Suede field jackets come out of military tailoring and every feature on them was put there to do something. Four bellows pockets that expand when you fill them. Button flaps so the contents stay put. A belt that pulls the waist in when the wind gets underneath. A body cut long enough to cover the seat.Suede is finished on the flesh side of the hide, which is where the soft matte nap comes from. It is lighter and more pliable than smooth leather from the first wear, with no break-in period. The trade-off is honest: suede marks more easily and water spots it until it dries. A suede brush lifts the nap back afterwards, and that is most of the care it needs.These are cut roomier than a moto jacket so they layer over a sweater without pulling across the back. They are outerwear for ordinary wear and carry no armour or abrasion rating.Send your shoulder measurement to info@cordwainleather.com before you order and we will come back with one recommended size.

Military tailoring, and why every feature is there

The field jacket comes out of military kit and nothing on it is decorative. Four bellows pockets that expand when you fill them rather than pulling flat. Button flaps so the contents stay put when you move. A self belt that pulls the waist in when wind gets underneath, and comes off entirely when you want the line straight. A stand collar that turns up. A body cut long enough to cover the seat, which is the difference between a jacket that works over a sweater and one that rides up.

Why suede suits this shape

A field jacket in smooth leather is heavy, because the pattern uses a lot of material. Suede gives the same coverage at less weight, and the matte nap suits a utility shape better than a polished finish does — the original cotton versions were never shiny either.

The trade is weather. Suede wants a protector spray and dry days, where the cotton original was made to be rained on. If you want a four-pocket jacket for wet weather, smooth leather is the better call.

Field jacket, safari jacket, M-65

  • Field jacket — the general term for the four-pocket belted military pattern.
  • Safari jacket — the same silhouette from a different tradition, usually lighter and always belted.
  • M-65 — the specific US military pattern, with a concealed hood in the collar.

Fit

Cut with room for a sweater underneath, so take your usual size unless you want it close. XS to 3XL. Email info@cordwainleather.com with your chest measurement if you want a second opinion.

Shipping, duties and returns

Free worldwide shipping, 4 to 9 business days. Duties settled before dispatch wherever the carrier supports Delivered Duty Paid to the destination. 30 days to return.

Questions

Is a suede field jacket warm enough for winter?

With a sweater underneath, down to fall temperatures. It is unlined suede, not an insulated coat — it blocks wind rather than holding heat.

Can the belt be removed?

Yes. It runs through loops and pulls out, which changes the jacket from fitted to straight.

How is a field jacket different from a trucker?

Length and pockets. A field jacket covers the seat and carries four pockets; a trucker is cropped at the hip with two. The field jacket layers over a sweater, the trucker over a shirt.