Andy Ihnatko: The Man Behind a Tactical Pants Movement

When Andy Ihnatko held a contest on his blog in 2008 searching for the perfect pants to purchase online, he had no idea he’d create such a following for “Tactical Internet Pants.”

Two years later, people are still asking the Chicago Sun-Times technology columnist, CBS personality and Macworld contributor about what fits in his 5.11’s (his choice brand). Most recently, his fans took to Twitter to inquire if Apple’s new iPad was too big for the back cargo pocket. While he never directly answered the question, he does today.

You’ve called 5.11 Tactical Pants your “favorite pants in the world.” Have you ever tried any other brand or styles of tactical pants?

I tried a few others early in my tac pants career, usually swayed by a lower price or a clearance special, but now I’m a 5.11 loyalist. Whenever one of those little experiments come up in my laundry rotation, and I wear them, it’s pretty clear that a pair of pants with big pockets doth not a 5.11 make.

You discovered the pants in 2008 when you were looking for the best Internet pants. What other pants were the 5.11’s up against? Why did they win?

I was introduced to the 5.11 tac pant through a pretty silly means. I commented on Twitter about how easily most men can handle the most complex and challenging tasks, but the simple business of clothes shopping often just reduces us to whimpering jelly. Yes, I was about to go out for pants. The topic of “shopping for pants on the Internet” proved to be a credible way to avoid doing any actual paying work that morning, and by the time the conversations ended, I had challenged my readers to nominate pants that (a) were suitable for daily bachelor wear and (b) could be ordered online.

I think the final nominees I chose were the 5.11, a pair from L.L. Bean and a pair from Columbia Sportswear. They were both nice, but I knew the 5.11’s were the winner the moment I unpacked ‘em. They’re built extremely well, the pockets are large, plentiful and handy without making the pants look ridiculous, and they’re roomy and comfortable. The silver and bronze-medal winners are still in my closet, but I only wear them when I’m way behind on my laundry. All day long I’ll be slapping at my left thigh, expecting my iPhone to be in a pocket that doesn’t exist.

If 5.11 asked you to become a spokesmodel for their pants, what would you say?

I would say, “This is what happens when you make drunken sports bets with competing clothing companies.” Sure, it’s all in good fun, but after the Colts lose the Super Bowl, you’re honor-bound to publish a photo of a lumpy nerd wearing your signature product. I can just picture the spread of photos on the 5.11 site. A soldier in a combat area, defending our nation. A cop, enforcing the law. A firefighter, rescuing the helpless. And then there’s me, on the sofa, with a game controller in my hands.

Were you surprised when your Twitter followers asked if the iPad would fit in your pants pocket?

Oh, not at all. In fact, that’s something I wanted to know, too.

You already carry a Kindle in the back pocket from time to time, do you think there is actually room for an iPad anyway?

I’ve tested it out, and it doesn’t fit. But it’s _so_ close! It’s not as though I’d actually carry it in my back pocket as an ongoing thing, but there are times when you just need to get your hands free for a few minutes, like when you’re trying to get all of your electronics organized for TSA screening. Those big back pockets save me from having to squeeze my Kindle between my knees while I simultaneously try to wrestle a $1,500 laptop out of its case and into a plastic tub.

Believe me, as soon as “5.11 Tac Pants – The iPad Edition” hits the website, I’ll be first in line with an order.

If you could rename the iPad, what would you call it? Why?

I have no problems with the name. But if I were to rename it, I’d probably go with “Severe Eye Injury” or maybe “Adorable Baby Ducks In Horrible Imminent Danger.” It would be Apple’s ultimate statement of confidence: “Our new tablet computer is so handy and useful that you won’t give a damn _what_ it’s called.”

Watch Andy weigh in on the iPad at the Macworld Expo, which took place last week.

Chronicles of EMS – Trailer (Premiere Feb 12th @ 5pm ChroniclesofEMS.com) from Thaddeus Setla on Vimeo.

• Chronicles of EMS premiers, and EMTs party in San Fran. (Everyday EMS Tips)
• More sights and sounds from the Chronicles premier. (Happy Medic)
• 10 things you should try to do with every patient. (Life Under the Lights)
• Are public safety budget cuts on the horizon nationwide? (Firefighter Blog)
• From the other side of the stretcher … The kind of e-mail that makes it all worth it. (Medic 999)
• Nothing can beat Uncle Beat’s tips o’ the day. (Beat and Release)
• Let’s get physical! Yes, you do need to be fit to fit the LEO bill. (Behind the Blue Line)
• More pockets. More stuff to show. (The Insomniac’s Guide to Ambulances)
• How to use Internet tracking as a evidence collector. (Cops 2.0)
• Why would you steal an ambulance, especially with a patient inside?! (EMS Daily News)
• The tweet is on for PC. Follow him at @philosophcop. (Philosophical Cop)
• Sometimes inspiration for a blog is hard to find. (Medic Three)
• Being healthy sounds easy than it really is. Or is it? (Fit Responder)
• Snowpocalypse: It’s like a marshmallow in a microwave … see video below. (Fire Daily)

@Carlos_Perez, are these the tac pants you bought?

Who tweets about tactical pants? OK, that’s sort of a silly question coming from the people who write about them five days a week.

For several weeks now, we’ve dutifully collected the best (and, er, the only) tweets about tactical pants. We even replied to some, and, oh man, were those folks a little freaked.

Without further ado…

@Billyhime: Working in my tactical pants. S*** JUST GOT REAL

@specialKolin: @Billyhime if you were working ON your tactical pants. That tweet would have a differnt meaning.

@zyzzyva: Just got patted down by TSA on the ramp. Just searched my upper body, not bags or tactical Internet Pants.

@gsbrickner: Tactical Pants: I haz them.

@irinaslutsky: @arkanic tactical pants are almost as important as tactical corsets!

@arkanic: @Ihnatko I have noticed my pants have become more strategic than tactical in this post holliday period

@invisiblejules: Does anyone else find the phrase “tactical pants” humorous?

@Carlos_Perez: just got some Blackhawk tactical pants and they are very nice, I might change my 5.11 for this if they survive a training session

@Matchbooked: One day I hope to be the owner of a pair of “tactical pants” *does a somersault* *checks watch*

@cvrtvnews: Hat, check. Boots, check. Tactical pants, check. Rain coat, check. All from @HiTecUSA and @magnumboots. Ready for more weather coverage.

@techydude: @omegatron you need a pair of Internet Tactical Pants :p

@bittner: @Ihnatko Burning question: Does the iPad fit in your tactical pants?

@AndyBold: @ebygum I have a pair. @ihnatko speaks truth – 511 Tactical Pants are the Ultimate Geek Trouser and worth every last penny.

@anibunny: Maybe not. They are just heavy-duty. Called Public Safety Tactical-Pants. I’m supposed to be dressing up as a fricken lawyer! lol.

@aeblin: Dockers free pants website is getting trashed. Sad.

@Fragmatic: @aeblin Just get some 5.11 tactical pants, best pants ever.

@qburger: I’m wearing tactical pants.

@itsjustEM: @lbautist is he wearing boardshorts?

@lbautist: @itsjustEm Tactical Boardshorts. Sort a cross between cargo pants and surf gear.

@yebot: I need some 5.11 tactical pants to go with my 5.11 tactical socks.

In March 2008, Officer Mike McCoy set up a blog for the Houston Police Department. Little did he know that he’d garner a devoted readership, local media attention and a steady stream of new recruits during the next two years. Currently McCoy still uses Blogger along with YouTube, Facebook and Twitter as a means to recruit new officers, giving his department a type of exposure that didn’t exist before.

While a few other departments do run recruiting type blogs, none have been as successful as the Houston Police Department’s, which updates almost daily. McCoy, who joined the force in 1982, answered a few questions for us between blogging and patrolling Houston’s streets.

Has using the blog as a recruiting tool proved beneficial? Should other departments venture into the blogosphere to find new recruits?

Absolutely it has helped. When I started the blog two years ago, I only had a few fans a day. I now see upwards of 1,500 hits a day.

When I see the actual applicant show up at our office, many of them tell me that the blog humanized the department, and they were able to relate to the department much more than without it. To be able to see humor and inside information about HPD is like no other police department and in some cases the direct reason they chose HPD.

What’s the biggest misconception new recruits have about becoming a police officer?

I would say that the applicant’s believe they can go right into a specialized division or unit without having to put time in on the streets. In reality, everyone must patrol the streets as a police officer for at least two years before they are allowed to put in for a specialized division or unit.

You have a series of posts on the blog entitled ‘Don’t Bother Applying,’ but when should someone seriously NOT consider the police officer route?

This is a special job that takes a special person. Not everyone can do this job. You must have courage and a personality that can handle stressful situations. Not every day is stressful or dangerous, but you must be able to adapt when it does occur. You must be able to communicate effectively and have a high attention to detail.

If you cannot handle seeing a dead body — especially that of a child or handle the sight of blood — do not apply. We can train you in most cases. However, the occurrences that I just listed, you cannot be trained to handle. You as a person must be able to adapt and conquer.

There’s been a lot of talk of mall cops recently with movies such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Observe and Report. Do you have any beef with mall cops … especially when they try to imitate trained police officers?

As long as they do THEIR job, I have no problem whatsoever with mall cops. They are there to help and protect. I would hate to see one get hurt by trying to do a trained police officers job. They are great individuals, and they have a job to do like we do. However, they just must realize their limits and adhere to them.
Here’s a few interview clips with McCoy back in 2008 where he talks about the hiring policies of his department as well as other questions, realities and concerns.

What’s the public safety blogosphere furiously typing about this week? Find out!

Warning: The video below has NSFW language in second half.

• Watch a Jets fan get arrested at San Diego stadium (video above). Some say he was arrested for nothing, others beg to differ. (Slam Dunks)
• Five reasons why police should be using Twitter. (Social Meida Five O)
• The future of law enforcement and social media. (The Crime Map)
• Gomerville calls for an EMS Portrait, and Medic 999 delivers. (Medic 999)
• Sacré bleu! Beat and Release has some not-so-nice things (and possibly NSFW) to say about the French. (Beat and Release)
• Are you a real police wife? Bond with those who are. (Wives Behind the Badge)
• Trigger Pull Tactical gives us a three-minute management lesson. (Trigger Pull Tactical)
• A very sad, sad story. Be careful out there! (EMS Daily News)
• Miranda rights: To read or not to read? (Johnny Law Chronicles)
• It’s not too often that a blog hears from a word of thanks from a Member of Parliament. (The Thin Blue Line)
• Get a free copy of Bryan Fass’ Fit Responder book when you buy the e-book version. (Everyday EMS Tips)
• EMS lessons gleaned from American Idol. (Authorized Transmissions)
• Justin Schorr is with COCO. Are you? (Happy Medic)
• Who doesn’t love to share? Greg Friese shows you how to on Flickr. (EPS 411)

What’s the public safety blogosphere furiously typing about this week? Find out!

• FailBlog and Google Street View never fail to amuse. (Life Under the Lights)
• What was it really like to meet the San Francisco fire chief? Find out in a two-part tale. (999 Medic)
• Making aimless tweets? You’re not alone. (A Day in the Life of an Ambulance Driver)
• What were things like as a cop back in the day? Take a peek. (Tenderfoot in Tombstone)
• Apparently the Tara Reid version of public drunkenness isn’t so uncommon. (The Roanoke Cop)
• The best holiday decoration ever? This one brings a very strange sort of holiday cheer. (Behind the Blue Line)

You might recall that we recently published the top 101 military Twitter accounts on our sister blog over at MilitaryBoots.com. We were about to go through blood, sweat and tears again to dig up the best of the best in fire/EMS on the microblogging site, until we discovered The Fire Critic has already done all the work for us. (Thanks, Rhett!!)

In September, The Fire Critic posted what was, in his opinion, the top 100 fire/EMS Twitter accounts. Even more recently, he harnessed the power of WeFollow.com, a site that organizes and quantifies the Twitterverse, and posted a list of the most influential fire/EMS Twitter users.

We’ve decided to pick out five that immediately caught our eye, and share some stats on these folks.

Who: @PedroParamedic

Location: Your Town

Bio: Big City Paramedic with a weakness for big dogs, fast bikes and blond waitresses

Following: 123

Followers: 180

Listed: 8

Style: Blunt — in a good way!

Sweetest tweets: “After today I will have super human swine flu immunity- or I’ll catch it and die. 12:27 AM Oct 28th from web”

“A call so F’ed up the PATIENT told the crew how to fix the mess they made- while being video taped by a news crew on 1 of the busiest… 8:43 PM Oct 30th from web”

***

Who: @FireMom

Location: iPhone: 40.194931,-75.089241

Bio: Writing about the family side of fire life. Freelance writer & editor. Part-time photographer.

Following: 2,341

Followers: 2,323

Listed: 33

Style: Warm and cheery.

Sweetest tweet: “My iPhone ringtone is now the Peanuts theme song. So much win! 26 minutes ago from web”

“Warning, if you write a blog post about ‘berries,’ you will get acai berry diet spam. Just learned they’re POKEBERRIES! http://bit.ly/4yckFJ about 2 hours ago from bit.ly”

***

Who: @geekymedic

Location: Vail, Colorado

Bio: Paramedic Geek..Need I say More

Following: 421

Followers: 206

Listed: 28

Style: Short and sweet.

Sweetest tweet: “Sweet 420 followers hehehe.10:22 PM Nov 4th from web”

“On the phone with my bromance @setla 5:19 PM Oct 31st from web”

***

Who: @TinaFightsFire

Location: Boiling Springs, SC

Bio: I am a wife to 1, mom to 3, friend to several, have a passion for the fire service. I promote & teach fire/life safety!

Following: 2,028

Followers: 1,869

Listed: 37

Style: Friendly and informative.

Sweetest tweet: “I am outta class (THANK GOD) & soon will be celebrating @nemofightsfire ’s birthday a day early w/all the kids at his parents house 2night!!”

“Let me just say there is NO neat way to eat a sub sandwich. And u can throw out trying 2 look pretty or even normal while doing so! 11:39 AM Nov 4th from UberTwitter”

***

Who: @daniel_911

Location: Porter, TX, USA

Bio: Christ follower, fire dept dispatcher, web designer

Following: 197

Followers: 300

Listed: 7

Style: Sports fan meets technophile.

Sweetest tweet: “I like how someone already updated wikipedia to show the Yankees as World Champions! 10:49 PM Nov 4th from Tweetie”

“sack lunch again at work today, this is becoming a more common occurance 3:47 PM Sep 6th from SimplyTweet”