Field jacket trilemma

radicaldog · Aug 2, 2012

For instance

(1) M-51 original:

(2) M-42 replica:

(3) J. Crew 'Fatigue Jacket':

Also, what are your favourite jackets of this sort? Cheers.

TheFoo · Aug 2, 2012

I wear a Barbour International Jacket--with the patch carefully removed.

radicaldog · Aug 2, 2012

Had an international and also removed the patch. It died of mold in the boot of my old Saab. I now do have a Barbour field jacket (four pockets, epaulettes, etc.), but I was looking for something more lightweight.

bertie · Aug 2, 2012

Always think of this when I think of the original...

FlaneurNYC · Aug 2, 2012

Alpha Industries does a bevy of repros:

http://www.alphaindustries.com/Mens-Field-Coats/Mens-Field-Coats.asp

unbelragazzo · Aug 2, 2012

How easy was patch removal? I had avoided that jacket specifically because of the patch.

TheFoo · Aug 2, 2012

unbelragazzo said:
How easy was patch removal? I had avoided that jacket specifically because of the patch.

Easy, but you must do it right away. Otherwise, the cloth underneath will be discolored, as the rest of the jacket fades at a different rate.

bertie · Aug 2, 2012

This is the one I got from Apolis - very nice quality and trim fitting

Lord Mulberry · Aug 2, 2012

I have an original M65 field jacket with liner and a set of original 3rd pattern jungle fatigues in OG 107 + 3rd pattern jungle fatigue top in ERDL (lime green variant). The only reason I say this is because there are so many cheap reproductions around, but most of the stuff on the street is the fashion stuff that's supposed to be military but isn't and quite frankly is nowhere near military.

FlaneurNYC · Aug 2, 2012

Lord Mulberry said:
I have an original M65 field jacket with liner and a set of original 3rd pattern jungle fatigues in OG 107 + 3rd pattern jungle fatigue top in ERDL (lime green variant). The only reason I say this is because there are so many cheap reproductions around, but most of the stuff on the street is the fashion stuff that's supposed to be military but isn't and quite frankly is nowhere near military.

That's the beauty of Alpha Industries. They actually have made, and continue to make, the real thing for the military in addition to creating them for the layman.

http://www.alphaindustries.com/history.asp

gsugsu · Aug 2, 2012

I have a Barbour Tokito field jacket which is nice because the cotton Ventile fabric is water resistant,windproof and breathable.

Also have a surplus Austrian military field jacket which is there version of the M65. Hard wearing and warm with a liner plus it has their version of a Goretex dropliner for waterproof protection.

Bounder · Aug 2, 2012

radicaldog said:
Also, what are your favourite jackets of this sort? Cheers.

I'm curious. Is there a specific reason why you want a field jacket as opposed to something like a safari jacket?

radicaldog · Aug 2, 2012

Bounder said:
I'm curious. Is there a specific reason why you want a field jacket as opposed to something like a safari jacket?

I do like safari jackets, but they risk veering towards the pith helmet look. I don't rule it out, but I've just never seen a really safe one, in that respect (Orvis has cotton/hemp one that's not bad though). I want something quite casual and rugged, and not too retro. Show me a bush/safari jacket with those attributes and I may well get it.

TheFoo · Aug 2, 2012

radicaldog said:
I do like safari jackets, but they risk veering towards the pith helmet look. I don't rule it out, but I've just never seen a really safe one, in that respect (Orvis has cotton/hemp one that's not bad though). I want something quite casual and rugged, and not too retro. Show me a bush/safari jacket with those attributes and I may well get it.

I have to disagree, particularly when these field jackets border on soldier costume. If you don't want a safari jacket to look like you are literally out on safari, have your shirtmaker make one up in with some more refined detailing and in a more suitably urban cloth.

FlaneurNYC · Aug 2, 2012

I had a Tom Ford safari jacket that had fine finishing and a wonderful hand to the fabric, but to me it felt like a costume no matter what I did with it. Luckily, it sold on consignment very quickly and I recouped about 75% of my investment.

Field jacket trilemma

Other things being equal, what is best?

(1) Issued, well-worn army surplus jacket.

(2) Unissued, authentic army jacket / repro of past uniform.

(3) Civilian jacket inspired by army design, with artificial 'worn in' effect.

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