Field Jackets

Man, the M43was my hunting jacket since I was 15 (that was more than 3 decades ago). Even wore it as my outdoor coat in college. A couple of years ago I gave it to a kid I care about. It remains a worthwhile garment and a worthy hunting coat (but there are warmer/lighter/more waterproof options today), and continues to get use. Tough lots of miles with minimal upkeep, don't know how many times over Thanksgiving I would dump out last years dirt/pine needles/leaves/candy wrappers, even a sandwich once or twice. Quiet, tough, lots of pockets I always did like them.

Should probably be moved to the hunting sub forum. I've had several over the years. Wouldn't wear another one. There are simply too many better options today for a hunting jacket. They are heavy, not particularly warm even with the liner and absorb water like a sponge when wet. Lots of pockets, but there are better ways to carry gear.

The best things the govt gave me were tje brogans, then after jump scbool the high top jump boots. I still have my field jacket and liner. Liner isn't needed in winter in Phoenix, but does make a good "smoking jacket" in winter (ha!).

Sweat shirt and field jacket are my winter uniform for the range and the store, Lowes, or Home Depot. When the wind comes up, just unzip the coller and pull up the hood over stocking cap.

I also have one from the AF with the "fat boy" coller, but I don't like it as much.

Got a Gore-Tex field jacket from LLBean many years ago. Great jacket.

I can't find anything similar available now, only the paclite types which don't look nearly as durable. I'm also a fan of the Helly Hansen jackets and have one for fishing. They're listed here:

The 21 Best Field Jackets
https://gearmoose.com/best-field-jackets/

Accumulated several field jackets during my 20 years, believe they are m65's. Last couple years we got the goretex & liners

I had 5 or 6 field jackets by the time I finished my enlistment. Most were bought, as the M65 is limited issue now in some units. I haven't worn one in about 5 years, a bit too hot in Alabama to wear a jacket like that.

I have a old m65 and I believe, a M45. Sweet jackets, their fashionable durable too You might find one in good shape at 2nd hand stores and the like. Check out At the front. Ww2 re-enactments store, might have em.

I have bought new M65 field jackets from a surplus store. I wore one until it was almost bleached white and bought a replacement. Both were quality jackets.

Barbour, Filson, Orvis, and $300 reproductions of the M65? Designer Zhongshan?

in the 70's around here, you weren't hip unless you wore a field jacket. When I hunted all the time, I always wore one. It was the best jacket I've ever used when fighting briars in the swamps. I spend a lot of time working in the Fayetteville NC area home of Fort Bragg. There are several large surplus stores around and I have to push not to stop in. I do like the WWll and Vietnam era jackets, boots and pants. The newer stuff is not interesting to me at all.

I got one of these for half price... actually I got 2 of these at half price. Jackets are a weakness of mine too.

I dont know about your screen, but the 'dark tan' is really more green/brown but looks just brown on my screen.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/redhead-rocky-oak-field-coat-for-men


IBTL

M-65 for me ... I've got four of 'em -- woodland, black, blue, OD ...

My Dad had an M43 field jacket that he wore in the fall and winter months. Started to get a little frayed around the edges but still held up very well for many years. I still have an M65 that I bought back in the mid-'70s (nice thing is that it still fits)!

Man, this thread is causing me some deep regret: I probably gave away 4 or 5 OD green field jackets back in the 80’s and man, do I miss them. I still have my last issued woodland BDU and desert camo (DCU) field jackets, but I don’t wear them. They are all packed away with some BDU, DCU, and ABU uniforms I thought I’d maybe wear for hunting or working outside, but alas, they rarely see daylight unless I’m looking through storage stuff. And I haven’t gotten around to taking off all the “badging” (patches, name tape, stripes, etc.), Which is a no-go for me.

But if I had a plain Jane ODG jacket, I would probably wear it out. Loved those jackets! With a liner, it was my favorite jacket for Alaska winters back on in the day when I worked for hours outside.

Yeah, field jackets were fashionable in the 60's and 70's, I wore mine for several years after I got out. Then stored in a duffel bag for 3 decades in the attic, along with some army bdu shirts and pants.

Had a day worker I'd picked up several times for outside work about 10 years ago whose apparel was always just in tatters. Gave him the entire duffel bag plus some other items after ripping my name patches off everything, he definitely needed the clothes more than I did.

As far as wearability of the jacket, it wasn't actually good at anything, really. Warm in summer, not particularly warm in winter, and after a few washings, no water resistance.

bannockburn said:

My Dad had an M43 field jacket that he wore in the fall and winter months. Started to get a little frayed around the edges but still held up very well for many years. I still have an M65 that I bought back in the mid-'70s (nice thing is that it still fits)!

Click to expand...

Wish I still fit in mine...

Good memories. I was Air Force back then and hated the bubble collar AF field jacket. Our NCOIC overseas traded with the Army supply Sgt. for a footlocker full of new Army OD field jackets. He gave me one and one for my dad. I wore mine until the cuffs were ragged, then patched them with thin leather and wore it some more. Then when I went Army and retired I have woodland field jacket, liner, and 2 woodland Gortex that I never wear. Carhartt has replaced them all now.

I still cherish my M-65 Woodland field jacket although I wish I had an OD so people wouldn't confuse me with Sy from Duck Dynasty