Pentagon Clothing Range

At IWA 2016, I was lucky enough to be introduced to the folks from the Pentagon brand, and although I was very impressed with what I saw, at that time nobody was really bringing their gear into the UK in a meaningful way. Recently though, I spoke to my good mate Lukas from Military1st and he advised that they would be bringing in a full range of clothing and accessories from them, and he asked if I would be prepared to test a few of the models; at the time of writing, Military1st have stocked up with an indepth range from the manufacturer, adding to their already comprehensive line-up of top-quality brands. Pentagon have been around in the UK for a little while now, but up until this point it’s been a bit hit and miss where you’ll find it; not so anymore!

So who are Pentagon and where have they come from? Well, to start off with their name is actually pretty clever in itself. Pentagon (pentagōnos) is a noun of ancient Greek origin meaning ‘five angled’. In the Pentagon logo the five angles symbolise the human form itself with the head and four limbs, along with the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.

High Five

In terms of making gear, Pentagon have been active in the field of military clothing and accessories since 1991, when the company started in Germany as a modest retail shop selling new and used military surplus goods. In 1993 the business moved and expanded with the opening of a new wholesale warehouse in Northern Greece.

In the late 90s, a new generation of customers were showing up searching for military and law enforcement clothing and gear with technologically advanced fabrics, new and improved pocket arrangements and contemporary fitting styles. Most of these products demanded could only be found in recognised outdoor sports brands and in colours that were not appropriate for the military and law enforcement sector.

That is when Pentagon decided to fill this gap, and they started by looking for manufacturers and partners that were producing for leading outdoor companies, so as to acquire a thorough understanding of the technology of modern fabric construction and material functionality. They invested in the art of pattern making so that they could achieve the perfect fit for high-intensity activities that also provided high levels of comfort and an aesthetic which was missing from the classic military and law enforcement products.

Finally, after many years of research and development and working closely with Military, Police, Fire fighters, Rescue and Security teams they developed a totally new product series which came to be known as ‘Tactical Sportswear™’. This was their answer to an advanced military clothing and gear concept, which incorporated quality, technology, design and aesthetic all in one package and their motto to complement all this simply became “Gear Up!™”

Field Use

On the private land where I carry out my shooting tests for reviews there are no real facilities other than an old pub-type bench/ table combo, as I purposely keep the area as natural as possible; this also means that if it’s cold or raining I need to have the right gear on. With this in mind, when I first spoke to Military1st about the Pentagon gear, I had a really clear idea of what I wanted to look at.

First up, of course, is what goes next to the skin, and Pentagon offer a super, well-priced base-layer range; I’ve not tested this fully as yet, as it really hasn’t been cold enough to warrant it, but I will tell you that the fit is great and the fabric feels really comfortable against the skin. What I have worn regularly though is the Body Shock T-Shirt; this is made of lightweight, flexible and highly breathable Polyester fabric with a comfortable slim fit body design, quick drying Dry Wear Fit material technology and enhanced Dry Cool system for maximum freedom of movement in all conditions. Anti-bacterial fabric properties give the body long-lasting protection against odour, while low profile flat-locked seams offer superb wear comfort, even during the most intense training workout. It’s perfect as an under armour, gym and training facility shirt, or as a tactical base layer, the Body Shock T-Shirt offers a comfortable fit all day long for just £17.95.

Middle, Class

Within their range, Pentagon have an absolutely huge variety of fleece and mid-layer garments for you to choose from, and I particularly like the Pentathlon Sweater. Priced at £48.95 and made from lightweight and breathable PolyCotton material, the Pentathlon Sweater features a classic slim fit design with a full-length front YKK zipper, high collar and gusseted hood for added protection. There are bonded hand pockets with an extra utility pocket on the left sleeve, and an adjustable waist for a close fit and added comfort. The Pentathlon Sweater offers excellent freedom of movement with superb protection against the wind and cold weather and is perfect as a piece of range gear!

Moving to the outer layer Pentagon offer a number of solutions and softshell fabrics, and there are couple of models that I really rate very highly. The Monsoon Jacket is a comfortable and functional rain jacket with a two-way, full front zip, Velcro secured storm flap, high collar with a chin guard, and integrated cobra-style hood with a concealed adjuster on its back. The jacket features six practical pockets with zip openings and storm flaps, placed on the chest, lower front, and both sleeves. Breathable and water-resistant Storm-Tex membrane and taped seams make the jacket suitable for rainy, windy and stormy weather conditions while underarm ventilation zippers offer optimal comfort and temperature management.

The Pentagon Monsoon Jacket is pretty much perfect for both professional and everyday outdoor use and doesn’t break the bank at £76.95.

Urban tactical Last but by no means least, the UTA Urban Tactical Anorak uses a slightly different combination of fabric technologies to handle those colder, chillier days. It features a high collar with a chin guard, a quarter-zip on the front with inner storm flap, and an integrated, fleece-lined hood with strap at the back and elastic cords with cord locks at the front for easy adjustments. The jacket’s spacious hand pockets and front kangaroo pocket allow you to carry larger items such as tablets, while small pockets on each upper arm are perfect for essential accessories and documents. There are 2-way zip openings on each side of the jacket, from the armpit to the bottom hem, for ventilation and temperature management.

With a breathable and water-resistant membrane, the Urban Tactical Anorak offers excellent protection against the elements in most environments. Priced at £74.95, this is a very well achieved design indeed! I’ve just returned from a trip to the Brecon Beacons, where the gear got a really thorough test, as sadly British summertime proved to be at its usual notbest!

The Pentagon gear stood up very well to the harsh conditions, and performed very well indeed, as I’d expected. If you’re looking for good field clothing and accessories, then Pentagon most definitely have it in their line, but if like me you just want some solid, well-priced kit for the range then you need look no further, just head to www.military1st.co.uk, pick Pentagon under ‘BRANDS’, and you’re good to go!

My thanks again go to www. military1st.co.uk for kindly supplying the test garments featured in this article.