The Best Jacket Ever Made 

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God doesn't need to wear camo, but when He does, He chooses M81 woodland.

I bought my woodland M-65 at a vets garage sale about 7 yrs ago. I believe I paid $15. On the way home I decided to go back a buy the liner. Did so for another $10. So glad I did. Very fine condition and woodland has always been my favorite camo. Hey Grunt! You forgot to show the hood in the collar!!!

Before I joined the Military I had the OD green version of the M-65 back in the 1980s. It had a built in felt type liner, and it was amazing. On a hunting trip, I fell in a lake. I crawled out and rung out the water. Put the jacket back on and 30 mins later it was dry and warm again.

and Rambo has worn it.

I used this jacket for a decade, in the 80s and 90s. I hated it. It was pretty worthless in terms of insulation - which is presumably why you wear a jacket to begin with. It was worthless in the rain as it is made of cotton. A jacket that isn't warm and that holds water. I would much rather (and do) use modern materials that insulate better, are wind proof, that provide warmth when wet, and that don't take on and hold pounds of water. The M65 is durable though, so at least it will suck for many years to come. Oh and the epaulets are great for gathering kindling as you move through brush.

Before the general issue of the ECWCS, all we had for winter wear were the 50/50 (50% wool 50% cotton) long johns, your issue trousers, issue blouse, wool five button sweater, and the field jacket with liner. Local commands hated letting troops use the M65 parka+liner and field pants+liner "because they didn't look good" (until they started getting a bunch of cold weather injuries one bone chilling winter and commanders were actually getting their asses in a sling over it). Same reason we were never allowed to use the ear flaps in the BDU hat, "that looks like crap".

I still have the german Bundeswehr Parka (Red Cross/Technisches Hilfswerk grey version) of my father from the 70s. My little brother had it, i still have it and its not dead. It has seen copious amounts of woods, festivals, been trampled on, vomited on, my cat used it as a scratch tree, you just cant kill that thing. Nowadays i prefer the Leo Köhler KSK Smock, very tactical, robust Parka on steroids, highly reccomend it.

Just scored a 2001 woodland m65 field jacket that was so new it had no stitch patterns anywhere inside or out. $28 at the milsurp. Unbeatable.

The best thing you can do with these jackets is buy some cheep canning wax from the grocery store. Rub one of the wax bars all over the outside of the jacket. It will leave a white mess all over it. Then, use a hairdryer to heat the jacket up. You will be able to see the wax melt into the fabric. The rain will bead off of it for a long time as long as you don't dry it on high heat.

Just picked one up at a Goodwill for $10 😮 I couldn’t believe it was there. It was practically brand new in unused condition.

Ive been wearing a surplus m65 since I was 18 (1982 ) . The style and comfort is unbeatable .

To me British windproof smock is cut above the m65 for field use. Material is not quite as heavy duty but it makes up for it by having superiour pockets and hood. What I like about the m65 is that you can practically wear it anywhere because it is actually a bit of a fashion icon. M65 passes much better in town than baggy combat smock.

I just want to thank Brent, Bill, and yourself for bringing back to life my childhood and some of the things I was raised on. I still have two or three of those jackets one is my grandfathers. They're still tough af. 🇺🇲

Ahhhh! Yes, I agree! I'm an old SeaBee and was issued this jacket in CUU and DCU. As I'm a military pack rat/horder, I literally just passed down 2 brand new never worn WITH liners to my son in law. He's a modern Marine (2nd CEB) and has no idea about our old 782!

Growing up, I remember my dad always wore his Vietnam Army M65 jacket all the time. I can't remember a time when he didn't wear it in the fall and winter. I bet It's still stored in his house somewhere. Tough as nails!

Great review Troop! I got mine in 1995, Regular Army guys got two jackets, Guard and Reserve guys got one. Before Army days during my Civil Air Patrol days I actually got issued a M-1951 Field Jacket… mostly the same as a M65, but the waist draw string tied off in the outside of the jacket.

I want to thank you. I've been an M-65 fan since 1978. My bottom snap also crapped out. your acceptance of its limitations reminded me of better days - I'm keeping it now indefinitely!

I did 4 years of college wearing amy dad's OD M65 in the early 70s. Great jacket except in the Eugene winter rains, but it lasted until I outgrew the sleeves and gave it back to Dad.

its so flame resistant we were trained to fight fires at camp pendleton with it. Marines on line beating the fire line with this jacket actually works to put out the smoldering fires.