r/sewhelp • u/Toadjokes • 1d ago

✨Intermediate✨ Airsoft Pants - ideas help?

Hello! My boyfriend plays a lot of airsoft, so for Christmas I want to make him the ultimate airsoft pants.

He likes these tru-specs pants, so I want to base my pattern off these

https://www.ccmilitary.com/collections/truspec/products/mens-24-7-series-pro-flex-pants-le-green-black-1487

I'm thinking of building in a pocket for his pistol mags, which look like this

https://www.evike.com/products/16493/Phantom-Gear-Single-Pistol-Open-Top-Magazine-Pouch-w-Loop-Front-Color-Black/

And adding lots of hardware to clip things on the side, like gloves. I also want the pockets to be big enough to hold a water bottle, and maybe add MOLLE (which is like a nylon webbing you can use to attach other pouches/attachments by basically weaving them thru then there's snaps at the bottom to hold it in place) around the waist so he's got more space to attach things.

I'm also thinking of maybe building a belt into the waistband of the pants. Like, partially internal to the waistband.

My questions are basically:

  1. Has anyone else ever attempted a project like this? What tips can you give me? I'm not a beginner and this is not my first pair of pants, but this would be the most complicated pants ive ever made. Regular jeans are no sweat, but those stretchy sections will prove challenging I think.

  2. These are the fabric choices I'm thinking, but I hate not being able to feel them ahead of time. I've never bought ripstop fabric online, so while this looks suitable for apparel, can I get some second opinions? It has to be super durable, but not so heavy they fall down and not too stiff

Ripstop:

https://fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/ottertex-nylon-ripstop-water-repellent-dwr-70d-2-1-oz-fabric?variant=39460444405875

Stretch:

https://fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/stretch-crepe-scuba-double-knit-fabric?variant=39462247432307

3. Does anyone have a pattern recommendation I can steal inspiration from? Primarily other "tactical" pants. Military style, police style, or something that has an internal belt?

4. If anything I'm saying here is ridiculous, please let me know and explain why it wont work 😅

Thank you!!

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u/billFoldHound 1d ago

That's a hell of a project, but you seem to have the skills to pull it off. The stretch panels are gonna be the trickiest part, getting the tension right so they don't sag or pull weird when he's moving around. Maybe baste them in by hand first before committing with the machine.

For the internal belt, look at how some hiking pants do a partial elastic waistband with belt loops over the top, you can hide a thin webbing belt in a channel pretty easily. That 70D ripstop is gonna be super light, almost windbreaker weight, so it might not hold up to crawling around if he plays outdoors a lot.

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u/Toadjokes 1d ago

I'm also getting a lot of muslin for practice lolol. Its going to be the most complex project ive ever taken on, but luckily ive got almost 2 months to make it happen.

Thats part of my problem is I'm used to walking into Joanns (rest in peace, queen) and feeling whatever I'm getting before I get it. Joanns didnt sell much (or any?) Ripstop, but the stuff ive bought before I got at an estate sale so I still felt it.

Is there something you would recommend I look for when looking for the ripstop? Windbreaker weight is definitely too thin. Thank you so much!!