The OP Assault Pant by Born Primitive was debuted in late 2023, and was a follow-on to the company’s popular OP Range Pant. It is the company’s solution to provide the tactical community with flexible trousers using high-durability textiles.
The OP Assault Pant was initially designed in 2017 out of the Global War on Terror to improve on trousers issued to service members. It is made from a blended combination of nylon (for abrasion resistance), polyester (for stain resistance), and spandex (for flexibility), and its design provides several elements intent on providing comfort and function.
Starting at the waist, the OP Assault Pant have six 2.5” wide beltloops (two in the front and four in the back) with a padded waistband and patterned stitch line. Additionally, waist adjustment straps (one each side) are used at the waist to fit the trousers to the desired waist dimensions. These features also improve comfort when wearing a heavy tactical belt, and have extensive bartack that maintains durability of the materials.
The cut of the OP Assault Pant is straight-leg as there are no articulation slits necessitating added material. Instead, the knee segments include four-way stretchable panels that account for deep knee movements common with life in the field.
The OP Assault Pant has a top pass-through button and single-shuttle YKK zipper fly with a rubberized pull-tab to prevent slippage.
The two front pockets are a deep slash pattern, with additional bartack and double line stitching for reinforcement and to account for retention clip items (such as pocket knives). The front pocket interior is a mesh fabric for breathability and drainage.
Two forward-facing accessory pouches, and two bellowed cargo pouches (positioned on the thigh) are secured via zipper (with nylon pulltabs). Both the accessory pouches and the cargo include drainage holes reinforced via bartack stitching.
The two rear pockets are zipper secured and do not have any exterior pocket flap. The “BP” logo appears in raised stitching on the center yolk position. The top rear of the trousers also includes a four-way stretch panel to assist in waist articulation.
The knee segment material is folded for reinforcement, and articulated for range of motion. Additionally, a pocket for inserting knee padding (not included) is accessible on the interior of the knee segment and includes drainage holes.
The crotch gusset of the OP Assault Pant is semi-circular fixed, and has a two-ply (or double layer) material to accommodate a variety of shooting stances.
At the ankle is a small, zipper-secured accessory pocket which also has two drainage holes.
Each pant cuff is double line stitched for reinforcement to prevent/limit any fraying or compromise to the material. Additionally, the fabric is folded over to create a pass-through for threading shock cord or boot retention clasp.
The OP Assault Pant comes in OD Green (featured), AOR1, wolf grey, black, police blue, and coyote brown. Its sizing runs from a 30” waist to 42” and an inseam from 30” (short) to 36” (long).
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): At the list price of $209 the OP Assault Pant is Born Primitive’s take on a dedicated range/field pant that also includes some of the more traditional trademarks beyond typical trousers; such as slots for external knee pads and reinforced fabric, four-way stretch fabric, and multiple pockets for a variety of needs. For the price, users get a very durable and functional set of trousers for the field and range. In comparison, while the defacto king of tactical trousers in this market type is Crye, its G3 ($307) and G4 ($313) trousers can be a little tough for the average consumer to afford. More realistically Direct Action’s Vanguard ($189 USD) trousers are an appropriate comparator, as would be UF Pro’s Striker X Gen 2 ($414 USD) trousers, Massif’s Hellman Combat Pant ($500), or Viktos Multicam Contractor Pant ($175). There are innumerable other market alternatives that are more inexpensive, such as Tru-Spec’s 24×7 or Propper’s HLX, but these were trousers that did not have similarities in materials, stitching, or design. Among the market (in addition to the frequent discount offer by Born Primitive), this gave the OP Assault Pant a good level of affordability when considering what it brings to the table.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): Worn for different iterations at the range over the course of several months, and used in a variety of stressors, the OP Assault Pant remained extremely flexible and breathable. While often the crotch gusset is the point where trousers bind in more extreme movements, the OP Assault Pant had a large semi-circular gusset to allowed for a wide range of motion, as did the four-way stretch material included at key points and across the waist of the trousers. Also, the waistband included padded fabric on the inside that provided comfort against belts if worn. Likewise, the foldable and added reinforced material at the knee gave the trousers a good deal of flex and protection when taking a knee on rocky/uneven surfaces or bringing the leg up into the chest. The thin aspect of the overall material kept the weight and feel of the trousers light, and did not feel cumbersome. The various pockets were all easily in reach, although the number was somewhat excessive. Notably, when items were placed in the pockets, depending on bulk, it pressed against the material. A better balance would have been to make the thigh dimensions somewhat larger (to loosen up the fabric against the leg), adding knee chinch straps to adjust for comfort, and is something for Born Primitive to consider in the future.
- Durability – Average (3/5): Upon closer inspection, the OP Assault Pant was made from a blend of nylon, polyester, and spandex—however over several wash cycles some emergent loose threading was notable and gave the trousers an appropriate (average) level of durability and abrasion resistance. The conditions tested in included water, mud, rock, and on concrete and aside from usual wear the material retained an average level or abrasion resistance. The trousers were put through four wash cycles and some loose threading or material was noted at the belt loops and pockets. Final examination revealed that the OP Assault Pant had a high level of bartack stitching along the belt line and high-stress points of the pockets, with double-line stitching on pockets, crotch, and leg cuffs. These all ensured that there was no compromise of the stitching line or pocket, and if it were to ever become so then it would be limited to the affected area. The only concern was the plastic top button to the fly, it was only secured by a single band of nylon. Under hard usage, buttons retained in the same manner have either been ripped off by gear or simply broken and it would be recommended to Born Primitive to consider metal snap-type buttons in future field pants for added strength and stand less chance of being shorn off.
- Functionality – Average (3/5): Born Primitive as a clothing company had its start as an athletic wear manufacturer for gym and yoga consumers, and those influences were evident in the appropriate (average) functional design of the OP Assault Pant with regards to its flexibility and item storage. Functionally, the number of pockets on the OP Assault Pant was extremely useful. Most pockets could easily accommodate a rifle or pistol magazine, and it was noted the pockets high on the thigh could allow for more direct access than traditional cargo pockets on the mid-thick. The fly itself only had a single shuttle, which made manipulation of undoing it while encumbered with a range/battle belt somewhat difficult if visiting the restroom. A good deal of the functionality of the OP Assault Pant was put into taking the lightweight fabrics and making it the most comfortable possible while worn for an extensive time (4+ hours) and regardless of conditions. The only noted minor problem with the function of the MC pants was accessing some of the smaller accessory pockets on the front thigh either dur to leg position, holster, or pouches. The slots for adding knee padding was ideal in location (the inside of the pant leg); however, Born Primitive does not offer any specific type of knee pad on its website (nor recommend any) so its left to the consumer to figure out what works best. It would have been more ideal had the manufacturer designed the knee segment as an external pocket where a knee pads can be attached, like how the Crye AirFlex knee pads are easily attached/removed from the G3/4. From a functional aspect, the OP Assault Pant would be more ideal for training and moderate range use, but the thin nature of the overall fabric and breathability would not let itself to a true combat environment, as cold weather would necessitate added undergarments to mitigate heat loss and the trousers unlikely to hold up for a long duration in harsh environments like we see in Ukraine where soldiers frequently encounter moisture, rock, and abrasion.
- Weight – Average (3/5): Weighing in at 1.43 pounds (or 22.9 ounces) for the evaluated trousers sized of a 38” waist with a regular length inseam, the OP Assault Pant had a good amount of lightweight blended fabrics and appropriate room for movement through its waist and thigh. Total weight of the trouser will vary depending on the size purchased. The added knee reinforcement gave the material added resistance to abrasion and limited any potential tearing/gouging to the fabric. However, that lightweight design made it evident in terms of its differences in functional usage between the OP Assault Pant and dedicated combat trousers. The OP Assault Pant came in at a little lighter than the Crye Gen 3 (1.6 pounds), the Vanguard (1.32 pounds), UF Pro’s Striker X Gen 2 (2.09 pounds), and the Massif’s Hellman Combat Pant (2.0 pounds) and placed the OP Assault Pant at an appropriate (average) weight within the market of range/field trousers.
Overall Rating – Above Average (17/25)
Product Link: https://bornprimitive.com/collections/born-primitive-tactical/products/op-assault-pant-od-green
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
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