Alpha Nylon CWU 45-P USA Made Civvy Jackets

[bn1966]

Just picked up a couple of these in nylon, Black & the Olive Green version pictured.

They make a great beater, XL fits as an XL chest and shoulders should (for me), though quite short relatively speaking in length and sleeves (which works for me) & nipped in at the waist.

Lightly lined the weight is next to nothing but they do a good job of jamming out the wind and are very practical for early morning cold starts, walking the hound and then driving to work. The velcro close pockets are just the job for wallet and keys.

Used these seem to trade at around the £50 mark over here in the UK. Green appears an uncommon colour in XL in the UK & took me a year to locate one.

Being critical the zipper pull lets them down a bit, the black ones already vanished (& been replaced by a generic repair one) & the zippers aren't the smoothest in operation.

Cuff knits could also be a bit more robust (a bit thin) but are OK in use.

 

[Fifty150]

Used these seem to trade at around the £50 mark over here in the UK.

Is it really that difficult to buy a new Alpha jacket in The UK? For 50 Pounds, you could just about buy a new jacket.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Is it really that difficult to buy a new Alpha jacket in The UK? For 50 Pounds, you could just about buy a new jacket.

Yep. And they are ultra rare in Australia so if you find a second hand, grubby US made MA-1 you can pay $250. The new ones are made in Asia and are pretty ordinary quality.

 

[Harris HTM]

Is it really that difficult to buy a new Alpha jacket in The UK? For 50 Pounds, you could just about buy a new jacket.

A brand new cwu-45 (made in China, worse quality than the old made in the US) costs around 170e in the EU (around 145 pounds).
Yesterday I received a new Alpha MA-1, made in the US. I paid 125e for the jacket and the shipping costs, and another 40e at the customs.
I guess for 50 pounds you can probably find a zara/h&m generic flight jacket copy.

 

[Fifty150]

If you want Made in USA, from an actual US military contractor, try this company. They offer international shipping.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Cool Fifty - it's a always good to find another US manufacturer.

 

[bn1966]

Thanks for the ‘Valley’ post, I’ve owned service issue Nomex jackets made by valley in the past but haven’t seen the civilian nylon ones. Picked up a civvy version Greenbrier jacket a few months ago. I have had a Chinese made Alpha in the past but didn’t like that particular jacket, textiles or pattern. I still have one issued CWU 45 from the late 70’s but have sold on the rest of what was a small CWU collection by a number of contractors, included a NOS ‘Disco Gold’ Tan jacket that’s I could never bring myself to wear in public. I love the CWU design but prefer the feel of nylon thus leading me to acquire the recent Alpha ones.

 

[Harris HTM]

If you want Made in USA, from an actual US military contractor, try this company. They offer international shipping.

View attachment 211567

Thanks!
I had read somewhere that Valley ap. Is actually the military branch of alpha nowdays, any idea if this is true?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Thanks!
I had read somewhere that Valley ap. Is actually the military branch of alpha nowdays, any idea if this is true?

Don't know - but both have offices in Knoxville.

 

[Doctor Damage]

The new ones are made in Asia and are pretty ordinary quality.

A brand new cwu-45 (made in China, worse quality than the old made in the US)

I've had both USA made and Chinese made go through my hands and in my observation the latter are screwed together much better. The former, though, have nicer knits in grey, and I suppose the nylon is a more sage-ish sage green, so those are the ones I kept. But the USA made ones often have wild variation in construction quality.

 

[Harris HTM]

I've had both USA made and Chinese made go through my hands and in my observation the latter are screwed together much better. The former, though, have nicer knits in grey, and I suppose the nylon is a more sage-ish sage green, so those are the ones I kept. But the USA made ones often have wild variation in construction quality.

I think it has to do more with quality of materials rather than production per se. At least this is my experience with a couple of chinese made I own. Maybe I was lucky enough and all the US made I've had turned out great.

 

[Fifty150]

Thanks!
I had read somewhere that Valley ap. Is actually the military branch of alpha nowdays, any idea if this is true?

 

[Seb Lucas]

I have limited experience with MA-1's (given their rarity here) but I have owned Alpha's made in China and USA. The USA one was superior in every way - heavier, thicker, better nylon and construction. The Chinese one was fine, however as an above average or well made mall jacket. They were both bought new from Alpha 15 years apart. The story of modern manufacturing in a nutshell.