REVIEW: Claw Gear MKII Instructor Shirt

Admittedly, in combat duty one wears "long sleeves". But honestly, one is not constantly in combat, and at temperatures beyond 40°C, one is supported by the experience that gloves alone on the arm are usually enough. As summer approaches, it is worth having something light in the equipment... CLAW GEAR has now released its MKII Instructor Shirt, a "T-shirt" that not only looks great on the shooting instructor. It has a fairly close-fitting cut and comes in the usual color selection of black, green, and coyote brown. The basic shape is essentially a slightly tighter fitting cotton T-shirt, on which both closable and open pockets are sewn. And of course, Velcro. Nothing works without it. First to the closable upper arm pockets. They have enough space for mobile phones, tobacco tins, notepads, pens, MP3 players, etc. The pocket is secured with YKK quality zippers, which initially seem quite delicate but have proven to be sufficient in the test period (8 months). Above the pocket, a Velcro area is attached in such a way that vertical channels are created between the Velcro and the sleeve fabric, allowing for carrying markers and the like for target marking in 5.11 style (Note: Make your mark!) on both sides.

Not only that, the shirt has Velcro for a name tag. This is also sewn on in segments, allowing for the insertion of pens. It has been thought to transfer the nametape to the left chest, allowing the instructor to bring a long gun to shoulder without interference, even when fully equipped with pens. Someone was thinking. That's nice! But that's not all with the pockets. About a good hand's breadth below the armpit are two additional pockets. These are ideal for smartphones or smaller walkie-talkies. NATO VCNs also fit in due to their size. However, due to their weight and resulting negative wearing comfort, this is not recommended. But that's not all. These pockets also have a cable outlet into the inside of the T-shirt, where a cable loop is located on the inside of the collar. Therefore, the MP3/radio cable does not constantly get caught at the shooting range. A truly user-friendly solution.

The Instructor Shirt is primarily suitable for work in shooting operations, but it also looks good off duty, especially in midsummer when you might otherwise have trouble finding a place to store all your gear due to the pants. It would certainly be possible to sew more pockets onto the vest, such as a small chest pocket for schedules and the like, in the style of Patagonia. But not every jack of all trades needs to lay eggs...

However, during longer shooting operations outdoors, it became noticeable that it would be advantageous to have a collar similar to a polo shirt, as both the rifle sling and the aggressive sun tended to slightly irritate the neck. It would also be great if in the future, instead of pure cotton, Claw Gear's proprietary Cordura blend, as used in Cordura Baselayer, could be used.

CONCLUSION: All in all, the Instructor Shirt is a well-thought-out and qualitatively useful gimmick that makes handling light (small) accessories at the shooting range much more convenient. Therefore, it also comes to mind as a backup for the 1st line. And it is a tactical t-shirt for everyday wear.

You can get the CLAW GEAR MK.II Instructor Shirt directly from CLAW GEAR (Link) or from all retailers carrying the brand, for €36.90 in black and coyote, OD for €29.90.