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In May, I wrote an article about some shorts I like from Propper. Those were their “summer weight” shorts. While writing it I realized I should probably get some of their non-summer weight to see how they compared. I got them, and I’ll be discussing them today. And comparing a bit to the summer weight.
Table of Contents
What’s the weight thing about?
The summer weight’s Amazon page list their material as 94 Nylon and 6% Spandex. Unsurprisingly, they feel a bit plasticky.
Per their Amazon page, regular tactical shorts are a Polyester/cotton blend. They are heavier than the summer, but not by that much.
So, the summers are a bit lighter but feel like plastic; the regular are slightly heavier but feel like material. I find them different, not necessarily one better than the other.
Pockets.
Here, we have differences, and a clear preference for me.
Summer weight says 10 pockets. Regular says 10 pockets. They are not the same pockets.
On the right leg, these have a cell phone pocket. OK. It’s 2022. I want to know why all pants, except maybe dress pants, don’t have this damn pocket. The summer weight do not.
Obviously, you can fit a light or clip knife in there if you’d prefer to put your phone elsewhere.
Left leg has a magazine/flashlight/knife pocket. Although my flashlight doesn’t really fit. My knife, and every magazine I own does.
My issue with the non-summer weight is that the double front pockets are not there. As a reminder, here’s a picture of the summer weight front pockets.
There is a front pocket and a back pocket on each side. The inside pocket takes a small pistol, like my Beretta Pico or S&W 360PD J-frame, in proper holsters, of course. Anything you put in the outside pocket breaks up the outline of the gun, enhancing concealment.
The non-summer weight, for some reason, moved the double pocket to the hip pockets. I don’t know why.
The cargo pockets are pretty much the same on both sides. And they’re just big, empty spaces with Velcro-fastened tops.
I have an over-sized set of keys I normally put in there. That’s also where my speed strips for the J-frame go. Any other sundry stuff I may need. I could honestly live without the closures; the flap itself is sufficient for me.
Fit and comfort.
They fit the same as the summers, which is quite well. As I said, they do feel more like regular material. Which makes sense since they are more like regular material.
There’s some elastic in the waist. The belt loops are pretty well spaced and not too big or too small; they don’t get in the way of holsters and such.
Quality.
These non-summer shorts are the same as the summer as far as quality goes. That’s a good thing. I haven’t had these as long, but so far nothing has broken on them.
Since they’re the same brand and the summer weight I’m going to assume they’re made to the same standards until proven otherwise.
Conclusion.
I like the cell pocket and the magazine pocket on the non-summer shorts. For me, it’s not worth giving up the inner pockets from the regular, front pockets to get them.
Some day, I’ll find some shorts/pants that have exactly what I want. The search continues.
For now, both of these are pretty close and I can recommend them.
>> Buy regular weight at Amazon <<
>> Buy summer weight at Amazon <<
