A blazer and tactical pants or blue jeans with a polo or button up shirt is pretty much my work uniform when I leave the office. I like blazers at events because they have internal breast pockets for my phone, notepad, and pens. There are also other pockets for business cards.

So I was excited to test 5.11’s newest product, the Founder’s Jacket (blazer).

I wore 5.11’s Founder’s Jacket flying to and from Boston for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) show and on the trade show floor. It’s comfortable, stylish (according to the people I asked), and has all the pockets I need.

The Founder’s Jacket is an off-the-rack-quality blazer with some interesting tactical features for off-duty and plainclothes officers, and for VIP protection personnel.

It’s kind of tactical outerwear for a business casual look. One of its most interesting features is elastic MOLLE webbing on the inside for attaching critically important items that won’t fit in its pockets. And the jacket has a lot of pockets. There are drop pockets, zippered internal chest pockets, hidden key pockets, and two interior phone pockets featuring 5.11's Ready Loop. Another tactical feature is the integrated flex cuff channel.

The Founder’s Jacket comes in dark navy with a shell of 89% polyester and 11% Elastane. The lining is made of 100% nylon. That combination of fabrics makes the blazer wrinkle resistant. To test the wrinkle resistance, I wadded up the blazer and shoved it in my desk drawer for a week. No wrinkles. Also, it’s machine washable.

I’m not sure that there will be a lot of law enforcement demand for the Founder’s Jacket. But I can say that it’s a functional, comfortable, and easily maintained business casual blazer that will definitely become a fixture in my wardrobe.

5.11

Founder’s Jacket

Fabric Composition: 89% polyester and 11% elastane

Lining: 100% nylon

Pockets: Zippered internal chest pockets, hidden key pockets, and dual phone pockets with Ready Loop

Color: Dark navy

Sizes: Small to 2XL

MSRP: $160

www.511tactical.com