Commercial M65 jacket?

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
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6,105
Howdy folks-

Seems that a size XL/long is tough to find in the world of us milsurp jackets, and I'm hunting an M65 to try as a woods coat this fall/winter. I also rather like the digicam pattern (OD or woodland being next in line).

I wouldn't mind having a new one. Does anyone know what the quality of any of the commercial/aftermarket M65 jackets is? Sportdmans guide had one that looked good but (surprise, surprise) they're backordered.

Thoughts/experiences?
 
Just a word on the M-65 in winter. I got the liner for mine, and anywhere outside the high Arctic, it's too warm. Just get the jacket itself and layer with a wool sweater instead. I never wear the liner now.
 
Very interesting! Thanks for the heads up. I was preparing myself for it to be too cool even with the liner.
 
pm me later tonight to remine me I have some that were issued but i think there med short ill have to check.
 
I have a Tru-Spec one, and it's very nice.

The liner can be warm (but I live in FL), so I often keep it half unzipped. Nice thing is, the jacket itself is hefty, so it makes a good light jacket for intermediate weather as well.
 
I always disliked the the M65. Cotton is not warm when wet. Never wore it even when issued. You're better off with one of the newer soft wind/rain shells and fleece.
 
Thanks much to everyone! Appreciate the input. I'll definitely PM you, caine.

Cpl Punishment said:
I have a Tru-Spec one, and it's very nice.

The liner can be warm (but I live in FL), so I often keep it half unzipped. Nice thing is, the jacket itself is hefty, so it makes a good light jacket for intermediate weather as well.
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Good thing, cuz I'm a tru professional. :D Seriously though that brand does look nice. I'm gonna look into that. Now I can't decide between multicam and OD...
 
I have a black Schott M65 which I use in Europe and the US in winter.
It has served me well for several years but it actually can be to warm.
Wearing it with the zip in lining is impossible in anything but very cold conditions.
I prefer to wear it without the lining and a extra layer or two which I can remove as needed.
I also like the fact that it is fairly waterproof.

Good luck with your search:)
Steven
 
Likewise, I have been eyeing up another M65 - only thing stopping me has been the fact that I wouldn't mind a double layered one made up from that Ventile stuff.

And because of this I have bought all sorts of other things in the interim - for light and water resistant, take a look at the Fjallraven's Telemark and Montt jackets - the Montt is also available in a hydratic version. They are designed a bit a bit short, but are well built and well pocketed

Also, a bit costly, but see if you can't locate for yourself a Norrona Arktis Annojakke - superb thing for this kind of coat - you do see them cheap sometimes, but now is possibly not the right time of year
 
spooky - check vtarmynavy - they stock xl-long in a variety of patterns. (I did a google search for xl-long m65)
I took the liner out of mine years ago - I'll wear a flannel or chamois shirt in it when the weather gets bad and be fine -- but then I don't get cold easy.
 
i have one, i don't wear it much but keep it in the truck even in the middle of summer.

ever try changing a tire on sun-baked asphalt on a 110°F+ day? there IS a method to my madness! :rolleyes:
 
meant to add that there was an alpha industries one I saw which looked well put together

but also the Canadian army one is well designed too - good pockets, again
 
I have been using the British SF Smock in all its evolutions for years and I believe the latest versions are the best so far.

Here is a link for a UK XL - This jacket is size 190/120, so ideally for a person 5'11" - 6'2" in height, and with a 45" - 48" chest..basically the biggest size made, so an XL...
Label reads 'SMOCK COMBAT WINDPROOF, WOODLAND DP'.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Camo-Army-W...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3350487445

These are new, but in MINT condition they are half price. The zipped chest pockets (511 have copied) can take a 1911 size pistol without printing, and the outer pockets are nice and big and they have loop buttons (called Canadian - don't know why) which cannot be pulled off without considerable force.
 
I got an old green one that was my fathers in the 70's its very nice my wife uses it but she uses her USMC wooly-pulley more, I had a very nice sea-bees embroidered M-65 that got stolen by an Ex friend who said that would not "fit" it in their car when they moved and they really just stole it. how low can you be to steal a guys jacket ? And the bad part is that a friend gave it to me and had it all embroidered up with his sea-bees unit and patches it was a work of art. sigh.....now i'm stuck with an XL liner that I cant use.
 
I've got three, by three different companies. My Alpha is made the best, but my weird extra long spec op's is awesome, it's almost like a trench coat but based on the 65 pattem.

The hardest thing to find for the 65's imo is the button on hoods, I found one and it was so ratty I couldn't sew enough to fix it up, 1.00 blown, I just used the fabric to reinforce the elbows on my Alpha.
 
Just search eBay for the hood for the M51 parka, it fits the M65 just fine, and they usually have a lot of them for sale.
 
Once again Will it is amazing how much our experience mimics each other.. about a week prior to this thread I started shopping for an m65... from the reviews I've read alpha seems decent, though Ihaven;t pulled the trigger yet.
 
RescueRiley said:
Once again Will it is amazing how much our experience mimics each other.. about a week prior to this thread I started shopping for an m65... from the reviews I've read alpha seems decent, though Ihaven;t pulled the trigger yet.
Click to expand...

Well, it's settled: we are twins separated at birth (and I think placed in a time vortex for a while to account for age differences).

PS- I need your address.
 
I like the M65 style, and have worn out several previous models, but have been very reluctant to purchase a new based on all of the cheapo knockoffs I have seen.

The liners have obviously improved as well as I don't ever remember being too hot in one, although they were probably at the forefront of the layering movement.
 
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