Comfortable and functional, everything I want in a shirt. The Artillery Long Sleeve Polo from 5.11 Tactical takes first place among my 5.11 apparel. This piece of clothing is simple yet exceptional. A comfortable fit with functional features drives home 5.11’s motto of “Always Be Ready”. You could wear this polo at work, to dinner, to the range, or the great outdoors.
Design
The Artillery Shirt is designed for the active professional. Wicking material keeps you comfortable in the heat and anti-odor fabric helps fight the funk when you get a little sweaty. Living in Texas I am accustomed to heat, so I can appreciate a professional shirt that allows you to do your job without adding to the uncomfortable atmosphere. The chest pocket has a pen guide and the left sleeve contains 5.11’s patented pen pocket design. It comes in 5 colors: coin, peacoat, black, moss, and ensign blue.
Durability/Fit
This polo is well stitched and has held up to days at the range, high-intensity workouts, and a few callouts. The woven shoulder sleeves make it a prime choice to wear under a plate carrier. I have rocked it under my kit during SWAT callouts that needed a quick response. Feel free to load up your pack for your next hike because the extra fabric adds comfort to your ride. The Artillery Long Sleeve runs true to size but it seems 5.11 Tactical is following suit with industry standards and designing their clothing with a “modern” fit. In other words, if you don’t like clothing snug on the shoulders, then I recommend going up one size. If your six-pack is made of cans, then perhaps a size up is for you as well.
Overall Impression
This is by far my favorite shirt of 5.11 clothing. It looks just as good tucked in as it does untucked and is arguably the most comfortable polo I own. An MSRP of $59.99 seems fair for a quality shirt with multiple uses and features. I will add that I have felt the interior tag, which is along the left rib cage, a few times. It is not a constant nag and can easily be removed, but perhaps there is a better location. Other than that, I am a fan. Check out the video for other details.
Author – Matt Walker is a Texas Law Enforcement Officer of 10 years and serves as a SWAT Operator for his department. He is also the head defensive tactics instructor and holds various instructor certificates such as Krav Maga Force Division Instructor, FBI Defensive Tactics Instructor, Tactical Breaching Instructor and various others. Mr. Walker holds and undefeated Mixed Martial Arts record and is a practitioner of Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Olympic weightlifting.
