It has often been said, if you want to start a business, look for a problem to solve. Both monopolistic magnates and the local self-employed handyman have relied on this principle for millennia. With the world of firearms and related gear often being forced to “innovate” around abstract obstacles, such as the political views of those in charge of lettered agencies, it can be tiresome to hear of another new gadget to fix a problem that should never exist to begin with. Far, far from there, Arrowhead Tactical Apparel has brought a solution to a problem that doesn't need justification.

Model: 6 ft, 180 lbs, 32-inch waist. Arrowhead Tactical Apparel Pants Size: Large.

Tactical Apparel is a phrase that both oozes and imposes a stereotype. In military applications, it can mean a chest rig, plate carrier, or bloused fatigues. In a civilian world, we often think of cargo pants, sturdy boots of a subdued color, and a just-loose-enough button down. In fact, we rarely, if ever, think sweatpants. Arrowhead Tactical Apparel, however, has made unassuming athletic clothing their point of entry into a market that is still waiting for a skinny-jean version of Crye combat bottoms.

Arrowhead Tactical Apparel isn't just about blending in. You can't prove a negative, and just the same, the brand isn't built on the idea of not looking a certain way alone. From the onset, their design makes sense: going to-and-from the gym has long been a hassle for EDC-minded people, often forcing a choice between awkward holster placement or forgoing it altogether.

In a world so much more sane than ours, it also just makes sense for tactical gear to have an athletic aspect. There's always going to be some humor in the self-proclaimed self-defense expert who struggles to climb a flight of stairs without getting winded, and there's no need to explain the health benefits of physical fitness. It's in the definition. Arrowhead Tactical Apparel is for those who are interested first in doing.

FEATURES AND DESIGN

At it's core, Arrowhead Tactical Apparel's Carrier line up directly addresses the problem of most athletic gear: retention. The inside of the waistband features a channel with wide internal belt loops. While the joggers, sweatpants, and gym shorts can be worn without it, each includes a semi-rigid/semi-elastic belt that secures with an adjustable metal buckle. EDC gear such as a holster or knife can be attached as they usually are without concern for a sagging waistline or sudden loss of the item down the pant leg.

The material used tends to be a bit heavier than expected, effectively concealing a holstered handgun. The added cloth weight and thickness kept warm during this COVID winter in the Coldest American Metropolis, and during the brief gym closures, were re-purposed as work-from-home loungewear. Comfort not being the whole deal, as the key beef with similar clothing is its tendency to sag when anything is put in the pockets.