Product Description
These shirts are in issued condition and may show signs of previous use, including light fading, minor staining, or official stampings. All functional hardware (buttons, zippers, and velcro cuffs) will be intact and operational. Austrian military sizing does not correspond to standard US sizing. Please consult our Sizing & Condition Guide at the bottom of this listing before ordering.
The KAZ 03 & the Austrian Bundesheer
The Kampfanzug 03, or KAZ 03, is the standard field shirt of the Austrian Bundesheer, introduced in 2003 as a comprehensive update to the KAZ 75 that had served Austrian soldiers since 1975. The KAZ 75 had roots in post-war American uniform designs; the KAZ 03 was a genuine overhaul from the fabric out. The new shirt moved to a ripstop weave, improved breathability, and better moisture resistance throughout.
What the Austrian Army chose to keep was the color: RAL 7013, officially designated Braungrau (Brown-Grey), a shade that has defined Bundesheer dress since the Cold War. The KAZ 03 served the Bundesheer for roughly two decades before being phased out in favor of a new camouflage pattern starting around 2019. These shirts are no longer in production.
Construction
The shirt is built from a polyester-cotton ripstop blend that resists tearing while staying lightweight and breathable. Reinforced elbows protect the points most likely to wear through in field use.
The button-up front is clean and secure, and the cuffs adjust via velcro or button depending on production run.
Three zippered pockets (two on the chest, one on the left sleeve) provide quick-access carry without adding bulk. Velcro panels on the sleeves were designed to accept unit insignia, and remain a practical feature for anyone who wants a spot for patches.
In the Field
Outside the barracks, the KAZ 03 has earned a following as a warm-weather hiking and trail shirt, where the ripstop construction handles brush and pack abrasion without snagging.
The practical pocket layout, particularly the sleeve pocket, appeals to cyclists and day hikers who want accessible carry without a chest rig. The RAL 7013 colorway reads as a muted, versatile olive-tan in most lighting conditions, which is why the shirt transitions naturally from trail use to everyday wear with jeans or work trousers.
The ripstop construction and three-pocket layout would cost considerably more in a comparable purpose-built civilian outdoor shirt.
Sizing & Fit
Austrian military sizing uses a combined chest circumference and height measurement that does not correspond to standard US sizing. Please use the Sizing & Condition Guide at the bottom of this page before selecting a size. These shirts fit with some room in the body, which makes them comfortable for layering, but may require sizing down if you prefer a trimmer fit.
The Short & Sweet
- Austrian Bundesheer issue, Kampfanzug 03 (KAZ 03) system
- RAL 7013 Braungrau colorway
- Polyester-cotton ripstop construction
- Reinforced elbows
- Button-up front closure
- Adjustable velcro or button cuffs
- Two zippered chest pockets, one zippered left-arm pocket
- Velcro sleeve panels for patches
- Issued condition
