REI’s Ripstop Cargo Pants Update the Military BDU

[UPDATE:REI no longer makes these awesome Ripstop Cargo Pants. Sorry! Check out the SeV/Scottevest Travel Clothing website to see if there's anything that suits your needs.]

I’ve always found a lot to like about the military’s Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) pants. They’re tough. They have huge pockets. They’re pretty comfortable.

Now it looks like REI has taken aim at companies like BASIC and Tru-Spec that keep surplus stores stocked up on a wide array of camouflage pants. And they’re doing it by attacking some of the very flaws I’ve identified in military-style BDU pants. Here’s what I like about REI’s Ripstop Cargo Pants ($54.50) compared to the military versions:

1. Better in hot weather - REI is using thinner ripstop cotton cloth, which makes their cargo pants more breatheable as the weather gets hot. This also makes them dry faster after a stream crossing.

2. Softer fabric off the rack – BDU pants can take a few washings to soften up. The REI ripstops are comfy from the word go.

3. Muted colors without looking like a military wanna-be – REI is offering olive drab (they call it gunmetal, but I’m not so sure I agree) and khaki (labeled sesame). Those are the harder-to-find colors for the BDU pants, which mostly come in the newer military camouflage patterns. Nothing against that, but I prefer not to look like The Unabomber’s younger brother.

4. Higher quality - I’ve had a lot of problems with loose stitching on military BDU pants. I’ve also had a lot of buttons falling off. The metal waist button isn’t going anywhere on the REI pants. And I really prefer its high-quality zippered fly to the button fly.

5. An extra pocket – In addition to the usual BDU pockets, REI has added an extra zippered pocket tucked behind the right lower cargo pocket.

This comes at a price – about $15-25 more compared to similar BDU pants. But they’re also organic cotton, if that’s a big deal to you. I’ll take the higher quality and less of a military vibe for the extra expense. Plus it’s backed by the usual no-nonsense return policy.

I have a few suggestions, but they’re all minor: A cell phone pocket on the left side, a women’s version and a few more colors (I’d go black, olive, gray and khaki). The lack of a women’s version irks my wife, who loves the ruggedness of the BDU pants, but doesn’t like the heft and the camouflage.

I really like these pants an awful lot, and plan to add a few more to the collection. For traveling, hiking or just hanging out, you really can’t go wrong.