Accessories
Our military accessories cover the small items that finish a uniform, a field kit or an everyday outfit: belts, socks, eyewear, boot care, gloves, headwear, patches and gifts. Most of them come from Rothco, with boot care from names like Kiwi, Lincoln and Griffin.
Start with the basics most people need first:
- Belts – riggers belts, quick release pistol belts, duty belts for police and security, GI web belts and leather garrison belts.
- Socks – G.I. type cushion sole boot socks, sock liners, thermal and wool blend winter socks, and dress socks.
- Eyewear – ANSI rated tactical goggles, sun, wind and dust goggles, interchangeable lens kits and aviator sunglasses.
- Footwear accessories – boot laces, insoles, Kiwi, Lincoln and Griffin polish, Sno-Seal and shoe shine kits.
From there, browse gloves, headwear such as boonie hats, caps and watch caps, patches and insignia, and novelty items and gifts like flags and survival manuals.
A note for service members: under AR 670-1, commercial items you buy yourself have to be authorized for wear and meet the specification of the issued item they replace. Some accessories here line up with that standard and many are meant for training, airsoft or off-duty use. Our guide below the products sorts out which is which, and your unit's policy can always be stricter.
How to Shop for Military Accessories
Accessories are cheap compared with boots or a rucksack, but they are where most uniform and comfort problems start: a belt that slips, socks that blister, goggles that fog, laces that snap halfway through a ruck march. Buy the item for the job you actually have, then buy a spare.
Military Belts: Match the Belt to the Load
A trouser belt only has to hold your pants up and look right. A riggers belt is the everyday choice for combat trousers. A pistol belt or range belt sits outside the trousers and carries pouches or a holster. A duty belt is built for police and security officers carrying a full set of duty gear. For dress and casual wear, look at web and leather belts, and pick up buckles, keepers and blousing straps in belt accessories.
Socks and Footwear Accessories
Boot comfort is mostly sock and insole choice. Cushion sole socks pad the ball and heel, liners cut friction, and thermal or wool blend socks add warmth. Replacement laces, insoles and a care kit keep a good pair of boots in service longer.
Tactical Eyewear and Goggles
Pick eyewear by hazard. Sunglasses handle glare. Sun, wind and dust goggles seal out grit. ANSI rated goggles and glasses add impact protection for shooting, airsoft and work, and OTG (over the glasses) models fit over prescription frames.
Military Accessories and Uniform Regulations
Accessories are where commercial gear most often meets the uniform, so it pays to know the rules before you buy.
What AR 670-1 Says About Commercial Items
Paragraph 2-10 of AR 670-1 tells Soldiers who buy uniform items outside the military clothing sales store to make sure the items are authorized for wear and conform to military specifications. A commercial item worn in place of an issued one has to meet the baseline spec of the issued item. In practice that means color, width and material matter more than the brand name on the tag.
Accessory Rules Worth Knowing
- Belt: DA PAM 670-1 lists the tan 499 rigger belt as part of the Army combat uniform, worn with a black open-face buckle.
- Socks: tan, green or black cushion sole socks are worn with combat boots.
- Blousing: paragraph 4-9 allows trousers to be bloused with the drawstrings or with commercial blousing devices, no lower than the third eyelet from the top of the boot.
- Eyewear: AR 670-1 allows conservative prescription eyeglasses and, in garrison, conservative sunglasses with gray, brown or dark green lenses. Protective eyewear for duty should carry the APEL logo.
The Air Force and Space Force wear OCP under DAFI 36-2903 with their own color rules for items such as socks and boots, and the Marine Corps and Navy have separate orders. Novelty items and old-pattern gear are for off-duty, airsoft or collecting, not the duty uniform.
When in Doubt, Ask First
Units, schools and deployed commands often set tighter standards than the regulation, especially for eyewear and belts. Check with your first-line leader before you buy for an inspection or a school, and keep the receipt.
Accessories for Airsoft, Outdoors and Gifts
Outside the uniform, these military accessories earn their keep on the airsoft field, at the range, on hunting trips and in the truck. Goggles, a solid belt, good socks and a spare set of laces cover most of what goes wrong on a long day outdoors, and patches, flags and survival manuals make easy gifts for veterans and collectors.