US CIA Desert Tigerstripes Camouflage Sports Mesh T-shirt XS to 5XL

Pattern: US CIA Desert Tigerstripes

Desert tiger in a light key. A khaki ground runs through the whole print, and across it pass thin stepped stripes in pale cream, each one outlined in brown so the bands stay crisp without ever going black. The stripes are spaced widely enough to leave plenty of open khaki between them, and that is what gives the pattern its sparse, airy feel: a desert reading of the tiger idea rather than the dense, dark stripe field of a jungle tiger print. Everything stays inside the brown and sand family.

Desert Tiger is a commercial pattern rather than a service one. It appeared shortly before the 1991 Gulf War, and the first production run was bought by the US Marine Corps for evaluation and deployed with Marine Corps special operations personnel, who reviewed it favourably in desert conditions. Its colouring is on record as horizontal stripes of dark brown, golden brown and beige over a sandy background. American special operations forces in Afghanistan and Iraq were later recorded wearing commercially available Desert Tiger Stripe uniforms, many of which were also passed to partner units, and that same commercial print is the one most closely associated with CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary forces. Tiger stripe was never an official US-issue item, and no official camouflage carries a CIA designation: the CIA in this label is MegaCamo’s shorthand for that association. MegaCamo labels this one the US CIA Desert Tigerstripes.

US CIA Desert Tigerstripes on a sports mesh t-shirt

A desert tiger print on light mesh reads as a warm stripe graphic rather than as kit, which is exactly what makes it wearable off the field. The brown-on-khaki contrast is gentle enough not to dominate an outfit, and it sits easily with sand, brown, olive, cream and denim. Good for the gym, for warm-weather running and for everyday wear.

The shirt itself

This is the T45 sports mesh t-shirt: 100% polyester mesh cloth at 7.05 oz, with a relaxed fit and a soft hand that keeps it comfortable from the first wear. It weighs about 0.19 kg, so it stays light on the shoulders even in the larger sizes.

The mesh is open enough to move air and dry quickly, and the double-needle hemmed sleeves and bottom hold their shape instead of fraying. The print sits in the fabric and is made not to fade, so the camouflage stays as sharp as the day it was made.

Sizes, fit and measurements

Available in nine sizes from XS to 5XL. Please use the size chart below and check the actual garment measurements before ordering. Measurements may vary by approximately ±5%.

Measurements

Care

Machine wash cold to protect the colour and the fabric, then hang or lay flat to dry. Do not bleach.

Made to order

Every MegaCamo mesh t-shirt is printed and sewn only after you order it — nothing is produced in advance. Production and fulfilment take about 4 to 7 days before the shirt ships, with transport time on top depending on your destination.

Explore the family

For more of this camouflage, browse the US Desert Tigerstripes collection and the wider United States camouflage range. The full list of camos by country is on MegaCamo.