It was time to replace some old Levi’s and I was looking for something with a couple more pockets than your standard pair of jeans. Originally, I bought a pair of the Adaptiv-X (formerly Oxcart) Straight Fit jeans on Black Friday at the recommendation of TheKiltedPrivateer. Added a bunch more pockets (two front/two rear). The material was super soft (they could probably be pajamas comfortable). Thought I had a winner. Novel pocket design to get 9 pockets on there and still look like normal jeans.
The downside is the Black Friday price was $120. And they only come in one length, 34, so you have to have them hemmed at an additional cost. They were surprisingly baggy (cuff diameter same as a pair of Levi’s 569). I contacted Adaptiv-x and asked about the cuff circumference on their tapered fit, they estimated about 2” less diameter. Wasn’t really sure I wanted to play the by another pair and return one game.
A week or so later, Tactical Distributor’s released the Legend Jean. Going for $57 regularly, I got them on sale for 20% off. Picked up a pair of those after Christmas. Immediately decided they did just as good a job as the Adapti-x at well below half the cost (arranged to send those back). Material wasn’t as soft but reasonable. Also, they come in finished lengths so no need to shell out addition coin to get them hemmed. Pockets do exactly what I needed them to do. You can put an iPhone 8+ in a case inside the mag pockets in the back. You can put a G17/22 mag in them. Anything clipped like a light or knife is damn close to 3 or 9 o’clock and stays there. Once through the wash, with an extra rinse and they softened up even more.
The fit is roomy. Very roomy. Almost an absurd amount of room in the crotch. I almost feel like they should be worn around the belly button to because I can feel leg-to-leg skin before the pant legs begin. They also have large cuffs (same as 569s), which isn’t exactly what I was going for. Oddly, there is a belt loop right at 1 o’clock, right where I want to fasten my AIWB holster. Also, they bleed a fair amount during the first wash. Plan accordingly.
Seemed like the best bet going forward so I ordered a second pair only to discover the Vertx Defiance Jean, on sale for $43 from LA Police Gear (regularly $67).
Out of the package they are much more comfortable than the washed Legend jean. Rear pockets are slanted more like the Adaptiv-X jeans (legend are parallel with the yoke) but can still hold a iPhone 8+. A Glock 17 mag fits but it’s not completely covered. Also, they made with a Coolmax denim so that’s got to have some benefit. There is also a full gusset in the crotch for room to move. The belt loops are set off to about 2 o’clock so I can get the AIWB holster to go right where it needs to. Further, the belt loops are also clear of 3:30-4:00 for a hip carry piece.
The cuffs are close to those of 569 but not quite, about 1 inch off. That 1-inch of fabric makes a difference in style and feel. There is also stitching around the knees for articulation. The crotch is also much more reasonable. I would compare these close to a Kuhl Outkast pant in fit.
After a day of wearing them, the side slash pockets end up being pretty close to the belt. Not the easiest to put something big in the pocket. The iPhone 8+ doesn’t slide in quite as easily as before. Anything small is no big deal. Also, there was no noticeable bleeding of dye during the first wash.
Going forward, if I need another pair of jeans, the Vertx is where I am going.
Other jeans considered:
-5.11 defender – complaints of front pockets being too shallow from reviewers & it’s 5.11. Good stuff (sometimes) but we’re off duty here.
-Viktos – Weird high back (I get the point of the design but it looks so weird with the belt loops set well below the top line of the pants in the back)
-TD Stand Your Ground – weird pocket design putting stitching that doesn’t match in weird places / 1 multicam belt loop. WTF. Low profile people. Low profile.
-TAD Gear Jeans – don’t do the button fly / expensive / don’t care about the claims of it being the last batch of denim from some mill in NC that is closed and will never be made again
The downside is the Black Friday price was $120. And they only come in one length, 34, so you have to have them hemmed at an additional cost. They were surprisingly baggy (cuff diameter same as a pair of Levi’s 569). I contacted Adaptiv-x and asked about the cuff circumference on their tapered fit, they estimated about 2” less diameter. Wasn’t really sure I wanted to play the by another pair and return one game.
A week or so later, Tactical Distributor’s released the Legend Jean. Going for $57 regularly, I got them on sale for 20% off. Picked up a pair of those after Christmas. Immediately decided they did just as good a job as the Adapti-x at well below half the cost (arranged to send those back). Material wasn’t as soft but reasonable. Also, they come in finished lengths so no need to shell out addition coin to get them hemmed. Pockets do exactly what I needed them to do. You can put an iPhone 8+ in a case inside the mag pockets in the back. You can put a G17/22 mag in them. Anything clipped like a light or knife is damn close to 3 or 9 o’clock and stays there. Once through the wash, with an extra rinse and they softened up even more.
The fit is roomy. Very roomy. Almost an absurd amount of room in the crotch. I almost feel like they should be worn around the belly button to because I can feel leg-to-leg skin before the pant legs begin. They also have large cuffs (same as 569s), which isn’t exactly what I was going for. Oddly, there is a belt loop right at 1 o’clock, right where I want to fasten my AIWB holster. Also, they bleed a fair amount during the first wash. Plan accordingly.
Seemed like the best bet going forward so I ordered a second pair only to discover the Vertx Defiance Jean, on sale for $43 from LA Police Gear (regularly $67).
Out of the package they are much more comfortable than the washed Legend jean. Rear pockets are slanted more like the Adaptiv-X jeans (legend are parallel with the yoke) but can still hold a iPhone 8+. A Glock 17 mag fits but it’s not completely covered. Also, they made with a Coolmax denim so that’s got to have some benefit. There is also a full gusset in the crotch for room to move. The belt loops are set off to about 2 o’clock so I can get the AIWB holster to go right where it needs to. Further, the belt loops are also clear of 3:30-4:00 for a hip carry piece.
The cuffs are close to those of 569 but not quite, about 1 inch off. That 1-inch of fabric makes a difference in style and feel. There is also stitching around the knees for articulation. The crotch is also much more reasonable. I would compare these close to a Kuhl Outkast pant in fit.
After a day of wearing them, the side slash pockets end up being pretty close to the belt. Not the easiest to put something big in the pocket. The iPhone 8+ doesn’t slide in quite as easily as before. Anything small is no big deal. Also, there was no noticeable bleeding of dye during the first wash.
Going forward, if I need another pair of jeans, the Vertx is where I am going.
Other jeans considered:
-5.11 defender – complaints of front pockets being too shallow from reviewers & it’s 5.11. Good stuff (sometimes) but we’re off duty here.
-Viktos – Weird high back (I get the point of the design but it looks so weird with the belt loops set well below the top line of the pants in the back)
-TD Stand Your Ground – weird pocket design putting stitching that doesn’t match in weird places / 1 multicam belt loop. WTF. Low profile people. Low profile.
-TAD Gear Jeans – don’t do the button fly / expensive / don’t care about the claims of it being the last batch of denim from some mill in NC that is closed and will never be made again