John Fenna tries the Viper Special Ops Shirt
Available in either Desert Camo or British Woodland DPM, the Viper Special Ops Shirt is clearly aimed at the military for wear under body armour and I have found it tough, practical and comfortable to wear.
The body and underarm panels of this lightweight technical shirt are made from a fast-wicking polyester fabric, while the raglan cut sleeves are made from tough, but light polycotton. As it is anticipated that the body of the shirt will be buried under body armour and kit, it is these arms that carry all the shirt’s main features.
Most of the raglan cut sleeve - the shoulder, the elbow and forearm - are double thickness to make a pocket for closed cell foam padding inserts (removable for washing) which offer protection and, on the shoulders, load spreading comfort. The cuffs of the sleeves are adjusted with Velcro tabs for simplicity and there are 4 sleeve pockets.
On the lower right sleeve there is a small "notebook" pocket and 3 pen slots; on the lower left sleeve a small, Velcro-sealed pocket, while both upper arms of the shirt have angled box construction pockets with button-closed flaps and Velcro "fur" strips on the front for attaching patches. These upper arm pockets are about the size of a more conventional shirt’s breast pockets.
To give maximum versatility to the Special Ops Shirt, the sleeves can be zipped off at a point just above the elbow, providing long sleeve or T-shirt options.
The shirt has a short zip neck closure with a baffle and is generally well constructed. I say generally, as I found I could not zip the collar closed as the lightweight zip jammed at the join between the body and the collar as it was sewn too close to let the puller pass" A minor point, but one to check!
In cold weather the wicking body of the shirt acts as a thermal layer, keeping you warm and dry. In hot weather it will stop you getting soaked in sweat. The short sleeves will help you stay cool, the long sleeves offer protection and the foam inserts give protection from knocks.
All in all, the Viper Special Ops Shirt is a very versatile and tough garment and comes in sizes S-XXL.
This article appeared in the November 2009 issue of Gun Mart, and is reproduced here with permission.
You can buy Vipe Special Ops Shirts directly from this site.
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