Massif US Army Combat Shirt

If years of prolonged COIN operations in the Middle East taught the US Army anything, it's this: you'll get REALLY hot running around in the desert in full kit. This resulted in some incredible innovations and refinements in gear in such areas as footwear, hydration, and clothing. 

The US Army, being one of the first to equip its troops with body armor on a large scale, made an important realization based on feedback from troops serving abroad during the Global War on Terror. Wearing thick, bulky, heavy IBAs and IOTVs over the standard uniform blouse for half a day or longer while performing feats of athleticism is downright oppressive. Numerous layers of non-breathable material sandwiched tightly together and rubbing the wearer in unnatural ways would cause overheating, rashes, and general discomfort. So a solution was quickly devised, a shirt to replace the standard blouse, specifically designed to be worn with plate carriers and support the wearer in hot and humid conditions. The Combat Shirt.

Combat Shirts are durable, moisture wicking, typically long sleeve garments built for hard work. These variants produced by Massif, (the gold standard in combat shirts) include everything you'd expect. The arms feature thick reinforcements at typical stress points such as the elbows and sides of the arm. Because it's meant to be worn with a vest, pockets which you'd traditionally expect to be found on the breast are relocated to the arms, making them accessible and preventing them from rubbing under armor. Patch panels typically located on the breast are also relocated to the arms for the same reason, and provide ample space for unit insignia, flag, name tape, and kawaii Japanese art. Adjustable cuffs allow for either a tight seal or open ventilation. The chest and back portions are bare and light in contrast to the sleeves. Again, the intention here is to provide a soft and breathable cushion between the wearer and a thick plate carrier. The material stretches and conforms to the wearer for a snug yet comfortable fit to avoid bunching up under a vest. The thin, breathable layer pulls the sweat, moisture, and grime produced while running around in plates away from the body to aid in comfort, hygiene, and temperature control. 

Even if you don't intend to wear the Combat Shirt under a plate carrier, these make exceptional work shirts for hot and humid environments where scrapes and abrasions are a risk. A fantastic and highly coveted item.

Features

• Genuine US Army issue surplus, produced by Massif.

• Light weight moisture wicking material designed for operating in hot and humid environments.
• Composed of a fire retardant material to help prevent catching and maintaining a flame and prevent melting to the skin. 
• Elastic, form fitting material along the torso for a sleek profile and to prevent snagging and bunching under a plate carrier.
• Reinforcements along typical stress points, particularly the elbows.
• generous pockets on the outer arms which are accessed at the side by way of a zipper.
• Patch panels on either arm for name tape, unit insignia, flags, and questionable art.

Condition Guide

- All Combat Shirts are in Good condition and may show minor signs of use including some fading and markings, worn patch panels, or minor fraying. They are free of any significant damage that would impact form or functionality.