Särmä TST L4 Field Pants

The L4 Field Pants were designed for pure functionality. Smart materials, a relaxed fit, and clever details make them what a pair of field pants should be, comfortable and utilitarian. These are a great alternative for the Finnish military-issue pants, which suffer from a load of compromises due to the fact that they were designed to double up as parade wear.

• Roomy cut
• Zipper fly with a button
• 50 mm (2") belt loops with loops at the bottom (suitable for GrimLocs)
• Elastic waist adjustment band. Easily removable
• Diamond gusset crotch
• Generously articulated knees
• Reinforced knees with pad pockets (we recommend CPE pad inserts)
• Hook-and-loop cuffs
• Four pockets:
• Two side slash pockets
• Two slotted button cargo pockets
• "Idiot cord" tie down points inside the cargo pockets
• New 2023 update has suspender loops

Functionality and easy maintenance

We have not sacrificed simple reliability for functionality, the L4 Field Pants are wear-resistant, easily cared for, and when need be also easily repaired. The materials are simple but functional. all buttons are Canadian-style slotted buttons and wear prone details such as hook-and-loop fasteners are designed to be easily replaced if needed. The L4 Field Uniform stands for simple functionality, the stuff that you learn to value when you’re out there for extended periods.

Freedom of movement

The relaxed fit and generously articulated knees offer unrestricted leg movement. The wide 40 mm elastic waist adjustment band (which by the way is completely removable) is wider and thus more comfortable than the commonly used 25 mm width. The relaxed fit also gives you room for warm underwear and mid-layers, an important detail especially for us up here in the North.

The relaxed fit and generously articulated knees offer unrestricted leg movement. The wide 1.6" elastic waist adjustment band (which by the way is completely removable) is wider and thus more comfortable than the commonly used 1" width. The relaxed fit also gives you room for warm underwear and mid-layers, an important detail especially for us up here in the North.

Four pockets

Besides the common slash side pockets the L4 Field Pants also have two large button-flap cargo pockets (with British windproof style "fold down over itself" mouths). All buttons used are slotted "Canadian style" buttons, and pocket buttons have further been covered to prevent snagging.

Materials and details

The fabric is 50% cotton and 50% polyamide, ripstop, 225g/m2. The reinforcements are Cordura. The zippers are from Kroko, and these pants have a water and dirt repellent finish.

The older fabric is a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend, 200g/m². This fabric is still in the M04 pants marked as retiring versions.

In the new 2023 update, we got rid of the double fabric on the ass area. We also put back the suspender loops on the waist.

The 25mm (1") wide belt loops feature hang loops for tie-downs and accessories, such as the ITW GrimLoc. The elastic waist adjustment band can be easily removed, this comes in handy when wearing a belt or when simply washing the pants - nothing kills elastics like washing machines. The hook-and-loop cuffs are designed for over-boot wear, a simple, quick, and secure system.

NIR-compliant materials

Camouflage prints and visible accessories are 100% NIR-compliant. If you wish to ensure that the NIR-compliant properties of the camouflage print are not diminished, we recommend being very careful when using common detergents. All-natural stuff without any optic brighteners should be safe.

L4 - Field Wear

The fourth layer of our clothing system could be regarded as "standard camouflage dress". L4 clothing offers protection against the outside world through camouflage and abrasion resistance. These garments are designed for minimal thermal load for effective layering.

Take a look at our Särmä TST Clothing System!

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

The Finnish Defence Forces started developing new camouflage patterns in the early 2000s. 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.

For hot climate

The previous desert camo version has details purely optimized for hot conditions. We replaced the Foxdura in the knee reinforcements and the inner side of the lower part of the leg with reinforcements made from the pant fabric. It isn't of course quite as strong, but it breathes way better, which is damn nice in a hot climate. The new version has knee and ankle reinforcements made of M04 Cordura. The retiring version pants are marked so in the size table.

Sizing

The measurements in brackets are the recommended user waist circumference and height. These are very slightly oversized to accommodate warm mid-layer clothing. The waist can easily be adjusted for a custom fit using the elastic band.

By removing the elastic waistband completely you can gain a few extra centimeters to the max. waist circumference. For example: by doing this our CEO with a waist of 80 cm got the Small Regular size pants (recommended waist 78 cm) to fit like a glove. Note that downsizing like this will reduce chances of wearing warm mid-layers underneath the Field Pants.

By removing the elastic waistband completely you can gain a few extra centimeters for the max. waist circumference. For example: by doing this our CEO with a waist of 32" got the Small Regular size pants (recommended waist 31") to fit like a glove. Note that downsizing like this will reduce chances of wearing warm mid-layers underneath the Field Pants.

Sewn in the EU

These have been sewn in Estonia, by an experienced factory that has a long history of producing clothing for military, law enforcement, and emergency services. The updated 2023 version is made in Poland by Unifeq.