When it comes to finding affordable and functional military surplus clothing that is used, it can be a bit of a gamble. This shirt is no exception, but I think it surprised me with how functional it was, despite the fact that it was a bit worn. This shirt is a lightweight combat jacket that was previously issued in the British army for hot weather climates. MATERIAL The shirt is made of a cotton twill and is very thin as you'd expect. The DPM pattern it sports is the Pattern 95, which is the most recent pattern of DPM before the British forces switched over to the Multi-Terrain pattern. This shirt is very light and almost feels like you could just tear it like paper. The material is nice and soft, and breathes very well. Typically cotton can be susceptible to stain and shrinking, but I have not encountered either of these issues at this time. I have been a bit rough on this shirt and tested to see how it would fair against some harsh usage, but I was unsuccessful at getting this shirt to permanently stain, fade, or tear. Given that this shirt does not use rip stop like the US and other countries, I cannot imagine that it would handle tearing all that well. COLOR AND FADE When I got this shirt in, I was surprised by how well intact the color was. I was expecting that it would have some sun fading or whatever, but nothing like that was evident in any way. My assumption is that this was mainly only used in the rear as a garrison uniform. SIZE AND FIT The size I ordered was a medium. I am not able to make out exactly what the size reads on the inside of the jacket, but my best guess is that it says 180/96. Basically, this shirt fits me like any other uniform in the size medium short, if you're wondering. If I extend out my arms as far as i can, the sleeves start trying to creep up my wrists a couple inches. FEATURES All in all these shirts are not that complicated and perhaps that is what is so nice about them. They have some cool features, but the overall design is simple and to the point. All the buttons on the shirt are the same and they attach the same way. I personally think that this way of attaching buttons is way more secure than a bunch of threads going in and out of a button. This miniature webbing is solidly sewn in, has some give to it, and the buttons have freedom to somewhat glide on the webbing to reduce stress. I like how they also provide two buttons right next to the clothing tag along with some of the material that is used to hold the buttons on the uniform. The front of the jacket, when closed, has the rank insignia on a sleeve that is secured by it's own button. I imagine someone could use this as a way to dummy-cord gear on a hike or something, unless they wanna sew Velcro on it and use it for patches and such. Point is that you have options, right? There is also a nice little loop for hanging up your shirt on a coat hangar. Nice little touch I don't see all that often. The jacket is closed in the front by either a zipper, or by 6 buttons that run all the way to just under the collar and one under the zipper. Typically, I only use the buttons since it vents better, and the zipper handle was missing on my shirt. It looks as if it got ripped off at some point and the bottom of the zipper is starting to pull away, out of the stitching. However, the zipper is still quite functional and could possibly even be replaced if I wanted. Personally, if I am wearing something so thin, I will just live with the buttons since it will help it ventilate more. The cuffs on the end of the sleeves were limited to how tight they could fit. However, I found that the second button worked just fine for me. The cuffs are reinforced with a second layer of uniform about 5.5 CM wide. It is nice that they reinforced these areas since they neglected to reinforce the elbows, which is a common stress point on almost any military uniform. Last thing on the features list to talk about would be the pockets. There are two front pockets that ride high on the chest and have about a 15 degree cant inwards to facilitate easier pocket access. Personally, I love the design of these pockets. They are simple, but they are well constructed. The pockets are held shut by a single button, and are constructed in such a way that the front of the pocket acts like a retention flap, which I personally think is genius. When you open the pocket, you will notice a strand identical to the little webbing used for the buttons. It is sewn on in a manner that it leaves three symmetrical spaces that can be used. I am going to assume these are used to dummy-cord or tie off gear. That said, these pockets each can hold alot of stuff. I would even go as far as to say that it is overkill to have this much room in these pockets. If you load these pockets down, there is no real way to counterbalance them, and then your neck is gonna take the punishment from the collar friction. USES Now that I have gone over the features of the shirt, I think it is time to talk about why you would even want one, or a few. Perhaps you want something to play soldier in. Perhaps you are an overseas contractor who is allowed to have camouflage. Those of you prepping or who are part of a militia may be interested. The DPM pattern is still an effective pattern in many green areas, and it goes well with alot of other patterns like US woodland, OD green, etc. Another use you may find for them is if you like hiking and want something simple but useful. The dummy cord points and the light durable construction make this a good choice. And lastly, perhaps you just want something cozy to wear around the house. This certainly fits the bill for all those roles and more. CLOSING THOUGHTS The DPM lightweight combat shirt is a good piece of gear. i am not sure that I got the best shirt I could get, but I may also have one that is in better condition than most, but I am considering getting more. You can typically find these for about $10 or less, so they are a pretty good bargain. The pattern is effective in my area and I can find a whole lot of uses for them, personally. It is up to you, but I think this is one piece of gear worth looking at getting and adding to your collection.
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