Platatac has launched the Jungle Uniform we previewed for you last Fall at DSEI.
The Platatac Jungle Uniform takes old school inspiration and incorporates it with a modern, innovative and cutting edge fabric to bring you the lightest and most functional jungle/hot weather operations uniform ever.
Made from the aptly named “Apocalypse” fabric, this 100% nylon rip-stop fabric is lightweight, durable, quick-drying and breathable, with excellent moisture management delivering maximum comfort in hot/temperate climates. This is the same fabric used by USSOCOM.
The ensemble consists of three components, the Kurtz Shirt, Dax Trousers, and Giggle Bush Hat-Jungle.
Features:
-Two large angled top opening chest pockets with a mesh bottom and ITW slotted bar button and Velcro closure
-Two large top opening bicep pockets with mesh drainage and ITW slotted bar button and Velcro closure
-Bellowed compass pocket on the front placard will hold most in-service Silva prismatic compasses
-Velcro Loop fields on bicep pocket for IFF aids with blank out panel
-Paracord lanyard points in all pockets to tie in your gear.
-Underarm and upper back mesh vents keep airflow to a maximum when active or static.
-Three-piece fold down collar with an extension for added sun protection
YKK zip and bar button closure behind the front placard
-Three-button adjustable wrist cuff
Features:
-Two front slash pockets with mesh lining
-Two large bellows cargo pockets with a mesh bottom and ITW slotted bar button closure
-Paracord lanyard points in thigh pockets
-Crotch gusset, rear yoke and darted knees
-Double fabric reinforced knee area and seat
-2” wide belt loops
-ITW slotted bar button and zippered fly
-Self-fabric drawcord in the waist
-Self Fabric blousing drawcord
Features:
-Noseeum mesh and side vents for maximum ventilation
-Polartec Power Dry sweatband for moisture management and comfort
-Elastic shock cord with barrel loc adjustment at the rear
-Hi-Vis red band inside the crown for ID/marry up procedure
-Paracord chin strap
-2” wide brim to reduce droop when wet
-Self-fabric foliage loops
-Compact and very lightweight
www.platatac.com/catalogue/platatac-jungle-uniform
Good to see more uniforms made of 100% Nylon. Currently I only know of the PCU LVL5. Not sure why NYCO is so popular in “high tech” military clothing.
It was first used in the early 90s because it could withstand being starched. In the transition from BDU to ACU they changed the design, but didn’t bother to employ a new fabric. The HWBDU was 100% ripstop Cotton. The EHWBDU was 50/50 NYCO.
Nothing against the company and I understand the reasoning, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed to see the $50 international shipping charge for a $40 boonie
I agree 100% although I don’t understand the reason to be anything other than greed.
That price is on par with USPS rates to ship to Australia. Postage rates to that part of the world are not cheap.
Greed? lol. Not so much. Do much international shipping? The reason it costs so much is because that’s what it costs… unfortunately. Australia does not subsidize shipping like China does. Platatac’s owner used to subsidize shipping of their stuff to the US (it was like $AUD 20 flat rate), but he stopped subsidizing it so much for basic business reasons. I think he still does subsidize it some though. I don’t work for them, but I’ve ordered from them a few times over the years and emailed them about it when it went up. They’re good people and straight shooters. It’s just not economical to ship small parcels between US and AU. S**t, it cost me sixty some odd dollars US to ship a uniform to a buddy in the EU from East Coast US a year or so ago.
OPT is their stateside dealer, we have their GBH come in about once a quarter. In the future we may stock the GBH-J and uniform.
https://www.optactical.com/
Suggested name for boonie was “Kilgore” 🙂
Is the fabric FR?
Velcro and not buttons
No, you don’t wear FR in the jungle.
I’d prefer cotton, than have clothes that melt on me
Personally I’d prefer cotton as apposed to clothing that would melt on me
A Cotton uniform? In the jungle? Maybe it won’t melt on ya but it’ll never dry, it’ll just retain all the perpetual wetness of the jungle and rot on you over time, dude.
We fought World War Two and Vietnam in cotton uniforms.
Ok…
I’m not refuting that. I’m just saying given the options we have today that is not an ideal option.. there are better performing fabrics today.
The thing is that uniforms in the jungle are disposable, or should be. In Vietnam, they’d bring choppers full of uniforms out to the field to give guys fresh uniforms. In the mid-80s, OG-107s were like $14 a set.
$11/set at Benning & Campbell ’85 – ’87 (no tax)
There you go
Adjusted for inflation $11 in 85-87 is $25-$27 today.
For comparison, a current Scorpion pattern set of ACU’s (“OCP’s”) or IHWCU’s (“Tropicals”) is like $90 from clothing and sales with no patches or sew ons. Either is at least $100 and prob more like $110-$120 after taking it to the sew shop.
I spent three years in the 25th ID in Hawaii basically living in the field in Oahu, also spent 10 years on SFODAs in the PACOM AOR, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Austrailia, etc.
Hands down the most comfortable uniform I ever wore in that environment was the 100% cotton rip-stop BDU, issued, not aftermarket. I was issued 4 sets for Ranger School, which I also wore it during the duration of, as well as SFAS in May-June the year after, almost on on black flag days.
The EHWBDU was not a step forward aside from durability. The fabric on this uniform is, I’ve seen it. Personally, my opinion based on my limited experience, is that a uniform is a non-durable piece of equipment, and user comfort is paramount, not just comfort of the fabric, but the fact that construction like the EHWBDU NYCO fabric makes the user hotter. I don’t mind the EWBDU, it’s far better than FR, and it’s not a heavy weight fabric like the “winter” BDU (non-rip-stop). But nothing I’ve used has matched the performance and fell of the ripstop cotton BDU.
These new fabrics coming out that are partial or complete synthetics, are actually astoundingly lightweight, and breathable, Platatac, Crye, and some other brands only doing government stuff so I won’t mention them, are doing an incredible job of bringing to the plate the latest technologies that are headed in the right direction.
Just my opinion, but every person I’ve talked to from back in that era about this issue tends to agree with the consensus.
My first thought as well. Nylon and fire do not go well together and FR cloth is not really breathable in my experience.
Why is this jungle uniform not in Multicam Tropic? The very brown Multicam does not make much sense in a jungle.
Is this targeted at people authorized to wear it?
There are no bookend patterns.
But if there were it wouldn’t be Tropic.
Yes.
I mean Nyco is 50% nylon. In the jungle you are less likely to be riding in a vehicle (maybe a helicopter), but fast drying is a nice feature.
Considering this is made by an Australian company that holds numerous government contracts, one must look at through the optic of what works best in that theater. Multicam or even Arid are a far better choice than tropic in that environment. In my time in the field outside of Townesville woodland camo stuck out like a sore thumb.
Based on the name does tropic make more sense? Yes. Based on the application by the Australian military, this pattern works well there, as does the old Auscam pattern.
Not all jungle is created equal, not all jungle is triple canopy stereotypical jungle.
Some folks did some field research and found that standard MC is fine. Tropical can stand out in the open areas and MC fits in under canopy because there is less light and the uniform is generally darker due to being wet.
………. 2 days in that nylon and you will regret it – cotton stays wet yes, BUT at least it breathes ……… (and will rot after 3-4 months of continuous use BUT really who these days even spends more than 3 – 7 nights in the bush/ veld/ jungle without re-supply/ rotation?)
Just in case you missed it I’ll put it in below again for you: Made from the aptly named “Apocalypse” fabric, this 100% nylon rip-stop fabric is LIGHTWEIGHT, durable, quick-drying and BREATHABLE, with excellent MOISTURE MANAGEMENT delivering maximum comfort in hot/temperate climates. The fabric incorporates anti-odour/anti-microbial X-Static technology. This permanent treatment keeps you COOLER, prevents the growth of bacteria, the spread of infection and eliminates odour, allowing the uniform to be worn for extended periods of time, without the need to wash it. This is the same fabric used by USSOCOM.
Slap a dead bird logo on it somewhere and people wouldn’t question the material
Been waiting for these. Super cool.
What ever happened to the Vietnam era jungle style multicam uniforms posted awhile back?
I don’t have the money to bankroll the production.
For whatever it’s worth:
The USMC has a solicitation out for (MCTCU) Marine Corps Tropical Combat Uniform. The specification is MIL-PRF-MCTCU. In section 3-5 of the specification, it describes the material. Ringspun cotton and high tenacity nylon fibers are called out.
50 +/- 5 percent nylon, the rest cotton. If I understood what I was reading, these NYCO fibers are twisted and woven into a plain weave fabric.
The Marines don’t seem to mind 50/50 NYCO, according to their specification.