Combat Shirt

Functional combat shirt combining a lightweight, breathable torso with durable sleeves and shoulder panels for use underneath plate carriers and tactical equipment.

The Leo Köhler Combat Shirt is designed for demanding field use where comfort, moisture management, and durability need to work together.

The torso uses a lightweight, breathable cotton-based stretch fabric, while the shoulders and sleeves are made from more rugged woven material for increased resistance in exposed areas. The shirt is also described by the manufacturer as flame-retardant and water-repellent.

Its straight cut, adjustable cuffs, upper-arm pockets, and large hook-and-loop identification areas make it a practical choice for military, training, tactical, and outdoor applications.

Why It Stands Out

• Lightweight, breathable torso construction
• More durable fabric on shoulders and sleeves
• Moisture-transporting design
• Flame-retardant properties
• Water-repellent outer sections
• Large upper-arm pockets
• Multiple hook-and-loop identification areas
• Adjustable sleeve cuffs
• Designed for use with tactical and load-bearing equipment

Hybrid Combat Shirt Construction

The shirt combines two different construction concepts.

The torso section uses a softer, more breathable and elastic cotton-based fabric designed for comfort underneath:

• Plate carriers
• Tactical vests
• Chest rigs
• Backpacks

The shoulders and sleeves use a more durable woven fabric better suited to abrasion and exposed field use.

Upper-Arm Storage

Each upper arm features a dedicated pocket with:

• Protective flap
• Hook-and-loop closure
• Opening aid
• Large hook-and-loop patch area

These pockets remain accessible even when much of the torso is covered by load-bearing equipment.

Collar & Neck Design

The outer collar closes with hook-and-loop.

Underneath is a soft crew-neck shirt collar, providing a more comfortable next-to-skin surface around the neck.

Identification Areas

The shirt includes multiple hook-and-loop surfaces for identification.

These include:

• Name-tape area on the chest
• Additional chest identification areas
• Large upper-arm patch panels

The manufacturer also specifies nationality insignia on the upper arms.

Adjustable Cuffs

Hook-and-loop closures at the sleeve ends allow the cuffs to be adjusted around gloves, watches, or additional equipment.

Materials by Variant

German Flecktarn

65% Cotton / 35% Polyester
Zwirnkörper / Twill-Type Fabric

German Tropentarn

65% Cotton / 35% Polyester
Twill

Solid Colors

50% Cotton / 50% Polyester
Ripstop

MultiCam

50% Nylon / 50% Cotton
Ripstop

PHANTOMLEAF Z4

80% Cotton / 20% Nylon
Ripstop

Key Features

• Straight-cut combat shirt
• Lightweight elastic torso fabric
• Durable shoulder and sleeve construction
• Breathable
• Moisture transporting
• Water-repellent
• Manufacturer-described flame-retardant properties
• 2 upper-arm pockets
• Large upper-arm hook-and-loop fields
• Chest name-tape area
• Adjustable hook-and-loop collar
• Soft integrated crew-neck collar
• Adjustable sleeve cuffs
• Nationality insignia on upper arms
• Multiple fabric variants depending on camouflage or color
• Manufactured by Leo Köhler

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Leo Köhler
Product Type: Combat Shirt
Fit: Straight
Torso: Lightweight / Elastic / Breathable
Sleeves & Shoulders: Reinforced Woven Fabric
Moisture Management: Yes
Water Repellency: Yes
Flame Properties: Flame-Retardant as Specified by Manufacturer
Upper-Arm Pockets: 2
Patch Areas: Chest + Upper Arms
Cuffs: Adjustable Hook-and-Loop

Flecktarn: 65% Cotton / 35% Polyester
Tropentarn: 65% Cotton / 35% Polyester
Solid Colors: 50% Cotton / 50% Polyester
MultiCam: 50% Nylon / 50% Cotton

Mission Frontline Take

The main advantage of a combat shirt is the hybrid construction: there is little reason to place heavy field-jacket fabric underneath a plate carrier, but the arms and shoulders still need more durability than a standard T-shirt provides.

Leo Köhler combines those two requirements in one garment, while the wide range of Flecktarn, Tropentarn, MultiCam, solid-color, and PHANTOMLEAF variants makes it suitable for very different setups.

For U.S. customers looking for a European-made alternative to conventional U.S. combat shirts with distinctly German military styling, this is one of the more interesting Leo Köhler options.