Alpha Industries M65 Field Jacket

[Harris HTM]

You have to take one size smaller than usual.

I see, thanks!

 

[Fifty150]

how they fit?

I looked up size charts. Don't know if they're accurate.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I looked up size charts. Don't know if they're accurate.

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Their sizing makes no sense to me. Based on the chest size I would be a size extra small - I am a 108 chest. I normally wear a size 42 or large. Their size 42 is a 138 cm chest - a size 50, plus. But their other sizing info says I am a size 42. Confusing.

 

[Fifty150]

It makes sense to me. You have a 108 cm or 42" chest. You will not buy a garment which is the exact measurement. The recommended size for your measure is a size L. The exact measurement for that jacket 132 cm or 52". That size allows you to layer for warmth, and move your body. A military jacket has to allow the "operator" to stay warm, and conduct his special operation. You need extra fabric in the garment, if you plan on moving your arms. The intended use for this jacket is military. That guy is running, climbing walls, carrying equipment, shooting, diving for cover, throwing grenades, engaging in hand to hand combat, whatever. He can't do that in a skin tight jacket. By way of the size chart, you can determine if you want a tight jacket, and how tight you want it. Use the size chart for reference to determine if you want to go down 1 size to medium, or even down 2 sizes to small. Don't worry about the label. You may not need a jacket built for action, if you aren't wearing the garment to fight.

 

[Seb Lucas]

It makes sense to me. You have a 108 cm or 42" chest. You will not buy a garment which is the exact measurement. The recommended size for your measure is a size L. The exact measurement for that jacket 132 cm or 52". That size allows you to layer for warmth, and move your body. A military jacket has to allow the "operator" to stay warm, and conduct his special operation. You need extra fabric in the garment, if you plan on moving your arms. The intended use for this jacket is military. That guy is running, climbing walls, carrying equipment, shooting, diving for cover, throwing grenades, engaging in hand to hand combat, whatever. He can't do that in a skin tight jacket. By way of the size chart, you can determine if you want a tight jacket, and how tight you want it. Use the size chart for reference to determine if you want to go down 1 size to medium, or even down 2 sizes to small. Don't worry about the label. You may not need a jacket built for action, if you aren't wearing the garment to fight.

Not so fast - the sizes don't seem to make sense and this is not a trivial matter. When I buy a jacket, I generally buy 108 cm. That is a roomy fit for a 42 - enough for running and climbing (which I avoid wherever possible). The issue is that the metric sizes here do not match the imperial sizes which do not match the S, M, L sizes - so I still need to work out which ones are right before I go anywhere near this maker. No way I'm going to wear a 132 cm jacket which would fit like a tent. I would trip over if I tried to walk.

My best effort to work with this sizing is to select a medium which fits like a XL based on their cm sizes. A medium is marked as 124 cm, which is a 49 inch chest, or a pit to pit of 24.5 inches. That equates to a size 44 or 46. If those measurements are correct. Strange.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Not so fast - the sizes don't seem to make sense and this is not a trivial matter. When I buy a jacket, I generally buy 108 cm. That is a roomy fit for a 42 - enough for running and climbing (which I avoid wherever possible). The issue is that the metric sizes here do not match the imperial sizes which do not match the S, M, L sizes - so I still need to work out which ones are right before I go anywhere near this maker. No way I'm going to wear a 132 cm jacket which would fit like a tent. I would trip over if I tried to walk.

My best effort to work with this sizing is to select a medium which fits like a XL based on their cm sizes. A medium is marked as 124 cm, which is a 49 inch chest, or a pit to pit of 24.5 inches. That equates to a size 44 or 46. If those measurements are correct. Strange.

You might be thinking about this using leather jacket measurements or yardsticks. I'm a 42Long in proper sized men's clothing and 24.5" is totally normal for outerwear for size 42 chest. I don't have an M65 jacket from any brand so can't comment on this jacket or any others. I'll note these are supposed to be worn over a quilted nylon inner jacket, which I'm sure adds thickness.

 

[Fifty150]

I'm a 42Long in proper sized men's clothing and 24.5" is totally normal for outerwear for size 42 chest.

Exactly. A size 42" chest, cannot be made to 42". It would be skin tight. 49" garment for a 42" chest is normal. That's why a 52" measurement would be correct, for layering and range of motion. There must be extra fabric, even if you only want to stand still .

 

[Fifty150]

Has anyone tried "Golden Manufacturing"?

 

[Fifty150]

I've never heard of Golden Manufacturing.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Exactly. A size 42" chest, cannot be made to 42". It would be skin tight. 49" garment for a 42" chest is normal. That's why a 52" measurement would be correct, for layering and range of motion. There must be extra fabric, even if you only want to stand still .

No, I've already factored extra fabric into my calculations.

Fifty150 - generally when you buy a 42 - it's around 48 inches in total. Military fit is trimmer. I base this on having owned dozens of jackets and military items over the years.

 

[Seb Lucas]

You might be thinking about this using leather jacket measurements or yardsticks. I'm a 42Long in proper sized men's clothing and 24.5" is totally normal for outerwear for size 42 chest. I don't have an M65 jacket from any brand so can't comment on this jacket or any others. I'll note these are supposed to be worn over a quilted nylon inner jacket, which I'm sure adds thickness.

Except that their 42 has a pit to pit of 26 inches. My Alpha Medium has a pit to pit of 25 inches and fits large on me. The Helikon medium seems to have a pit to pit of 24. Yet they mark this as a 38. The problem is that their sizing is very large.

I had a military issue size Medium M65 and it has a pit to pit of 23 inches.

Anyway... I have never heard of Golden Manufacturing. Interesting.

 

[Psant25]

Has anyone tried "Golden Manufacturing"?


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That used issued jacket i just received has a golden label. Nice jacket

 

[Psant25]

 

[Psant25]

The name tapes are new they applied for me ^^

 

[Fifty150]

Pricing aside, do you think it's a good jacket?

 

[Doctor Damage]

Except that their 42 has a pit to pit of 26 inches. My Alpha Medium has a pit to pit of 25 inches and fits large on me. The Helikon medium seems to have a pit to pit of 24. Yet they mark this as a 38. The problem is that their sizing is very large.

I had a military issue size Medium M65 and it has a pit to pit of 23 inches.

Anyway... I have never heard of Golden Manufacturing. Interesting.

Okay, you've convinced me. These guys are Helikon are clearly fraudsters.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Okay, you've convinced me. These guys are Helikon are clearly fraudsters.

Jeez Doc - is sarcasm and belittling called for? This is a site where people obsess about jacket details and several extra inches makes a huge difference to fit. I did not say they were fraudsters, just that the sizing was strange. I'm sure there are others who would not enjoy buying a 38 only to discover it fits like a 44.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I was always under the impression that the M65 was sized to fit OVER a service-mans gear, hence the very large sizes?

I've got an alpha M65 medium slim fit (which I'm not sure they do anymore) and its still a VERY comfortable fit on my 42 inch chest.....can't argue their size it isn't confusing

 

[Seb Lucas]

I was always under the impression that the M65 was sized to fit OVER a service-mans gear, hence the very large sizes?

I've got an alpha M65 medium slim fit (which I'm not sure they do anymore) and its still a VERY comfortable fit on my 42 inch chest.....can't argue their size it isn't confusing

That's probably the explanation although just how many extra inches you need is a moot point. However, Helikon's sizing advice is to non military buyers. You can always size up if you want roomy. My Australian military issue M65 equivalents have always fitted truer to size. I'll stop being a pain in the ass about this.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I thought Golden was around longer than that. I've heard their name for what seemed like forever.

I'm honestly surprised there hasn't been an ambitious blogger who has every M-65 manufacturer, years of production, labels and how to read them, etc. For the M-65, and other military jackets, to not have such a readily available, easily followed and understood database is a real surprise. I can imagine it got really messy at some point because of all these fashion, heritage/repro, and whatnot entries, but for decades, it wasn't like that.