Combat shirt sizing, brands

I am looking to get a combat shirt and need some help with the sizing. I am a big guy who used to bodybuild and powerlift and still workout a ton so I have a very hard time getting clothes to fit me properly. A 2XL ACU top fits decently, but still binds up a bit in the chest, shoulders and biceps area when moving and in certain positions, and I am swimming in it down in the stomach/waist area. I know sizing can be fairly standard with these items, but before I order I wanted to see if any particular brand is going to have a more generous cut in the shoulders, chest and arms, and possibly a slimmer, more tapered fit in the mid section. I am a Crye fan, but heard that they have an odd fit, at least with their pants. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

The 5.11 combat shirt seems to run a bit big. The TRU spec combat shirts in my opinion suck. It ran a bit small and weird fitting for me and also isn’t up to spec at all.
For reference, I’m 6'2 200lbs and lift a lot. My issued combat shirt in medium was skin tight. The 5.11 in large was baggy enough to make me look like a little kid wearing my dad’s uniform but with the sleeves/wrist straps adjusted tight it was wearable and pretty comfy. The TRU Spec crap in large was tight in the chest and shoulders and really hard to get in and out of. I’m not sure if any of that helps but it’s my experience so far.

I've got nothing to add, other than to say I'm in the same boat. I'm 5'10", 200 with a very deep chest and broad shoulders. Arms are becoming a problem with all the weight training I'm doing. Finding shirts that fit properly is a chore, to say the least.

The 5.11 is one that I was looking at already, I guess I'll give the 2XL a shot. Anyone have a better place than USCAV to order from? I have one of their many 15% codes I can use and they have been good to me in the past.

Now it's time to find some pants...uhg. While my waist size is really a 36, I am often forced to buy 40's and in the past even 42's to get my butt and legs to fit and have ample room to move around in. It seems like everything is sized screwy now that we have become a fat nation. I remember being at a mall with my wife and just for fun trying on a few shirts at one of the over priced-sweatshop-product stores. The difference between a 3XL and a 2XL was that the stomach area was bigger, while the chest, shoulders and arms were identical in cut. The 2XL to XL was similar, with a big bump in stomach room, and a small change in the upper body fit. I guess they know their market here lol.

Wish we had open carry in FL so I could wear my tank top out


and my big ole tree trunks


Thankfully I'm not quite that size anymore, I've been trying to slim down and become more functional. Back then I couldn't really fit into a lot of gear, and when I did it was uncomfortable and restrictive. Running sucks at my weight, but it sure is helping me shed some weight and get my cardio back up.

About those pants, anyone have any recommendations??

I bet you didnt need a PC anyway....you were already bulletproof

my coach had your same issue then started doing tacfit and now he's slimmer and stronger at the same time

I pretty much got to the point where I realized I was not helping myself any by carrying all of that extra bulk around. Whether it's muscle or fat, you still have to take it with you wherever you go, and carrying around 280lbs PLUS gear is not optimal.

Sucks now cuz I'll probably go through another set of gear before I reach my optimal body size. It's like parents trying to keep their growing kid in good fitting clothes...only reversed cuz I'm shrinking lol

Props to you for being honest about your "supplementation" with that user name. Props for hitting the squat rack. Too many guys walking around with toothpick legs. I don't have quite the upper body you do but swing some fairly big tree trunks (28" back in the day). I've found that the Wrangler cargo pants from Walmart/Target are fairly generous but stil need extra inches in the waist for good fit just not crazy big like most. Vertex are cut well too only need a few extra inches for good quad/glute comfort. Regular BDU's with the adjustable waist tabs work pretty well with the tabs taken all the way in. Just don't put them in the dryer or they will shrink a bit. Holdup Suspender Co Really help out. I carry Appendix IWB so the Hip-Clip style works best for my use. More comfortable packing cuz you don't have to crank the belt so tight to keep pants up.

you might have good luck with the FROG shirts made for the USMC, as well as their marpat cammies. they have a different cut than ACUs, more trimmed in the waist area.

'The difference between a 3XL and a 2XL was that the stomach area was bigger, while the chest, shoulders and arms were identical in cut.' - Noticed that too when a friend let me borrow a jacket on a cold day a few weeks ago - much larger than my normal size but fit perfect other than a Huge area for your gut to hang....... Anyway, Crye Gen 1 combat shirts would work well if you could source a 2xl (almost impossable to find) but they made you pay for the better form fit with heat during the warmer months because of the material used. In reality you would need size 4xl anyway because they were sized crazy small. What cam are you looking to go with. Crye g3 may be a good bet - they will let you exchange for another size (that's a small plus). The new g3 kit is sized like normal street clothes - unlike Gen 2 & 1. Gen 2 is sized larger than normal. hope that makes sense....

I ordered the 5.11 shirt straight from 5.11. I think it might be your best bet. I seems made for fit people. The chest, shoulders and arms are big but the mid section is smaller.

Check out beyond tactical....they can custom make you a combat shirt to your measurements

Combat shirt

there is a guy on the ee, with 2xl acu combat shirts for $20 , they say army strong so guess thats issued? i was wondering how they fit as well, but im more like bulk, than hulk.

Interested to see how the 5.11s work for you. I run into the same problem, although at smaller proportions.. I'm a XL is pretty tight on the upper body, but my waist is only 31" on a fat day.

What did you do for plates and carrier? I still can't get a rear plate to fit worth a damn

Not sure how good they are but the Propper TAC.U combat shirts look pretty big.

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