Combat Trousers

Combat trousers, defined by the pocket layout on the thigh

What makes a trouser a combat trousers pattern is not the camouflage, it is the arrangement of pockets: two at the hip, two at the seat and a bellows pocket on each thigh that carries weight without pressing on the leg when seated. The range covers ripstop cotton blends, stretch woven versions with a water-resistant finish, and heavier cargo cuts in olive, black and camouflage. The pocket layout is the constant; the fabric is where the real choice sits.

Which weave, ripstop or polycotton?

Ripstop is a weave rather than a material: a grid of thicker threads is worked into the cloth so that a tear stops at the next square instead of running. It is light, dries quickly and creases readily. A polycotton blend adds abrasion resistance and holds its shape, though it dries more slowly. Stretch woven fabric with elastane gives the leg room to bend and suits anyone crouching and climbing all day. Heavier plain cotton is the warmest and the toughest, and the slowest to dry once it is soaked. Related cuts with a lighter, closer leg are grouped under camo cargo pants.

Are these trousers waterproof?

Some carry a durable water-repellent finish, which makes rain bead and roll off the surface for a while. That is not the same as being waterproof: the seams are sewn rather than taped, and once the finish wears at the knees and seat the fabric wets out. Treat the finish as a way of staying dry in a shower rather than through a day of steady rain, and expect it to need reapplying after repeated washing. In sustained weather the outer layer does the work, which is the job of a field jacket over the top.

Which pocket and knee details matter?

• Pocket closure: a flap with hook-and-loop is fast, a button is quieter and does not clog with grit and lint.
• Knee reinforcement: a second layer at the knee, sometimes with an opening for a pad, doubles the life of the panel that goes first.
• Waist adjustment: side tabs or an elasticated section absorb the difference a base layer makes underneath in winter.
• Leg opening: a drawcord or tab lets the hem be closed over a boot; without one the leg sits open and needs hemming for a clean break.

How should these trousers be washed?

Wash cool, inside out, with the thigh pockets emptied and closed so the hook-and-loop does not chew the rest of the load. Skip the fabric softener, which coats the fibres and flattens any water-repellent finish. Line drying is kinder than a tumble dryer: heat shrinks a cotton blend and hardens the printed pattern. Repair a small tear early: on a ripstop weave a stitched patch holds because the surrounding grid stops the tear spreading.

Do they work outside a field setting?

Plain colours do. Black and olive read as workwear rather than costume, which is why the plain-dyed versions collected as black combat trousers get worn far from a hillside. Camouflage asks for restraint: keep it to one half of the outfit and let a plain top carry the rest. For a straighter, less pocketed leg, the wider military trousers family includes field and working cuts.