The L4 Field Jacket was designed for pure functionality. Smart materials and a purpose-built design guarantee the best possible comfort regardless of what type of fighting and/or sustainment load you´re carrying. This is a great alternative for the Finnish military-issue jacket, which suffers from a load of compromises due to the fact that it was designed to double up as parade wear.
The M05 woodland version has a new, slightly stretchy material. The sizes with the previous material have been marked as "retiring versions".
Does the zipper feel difficult to close at first? This is due to the sliders not being fully in their bottom position. Make sure you´re not pressing the lower slider upwards, the easiest trick is to put a little downwards pressure on the top lock and it will push the bottom one into correct place too.
We haven’t sacrificed simple reliability for functionality, the L4 Field Jacket is 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.
When it comes to comfort, the most important detail apart from the quick-drying fabric is the minimalistic torso: no buttons, no zippers, no press studs, and no cord locks that could cause discomfort when pressed against by armor and load-bearing gear. The armpit vents ease thermal load resulting in less sweating and less sweating means less freezing in cold weather. The protective collar and longer back hem offer added protection from the elements. These details extend the L4 Field Jacket´s use far beyond the warm summer months.
The L4 Field Jacket has no pockets that could under any circumstances be more useless than useful. There are no hem pockets: in a hem of this length, they would just be squeezed beneath body armor or rucksack hip belts. The chest pockets are flat and open up from the outer sides, this means they are somewhat accessible when wearing body armor and the zippers won't cause discomfort under hard armor plates. Both sleeves feature zippered upper arm pockets, these are always accessible no matter what kind of fighting/sustainment load you´re using.
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!
This pattern is fantastic in the desert environment, from Arizona to the Middle East and beyond. Also quite awesome on shooting ranges, too.
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.
These are made in Poland by Unifeq.
Thomas M.
Vitaliy G.
Peter D.