By: Greg Chabot
Photos: Sasha Steadman
I stumbled upon the veteran-owned NorArm Tactical quite by accident back in 2020. A dear friend of mine sent me a picture of a hooded combat-style shirt. I liked it, so he ordered me one as a gift. Researching NorArm, I learned it is based in Hagan, just outside of Oslo, Norway. The CEO Milan Zangana, AKA Mike Peshmerganor, is the author of “Blood Makes the Grass Grow: A Norwegian Volunteer’s War Against the Islamic State,” an excellent memoir of life in the Norwegian armed forces and what it was like to fight as a volunteer with the Kurdish Peshmerga in Northern Iraq against ISIS.
Corresponding with Milan, he explained what motivated him to start NorArm:
“I spent 18 months straight in my Crye precision uniform while fighting ISIS in Iraq.”
“Great products made by a great company; I saw potential for improvements.”
“That is how this company was founded by myself and my friend Thomas, an active-duty soldier in the Norwegian Home Guard.”
“Who preferred high-end uniforms for use in his duties, though he felt they were often overpriced.”
“So basically, we wanted to make a quality uniform that was also affordable.”
My shirt arrived from Oslo in the fall of 2020. Right off the bat, I noticed the quality of the shirt. There were no Irish pennants, all cuts of the material were even. The zipper was centered correctly and stitched properly. The fit was true to size with enough left to tuck in so that even under hard conditions the shirt would stay tucked in for me. Material for the sleeves and hood is 50/50 NYCO ripstop with mesh in the armpits for ventilation. Sleeves have the option for joint protection inserts available separately from NorArm. Sleeve pockets have vertical and horizontal access with loop material to attach patches with multiple colors being available. What sets this shirt aside from others on the market is the well-designed hood.
The hood was comfortable and functional. Unlike some hoods, it did not obstruct my vision or hinder the wearing of hearing protection while shooting. The drawstrings were placed for easy access and did not hinder the wearing of a plate carrier or get caught in a sling or chest rig. It does a great job of keeping the sun off your head on hot days or cutting the wind on cooler days. The color and stitching have held up through years of use with no noticeable wear and just some slight fading from washings. I still wear this shirt for various outdoor activities including hiking and mountain biking and stacking firewood. I liked my shirt so much I went and purchased another. I also purchased one of their Marawi combat t-shirts that has also held up over the past four years of work and play.
Recently, NorArm has released their new-to-the-market range shirts, which are lightweight and breathable and come with a rugby-style collar to prevent chafing while training in armor or from a sling. The shirt allowed me full range of motion and wicked away sweat while training on hot, humid days. It kept me cool in the sun and didn’t get stinky after multiple days of not washing. No matter how much I sweated, I experienced zero issues with chafing. Both the long sleeve and short come with Velcro panels on the sleeves to attach patches. They are available in multiple colors and priced competitively.
Don’t just take my word for it, NorArm products are currently being used downrange by various units of multiple nations. Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza are just a few of the conflict zones where their products have been tested in combat. Would I recommend these products? Absolutely, the quality is excellent and above all, comfortable. Looking at their competition, it prices out well for what you are getting. NorArm products are available direct from them or through their dealer network that is listed on their site.
I also recommend Milan’s book as it offers a look at how the Peshmerga were equipped and trained and how they waged war against ISIS, and the hoops he had to jump through to get into the fight against evil. An interesting memoir with a unique perspective that readers will enjoy. It is available on Amazon and other websites.