I received a couple of questions about the new Patagonia Jungle Uniform so I thought I’d share a little more info. They were designed specifically for a SOF customer and are made from a 100% nylon fabric.
-Built specifically for the jungle environment.
-Lightweight, durable & quick-drying with a DWR finish and 50+ UPF sun protection.
-Mesh opening and gator designed to allow maximum airflow and protection from small jungle pests.
-Innovative pocket designs to allow for rapid drainage and maximum load carriage.
-Articulated knee panel with pocket that accepts the Versatile Integrated Knee Protection (VIKP) knee insert.
-Printed Quietloop
-Berry Compliant & Made in the USA.
www.elitedefense.com/manufacturers/patagonia
Tags: Elite Defense, Patagonia
100% Nylon!?!? Have we already forgotten about fire hazard and melting uniforms?
Not sure the knee pads are really necessary; the jungle floor is pretty soft. Plus the additional panels of material act as a sponge and take longer to dry.
Now, is anyone making a decent jungle boot to go along with the new uniform?
Fire and rain forest don’t mix too well, so I don’t think it’s much of a concern. Just stay away from any burning structures (instinctive human response anyway).
As far as boots are concerned, OTB has some good water based boots, and more companies are incorporating “drainage” holes in the insteps of boots. Boots are something I tell everyone to find on their own; they’re far more personal than trousers.
Too bad New Balance bought OTB and gutted their line. They discontinued all the good models!
The bushmaster has some decent mesh and drains fairly well. Then there’s the abyss II model. Only thing missing is a boot with a thicker sole that features the draining features.
Its a good thing soldiers don’t hang around environments full of demolitions, pyrotechnics, lithium batteries, vehicles that use petroleum-based fuel or tracer rounds, huh?
exactly
Listening to you guys I’m amazed we didn’t all spontaneously combust at any point before 2004.
I can thoroughly recommend Alt Bergs Jungle boots. I did a month long exercise in Belize with these on my feet and they were awesome. The only drawback I can mention is they lack the steel plate in the sole that issue boots have to counter punji stick traps. http://www.altberg.co.uk/product/jungle-microlite/
I hope you had a few Belikens. A former Army buddy has a hotel there, nice 3rd world country.
I still shake my head at all these high speed companies in the outdoor industry trying to make MIL/LE products. I want them all to succeed, but most are misguided and aren’t defining what the product needs to be. Half of these products wouldn’t survive a day of training (think hot barrel).
There are so many decent FR materials to use now, and contrary to what manufacturers would lead you to believe, they don’t cost much more (if at all) per yard.
Ok, once again, these products were developed for SOF. They do not want an FR uniform for the jungle and you won’t either.
Almost hate to ask, but too curious not to with all of the excellent previous discussion here on SSD. Why is the jungle uniform in multicam (transitional environ)?
because the jangle is a transitional environment duh >.<
Didnt read the results did you?
any idea on availability?
Quick dry is a GREAT idea during monsoons!!!
Like what MED said –> why multicam??
AND does it come in solid colors??
Patagonia says the uniform also come in “Alpha Green”
Why not FR?
Ok, I am just Fucking with you. FR is not the end all be all. This would be nice for maritime as well, just make a combat top with it.
You’d think that they would incorporate some of the features from the old jungle fatigues like the slanted bellowed chest pockets.
Because Patagonia likes incorporating obsolete design features into brand new equipment? I don’t think too many people that wear packs or lbe miss those pockets.
What pockets?
sometimes designs in the past can find a place in the future …
Where can you buy these?
They are shipping this Fall and can be Pre-ordered now.
The solid color option is Alpha Green for the JU shirt and pants.
I like multicam as much as the next guy but mandrake or penncott Green zone would be cool. Hope I can find these on the surplus market in a few years, I’d definitely snap them up.
Patagonia, maker of the “Level 9″ uniform issued to USSF…
The level 9 pants were designed by someone with little to no field experience. How can I be sure? Put on the pants, put on a belt, button up the fly… and try to take a piss in less than 20 seconds, not f@cking happening. We have to leave the fly unbottoned, and not use the belt loops closest to the fly just to drop the front of these things to piss in the field. Then the velcro flap at the top of the fly never holds closed.
The knee pad caps… paper freaking thin. We bought spray on bed liner and sprayed the knee caps to add durability, then painted them tan and green. Guys at the end of a six month rotation are leaving A-Stan with these things fragmented and shredded, at the end of a month long PMT most had worn through the knee cap shell.
The velcro on the waist, ankles, and behind the knees is color matched to Multicam, but after about five washes no longer sticks, which is horrible if you want it to do what velcro is supposed to do.
The combat and field top, very minimal (which I like), but not designed around any sort of patches. The pocket velcro is 2″ x 3”, it accomodates almost nothing as far as patches except battle roster tapes and flags.
It’s not all negative: the pocket placement on the pants is pretty good, the knee caps though lacking durability in the outer shell are comfortable. The fabric is comfortable as well. The combat shirt, though not close to a Crye top, still blows away the issued RFI combat shirts. All sewing has proven durable despite endless abuse in the sandbox.
Just my opinion, I still love Patagonia civilian gear, and with minor tweaks the level 9 could be pretty righteous. I love the lightweight minimal approach, and hope this new system has corrected the mistakes of the first uniform.
Jon, OPT
Best daggum response so far. Jon, I respect your review and facts vs some of the nay sayers on here.
Agreed. I’d rather here it from a guy who has worn them rather than a guy who hadn’t. By the way, Jon, did you catch on fire while wearing your level 9 uniform?
Jon, you have some good points, but you say they don’t last long but you like the light material. They where desisted to be light and yes you will lose some durability. They where designed by USSOCOM. They spent two weeks in El Paso running and gunning with them and making changes to them almost every day to get it right. There have been some issue with them at first and yes there are still some bugs but I have used them on two deployment and I love them. The knee pad is supper light and half the time you don’t know it’s there. I haven’t had a problem taking a piss. So I can’t help you there.