A very comfortable combat shirt that wicks moisture effectively, so even at temperatures above 30°C it does not cause excessive sweating or overheating. The pockets for soft elbow pads are designed in an interesting way — they are accessible only from the inside of the sleeves, so you have to roll back the protector, but once inserted it stays in place well, and standard military "chocolate bar" pads fit. The sleeves show a bit of wear, but that is a minor drawback and it does not look bad. They are also narrower than in the MON version, which will be an advantage for some because they fit closer, and a disadvantage for others if they find them too tight.
Helikon-Tex MCDU Combat Shirt NyCo Rip-Stop - Black
A functional and durable tactical Combat Shirt designed as part of the Modern Battle Dress Uniform (MBDU). The sleeves are made of NYCO fabric – a blend of cotton and nylon characterised by high resistance to abrasion and tearing. The central part of the shirt is made of elastic and breathable TopCool polyester fabric, which guarantees a good fit and full freedom of movement.
Shoulder pockets with YKK zips and Velcro panels
Both sleeves are equipped with pockets secured with YKK zippers, complemented by double velcro panels measuring 6 x 4 cm and 9.5 x 9 cm. These allow for attaching various types of emblems – from flags, through unit insignia, to morale patches. This gives the sweatshirt the ability to be personalized and tailored to the user’s individual preferences.
Adjustable cuffs, reinforced zones, collar with cover
The Velcro-adjustable cuffs allow for a precise fit to the wrist circumference. The elbow area has been additionally reinforced with stitching, which increases wear resistance in the most exposed areas. The design is complemented by a high collar with a zip, finished with a soft chin guard.
Main features
- sleeves made of NyCo Rip-Stop fabric – resistant to abrasion and tearing
- torso section made of TopCool – ensuring freedom of movement and optimal fit
- two shoulder pockets secured with YKK zips
- double Velcro panels on both sleeves
- adjustable cuffs
- high collar with zip and chin guard
Technical data
Colour: Black
Material:
- sleeves: Nyco Rip Stop: 50% cotton, 50% nylon
- middle part: TopCool: 100% polyester
Grammage: 225 g/m2
Weight: 504 g
Manufacturer: Helikon-Tex, Poland
MILITARY is the official distributor of Helikon-Tex.
Helikon-Tex is a European company operating since 1983, specialising in the design and production of tactical, military and outdoor clothing. The brand's range includes a wide variety of products, including clothing, backpacks, bags and various types of tactical accessories, which have gained popularity among both professionals and field activity enthusiasts. The offer includes product lines such as Bushcraft – for survival enthusiasts, Law Enforcement – created with uniformed services in mind, and Range – intended for shooters. The company uses modern camouflage patterns, including MultiCam, ATACS and PenCott, providing effective concealment in various terrain conditions.
| Clothing style | Military |
|---|---|
| Color/camouflage | Black |
| Material type | Synthetic-natural |
| Number of pockets | 2 |
| Weight | 504 g |
| Season | Spring, Autumn |
| Main color | Black |
| Waterproof | No |
| Thermoactive | No |
| Velcro panel | Yes |
| No | |
| Grammage | 225 g/m2 |
| Clasp type | Zipper |
| Hood | No |
| Gender | Men's |
| Material texture | Rip-Stop (grid) |
| Material flexibility | Inextensible |
| Manufacturer code | BL-MCD-NR-01- |
| Brand | Helikon-Tex |
| Main material | Polyester |
| Additional material | Cotton, nylon |
| EAN |
TopCool fabric features polyester fibers with a special surface that efficiently absorbs moisture and wicks it to the fabric's surface for evaporation. This ensures optimal thermal comfort and quick drying of clothing.
YKK zippers are high-quality zippers commonly used in clothing and accessories, manufactured by the Japanese YKK Corporation - one of the world's largest zipper manufacturers.
Rip-Stop weave protects the fabric from abrasions and tears. It is characterized by additional threads woven in at regular intervals, forming a mesh-like pattern. It provides high strength to the fabric, increases resistance to mechanical damage, especially tears.
Reviews with photos
Review summary
Reviews show this combat shirt and lightweight tactical top perform especially well under body armour or a plate carrier, and for training, range use, airsoft, and field activities. Users praise the high comfort, strong ventilation, quick drying, effective moisture management, solid construction, durable sleeves, practical pockets, and attractive look and camouflage. The shirt works especially well in warm weather and can also handle cooler conditions with an extra layer. The most common drawbacks are fairly stiff or narrow sleeves, sometimes sleeves that run long, and a torso fabric or sleeve print that can pill, snag, or fade over time. Sizing also gets mixed feedback, so choosing the size carefully is important. Even with those issues, most reviewers rate the overall value for money very highly.
Number of reviews: 575
-
-
A very good and comfortable combat shirt, in my opinion one of the best available on the market. It is breathable, fits the body very well, and the build quality is of a high standard. The camouflage looks very good in person. The downside is that the pattern on the sleeves fades quite quickly, although even after a few washes it still looks quite good. The shirt is lightweight, dries quickly, and provides good ventilation.
-
I wore this sweatshirt for the first time on open water on a very hot day, when it was nearly 40 degrees outside. Even so, I felt better in it than in just a t-shirt. The material is very breathable and does not restrict movement – it really is worth having.
-
I am very satisfied with the purchase of this Combat. I recently tested it at the shooting range under intense sunlight and it worked perfectly – the material is breathable, does not cause overheating, and is comfortable without restricting movement. I rate the quality of workmanship highly – both the stitching and the fabrics seem very solid. The wz.93 camouflage looks excellent, which is why I decided to buy a second one for my brother as well. At this moment, we are both very pleased with this choice.
-
Size: L
Purchased and worn as a replacement for a piece of issued kit (Czech Police brand), which in terms of quality would rate about 1.5 stars compared with Helikon. What is definitely better here is the material quality and the functional performance. The construction of the pockets and the cut are fine in my opinion. I do not see the absence of pockets for inserting protective pads in exposed areas as a problem, because I have never used that. As for the colour, I would say that this combat shirt does not have a problem with excessive fading or changing colour even after repeated washing, unlike the black MCDU and SFU trousers from Helikon, which are unfortunately worse in this respect. It is true, as someone here has already written, that the black colour is somewhat richer, and in direct sunlight, unlike some issued black uniform items, it appears darker. The problem that many people here have already mentioned is the quality of the material used for the functional part. It really only takes slight wear in combination with a plate carrier or vest for pilling and pulled threads to appear. The second thing I encountered, probably only me rather than others, even though several colleagues around me use this combat shirt, is the combination of materials used in the functional section. Most likely in combination with my sweat, after the first wash and then sweating in it again, the material immediately starts to smell very strongly. This then kept happening after every wash, with several products tried including antibacterial ones, yet after a few hours the smell would return, even though the first time the shirt lasted several days of use in very hot weather without starting to smell. In the end, what helped was washing it in vinegar water, and since then the shirt has again maintained a relative sense of freshness even after several days of use. I have encountered the same effect with several Helikon products, especially T-shirts. For me, this combat shirt is an acceptable basic option, but in terms of workmanship and quality there are much better alternatives, even in the same price category. At the current price of CZK 1700, definitely not. A fair price should be around CZK 1200 or less.
-
Size: L
The shirt is comfortable, fits well, and does not restrict movement. The material is durable and wicks moisture well, which is especially noticeable during active movement. The stitching is of high quality; I am satisfied with the purchase!
-
I recommend choosing a larger size. Overall, it fits well, the material is of fairly good quality, and it seems to me that it will work well at the shooting range on cooler days. However, the price is a bit too high for this kind of clothing item.
-
Great sweatshirt. I was considering size L, but in the end XL turned out to be a perfect choice. At 178 cm tall, 95 kg in weight, and 118 cm in the chest, it fits perfectly. Now it remains to be seen how long it will retain its quality.
-
Size: L
Excellent combat shirt; for that price, you get a quality shirt that will not let you down, just like all Helikon products. I have a lot of things from them, and they have never let me down.
-
Size: L
An amazing sweatshirt. It fits perfectly, as if it were made especially for me. It is very comfortable and well cut, and at the same time it does not feel tight. It also does not give the impression of being a shapeless, overly loose garment. The material feels exceptionally pleasant to the touch, and the seams look durable and carefully made. The size matches the chart provided in the description. I will definitely buy another one after some time.
-
A great jacket for service personnel or pupils in uniformed classes. It may not replace a sweatshirt, but it works perfectly for late spring and early autumn.
-
Size: XL
This is a solid hoodie that stands up well to damage. I’ve been using it for almost a year, and there are still no visible signs of wear. It does, however, have two drawbacks: the finishing could be better, because in some places threads are coming out at the seams, as if the stitching hadn’t been properly finished. The second drawback is the zip, which can catch your chin if it isn’t done up all the way. In my opinion, a larger fabric guard would be enough to avoid this problem.
-
Size: XL
This combat shirt is perfect. The material feels very pleasant to the touch. There are hook-and-loop fastenings on the sleeves that can be adjusted quickly and comfortably, and they hold very well. The same goes for the zips on the side pockets, which can comfortably fit a service ID or a smaller wallet. The zip up to the neck feels very comfortable and has protection against pinching. I am very satisfied with it.
-
Size: XL
The sweatshirt is quite expensive, but it offers a very high level of comfort. It is lightweight and wicks moisture well, while also retaining warmth effectively. The sleeves are initially stiff, but they become softer over time. In addition, it looks really great on the body.
-
Size: M
A decent combat shirt — I chose size M at 180 cm tall and 75 kg, and it fits well, although the sleeves could be a bit shorter. The material is breathable and stretchy, but unfortunately it snags easily. I’m taking off one star because the camouflage on the sleeves wears off fairly quickly, which makes the shirt look washed out.
No reviews