Breathable uniform shirts, pants and more
Lightweight, breathable clothing is critical when temperatures start to rise. Some officers in beach communities and more arid regions may even wear "Summer" uniforms year-round. For public safety professionals and police officers, Summer wear should keep you cool but maintain and respect the professional look of the traditional uniform. If your department allows seasonal uniform change or you wear a modified summer uniform daily, there are a few important features to look for. Here are the most important components of summer police uniforms and accessories…
Materials Matter
Innovative fabric technology ensures quick-dry comfort
Fabric technology has continued to evolve and change the police uniform – making garments lighter, stronger, and able to withstand extreme weather and tactical conditions. This advanced fabric technology is the key to creating proper warm-weather police and public safety uniforms. To ensure a comfortable Summer uniform, look for uniform shirts constructed with moisture-wicking fabrics that absorb and wick away sweat from the skin, keeping you dry and fresh. A fast drying fabric such as polyester, nylon or mesh, and lightweight cotton blends are essential to battling sweat on hot Summer days. Blauer’s line of Summer police uniforms and accessories utilize high quality fabrics with the newest innovations to withstand the heat and enhance breathability.
Built to be Summer-Ready
Breathable tactical shirts, uniform polos, and more...
The first step to transitioning into your Summer police uniform is trading the heavyweight fabric and long sleeves to a lightweight and short sleeved garment when possible. For jobs that require a traditional dress uniform or Class B uniform, look for uniform shirts constructed with moisture-wicking fabrics that absorb and wick away sweat from the skin, keeping you dry and fresh.
Additional cooling features may be built into high-quality police uniforms and other first responder hot-weather uniforms, such as in the Blauer FlexRS SuperShirt®. This unique, lightweight police shirt uses a combination of a durable ripstop fabric with mesh side panels allowing for enhanced breathability. For a more tactical Summer shirt option, you may prefer the FlexRS BDU Short Sleeve Shirt which styles mesh side, underarm and shoulder panels with low-profile, rugged tactical features for maximum breathability, flexibility and function.
If your department allows for more casual wear, polo shirts are a great option for warmer months. Polo shirts are made with knit fabrics, rather than woven materials, making them more breathable and comfortable in the heat. Blauer’s line of police polo shirts are constantly being innovated and refined. The new Performance Polo features…. Working a traffic detail or roadside detail? Check out an ANSI certified, high visibility polo shirt to keep you visible and cool during a summer shift. Hi-vis polo shirts combine comfort and safety, with 3M Scotchlite trim and hi-contrast mesh panels.
Most departments require officers to wear pants year-round but certain units may allow you to wear shorts. Tactical uniform shorts are equipped with numerous pockets to hold your gear and support ease of movement with the shortened design. Tactical shorts are a great alternative to tactical pants in the summer, providing the same utility and functionality that BDU pants provide. For bike patrol officers, wearing shorts instead of pants is crucial in the heat. Breathable bike patrol uniforms made from materials like nylon and spandex allow for ventilation to keep you comfortable for a long shift on your bike.
Lighten the Load with Duty Gear
The advantage of outer vest carriers + lightweight accessories
Tactical gear can be extremely heavy and abrasive, especially in the Summer heat. Officers wearing body armor often need to wear multiple layers for the utmost ballistic protection and may conceal their bulletproof vest under clothes for undercover and discreet safety. Don’t sacrifice ballistic protection in order to stay cool. Wearing your carrier on the outside reduces the amount of layers required on Summer duty and promotes breathability.
Outer vest carriers that resemble a traditional uniform shirt are the perfect tactical garment for Summer wear. Blauer’s Armorskin system allows you to wear your existing body armor under the tactical vest carrier and, when paired with a breathable Armorskin base shirt, the tactical gear mimics the look of a traditional police uniform. The Blauer Polyester Armorskin® XP Vest Carrier features side mesh lining and detailing for comfort and breathability while the Polyester Armorskin® Base Shirt underneath wicks moisture and sweat out and away from the skin.
Finally, buy accessories and headwear that can withstand the heat. Breathable baseball hats are great headwear options for the Summer and provide superior UV protection. Not all baseball caps are created equal- look for options that are made of lightweight materials and feature breathable mesh panels or ventilation. Blauer’s FlexRS Airvent Adjustable Cap is both comfortable and professional, featuring a laser perforated air vent design, quick drying stretch sweatband and lightweight UV sun-protective fabric. On the other end, keep your feet dry and fresh with the Blauer B. Cool Performance Sock utilizing moisture-wicking, breathable knits and anti-odor fabric technology.
