We're just going to briefly discuss the selection of your Tactical Outerwear. These few tips may seem extremely elementary, but sometimes something can be so obvious it is overlooked.
The main thing to remember when selecting your Tactical Jacket or Tactical Parka is the context of your surroundings. As you well know, many of today's top Manufacturer's, like 5.11 Tactical or BLACKHAWK!, offer their jackets in from a modular approach. This is a great idea and works well if you are operating in varying conditions.
Are you only wearing your outerwear during very cold/strenuous conditions, you may want an all out Duty Parka rather than a modular-type tactical jacket system. This makes perfect sense. In a situation like the one just mentioned, you may want a hip-length, totally sealed and solid winter parka.
However, if your tactical apparel needs to change along with a climate like ours in Ohio, then the modular system may be just the ticket. You'll notice that some systems, like 5.11's 3-in-1 Parka, have one price and the entire thing comes to you as a single product. Others, however, like BLACKHAWK!'s Shell Jak, Ops Jak and Training Jak are purchased separately and can be layered to produce an almost impenetrable fortress of outerwear.
Whatever type of tactical outerwear solution you decide on, just make sure you take its use into consideration. If you do that, you should be well on your way to a functional tactical apparel system.
