As a tall guy, finding clothes that can look good, be comfortable, fit right, and be worn for a multitude of occasions is damn near impossible. In fact, sometimes an article of clothing that can do any of those two is hard. Recently, 5.11 Tactical was kind enough to send me one of their new Marksman long-sleeve t-shirts, and it doesn’t do one, or two, or three of those things; it does all four.
You might accuse me of blowing smoke up 5.11’s symbolic buttocks, but that’s not the case. I liked them enough to ask for them for the most recent Father’s Day. I feel like I need one in every color.
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The Fit
As a tall dude, my choices range between shirts that shrink into belly shirts on the first wash and dry, and shirts that are long enough to work, but look like a box. Finding a button-down, collared shirt that’s semi-casual and doesn’t expose the gun in my waistband when I lift my arms is quite the treat.
Plus, it avoids looking like a box. It fits like an actual shirt, a little tighter in the chest and looser around the midsection. Perfect for concealing my Glock and my gut. 5.11 went with a quick-drying, stretchy material. Something more akin to a moisture-wicking working shirt than something that buttons down.
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The right mix of material makes it easy to move around comfortably. It stretches just right and makes it easy to shoulder a rifle, draw from concealment, or, you know, reach above my head to change my air conditioner filters. It’s not restrictive, and buttons aren’t being tugged and pulled at uncomfortably.
Staying Comfortable
The Marksman shirt is quite lightweight and breathes easily. 5.11 calls it Vent-Tac. It’s a built-in ventilation system that draws air under the shirt and into it. It’s summer in Florida, and it stays sweltering here. I wake up sweating, so every little bit of comfort the Marksman shirt brings is better.
Having a shirt that barely feels like you’re wearing a shirt is extremely beneficial in the hot summers of the Southeast. At the range, in the boat, or just trying to exist outside of A/C, I like a shirt that breathes. Better yet, I like a shirt that doesn’t get anchored down by sweat. A shirt that doesn’t get downright sloppy.
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The moisture-wicking material dries quickly, keeping you from becoming a leaky cup. I sweat a ton, and I hate being the guy who’s dripping at events, so I like moisture-wicking. Additionally, since it dries quickly, when you walk indoors, you don’t get that downright disgusting cold feeling as the A/C chills your sweat. Well, you might, for a minute, but because it dries quickly, it’s not a big problem.
Tough Enough
The Marksman shirt isn’t a weak shirt. I’ve used it for fishing and at the range more than a few times. I’ve been in the prone, wrangled rods, baited hooks, and haven’t had so much as a stain. It seems tough enough to resist most of what summer has to throw at it.
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Overall, I’m impressed, and better yet, I’m comfy. The 5.11 Tactical Marksman shirt is gonna be my summertime fun time shirt this year, and hopefully for many more.