Flex and Performance Series add stretch, the canvas and fleece-lined work pants add durability and warmth, and the Shadow Ops rain pant handles wet weather.
EMT Pants for Medical Calls
EMT pants put extra pockets where medics need them, so trauma shears, a penlight and spare gloves ride on your legs instead of in a bag you have to dig through.
Shorts for Hot Weather
BDU and cargo shorts keep the military pocket layout in a cooler cut for summer, camp and the gym. The long length versions add coverage at the knee.
Military Pants Fabric Guide
- Rip-stop: a grid weave that keeps small snags from becoming big tears.
- Twill and SWAT cloth: dense, durable weaves for daily abuse.
- Canvas: heavy workwear fabric for job sites.
- Soft shell: wind-resistant fabric with stretch for cold-weather work.
- Stretch blends: the Active Flex and Performance Series styles move with you when you climb, crouch or drive.
Belts, Boots and Blousing
Military pants are designed around a belt and boots. A sturdy riggers or duty belt keeps loaded cargo pockets from dragging the waist down, and it gives you a place to hang a holster, light or radio on tactical styles. BDU pants and many field pants have ankle drawstrings so you can blouse the legs over boot tops, which keeps out ticks, gravel and brush. Tactical and work pants are usually worn straight over the boot instead, so choose an inseam that covers the boot top without pooling at the ankle.
Sizing Military Pants
Most military pants are sized by waist, with inseam options on many styles. Uniform-style cuts sit higher on the waist and run fuller through the seat and thigh than jeans, so measure your waist where you wear a belt rather than relying on your jeans size. If you'll blouse pants over boots, err toward the longer inseam.
Military Pants and Uniform Regulations
AR 670-1, paragraph 4-2, makes trousers part of the combat uniform, and DA PAM 670-1, paragraph 4-1, sets the ACU and Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform in OCP as the daily work and field uniform. Under paragraph 4-7, anyone buying uniform items commercially has to make sure they meet military specifications. Commercial BDU, tactical and digital camo pants don't fill that role, and the Army retired the UCP digital pattern on October 1, 2019. The Air Force and Space Force wear the same OCP uniform under DAFI 36-2903.
The Army's trouser standard is still a useful habit off duty. DA PAM 670-1, paragraph 4-9, calls for trousers worn with a belt and bloused no lower than the third eyelet from the top of the boot. Your unit or command may set stricter rules, so ask before wearing commercial pants to any unit event.