AllOutdoor Review – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM™ Mid 400
Patrik Orcutt 07.14.23
First Spear is a company that had first come onto the tactical market back in 2010 and ever since have been producing high quality, American-made, Berry-compliant gear for the Special Operations community, Tier 1 Military, and Law Enforcement teams. Based outside of St. Louis, their team is made up of experienced industry professionals and former U.S. service members. “FirstSpear” is the translated namesake of the Primus Pilus, the Senior Centurion of a Roman Legion. FirstSpear dedicates our efforts to present-day Centurions, those willing to sacrifice to preserve our heritage and secure our future. It is an honor and a privilege to support those who serve at the tip of the spear! So, in this AllOutdoor Review, we are going to take a look at the First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM™ Mid 400.
The First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM™ Mid 400 was sent to me by First Spear for this review and while I do get to keep this product indefinitely, that does not affect how I feel about any of their products now or in the future.
I tested the Mid Shirt over the course of the last 6 months in the winter in Utah and in New England and in the spring here in my home state of Maine. I wore it on several hikes, and used it for some range trips and traveled with it a good amount. Currently, it sits in the back of my car for when I’m out and about and need a warming layer for the cooler summer nights.
Specs – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400
- Country Of Origin – USA
- Primary Materials – American Wool 50%, Polyester 50%
- Weight – 13.5 oz
- MSRP – $142
Quality and Comfort – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400
Like most First Spear products the Mid Shirt is Berry Compliant. What does Berry Compliant Mean? The Berry Amendment Compliance is a federal regulation that requires Department of Defense funds to be spent on U.S. manufactured items in order to protect the United States industrial market during times of war.
The Berry Amendment is intended for companies that wish to acquire Department of Defense contracts. This amendment applies to products such as food, clothing, tents, materials, and tools. Some exceptions include if the product is unavailable from a U.S. source, purchasing from allies, perishable food or emergency items for personnel located outside of the United States, and purchases at or below the simplified acquisition threshold. With that being said, yes this shirt is 100% American Made with 100% American Materials.
One of the first things I noticed when I picked up this shirt was just how nice this thing feels and looks. Its super warm and very comfy so it’s become my new go-to backup layer for the last few months. The zippers are high quality and I appreciate that the zipper goes a bit lower than most 3/4 zips I own. Unfortunately, I actually broke the zipper pull of this shirt so now its a bit more difficult to zip-un-zip. Overall; this is a very comfortable layer and I often find myself lounging around my house on a lazy, rainy Sunday with it on.
Warmth – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400
The more items I try with Merino Wool, the more I like the material. This high-end fabric is renowned for regulating body temperature—while it provides warmth it also draws heat away from the skin, helping the wearer stay comfortable in both warm and cold conditions. If you want a T-shirt that can play in winter as well as summer, merino wool has you covered. Merino is also one of the softest wools out there, with natural antimicrobial properties that make it odor-resistant, making it an ideal choice for performance wear.
But why Merino wool over traditional wool you may ask?
It really comes down the sheep the wool is shorn from—the Merino sheep. The wool they provide is very fine, almost ⅓ the size of a human hair. The finer the fabric, the softer the fabric. Think of your heavier fall and winter sweaters; they’ve got an itch to them. Merino doesn’t. That’s another reason why it’s used for both performance layers and for everyday t-shirts.
As mentioned previously, this garment is constructed of an American Merino Wool 50%, Polyester 50% blend with the wool being ACM-Warm 400 which is a preparatory blend from First Spear. ACM- Warm 400 is not as warm as their 600 blends but still helps keep you warm but also is self-regulating and allows for moisture to be wicked from your skin when the activity level rises.
In my testing, I have been pretty impressed with the warmth-to-weight ratio of this shirt. More often than not I would get too warm while wearing this if I began to do any kind of hiking or running but I can’t really blame the shirt for this as I’m just that guy that’s always warm. If you’re sitting next to a campfire on a cool night in the spring or summer and there is minimal wind, this is a great layer for that. Also since its Wool, you won’t smell like that campfire the next day and I really like that.
Sizing and Fit – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400
When I received my copy of the First Spear Mid Shirt,I was shocked to find that the size Medium I had was way to big for me. Prior to choosing the medium I had consulted First Spears size and fitting guid on their website to make sure I was getting the appropriate size. I am happy to say that I was able to get a size small in a few days after I had reached out to First Spear about the sizing issue.
Once I got the right size I was very impressed with just how much this garment fit me like a glove. For reference I’m five foot nine weighing one hundred and sixty-five pounds with an athletic build. The arms and shoulders are the perfect length for me while the torso is a bit longer than I would like but this also makes the shirt easier to tuck.
Weight and Packability – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400
Coming in at only 13.5 oz this shirt is light for its warmth but it definitely won’t be turning the hades of any hyperlight campers or hikers. With that being said 13.5 oz is still light enough to pack into a bag and forget you have it. It does pack down really well and can be put into a small package when needed.
Likes
- Incredibly arm for its weight, you won’t need much else besides a wind layer with this to stay warm in spring – autumn.
- Sourced and constructed in America, not many companies can make this claim.
- Highly breathable with a Wool/Polyester blend making it easy on your skin and easy to wash.
- Costing under $150
Dislikes
- The zipper pull broke off early on it its lifecycle.
Wrap Up – First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400
Looking for a merino wool layer that is just as comfortable on the pistol range as next to the campfire with your favorite IPA? Look no further than the First Spear Mid Shirt – ACM Mid 400. Its honestly a pretty good deal at under $150 for a Merino Wool garment that is sourced and constructed all in the USA. Not many companies can make that claim these days. I think that this product is well worth its price tag if you’re the kind of person who loves to be comfortable when your are outside.
