Uniform Shirts

USAFplt

USAFplt

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,
Did some searching and found some old threads. Wanted some updated opinions on pilot uniform shirts. I have the standard ones from crew outfitters, but they are too thin and blousy (even being supposedly the fitted version). After 2 months of use they are already starting to have pilling.

I know some have mentioned "a cut above" and I've heard from some friends that their quality has gone down hill lately. I'm just looking for a decent white shirt that is fitted without looking like a parachute and will not wrinkle as soon as I step into the muggy Miami air :). Every version seems to have ridiculous long arms for being short sleeve as well.

Thanks for any opinions
 
I still think A Cut Above is best.

Ordered 2 more last week, quality seems fine. $23 a shirt. I swap them out every 6 months or so, at $23, it's cheap enough to swap out.

Their tapered are great, can't get my belly into a fitted, but the tapered are great. No needing to have every shirt tailored for $20 after buying it for $20
 
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I've complained before about the quality/durability of the "A Cut Above Tropo" shirts, but they're still the shirts I use. My only complaint was because the first set I had were excellent and very durable, but the second and third sets of shirts I received did not hold up nearly as well. After only a few washes there is now very noticeable piling. After one year, 2 of the 4 shirts are not acceptable, and the other 2 are borderline. I see they've now added this to their website concerning the Tropo fabric: " This is nearly wrinkle-free and very soft but poly/rayon blends are not as durable as cotton."

Having said that, I'll still probably end up ordering some more and just hope that they hold up better than the last ones.
 
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I think the cut above shirts are the best, the crew outfitters were terrible.

I will say the Cut Above shirts have defiantly changed in the last 6 months or so. I have a set from last year that are thicker, and have a much more robust wing eyelet setup. The newer shirts are lighter, seem to be less durable. All of the shirts fit slightly different, I have one that is tight around the neck and others that are loose..exactly the same size.

Still better than any VH (ugh) or crew outfitters shirt I have.
 
Thanks for the great info. Maybe I will try out A Cut Above just to try it for myself. I noticed there are many kinds of styles. I noticed the site said the Tropo will not hold a crease. I like to iron my shirts and have the nice crease on the sleeves..I know old mil habits :) I take it the Cirrus is a thicker material?
 
USAFplt said:
Thanks for the great info. Maybe I will try out A Cut Above just to try it for myself. I noticed there are many kinds of styles. I noticed the site said the Tropo will not hold a crease. I like to iron my shirts and have the nice crease on the sleeves..I know old mil habits :) I take it the Cirrus is a thicker material?
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I use shirts made out of the stratus fabric (I think it's similar to cirrus) and they hold a crease in the sleeves for a 4-day trip. They also don't look too wrinkly if you go a day or two without ironing. It's a lightweight shirt and uses much smaller threads than any military uniform I've used. I like the shirts from pilotshirts.com better than a cut above but ACA's shirts have a better fit.

Also, if you're an athletic build don't go for the fitted shirt, as it will be too constricting in the shoulders and arms.
 
adk said:
I use shirts made out of the stratus fabric (I think it's similar to cirrus) and they hold a crease in the sleeves for a 4-day trip. They also don't look too wrinkly if you go a day or two without ironing. It's a lightweight shirt and uses much smaller threads than any military uniform I've used. I like the shirts from pilotshirts.com better than a cut above but ACA's shirts have a better fit.

Also, if you're an athletic build don't go for the fitted shirt, as it will be too constricting in the shoulders and arms.
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Thanks for the details..is the Tapered a better way to go? i'm trying to avoid have the baggy sleeves and mushroom material around the waist ( 6' 170lbs). I figured the fitted would have a nice tight fit, but hell maybe that would be uncomfortable on a 4 day ha. I think I would like the appearance of it though. Too many choices ha
 
USAFplt said:
Thanks for the details..is the Tapered a better way to go? i'm trying to avoid have the baggy sleeves and mushroom material around the waist ( 6' 170lbs). I figured the fitted would have a nice tight fit, but hell maybe that would be uncomfortable on a 4 day ha. I think I would like the appearance of it though. Too many choices ha
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I really think the fitted shirts are for the skinny jeans skateboard crowd ... If you're athletic versus scrawny I'd go tapered.
 
If you want to look your best take your shirt and pants to a tailor. Especially if you're "regional FO" skinny.
 
USAFplt said:
Thanks for the details..is the Tapered a better way to go? i'm trying to avoid have the baggy sleeves and mushroom material around the waist ( 6' 170lbs). I figured the fitted would have a nice tight fit, but hell maybe that would be uncomfortable on a 4 day ha. I think I would like the appearance of it though. Too many choices ha
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I 6' tall and 196lbs or so. The fitted shirts are pretty constricting. To make sure the shirts don't shrink (and possibly cause me death due to asphyxiation)...I hang dry my shirts. The fitted shirt may work for you though.
 
My company provides my uniforms, including shirts. And if you doubt my authenticity, ask DE727 about the problems we are having with pink hued shirts. I don't care what they look like. They provide them, I wear them.
 
adk said:
I really think the fitted shirts are for the skinny jeans skateboard crowd ... If you're athletic versus scrawny I'd go tapered.
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I dunno. I thought that and ordered the tapered. I liked the material but it fit me like a hefty bag. Only if I had a set of DDs would I come even close to filling that thing out.

Last time I ordered the fitted and I'm a big fan. I'm hardly in shape either. 5'9", 170ish lbs, decent beer gut.
 
If you ever overnight in Bangkok just take a shirt the style you want to a tailor and have them make 6 or so after picking out the fabric you want. I've done that a few times. Best to give them 2 days to finish. Right around $20-30/shirt depending on your bargaining skills. Can be done on a vacation there as well. Same could be done in HKG, SIN, DXB, and probably a few other places. I've had shirts from there last over 5 years easily.


TP
 
KLB said:
I 6' tall and 196lbs or so. The fitted shirts are pretty constricting. To make sure the shirts don't shrink (and possibly cause me death due to asphyxiation)...I hang dry my shirts. The fitted shirt may work for you though.
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Damn, son! Your new employer doesn't test for 'roids?! You were about a buck fiddy last time I saw you! ;)
 
I have the cut above tropo fitted. Looks great on a slim guy and i only iron it every three days or so, it really dosnt wrinkle much at all... Then again it dosnt breathe too much either. Cut above has other blends also.

And if you call them and tell them it is your first purchase ever they will give you ten percent off.
 
I just bought some of the fitted "Cirrus" shirts from A Cut Above. They're excellent, in my opinion. I'm 6' and 140 lbs or so, to give you an idea of how fitted they are...
 
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