Särmä TST Boonie Hat

Based on the Finnish Defense Forces issued M05 Boonie hat, our design features proper foliage loops for attaching camouflage, something the official Finnish military issued boonies do not.

• Lightweight, breathable construction
• 5.5 cm / 2,2" wide brim, long enough, but not too long
• Size adjustable using a drawstring with a cordlock
• Neck/chinband keeps the hat in place when the going gets rough
• Foliage loop band for attaching camouflage
• Materials:
• 50/50 polyester/cotton ripstop/M04 version has a lighter, more breathable, and more durable BOND fabric
• All materials are NIR-compliant

Finnish M04 desert camo

This pattern is fantastic in the desert environment, from Arizona to the Middle East and beyond. Also quite awesome on shooting ranges, too.

History

When Finland participated in the UN peacekeeping mission at the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea that began in 2000, the Finnish Defence Forces developed a need for their own desert fatigues. 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.

Materials and details

This isn't just a new color option. We also switched to an even lighter, more breathable, and more durable fabric than the old one. Also dries faster.

This new fabric is also a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend but it weighs 200g/m² / 5.8 oz/yd², so it is 10g/m² / 0.3 oz/yd² lighter than the old one. Even though it is lighter, this BOND fabric has a tensile strength of 1000N across the warp, which is 18% better than in the old fabric (850N). Across the fill, it is 700N, which is a whopping 100% better than the old one (350N). The fabric also has an excellent color fastness. (On the scale of 1-5, color fastness to washing is 4 and color fastness to perspiration 4.)

Adjustable size

These come in three sizes, M for small to medium heads, L for larger ones, and XL for massive melons. These are designed to be generously over-sized so that you can fit a warm wool cap or similar underneath the Boonie hat in cold weather. The drawcord around the crown is used to adjust the hat for a custom fit.

Sewn in Estonia

These are sewn in Estonia, at a factory with a long history of producing quality clothing for military and law enforcement agencies.