THE M65 FIELD JACKET

The M65 Field Jacket (also known as M-1965 Field Jacket and M-65 Field Jacket) is named after the year it was introduced into the US military, replacing the M-1951 Field Jacket.

The field jacket is a light to medium weight garment and recognisable by its four front bellow pockets (two large hip and two medium sized chest). These pockets were originally intended to help soldiers carry small equipment without the need of an additional bag to carry. The M65 Field Jacket was widely used by United States forces during the Vietnam War in which the jacket became useful for troops - keeping a soldier warm from the cool weather conditions that came after monsoonal rains.

The collar of the jacket features a zipper which holds a hood. The jacket could also be combined with a button-in insulated lining for cold-weather wear, as well as a button on fur trimmed winter hood. Originally introduced in olive green and came almost exclusively in cotton drill, sateen or a nylon-cotton blend – suitably hard-wearing but also neither too warm or too cool.

One of the M65‘s biggest strengths is the balance it strikes between form and function. It has all of the construction qualities to protect from the elements and also possesses a clean, timeless aesthetic, allowing for layering with any other type of clothing, from a simple t-shirt to a sweater or shirt. This flexibility has allowed the jacket to seamlessly move from military use to become a civilian favourite, worn by celebs such as David Beckham and Jay-Z and also becoming an iconic movie piece, appearing in films such as Taxi Driver, Serpico and Rambo, to name a few.

The Iron Heart version remains close to the original, including four front pockets and stand-up collar with a built-in hood, but with additional, useful side hand-warmer and internal pockets, it is also lined with a water resistant Ventile. Available in a choice of sateen or oiled cotton in Black and Olive colourways.

To view all our M65s and other military jackets, click below.

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To learn more about other aspects of denim and Iron Heart products

WHAT IS SELVEDGE? WHAT IS XHS? WHAT IS LHT? WHAT IS A DRIZZLER? WHAT IS A TYPE 3? WHAT IS UHR?