Compared on November 3, 2026, using each brand's published pages. BomCrewMall has made pilot uniforms since 1991 and owns the factory that makes its garments, according to BomCrewMall's own brand information.
The Short Verdict
Neither brand is the better choice for every pilot. The right one depends on how standard your proportions are, how soon you need the shirt, and how much control you want over the cut.
A Cut Above is stronger on published delivery speed, the return window on stock shirts and published textile certifications. BomCrewMall is stronger on made-to-measure sizing, airline-specific ordering, warranty length and repair support.
Standard proportions and a deadline point to either brand's stock shirts. A collar that fits while the body does not, or a custom pilot shirt cut to your own measurements, points to BomCrewMall Tailored.
Looking for a wider list of options? See our guide to A Cut Above Uniforms alternatives. This page is the head-to-head.
Round 1: Fit
A Cut Above offers men's Fitted, Tapered and Relaxed cuts. According to A Cut Above, Tapered is its best-selling fit. Women's options are Tess Fitted, Tess Relaxed, Open Collar and Maternity. Fit availability varies by fabric.
BomCrewMall has two lines. Standard Fit is stock, ready to wear, in Slim and Regular. Tailored is made to measure, in Trim, Classic and Comfort, cut to the measurements you give. Sleeve length and shirt-tail length are separate choices in both.
Standard sizing works when your collar, chest, waist and sleeves all sit inside one size. Tailored works when they do not. A tailored pilot shirt arrives already cut to you, so there are no tailor visits and no alteration costs after buying. That matters most for pilots with limited time at home between flights.
Edge: depends on your build. A Cut Above for a standard cut in a named fit or a maternity fit. BomCrewMall for a shirt cut to your measurements.
Round 2: Fabric
Both brands offer four shirt fabrics, organized differently.
A Cut Above names its fabrics Altus, Brooks, Cirrus and Tropo and publishes certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 across its shirt fabrics, plus bluesign for Tropo. It names technical finishes such as an antimicrobial treatment on Altus and anti-pilling on Tropo. Its own fabric page says Tropo is less durable than its other fabrics and needs careful care to limit pilling.
BomCrewMall organizes fabrics by the job each one does:
- Pegasus: easy care poly blend, the most wrinkle resistant shirt BomCrewMall makes.
- Super Bamboo: moisture wicking and breathable, made for hot and humid destinations.
- Miami: cotton-rich, with a crisp pressed look for pilots who dry clean.
- Lockheed: the standard polycotton pilot shirt.
Care differs too. A Cut Above rates its garments for 30 washes and recommends dry cleaning for best results, with home laundering allowed per fabric instructions. Pegasus, Super Bamboo and Lockheed are hand or machine washable at BomCrewMall.
BomCrewMall's wrinkle ratings are the brand's own scores, not laboratory results.
Edge: A Cut Above if documented textile certifications matter to you. BomCrewMall if you want to pick a fabric by climate and ironing tolerance.
Round 3: Configuration
A Cut Above lists a sweat-wicking collar band, removable collar stays, reinforced seams, a left-side drop-in pocket with a pen pocket, and optional wing eyelets for consistent pin placement. Torso reduction is offered on selected products, and altered items cannot be returned.
BomCrewMall runs airline-specific ordering paths and lets you choose details such as pocket, collar band, pen slot, wing-pin reinforcement, back pleat and placket. Options vary by product and by line, so the product page is the source of truth for your shirt.
Both brands sell epaulettes separately. BomCrewMall shirts include standard shoulder straps built to accept commercial airline epaulettes and rank slides.
Check your own airline's current uniform requirements with either brand. Neither brand's options are an official airline approval.
Edge: BomCrewMall for the depth of choices and airline-specific ordering. A Cut Above for a simpler build with removable collar stays.
Round 4: Delivery
A Cut Above publishes shorter processing and shipping times for standard orders. BomCrewMall makes every order after it is placed, in both Standard Fit and Tailored.
If you have a firm date, such as a class start or a new base, tell BomCrewMall before you order so the team can confirm timing. Check the live shipping pages for current times at both brands.
Edge: A Cut Above.
Round 5: Returns and Fit Protection
A Cut Above: eligible items can be returned within 90 days of delivery. Laundered, altered and customized items are not returnable, and neither are shirts with pinholes. There are no item-for-item exchanges. International customers outside mainland USA do not receive return labels.
BomCrewMall keeps returns and fit protection separate:
- Standard Fit returns: eligible US stock shirts can be returned free within 60 days of delivery. International stock is generally final sale, with the statutory 14-day withdrawal right for EU and UK customers.
- Tailored and the Fit Guarantee: a made-to-measure shirt is cut for one person, so it is not refundable. Instead, fit is settled before the full order is cut. On orders of 3 or 4 shirts, the first shirt is your approval shirt and ships alone, and the rest are cut to the corrected pattern. On orders of 5 or more, the approval shirt comes at no extra charge. Orders of 1 or 2 shirts have no physical approval shirt and follow a measurement review before cutting.
- Altered, hemmed, monogrammed or insignia-fitted items are non-returnable.
Edge: A Cut Above for the longer window on stock shirts. BomCrewMall for a fit process built around approval before full production.
Round 6: Warranty and Repairs
A Cut Above gives a 120-day warranty against defects. The A Cut Above pages reviewed for this comparison do not list a repair service.
BomCrewMall gives a 12-month limited warranty on shirts against manufacturing defects such as stitching, seams, buttons and fabric faults. Outside the warranty, a lifetime repair service is available. The owner pays shipping both ways plus quoted labor and materials.
Edge: BomCrewMall.
What About Price?
BomCrewMall is a premium pilot uniform brand and does not compete on lowest price. A Cut Above's published prices are lower on some shirts. Check both live product pages, then compare what each price includes: fit method, fabric choice, warranty and repair support.
Same Pilot, Two Ordering Paths
Three illustrative profiles show how each brand's published terms play out. They are examples, not customers.
|
Pilot |
A Cut Above path |
BomCrewMall path |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard proportions, needs a shirt soon, ordering from the US |
Standard order with published processing and shipping times. Eligible items can be returned within 90 days of delivery. |
Standard Fit, made after the order is placed. Eligible US stock shirts can be returned free within 60 days of delivery. |
|
Collar fits, but chest and stomach do not |
Choose among Fitted, Tapered and Relaxed. Torso reduction is offered on selected products, and altered items cannot be returned. |
Tailored, cut to your measurements in Trim, Classic or Comfort. No alteration costs after buying. Not returnable, but covered by the Fit Guarantee. |
|
Ordering from outside the US |
No return labels from outside mainland USA, so contact A Cut Above for help. |
Stock shirts are final sale, except the 14-day withdrawal right for EU and UK customers. Free video fittings are available for pilots anywhere. |
Where Brand Comparisons Mislead
- Return windows cover different things. A Cut Above's 90 days applies to eligible items. BomCrewMall's 60 days applies to eligible US stock shirts, and Tailored shirts are handled by the Fit Guarantee instead.
- Warranty and returns are separate promises. A warranty covers defects, not fit. Read 120 days and 12 months as defect cover only.
- Fit names are brand labels. Tapered, Slim and Trim do not describe the same measurements. Compare size charts and measuring guides, not names.
- Fabric names say little. Compare composition and care instructions instead.
- Delivery figures are not like for like. One brand publishes standard processing and shipping times. The other makes every order after it is placed. Ask each for the total time to your door.
Questions to Ask Either Brand Before You Order
- Is this shirt stock, or made after I order?
- What is the total time to my door, including making and shipping?
- Is my fit available in the fabric I want?
- What happens if the fit is wrong, and does that change with monogramming or alterations?
- Can I return from my country, and who pays?
- What does the warranty cover, and what repair service exists after it ends?
- Do epaulettes come with the shirt, and does it accept my airline's?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better if my collar fits but the shirt is too tight or loose through the body?
A shirt cut to your measurements is built for this case, and BomCrewMall Tailored is that option. A Cut Above handles it through its three men's fits and torso reduction on selected products, and altered items cannot be returned.
Which brand has the longer return window?
A Cut Above allows returns within 90 days of delivery on eligible items. BomCrewMall allows free returns within 60 days of delivery on eligible US Standard Fit stock shirts.
Can I return a BomCrewMall Tailored shirt?
No. A made-to-measure shirt is cut for one person. Tailored orders are covered by the Fit Guarantee instead, which establishes fit before the full order is cut on orders of 3 or more shirts.
Which brand has the longer warranty?
BomCrewMall. Shirts carry a 12-month limited warranty against manufacturing defects. A Cut Above lists 120 days.
Do both brands sell epaulettes?
Both sell epaulettes separately. BomCrewMall shirts include standard shoulder straps designed to accept commercial airline epaulettes and rank slides.
Which brand delivers faster?
A Cut Above publishes shorter processing and shipping times. BomCrewMall makes every order after it is placed. Check the live shipping pages at both brands for current times.
Can I be fitted in person?
A Cut Above offers fitting appointments at its showroom in Louisville, Colorado. BomCrewMall fits pilots in person at its Mumbai workshop and Dubai office, and offers free online fittings by video for pilots anywhere.
Does BomCrewMall make its own shirts?
According to BomCrewMall's own brand information, it has made pilot uniforms since 1991 and owns the factory that makes its garments.
Find Your Fit with BomCrewMall
Compare fabrics, choose Standard Fit or Tailored, and configure a custom pilot shirt around your airline's requirements.
- Explore Pilot Shirts
- Find Your Fit
- Pilot Shirt Fabric Guide
- Measurement Guide
- US Shipping, Returns and Warranty
- International Shipping and Returns
A Cut Above Uniforms is a trademark of its owner. BomCrewMall is not affiliated with or endorsed by A Cut Above Uniforms. Details were checked against each brand's published pages on November 3, 2026. Confirm current terms with each brand before you order.