5.11 Tactical

5.11 started in Modesto, California, as a clothing line created by rock climber Royal Robbins. Upon reaching the top of a climb in Yosemite National Park, Robbins noticed that the pants he was wearing were not suited for climbing and decided that he needed to design something more durable and with better functionality. He and his wife Liz Robbins owned a boot and clothing company, Royal Robbins LLC, and began manufacturing specialty pants by the name of "5.11" in 1968, which had a trademarked strap-and-slash pocket design.{{Cite journal|last=McGowan|first=Elizabeth| title=Royal Robbins|journal=Backpacker|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17|year=1985|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|pages=17–18|issn=0277-867X|volume=13|issue=3}}{{Cite journal|last=Woodward|first=Bob| title=Short Cuts|journal=Backpacker|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17|year=1985|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|pages=38–39|issn=0277-867X|volume=13|issue=3}}

The name "5.11" comes from a high level of climbing difficulty listed in the Yosemite Decimal System, which Robbins helped develop in the 1950s.{{Cite book|last=Graf|first=Mike|title=Yosemite National Park: Harrowing Ascent of Half Dome|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtPS-UIXNK8C&pg=PT7|date=20 March 2012|publisher=FalconGuides|isbn=978-0-7627-8409-7|page=7}} The difficulty level is somewhat jokingly defined as "after thorough inspection, you conclude this move is obviously impossible; however, occasionally someone actually accomplishes it".{{Cite book|title=Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills|last=Graydon|first=Don|publisher=Mountaineers Books|year=1992|isbn=0898862019|location=Seattle, Washington|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780898862010}}

Robbins sold a 51% stake in his company to Dan Costa in 1999,{{Cite book|last1=Gitman|first1=Lawrence J.|last2=McDaniel|first2=Carl|title=The Future of Business: The Essentials|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vUdFCfnJYu4C&pg=PA187|year=2008|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-0-324-59075-3|page=187}} who, after much streamlining, noticed that the 5.11 pants were becoming popular at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Costa bought the entire company in 2002 and ended up selling Royal Robbins Clothing back to Robbins in 2003, but kept the 5.11 brand and spun off a whole new company called 511 Inc. or 5.11 Tactical. Partnering with the FBI, Dan Costa and his co-partner Francisco Morales began creating additional tactical apparel and improving on the existing product line.

In 2006, 5.11 Tactical was ranked #211 on Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the nation. In 2007, TA Associates, a Boston private equity firm, bought a majority stake in 5.11 Tactical for $305 million.{{Cite news | last=van der Meer | first=Ben | title=Costa's Six | newspaper=The Modesto Bee | date=2007 | url=http://www.modbee.com/2007/12/16/153855/costas-six.html | access-date=7 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221214850/http://www.modbee.com/2007/12/16/153855/costas-six.html | archive-date=21 February 2014 | url-status=dead }}

In 2012, 5.11 Tactical purchased Seattle-based custom outdoor apparel brand Beyond Clothing LLC,{{Cite web|url=https://beyondclothing.com/|title=Beyond Clothing - Cold Weather Clothing Systems - Made in the USA|website=Beyond Clothing USA|access-date=13 December 2018}} for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite web|last=Hamanaka|first=Kari|title=5.11 Tactical Acquires Performance Clothing Company|work=Orange County Business Journal|url=http://www.ocbj.com/news/2012/oct/05/511-tactical-acquires-performance-clothing-company/|access-date=2014-06-23|archive-date=2021-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127225557/https://www.ocbj.com/news/2012/oct/05/511-tactical-acquires-performance-clothing-company/|url-status=dead}} An April Fools' joke that same year resulted in the production of the Tactical Duty contemporary kilt.{{Cite web|website=officer.com|title=No Joke: How 5:11's Tactical Duty Kilt Was Born |url=http://www.officer.com/article/11407982/no-joke-how-511s-tactical-duty-kilt-was-born|access-date=2017-01-23|date=2014-04-16}} Also in 2012, the company announced it was moving development jobs to Irvine, California, while leaving some functions in Modesto.{{Cite web |url=https://www.modestopress.com/modesto-5-11-tactical-move-to-irvine-is-another-blow-to-the-city-of-modesto/1759/ |title=Modesto 5.11 Tactical Jobs Move To Irvine Is Another Blow To The City of Modesto |website=modestopress.com |date=2012-05-01 |access-date=2017-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013845/https://www.modestopress.com/modesto-5-11-tactical-move-to-irvine-is-another-blow-to-the-city-of-modesto/1759/ |archive-date=2017-02-02 |url-status=dead }}

In 2014, the company expanded into retail and opened pilot locations in Riverside and Las Vegas, and the following two years it opened stores in California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Utah and Australia.

In 2016, the company was acquired by Compass Diversified Holdings for US$401 million.

As of August 2023, 5.11 Tactical operated a chain of over 100 retail stores across 34 states in the United States, as well as overseas branches in Australia, Bahrain, China, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal{{Cite web |title=Inicio - 511 Lisboa Store |url=https://511lisboa.com/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |language=pt-PT}} and Taiwan. Additionally, the flagship store was established in Finland in August 2020.

In 2023, they have continued their plan to open new stores with multiple locations under development.{{Cite web | url=https://www.511tactical.com/locations | title=5.11 Locations - 5.11 Tactical|website=www.511tactical.com|access-date=13 December 2018}}

Actress Jennifer Garner and her co-stars wore 5.11 watches in the 2007 film The Kingdom.

In the episode "The Truth Has a Ring to It" from the second season of the HBO series Barry, Monroe Fuches (portrayed by Stephen Root) is seen wearing a 5.11 backpack.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2019 |title=5.11 Tactical Backpack Worn By Stephen Root In Barry - Season 2, Episode 6, The Truth Has A Ring To It (2019) |url=https://productplacementblog.com/tv-series/5-11-tactical-backpack-worn-by-stephen-root-in-barry-season-2-episode-6-the-truth-has-a-ring-to-it-2019/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |language=en-US}}

Table of 5.11 products featured in various video games:

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Category:Clothing brands of the United States

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Category:Clothing companies established in 1992

Category:1992 establishments in California

Category:American companies established in 1992