Seen too many US jackets and have no interest in German Flecktarn camo? Check out this Dutch miracle jacket, which at the same time looks very generic at first glance, but differs from the norm upon a closer look.
We guess people don't buy old surplus jackets for their details anymore, but these Dutch ones have some pretty unique feats that demand a little attention.
Buttons for attaching a hood and liner are found at the neck and on the inside. Neither accessory is included or available.
The jacket can be adjusted for fit with twin tabs at the cuffs and drawstrings at the hem and waist. The hem drawcord should be elastic, but this may not apply in all cases. Instead of conventional cord locks, the jacket has short sections of webbing sewn at the passage for a hitch of your liking.
The pockets are arranged in a common 4-front pocket fashion, but the lower pocket flaps have a traditional curved look while the chest pockets look like they were designed with body armor in mind: they are heavily biased to the sides and angled to open towards the center. The inside has a very small hidden pocket.
At the time of writing, we had only found two sizes: Small and Medium. The sizes are rather loose, so pick a smaller one for a close fit. If you plan to layer something underneath, your typical size will do fine. The Dutch people are among the tallest in Europe so the sleeve length is suitable for above-average heights.
Made of 100 % cotton, can be washed at hot temperatures (60 degrees Celsius). The weave is very tight, so the fabric swells in the rain and becomes a denser shell but you can also wax it for weatherproofing.
European-made quality stuff from the past. These jackets are from a time when things mattered more. Somewhat smelly and scruffy, though, as the soldiers who wore these in service. The occasional drawstring at the waist or hem may be missing, replace it with paracord if necessary. In need of a wash and airing, but otherwise in a good condition and serviceable.
Cole R.
Daniel R.
Ralph R.