5.11 Tactical TacTec Trainer Weight Vest – Our Review

In many ways, I feel like 5.11 Tactical is a less fishy, more “get out and explore” version of Bass Pro Shops.

They got stuff for the whole family and, in my experience, the kind of gear that makes this kind of activity pretty inclusive.

While this quality can be positive in a lot of ways, in my experience, it also has been known to raise some scepticism when it comes to dedicated training gear. In a lot of cases, companies that would be better off sticking to the development of trekking poles put together “tactical gear”…when they shouldn’t be…

Thankfully, when it comes to weight vests (and also to plate carriers), 5.11 Tactical brings it.

Hell, I go to random CrossFit competitions throughout the Balkans and they’re running in 5.11 Tactical vests!

This really shouldn’t come as any surprise, though. If you have a memory that is any longer than a goldfish’s, you’re probably well aware of what the CrossFit Games athletes were issued dating as far back as the 2015 Murph event and even during less…traditional events like “The Battleground” in 2018.

In these events, athletes (and dummies) wore 5.11 Tactical’s TacTec Plate Carrier, but today, we’re gonna cover it’s little brother.

The TacTec Trainer Weight Vest.

Despite not being the issued vest for the 2015 or 2016 editions of Murph at the CrossFit Games, it was my vest of choice for the official 2025 Garage Gym Revisited edition of Murph.

Granted I didn’t quite PR my time that day (15 seconds off!), but let me tell you all about my experiences with this bad boy in the days and weeks leading up to the greatest weighted vest workout (and most sacred Hero workout) of all time!

Sizing (unscored)

I want to provide a few special pictures of the weight vest to give an idea of sizing. For reference, I’m ~5’8″.

Rucking

When you consider the workouts we mentioned in the introduction, it’s hard to imagine picking up a weighted vest to “simply” walk around in. After all, the Games athletes run, squat, climb cargo nets, and drag motionless bodies around in their vests so you gotta do better/more than that…right?

The TacTec Trainer Weight Vest is a pretty solid option for those who prefer vested rucking over the use of a traditional ruck for a few reasons that are somewhat unique to it (at least in relation to what other weight vest options offer).

The first of these (which is something we’ll discuss in much further detail below) is the extensive external and internal MOLLE system. The MOLLE weaves underneath the front velcro enclosure and can be tightened or loosened in multiple places to secure a perfect fit. The included laces help to further secure the vest in place.

If you’ve been walking with a weighted vest for some time and are simply used to the loose flap, flap, flap of either side slapping against your body, a perfectly fitting vest, that keeps both plates high and tight, will change your life.

No exaggeration.

Another unique inclusion is the small side pocket that is built into the non-webbed material of the cummerbund. In all honesty, this pocket really isn’t anything to write home about, but it can accommodate a phone and a few protein bars (or other small snacks). It doesn’t really work well for holding much liquid, but at least you won’t get (too) hungry during your ruck (plus, you’ll be able to call someone to bring you water).

A final less unique, but still valuable inclusion/consideration is the fact that the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest is shaped and designed more like traditional body armor than a training weight vest. As such, it takes plates shaped in the ESAPI style.

This is good news if you have some legit, armor plates that you want to use, but you can also opt for 5.11 Tactical’s own PT-R Flex Weight Plates. These are a bit softer and don’t press quite as hard against the body when in use (when rucking/walking, especially), which can add to the comfort of any longer ruck outing.

(If you live in a rough neighborhood, the options to ruck with ESAPI plates presents its own unique set of advantages).

Overall, the 5.11 Tactical TacTec Trainer Weight Vest holds its own for “basic” walking under load while presenting a few distinct advantages over more “no frills” vests.

Rucking: 80

“Dynamic” Activity

The 5.11 Tactical Trainer Weight Vest had the “distinction” of being my 2025 Murph weight vest (some would say this was more of a punishment for the vest than anything else!) As such, I had close to 45 minutes of non-stop activity with it involving the most fundamental bodyweight movements (pull-ups, push-ups, squats, running).

Truth be told, the year before I took on Murph in the GORUCK Plate Carrier and think I actually prefer an exclusively rear-loaded apparatus for this type of workout (with so much running…I prefer to not have a plate against my chest for running workouts), but even with worse conditions (outdoor heat, hills for the runs vs. climate-controlled environment, runs on treadmill), I only finished 15 seconds slower (42:37).

Probably the most impressive quality of this vest is its more precise adjustability which, in turn, allows for less restrictive movement. Even though I hadn’t used it a ton before Murph and was unfamiliar with my perfect fit settings, I was easily able to find a very movement-friendly arrangement.

Additionally, the Trainer Weight Vest isn’t too difficult to adjust on the fly. I kept mine a little bit tighter against my body during the first run, quickly and easily loosened it up a bit after a few minutes of the calisthenics work, and tightened it again just before the second run.

I have found that I have to maintain a wider-than-normal stance when I squat in this vest in order to avoid it rubbing against the insides of my legs on each rep. It’s a little wider than it looks and hangs down a bit, making this a slight annoyance. The silver lining is, in recent months I had been “rebuilding” my squat form…which included assuming a wider stance than the narrow one I had grown accustomed to.

That being said, I find that this vest does an excellent job of keeping the weight evenly distributed between the front and back sides and I never feel as though my back or chest is being unfairly overloaded. Referring back to my Murph experience, the squats in this vest felt infinitely better than in the rear-loaded plate carrier.

We’ll talk more about this in a later section, but I have also found that the vest’s “internal plate retention straps” are an underrated, but valuable addition. These simple velcro straps add an extra layer of stability within each plate pocket, ensuring that plates stay perfectly in place during workouts.

This fact is especially important when wearing the vest for especially dynamic activity like rope climbs and chest-to-bar pull-ups. I’m not able to go too heavy on muscle-ups (yet!), but I can assure you that the closer you can keep the plates against your body for these movements, the better…

One final thing to note is that the tightening and adjusting system is effective once you figure it out…but it took me a little while to figure it out. There is a bit of lacing and looping required…stuff that isn’t generally necessary with other vests I own. However, once you get over this learning curve, the benefits of this are exponential.

The 5.11 Tactical Trainer Weight Vest has been a very effective vest for use in the weeks leading up to Murph and on the big day itself. I have had to slightly modify how I perform certain movements (squats) in the vest, but I generally find it to be less restricting than other weight vests…which is what you really want in this type of gear.

Dynamic: 95

Load Capacity

Like most vests (whether those intended for fitness training or for use as body armor) that are intended to hold the quasi-hexagonal/quasi-pentagon-shaped weight vest plates, top-end load capacity isn’t the highest with the 5.11 Tactical Trainer Weight Vest.

Because these plates pretty much top out at the 13.75-pound mark (usually a bit lighter than this if you opt for legit ESAPI plates), when you include the vest itself, you’re limited to right around 30 pounds of resistance.

I’ve mentioned a number of times in these reviews, specifically those related to weighted vests, that for the vast majority of people, 20 pounds in a vest is more than enough. As such, a 30-pound vest is going to pose a challenge to just about anybody.

However, I know that there are those “size kings” (heh…) out there who demand those 200-pound capacity vests for…whatever reason…

Ultimately, be cognizant of the capacity you’re getting into with the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest…but also be cognizant of what you actually need from your vest…

Load Capacity: 75

Materials and Construction

With so many weighted vests and related items being constructed of some type of Cordura blend these days, the Trainer Weight Vest kinda bucks the trend by utilizing 600D polyester as its primary material of choice.

Now…I know what you’re thinking…and yes…I thought the same thing when I first saw the word “polyester” in the materials description.

Thankfully, reality isn’t anything like what we both are/were thinking!

The 600D polyester isn’t quite as robust as the 1000D Cordura that some vests are constructed of, but it is in line with the also popular 500D Cordura composition. This material is actually acclaimed for its “ruggedness and ability to withstand rough handling” whereas 500D Cordura is “often preferred for tactical backpacks that endure harsh conditions.”

Personally, I use my vest pretty roughly (I’m oftentimes pretty mad and not all that gentle at the ends of workouts), but am rarely training in “harsh conditions”…

Bring on the polyester!

I don’t think the Trainer Weight Vest feels quite as robust as some of my 1000D Cordura vests, but the added MOLLE definitely gives it a leg up in terms of overall construction intricacy…especially as it relates to practical construction intricacy.

Materials and Construction: 95

Price

I think most people would consider 5.11 Tactical to be a “premium” brand and wouldn’t flinch too much at gear that is priced higher than what many other less well-known brands have put out. Despite this fact, the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest is not so wildly overpriced entity.

Currently priced under $150 just about anywhere you’re most likely to find it, it’s price tag is in line with other popular options like the Rogue Echo Weight Vest (currently sitting at $145) while being slightly less expensive than the Rogue Pate Carrier ($165) and the GORUCK “standard”-sized Plate Carrier ($115).

(All of the alternative options mentioned above also fall into the category of “premium” brands).

As you can probably imagine, it’s not overly difficult to find less expensive options, especially from less well-known brands, nor is it hard to find more expensive options from 5.11 Tactical itself (it’s “big brother”, the TacTec Plate Carrier, will run you closer to $220). However, going with the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest puts you closer to average-to-slightly above-average in this category than it does to anywhere else.

Price: 85

Customer Reviews

One of the things about the TacTec Plate Carrier that I really appreciated about it before I got my hands on it were the sheer number of customer reviews out there related to it. What’s more is that these reviews come from a variety of sources and places.

The 5.11 Tactical main page, Rogue, Amazon, just to name a few.

With such a large sample size to draw from, combined with easily found reviews in places that the company does not control, I felt (and I would think that others would feel) pretty confident in the plate carrier’s high collective review score:

Looking at the reviews on Rogue, specifically, out of the 452 current reviews, only 20 are 3-stars or lower. Of these, the most common complaints seem to be about quality and…to my utmost surprise…about complexity of use.

This is extremely interesting to me as, in my experience, this vest is much easier to coordinate, adjust, etc. than other vests (I like the GORUCK Weight Vest 3.0, but getting plates in and adjusting it is really difficult for me).

With that in mind, assuming you can figure out how to load and adjust your vest (which shouldn’t take more than a few tries), you’ll likely find yourself in the ~600+ users who give this one a perfect review score.

Customer Reviews: 92

Customer Service

I know it’s probably just me, but I find it interesting, and more than a little surprising, when company personnel actually kinda reflect the company’s products and objectives.

(By saying this, I guess I’m outing myself as not having been to an Apple store for quite some time…)

In my experiences, 5.11 Tactical’s personnel have a way of operating and the company’s SOPs seem to be line with what you’d expect from a structured and decently well-disciplined military-esque organization.

E-mails I have sent have been responded to in a timely manner with not overly detailed, but more-than-sufficient information included to address my questions.

Additionally, multiple shipments have been arranged, dispatched, and ultimately received in timely and seamless manners.

I wouldn’t expect a very “personal” experience when dealing with 5.11 customer service reps, but so far, I’ve gotten all of my inquiries addressed in an efficient manner…so I’m cool with it.

Customer Service: 95

Who is the 5.11 Tactical Trainer Weight Vest really for?

When you’re sifting through your weighted vest options, there are (obviously) a lot of different prospects to choose from. Thankfully, falling into one of the following groups (and/or not falling into that last group) suggests at least a subtle correlation between your interests and preferences and the Trainer Weight Vest…

If you want pockets

In all honesty, the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest’s side pocket isn’t that substantive, but depending on what you’re doing, it could be more than sufficient for your needs. Like, if you’re going out on a run and don’t want to hold your keys in hand (or have to do the old “lace them in your shoe” trick) this pocket is a surprisingly valuable inclusion.

If you’ll use the MOLLE

MOLLE isn’t uncommon on weight vests and plate carrier, but the 5.11 Tactical takes it to another level with the amount they put on their gear.

I can’t think of too many instances where this will be that useful when using your gear for dynamic workouts (where you generally want less superfluous stuff floating around), but if you intend to walk in your vest a lot, there are a number of interesting attachments out there that can convert your vest to a customized makeshift ruck.

Not for those who have “standard”-sized vest plates

Like most other vests styled after body armor or legit tactical vests, the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest, is a bit…picky when it comes to the vest plates it will accept. The “standard”-sized vest plates or more universal ruck plates you have laying around likely won’t fit this vest very well…if they do at all.

As we mentioned before, if you do decide to go this route, any of the vest plates 5.11 Tactical currently sells will work (as well as off-brand, usually laser-cut plates with similar dimensions) so consider making your purchase package deal.

How we reviewed the 5.11 Tactical TacTec Weight Vest

I mentioned earlier in this article that the TacTec Weight Vest was the vest I used during my (successful) 2025 Murph attempt.

In case you don’t know, that means I ran 2 miles and did 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 air squats in the vest on that day alone.

This wasn’t anywhere close to my only vest use, though; in the days and weeks leading up to it, my CrossFit programming had a number of “Murph prep” workouts sprinkled in. To be more specific, I had workouts like this roughly once a week and worse the TacTec vest in about half of them

TacTec Weight Vest Alternatives

The TacTec vest is a solid choice, but there are other options, most notably these three, that we would also recommend without hesitation. Let’s take a quick look at your best alternatives:

Frequently Asked Questions

Not to pat ourselves on the back, but we think we did a pretty good job of covering the most important aspects (and even some more random qualities) of the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest. Just to be sure, though, let’s look at a few of the most frequently asked questions about it:

The 5.11 Tactical TaceTec Trainer Weight Vest…a Training Weight Vest that does a Little More…

As much as we love nerding out on different pieces of training equipment, when it comes to weight vests, a lot of the options out there really start to run together. In most cases, deciding between vests turns into a “(perceived) quality vs. price” ratio more than anything else.

This can be equal parts “boring” and “unfortunate”, but thankfully there are options like the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest to spice things up a bit.

I’ll be the first to admit that many of its features aren’t the most important for my personal preferences and needs. The MOLLE (for the most part), the side pocket, heck…even the flex plate compatibility capabilities are really cool additions, but aren’t things that I will utilize on a regular basis.

The more sophisticated tightening mechanism, despite a little bit of a learning curve, is this vest’s most important feature and is something that I think makes it really stand out among the mostly “one-size-fits-all” crowd.

…but if you do want to attach other MOLLE gear to something, are inclined to go on a weighted run with your keys or phone in tow, or you love the thought of EVA foam flex plates…the TacTec Trainer Weight Vest’s appeal grows exponentially.

Considering its reasonable price point, it’s a solid option for those who not only want something a little different, but want something from one of the O.G. CrossFit Games gear suppliers.