M04 Desert Camo

Clearance sale. Now!

The use of sand pits and dune landscapes for national defense activities in Finland has decreased to the point where the demand for desert-pattern camouflage gear has significantly dwindled. This may also be related to the current times, where major Western military campaigns in sandier countries are currently on hold.

However, business must go on, and for this reason, we are now discontinuing the M04 desert-patterned clothing and putting them on clearance sale with substantial discounts. This move will also give room to our expanding MultiCam collection.

That being said, this M04 gear is mil-spec and 100% field-worthy, offering a much cooler alternative for sunny weather compared to darker woodland patterns – and it's a great deal at these prices!

How it started…

Just like us, the Finnish Defence Forces have become more and more international. This was evident when the FDF began developing their new camo patterns and fatigues in the early 2000s. The first thing they implemented was a brand new pattern designed for arid and desert environments! Hint: we really don't have any deserts here in Finland.

Finland’s participation in the UN peacekeeping mission at the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2000 made their own desert fatigues the priority. The first prototype camouflage pattern to see use was the K2004, which was deployed in 2003. The first models had a rather thick twill cloth but later models switched to lighter ripstop fabrics and eventually evolved into the official M04 Hot Weather Uniform.

Unlike the FDF, we at Varusteleka started developing our take on the M05 Clothing System in a different order: we started with woodland and winter models more appropriate for the Finnish climate. Now that we have those aspects covered we've finally developed our own versions for the arid and desert climates. Lo, behold, and witness: Särmä TST and the M04 Desert Camo!