EOTAC Shirts
Yep, I know: last week it was pants. Well, the sign says, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service" so actually pants are the one thing you DON'T need (apparently). If you're a fan of "tactical" shirts then read on. If you're considering adding some to your wardrobe, read on. If you've never wanted to conceal anything, carry it conveniently, or just look good in a shirt that matches your EOTAC pants, then you can stop here. The one question I've found myself asking is, "Where can I get them embroidered?"
So, in that same package from EOTAC that arrived with samples of their pants, there were also two shirts. One was their regular short sleeve shirt and the other was their zip-up long sleeve shirt. Let's take a look at the long sleeve first...
The Men's Operator Grade Zip-Up Long Sleeve Shirt has a general "tactical" appearance and some familiar features. The zip-up front was what really caught my attention. I've long said that uniform shirts should zip instead of buttoning - it's so much faster and more convenient. Still, to maintain the uniform appearance, the buttons are sewn on anyway. Above the zippered closure is a hook-&-loop patch to hold the two sides together so that the zipper pull doesn't show.
The collar buttons down for a clean look and the velcro-shut chest pockets lay nice and flat - especially if you iron them neatly.The elbow are reinforced and the long sleeves roll up - to be held by a hidden button / strap system - so that the shirt can be converted to a relatively neat looking short sleeve shirt if needs be.
At the top of the left sleeve - as is common since about 92% of the U.S. population is right handed - is a pen pocket. The bottom hem of the shirt doesn't have the usual curve cuts common to dress or uniform shirts. Intead it's a flat / straight hem with side "vents" (cuts) that allow the shirt to be worn either tucked in or untucked while still maintaining a neat appearance. (Why so many of us want to look neat off duty is still beyond me, but we do). The all-cotton poplin (according to their published material) is treated with DuPont Teflon fabric protector to provide resistance to water and oil based spills. That's mighty handy when you think of all the stuff we deal with. With an MSRP of $61.99 on the EOTAC website, the shirt is worth it. That said, I like a good deal as much as the next guy, so search the internet before you cough up the dollars.
That brings me to the short sleeve shirt. Really the only difference between the long sleeve zip-up and the short sleeve BUTTON up is the length of the sleeves and that fastening design. The construction, function and comfort are all the same. The short sleeve shirt has the pen pocket on the left sleeve, same chest pockets, etc.
They are both available in:
- Black
- Khaki
- OD Green
- Navy
- Sage
I enjoyed wear testing them both and can comment favorably on how they fit and wore. I never felt restricted in my movement and was pleased at how little they seemed to wrinkle through the days of wear. If you wash them and tumble dry them - and immediately take them out to hang up - you can get away with not ironing them anyway.
Just like with the pants, I can recommend the shirts. Check them out on EOTAC's website.
Stay Safe!
Lt. Frank Borelli (ret), Editorial Director | Editorial Director
Lt. Frank Borelli is the Editorial Director for the Officer Media Group. Frank brings 20+ years of writing and editing experience in addition to 40 years of law enforcement operations, administration and training experience to the team.
Frank has had numerous books published which are available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other major retail outlets.
If you have any comments or questions, you can contact him via email at [email protected].
