Best shooting shirts for all weathers

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The best shooting shirts are cut for movement, so that you can swing through with the gun. They should also look the part, keep you warm (or cool) and be in colours that reflect your surroundings. (If you’re looking for a traditional checked kind of country shirt, take a look at our selection of the Tattersall checked shirts for shooting.)

What to look for in a shooting shirt

We asked some keen Shots what they look for in a shooting shirt.

Rob Fenwick, Managing Director of EJ Churchill says: ” The key is that they are long enough, so that when you bend and swing the shirt doesn’t come out from your trousers.  They obviously need to be long in the sleeves so that when you bend your arm they don’t drag up your wrist and restrict movement.   The best shooting shirts need to be cut tighter under the armpit so that gives you much better movement.  A lot of people with shirts get it wrong, they think this cut under here needs to be less, this actually restricts them more.

“As for material, something midweight is nice, you don’t want to sweat but equally it needs to be comfortable and warm. As for colour, for grouse shooting a plain colour is best, green/brown so you blend in, especially if you are shooting, it’s warm and you take off your jumper and jacket.”

Charles Bull of Just Cartridges advises: “In a shooting shirt, I look for style and fit. And it doesn’t have to be a ‘shooting’ shirt in the ubiquitous checked style. Whatever shirt you are wearing, it should always be sharp.”

Matt Clark testing out a Benelli M2

Matthew Clark, editor of Sporting Gun, comments: “Fit is very important with a shooting shirt. In the field you will be moving a lot and you don’t want anything restrictive. The collar should also be comfortable when wearing a tie for the same reason. Finally, material is important. Brushed cotton and poplin can become a bit “clammy” and don’t dry very quickly, whereas cotton with a 20% wool mix helps the wicking process. Naturally, this sort of material comes at a price.”

We’ve picked out a selection of the best shooting shirts that fit the bill in different fabrics and for different disciplines – whether you’re on a formal driven shoot, out doing some roughshooting along the hedgerows or stalking on the hill. (Wondering whether you should wear a tie with your shooting shirt? Find out here and have a look at our list of best shooting ties.) New to shooting? You can read all about what to wear shooting here.

Sporting Gun contributor Jasper Fellows notes: “The key question is, what will you be using the shirt for? I avoid wool as I find it uncomfortable, so classically go for a simple cotton shirt. Cut and sleeves, again this comes down to personal choice and activity. I definitely prefer longer sleeves when bush bashing, as it provides an extra layer of protection against stinging plants and insects and UV rays. I tend to avoid pockets on a shirt. If I’m off on a real adventure I’ll have plenty of pockets in my trousers, or just bring a bag.”

The Shooting Show presenter Chris Parkin comments: “Often I will wear shirts for stalking in the summer months; they are comfortable and keep me cooler when on the move than my various winter base layers, but these are always long sleeved, mainly just to protect the arms from biting insects. If it’s cooler, before sun-up very early on a summer morning, I might wear a gilet over the top or possibly a light fleece.  For those slightly cooler days  I will opt for a base layer of merino with a smock style shirt over the top, in 100 % wool and a green check.‘’

Gun reviewer and contributor Charles Smith Jones says: ” I like something in a Tattersall check for wearing with a tie when on a smarter shoot, but usually plain green or a darker heavy  check for stalking. Cotton for preference, but some of the modern lightweight ‘wicking’ materials are superb when the going gets more arduous  For winter stalking I like a heavier flannel shirt. Long sleeves always.  In hot weather having the right colour of shirt allows you to discard a jacket and you don’t want pale arms on display to the deer   Roll-up sleeves with a buttoned tab to secure them are very useful when it gets too hot or when gralloching. Zip up chest pockets on some shirts make the contents doubly secure.”

Finally Shooting Times contributor Graham Downing says:”I’m really very traditional in the shirts I wear for game shooting. Viyella shirts in Tattersall check are my usual choice, though on a grouse moor or when shooting wild game it really makes sense to wear a darker shirt with the check pattern over a green background to reduce visibility. I never wear a sweater over my shirt, as I find that it affects the overall thickness of my clothing and thus my gun mount, so in really cold weather I wear a long sleeved merino vest underneath my shirt, with my regular shooting coat over the top. That keeps me warm, and it also ensures consistent gun mount.”

2.Seeland Mens Shooting Shirt £35.95-£39.99

Best for grouse moor

• Size: Medium, Large, XL and XXL
• Colour: Range green
• Fabric: 96% cotton, 4% spandex in twill weave finish
• Care: Machine washable

+ Stretch cotton fabric

+ Pleats at back

Your movement is unrestricted in this shirt thanks to the stretch cotton fabric. Dark colours are the thing on the grouse moor, so this shirt would be ideal.

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3. Harkila Metso Active Shirt £93.99

Best for drying quickly

4.NosiLife Pro IV Long Sleeved Shirt – Woodland Green £75

Best for midge protection

• Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Colour: Woodland green (shown), steel blue, parchment
• Fabric:  87% polyester, 13% elastane
• Care: Machine washable

+ Anti-insect fabric

+ Zipped pockets

This has made our list of best shooting shirts because it has some excellent qualities you’ll appreciate out in the field. It’s cut to allow you to move freely, you can wash and wear it, it features odour and moisture controls and it has a UPF 40+ sun protection. A good choice for stalking.

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5. Laksen Mens Denis Shirt £109

Best for sporting fit design

• Size:M, L, XL, XXL
• Colour: Purple/navy/green (as shown)
• Fabric: 85% cotton, 15% wood
• Care: Machine washable

+ Sporting collar

+ Adjustable for cufflinks

The cotton/wool mix in this shirt gives it a luxurious feel whilst the sporting design gives you superb freedom of movement out in the field. However it’s smart enough to wear in the office too.

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6. Schoffel Mens Newton Tailored Sporting Shirt £89.95

• Size: 15-18½”
• Colour: Lovat check, olive/brick check (shown above)
• Fabric: 75% cotton 25% wool
• Care: Machine washable

+ Classic cutaway collar

+ Tailored sporting fit

This shirt has slightly large armholes to give you greater freedom of movement. If you have a longer body it’s a good choice because it’s cut with increased length so that your shirt stays tucked in when you move around.

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7. Harkila Mens Pajala Shirt £84.99

Best for stalkers and rough shooters