Tactical Shirts
Our tactical shirts are working shirts: button-front BDU shirts, combat shirts made to wear under armor, and job shirts for security, fire and EMS crews.
The BDU side includes the Rip-Stop BDU Shirt, the Twill BDU Shirt, the Tactical 2 Pocket BDU Shirt and the Digital Camo BDU Shirt, along with a Vintage Vietnam Fatigue Rip-Stop Shirt, an ACU Digital Camo Combat Uniform Shirt and a Fred Bear camo BDU shirt from the Rothco X Bear Archery line. A Kids Camo BDU Shirt lets younger shooters match the family.
For airsoft and range days, the Tactical Airsoft Combat Shirt, 1/4 Zip Tactical Airsoft Combat Shirt and Tactical NYCO Airsoft Combat Shirt pair a fitted torso with sleeves cut for movement, so they sit cleanly under a plate carrier or chest rig. The NYCO FR Fire Retardant Combat Shirt and 1/4 Zip Military Fire Retardant NYCO Combat Shirt add fire retardant fabric for work near heat.
Public safety staff will find the Firefighter / EMS Quarter Zip Job Shirt, the black Security 1/4 Zip Job Shirt, long and short sleeve Uniform Shirts, the Short Sleeve Tactical Shirt in black, a Lightweight Tactical Shirt and a Moisture Wicking Mock Turtleneck for layering.
A note for service members: these are commercial shirts, not issue uniform items. The BDU was retired in 2008 and the ACU digital pattern on October 1, 2019, so those shirts are for training, airsoft, reenactment and off-duty wear. Our guide below covers how each style compares with current AR 670-1 rules.
How to Choose Tactical Shirts
Match the shirt to what you wear over it and where you work. If you run a plate carrier or chest rig, a combat shirt is the better choice because there is no bulky front placket or chest pockets under the armor. If the shirt is your outer layer, a BDU shirt gives you four pockets and a collar that protects your neck from sun and sling rub.
BDU Shirts: Rip-Stop vs. Twill
Rip-stop fabric has a grid weave that keeps small tears from spreading, and it is usually lighter and cooler. Twill is denser and softer, with a more traditional look and feel. Both follow the classic BDU layout with button-front closure and pockets, so the choice comes down to climate and how much abrasion you expect. The Tactical 2 Pocket BDU Shirt trims the front for a cleaner look.
Combat Shirts for Airsoft and Range Use
Quarter-zip combat shirts open at the neck for venting and close up for sun or wind. NYCO versions use a nylon and cotton blend for added abrasion resistance. Wear them tucked if you want a cleaner fit under a belt and armor.
FR and Job Shirts for Public Safety
The fire retardant combat shirts are built for heat exposure, but check your department's requirements before relying on any FR garment for protection. Quarter zip job shirts for firefighters, EMS and security give a professional look over a tee and are easy to pull on over a uniform shirt on a cold call.
Sizing Tactical Shirts
BDU shirts are cut to wear loose over a T-shirt. Combat shirts fit closer through the torso so they don't bunch under armor, so choose your normal chest size and size up only if you layer underneath. Check sleeve length with your arms raised to shoulder height, since that is how you hold a rifle or replica; cuffs that ride up halfway to the elbow mean the shirt is too short.
Tactical Shirts and Military Uniform Regulations
Retired Patterns: BDU and ACU Digital
The Army set April 30, 2008 as the final wear-out date for the woodland BDU, and stopped wearing the Universal Camouflage Pattern of the ACU on October 1, 2019. Today AR 670-1 makes the Army Combat Uniform in the Operational Camouflage Pattern the duty and field uniform, and the Air Force and Space Force wear OCP under DAFI 36-2903. Our BDU, digital and Vietnam-style fatigue shirts are not substitutes for issue uniform coats.
Combat Shirts in the Army Uniform
DA PAM 670-1, paragraph 4-7p, covers the issued Army combat shirt and says it will be worn tucked into the trousers. Commercial combat shirts like ours are not issue items, so treat them as training and airsoft gear unless your command says otherwise.
What to Wear Under Your Tactical Shirts
For uniform wear, DA PAM 670-1, paragraph 4-7a, authorizes the tan 499 undershirt with the OCP ACU. You'll find a coyote brown tee in our T-shirts section. Unit and command policies can be stricter than the regulation.