Triple Aught Design. That's what T.A.D. gear stands for and I just learned that today. For the past year or so all I have heard from the bf is TAD gear this....TAD gear that. Sometimes I get home and see packages from UPS. I think yippee...a package for me? Nope, that would be more TAD gear stuff the bf ordered. Do you really need the same pair of shorts in 3 different colors? This past weekend we took a long weekend to San Francisco. The bf says we have to check out the headquarters of TAD gear. Now that I think about it, it was probably his ploy to buy more stuff from them AND have his vacay. All joking aside, I honestly think this is a very cool place. When you walk in you are greeted by a ginormous T-Rex skull and custom built scooters. I am in love with scooters and secretly hope I get one for my birthday. (are you reading this Alex?) TAD Gear is basically a guy's paradise to rugged, high quality, hip, urban clothes and other 'tactical' gadgets. I saw funny patches, IWG figurines, headlamps, belts, sunglasses, hoodies, camping gear, watches, pants, and shorts--I heard all their clothing is made in small batches and sell out quickly so get the jump on! While the bf was talking to the owner Patrick and after about 15 minutes of looking around at more stuff like custom knives.....I sought desperation. Luckily the guys working here are really cool and helpful. Mike chatted me up about food and shopping. He had some freakin hilarious stories that thoroughly entertained me. Now I am the one who is sad they don't have a shop in San Diego. Anyways, I'm looking forward to coming back to SF AND to TAD gear soon! read more

The fabulous new store at 551 Hayes Street, San Francisco is now open! Patrick Ma picked a great location in the trendy Hayes Valley area to display his fabulous tactical gear wore by the coolest guys and gals. Their fantastic highly functional clothing was designed to be used in the wilderness, but is extremely fashionable in town. I am the lucky owner of three pairs of their multi-cam shorts. The customer service continues to exceed my expectations. I am glad they actually have real dressing rooms in the new location compared to the old sheet over a closet at the 22nd Street store. I am within walking distance, so I will shop here often. read more

I have ordered 3 articles of clothing from TAD and kept 2 because they could not be returned. The syntax vest I returned immediately because it was clear the craftsmanship was suboptimal, especially at the price point. I got a dead bird vest instead and have not looked back. I had to pay for my own return shipping on the TAD vest - AND had to pay shipping on the original order - so TAD double dipped on their shipping profits. I subsequently ordered the special service sweater on sale and within minutes (literally minutes) of putting it on, threads were pulling out and it was unraveling. TAD policy for sale items is that the item was not eligible for return or replacement, so my wife stitched up the sleeve and in the 2 weeks since it's needed 2 other repairs to prevent unravelling. Despite the policy I did contact TAD and customer service did NOT reply (it's been 2 weeks). I submitted a review of the sweater to their website which was screened and never posted (they only allow the positive reviews on their website). The third item I bought was a baselayer which I also got on sale. At the sale price it is a reasonable buy but I would never pay full price. Quality wise it's on par with baselayers I have from Cabela's and definitely not up to performance standards of under armour or Sitka or other premium brands. Long story short, the quality is lacking and if you really want gear that is stylish and performs, look elsewhere. TAD is a sham marketing scheme and the gear will not hold up. read more

Awesomeness all the way. I ended up coming to the original location just to complete my pilgrimage. Setting of this place is perfect, wide opening warehouse with great items wall to wall. Same level of CS at both location, knowledgeable crews. Yes the price is astronomical to say the least, my credit card gets most work out than Crossfit can only dream of. At the end of the day I look at my shopping bag and wonder "did I get what I really need?" and my answer is f**k yeah, tad gear. read more

First negative review I've ever given. Ordered pants that didn't fit and when I sent them back, TAD claimed they had been worn and put through the wash. I give ethics advice to senior military leaders for a living; I'm not trying to scam a retail store out of a free week of pants use. Utterly ridiculous. Unacceptable customer service at this price point. Recommend trying out Prometheus Design Works, a similar outfitter with a better vibe and more forthright interaction with customers. read more

A friend of mine in the law enforcement community took me here because he said they have, "a lot of cool stuff" -- stuff like cool knives, survival kits, camping gear, and a neat dinosaur fossil head! Don't touch, or else it'll cost you $20,000! The guy that runs the place is pretty knowledgeable and helpful and I think I will be back one day to purchase some survival gear in the near future should the world end... read more

The guys at Triple Aught Design were super helpful. I worked with Cameron and Steve, I wasn't sure how I wanted to setup my bags. I tried a few different configurations and they were super patient and helpful to get things perfect. Overall super high quality gear and excellent staff. read more

Check out their intro on the website! I've been following this company since it started up in Oakland. Edge of envelop products. read more

Staff is friendly and quality of the products are good. All made in the USA. Found out about this place 6 years ago because my buddy brought me here for the sample sale. Have been coming every year since and unfortunately with COVID the sample sale is most likely cancelled. read more

Was told to order something online for in store pickup later that day (it showed as in stock the whole time). Ended up not being there and am now told, only by calling twice, that it won't be there until five days late at the earliest, even though it's in their warehouse, nearby. No notification in their system of the delay, no emails about the delay, and their customer support is closed for three days in a row. The guy in the shop is awesome but he has zero power to help fix the problem -- they are really leaving him out in the cold with the customers. I like the folks in the store and a lot of their gear, but their systems are a disaster and they don't really seem to care at all about providing reasonable service. It's one thing to not have stuff in stock and let you know it, but it's something very different to say it will be there by a certain time and then miss it by such a margin without any communication or perks. read more

Staff is a bit pretentious at first. That is, if you don't walk in looking like a macho rock climber. After ten minutes or so, I finally got a "Can I help you?" that sounded more like an "Are you lost?". I will cut them some slack, though, since everyone was in the middle of sorting out the hundreds of online orders from their worldwide cult following. They were were helpful and patient after I wanted to change an order that was placed and paid for earlier, since my boyfriend had ordered the wrong size. Who knew the adorable creature hoodies were "made for the asian market", meaning my 5'6" 130lbs Asian American girl self could barely fit a large? I thought all was clear with the new order when I left, but unfortunately we discovered they charged my boyfriend's card a number of weird amounts, almost overdrawing his account, and didn't refund the amount they were supposed to. After a month of phone calls and emails, he had spoken to a couple different employees that couldn't explain what happened but eventually refunded the right amount of money. The man that helped me with the knives was great, though, offering plenty of his own experience with the ones he knew and knowledgeable recommendations on what to get. Altogether the company has excellent quality gear, without a doubt. Unfortunately, their organization has some catching up to do with the growing popularity of the brand. read more

I've been a TAD Gear customer for several years now. It is both a brick and mortar store as well as an internet vendor. What separates TAD Gear from everyone else is the quality and the service. TAD sells good stuff, and their service is absolutely the best. The TAD guys rock....period. read more

I purchased one of their Axis duffle bags when they first came out and was pleasantly surprised how light it was and how small it could compact down to if need be. My content wore off very quickly, in less than a month one of the shoulder straps broke as I picked it up. I was nothing but gentle with it, never throwing it and only placing it on carpet and only loaded with clothes and toiletries (it was a station bag). Within a week of the strap breaking, more stitching began unraveling very quickly, the bag was simply falling apart. I contacted Triple Aught and was assured th was under warranty and not to worry, just to send it back and would take a week to repair. I did send it back and they received it September 9th (it needed to be signed for). I never heard from them so I called and was told they lost it but they would make effort to find it and contact me back. I never heard from them so I called...again. And was only told that this doesn't happen very often to them and the best they could do was offer a refund since they didn't have any in stock. I was placed on hold then told the refund wasn't working so it would get forwarded to finance. I've never been more disappointed with a company. Their customer service is trash, coming in second only to the quality of their products. Especially for the price. My last duffle was purchased for $40 and lasted me 7 YEARS. Save your time and money and look somewhere else. There are outstanding products out there for cheaper and still made in the USA. I for one won't be back and won't be recommending Triple Aught to anyone I know. read more

I used to really like this brand but the quality and customer service has really gone down hill. I love how they would have sales and then none of the merchandise would be in stock or have very limited sizes. I think I'm done with them after my last disappointing purchase. read more

bought me a double-walled titanium cup. shit is tight. seems to keep my cold drinks colder and warm drinks warm. i want a flask now... and a warren thomas sng... but i'm broke. read more

I just bought a fleece blanket from TAD for my wife for Xmas. I wanted to keep the blanket when it arrived, but now that my wife has it, she won't let it go. I guess I'll have to buy a 2nd for me. read more

Planning on an expedition to some god forsaken, bug infested, fetid, stinking destination? Then you wanna head here first to build your kit for your trip. High quality, made in the USA, tough as nails, no BS gear. Their items are made to be bombproof and then some. Expect to pay top dollar and in return you'll get gear that actually lasts and is fully functional along with excellent quality control. TAD gear will always be my first stop before going on any zombie hunting mission around the planet. Period. read more

Excellent quality tactical clothing. Great staff that are helpful, attentive and knowledgeable. Be sure you check the sale bins. There are great bargains to be had! The kind of place where men who hate to shop, will love to shop. read more

It's like sharper image for real men. If you go here, be prepared to spend a lot of money. You will want everything you see. Very dangerous store for your credit card. All items are top notch and made to be abused. The place is just great. Chris read more

I give them five stars because of the quality of their merchandise, defiantly made to last. Never had any return issues so I'm not familiar with the return policy, but I'm sure they stand by their name. But what really impressed me about their outdoor wear is they carry sizes up to 3XL I spend more time in the gym than I do on the trail but with tad gear at least I have that option. Great job guys! Keep up the production of great tactical gear and wear. read more

Triple Aught Design - On the set with Tad Gear! Hollywood ca. - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Francisco, California

TAD Gear has amazing, rugged clothing and hard goods for the tactical practitioner, outdoorsman/woman, or adventurer. The style is great, the industrial warehouse retail space is totally The retail staff are super passionate, easy to talk to, and helpful. It's striking that this company cares very much about where their materials are sourced from. Not only do they want their gear to be manufactured in the USA wherever possible (and it's not always possible, due to capabilities of factories in US vs. Asia), but they even want all the underlying materials to be sourced here as well. Case in point, over recent years they have brought their merino wool T-shirts from Made in China back to Made in USA. With some of their other wool goods, they can't yet source them in the USA (wool is from New Zealand, for instance), but they are trying. I learned all of this just by having a conversation with the awesome and highly educated staff. This type of thing is extremely rare for a company these days, and it's this type of fanatical attention to detail that makes TAD Gear worth the extra $$. read more

The two times I have been to the Dog Patch location I found the store was cramped with clothes and gear and not really the kind of place to try things on so this review is focuses on their online store. I placed an order late on Thursday and had it shipped to north of Seattle by Tuesday morning. Received email with tracking numbers as soon as order was completed. Their online fitting guide was pretty spot on. Everything was well packaged and did not have any defects. The quality of the clothes is good and the fit works well if you are a little rough on things. Overall worth the investment for a few keys things. read more

You want $92 to ship a $7 patch in an envelope to Australia? I recently bought a TAD EDC bag based on the hype of your brand but, while it's built fairly tough, it is not even symmetrical or even that comfortable. I thought the Triple Aught was a reference to tolerances? I hope you can reverse the death spiral many businesses suffer at this end of the market read more

High end tactical boutique. High tech survival / outdoors / military apparel and accessories. They design their own line of clothing and backpacks, all made in the US. Think Arcteryx and Patagonia, but with a bad-ass edge :) TAD also sells high end knives, flashlights, and watches, some of them rare, custom and handmade. This is what the TAD cult is all about: high quality, small batches of rare items, sought after by customers around the world. I have seen them ship to some really crazy places. Check them out! read more

The best of the best...I only wish they were able to carry more Strider knives, or at least were able to keep them in stock long enough for me to buy them :) I've been doing business with Strider for years, since they were located in Oakland. Customer service is always top notch with a personal touch, and if I had my choice, I would never buy any piece of gear from anywhere else other than TAD. read more

Staff is always friendly and helpful, the clothes are amazingly high quality, and the shop is a great combo of militaria and hipness! Have purchased many many items here. read more

Hayes Valley branch - I found this shop wandering around Hayes Valley and found myself in heaven. Bought 2 cargo pants for their great looks. Since then I've been wearing these pants for 2 weeks straight, everywhere and anywhere - the quality is just fantastic. I didn't know anything about the company but if it has a cult following - as other reviews imply - then count me amongst the followers. It's hard to find clothing that's totally uncompromising on quality these days. Keep it up! read more

They've got a very awesome way of picking up orders! Very outstanding customer service as well, keep up the good work guys!

Send it ! Tactical , hit ! Fashionable, hit! Practical, miss low left! I was in San Francisco on business and a friend had told me about some of Triple Aught's bags and other gear . Now I do have to preface that I am a Vrytex, Blackhawk!, Tru-Spec, Eagle Industries type of guy . I walked in and immediately noticed that this wasn't you typical tactical/ outdoor gear store . This boutique, for lack of a better term was setup more for the "tacticool" guy, you know that guy! He thinks that he will double tap a HVT then head out to a 3 Michelin star restaurant! Grant it they make some great looking pieces ! But the expense for a single pair of pants would definitely affect my ammo budget, and I hate to have anything affect my range time sending freedom seeds to steel silhouettes ! The staff was great but looked a bit out of place , as if they belonged in a Vans store, or some new nitro brewed coffee shop as opposed to a tactical clothier. I did take a chance to gander at the bags which I do have to say where crafted beautifully as well as Made In The USA. But since I was just curious I will consider them when I am ready make my next purchase for a pack . So overall if you are the guy with the $3500 AR and the custom ported , stimpled Guici Glock this is a place / brand you might want to check out. Great looking pieces, modern looking shop , but just not my bag Baby ! read more

One of my favorite places for jackets in SF, I've been addicted to TAD gear for years. They have great quality gear that lasts a lifetime.

There are companies that treat you like they're lucky to have your business and companies that treat you like you're lucky to be doing business with them. TAD is the latter. They make great stuff and I've been a loyal customer for a few years now which means I've done a bit of business with them. 3 knives, 2 backpacks and countless other pieces of gear. That being said, their customer service sucks. When I have respectfully pushed back against rigid return/exchange policies I've been met with condescending rudeness sprinkled with elitism. The same holds true when I've had issues ordering items online. Yes they make great products. If that's all a yelp review took into consideration I'd give them 5 stars, but due to the value I place on my interactions with a company's customer service I feel that 2 stars is generous. Companies like Goruck make incredible products while treating their customers in an appreciative and respectful manner. Those are the kinds of companies I choose to patronize. To be fair, all of my experiences have been online only. I've never set foot in one of their retail locations but after the experiences I've had with them I have no desire to. read more

I'm not sure of WHY this company exists, but in my mind, they are NOT there to sell merchandise, but rather, to create some exotic aura of exclusivity and such. Other than their core group of fans I really cannot see the "rest of us" flocking to them. Expensive or not, if their products are good value, made in the US, then I and many others would want to buy them. What I, and many others whom I speak with, DON'T want is to have to hover over our computers at 10am each Friday, in order to be "one of the lucky few" who manage to buy something.......a backpack, a tool, a knife, a pair of pants.....I mean really, we are not talking about life saving medication here......but (as an example).....a pair of pants! Seems to me that most of the more popular items are bought for the express sake of being resold for a profit, on the secondary market (eBay comes to mind). For goodness sake, TAD, price your stuff according to the market, and/or order MORE, so that we will all be able to purchase from you, in a more leisurely manner......I guess you don't want, as a customer, someone who might be working at 10am on a Friday....... Unless you are more invested in the "hype" and "cultishness" than in making more money, you really need to reconsider your business model. If you are happy with the way things are, then ignore what I am sharing, for it is just my opinion as a consumer. I have been an REI customer for years, and while "I" have never had a quality issue with REI, perhaps your products are better (or much better), but if I simply cannot buy them, what good is better quality to me, and how do you really think you can significantly grow your business (if you actually do want to grow your business). With REI, I can return anything for any reason, at any time, with no issues whatsoever. Again, maybe your stuff never needs to be returned, but if I cannot buy it, then so what! I found out about TAD thru a forum, and was excited to try them out. Ultimately, I have decided that I am not TAD Cult material......I simply have better things to do with my time than set aside my friday mornings in order to work this hard to give them my money, no matter HOW good their products may be (which of course I cannot tell, when they sell out in a few minutes!). If I lived in SF, within walking distance of a location, AND was retired, maybe I would make more of an effort to be the first one in the door, so I could be graced with the ability to buy something from them. To me, this way of doing business is quite limiting, and if TAD doesn't want the "mainstream" simple "want to buy a pair of pants" customer, well, then, they are doing things right!! If they do want to grow, then telling customers that their lead time is usually 9-12 months, that they can't make more, that they are actually doing "better" then they used to, is ridiculous! Increase your inventory to the market level, enjoy the extra profits, additional NEW customer base, stand behind the product better, and cut out the "secondary market middlemen". Once again, I was very excited to find TAD, and very interested to buy some stuff, expensive or not, in order to check them out. A few months of not being able to do so has totally turned me off, and I would imagine I am not alone. Should they change their market strategy, I would most assuredly give them another opportunity, and I hope they actually read this, and make some changes so that "the rest of us" can experience their products. Finally, this is simply my opinion, of MY personal experiences. Others may have different experiences and opinions, and I encourage anyone reading this to read the other reviews as well, and to take ALL the information they have read to make a decision that takes into account their own particular needs. If you love TAD I'm not trying to change your opinion, and if the present way they do business works for you, I'm happy for you. Before posting this review, I decided to wait a few weeks, and actually try my hand at making a purchase. I did that today, for a fixed blade knife that I really didn't want, which I would have actually given away, just to see if "hovering" and trying to make a purchase right at 10am would work. Well, in the 20 some odd seconds it took me to place it in my cart and check out, it was sold out. How strange a business model is this? Unless being a "Cult" store is what one wants, this makes no sense at all, to me. Although, as Alex told me, in their customer service department, "it's a choice" so if I I don't like how they do business, well, I can shop elsewhere, so perhaps TAD does not really want average folks like myself, as customers. Good luck to TAD......hopefully their followers will provide the growth and income that the owners desire. My money will go to others who understand the value of having the right amount of inventory, such that people can actually buy the products. I'll stick with REI......... read more

Love their products. Long lasting, great material, cool designs. Just know that the items are sold out quickly and that it's not cheap.

It's all about the outfit, right? Ok Im not into paramilitary clothing at all, but 5 stars because this place totally cracked me up. Clearly intended for off duty cops and San Franciscans who want a tour of duty in Dogpatch, TAD is someone's zero dark thirty dream store. Go read a Richard Marcinko book and then come here for your outfit so you can be prepared for your next black ops mission. read more

Their stuff is nice but absolutely outrageously expensive! This is Gucci wear for airsofters with mommy & daddy's credit cards. They cut the store size in 1/2 from last time I was there and now the same shorts have more than doubled in price. I won't be returning in the future. read more

I work in the action sports industry, and was lucky enough to pick up a few items during their father's day sale. Their attention to detail, and commitment to making quality products is unrivaled. Definitely will buy from them again, but also recommend them to everyone! read more

Down the street to Starbucks or into the Apple Store, Triple Aught Design seeks to sell overpriced, trendy paramilitary clothes, pouches, packs and toys to the wannabe weekend warrior. The staff seemed to be under the impression that they were selling Rolexes or Tiffany & Co. jewelry. It was nice to see that 'most' of their items were made in the US but the quality was by no means better than Blawkhawk Industries or even Condor Tactical, which sell for about half the price. read more

Even though their female clothing options are fairly limited... I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of the products and the knowledge of the staff. I love my Braincase Beanie and Stealth Hoodie. This is a cult-followed company, but they are very open to educating newbies! read more

First we lose High Bridge, then TAD Gear goes lifestyle.....Before heading out, it was nice to drop in and pick up the odd sniper veil, jacket, or something I might need in the field.....they've even stopped carrying paracord! jeez....hate ordering online, but might as well now, Lucky Galls is still around for the last bit of tactical stuff in SF . read more

Overpriced gear that is made in China. Terrible customer service with a business model that panders to the tactical fan-boy and air-soft crusader. I would suggest real pipe hitters look elsewhere for cheaper American made gear and apparel from companies that appreciate your business. read more