I’ve had one for about 10 years now, still in very good shape, but I have decided to order a new one anyway. Same size, color and model… Why mess with perfection? – Evert Meulie

Every Vietnam Veteran I know brought his field jacket home and wore it until it literally fell off of his body! I know I did. I have been looking for another for quite a while, and this is it!! This is the best mid-weather jacket ever made, IMHO. While you can easily find the button-in liner which converts the M65 to a cold weather parka, I never used mine and don’t know whatever happened to it (the liner). Just buy the coat, and see what all of us already know: Uncle Sam doesn’t screw EVERYTHING up (just most things)! – James T. Gibson III “Rev. Jim”

I ordered one of these last week and when I got it I tested it immediately. It’s great for wearing in winter weather (with a liner) and can take rain during the fall and spring seasons. Has many big pockets and zips quite nicely stays tight. Just make sure if you order a jacket liner to get the same size as the jacket itself. A large jacket will need a large liner. Coat also does well without liner keeps you warm but not too warm. Perfect for winter and those rainy, windy days in Spring anywhere! – Jake Hamilton

3 November 2006–Had one of these years ago. Good in rain and cold. Hood is great! Ordering one today. – Richard D.Elam

I have four of these field jackets in both Woodland and Desert (one with patches, one without). They are quick to put on and very comfortable and versatile. Will keep you warm when it is cold, yet will not roast you if it is not so cold. It is a classic that looks and feels great! – Jon Lioncourt

I haven’t bought this, and I’m not denying the quality of this jacket, but I just want to point out that this is NOT authentic government issue. It says right on the page it’s made by “Ultra Force” which is a brand of Rothco. – V

The M-65 was the very first piece of uniform I got issued when I went to Basic Training. With the Liner and parka hood, you can take it everywhere in every climate. Even that I don’t wear it as part of uniform anymore it still excellent for off duty. – Jesus M. Lorenzana

excellent, all around clothing. – Edgar M Tadle

The perfect coat for the ever-changing weather here in Norway! – Evert Meulie

I USED THE JACKET I ALMOST ALL WEATHERS AND THE RESULTS WERE EXCELENTS – WALTER RIVERA

Travel back to 1959. Knoxville, Tennessee. The United States Department of Defense recruits Alpha to revamp its military jacket. Why? Because as the jet age takes flight to greater heights and ground troops encounter trickier terrain, the technological needs and real-life demands of our soldiers change. Simply put, but not simply achieved, Alpha re-engineers outdated designs. As better fabrics are developed and tested, Alpha makes better jackets for our soldiers-better designed, better produced, and more reliable. Alpha garments are ranked as warmer, more comfortable, and designed to meet any climatic challenge or test of time.

Today, Alpha Industries is not only a global enterprise, manufacturing and selling its products throughout the world, but also the premier supplier of jackets for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps. Alpha sets the standard as a leader in cutting-edge outerwear design. From flight decks to civilian sidewalks, Alpha stands on the frontlines of quality and fashion, as a testament to innovation, creativity and manufacturing know-how. The honest truth is that Alpha is tried, and tested, and proven.

M-65 and Alpha

The M-65 field coat by Alpha is the workhorse of American infantry outerwear for the past three decades.

* Nyco M-65 Wind Resistant 50% Cotton/50% Nylon Sateen Outer shell with 225 lbs. Breaking strength. Water repellent
* Cuffs with velcro® for attachment to gloves and complete coverage of hands
* 139 separate sewing operations go into making the M-65
* Bi-swing back permits free range of movement
* Hanging pockets with snap fastener closures
* Bellows breast pockets
* Buttons for liner attachment
* Waist, hood and bottom drawcord
* Heavy brass zippered front closure with snap fasteners
* Concealed hood
* Imported

o Trent Reznor in Taxi Driver -influenced music video I’m Afraid of Americans (by David Bowie)

o Ludacris is seen wearing a M-65 field jacket in Taxi Driver -influenced music video “Slap”
* Adam Baldwin as Ricky Linderman in the movie My Bodyguard.
* Scott Patterson as Luke Danes in the series Gilmore Girls.
* Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester in the series Supernatural.
* Paddy Considine as Richard in the movie “Dead Man’s Shoes“.
* Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo in the movie First Blood and as Rocky Balboa in Rock Balboa

* Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator in the movie The Terminator.
* Götz George as Horst Schimanski in the German tv series Tatort.
* Osama Bin Laden is often seen wearing an M-65.
* Ahmad Shah Massod is known to have worn an M-65 field jacket during the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
* Al Pacino as Serpico in the movie Serpico.
* Linda Cardellini as Lindsay Weir in the series “Freaks and Geeks”.
* Michael A. Goorjian as Heroin Bob in the Film SLC Punk!
* Jason Lee as Earl Hickey in the series My Name is Earl
* Nike Sportswear releases the M-65 as a fashion garment.

Originally introduced in olive drab, it is now produced in a variety of patterns including Woodland camouflage, “chocolate-chip” desert camouflage, Tigerstripe, black, navy blue, Universal Camouflage Pattern, and the Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage. The frontmost portion of the jacket has two large hip pockets and two medium-sized breast pockets. The size of the breast pockets were intended to hold m14 magazines, which is 7.62mm NATO caliber (similar to 30 caliber rifle cartridge). The lower torso pockets were intended to carry either more magazines, or grenades, which is why they’re wider; to allow easy-reach to deploy grenades. When US switched to 5.56 caliber M16 rifles, the magazines were narrower, but breast pockets were perfect for 30-round banana clips. The rearmost neck portion and collar of the jacket features a zipper which houses a protective hood.

The jacket can be combined with a button-in insulated lining for cold weather wear.

Information from: Wikipedia