With the M1 Field Jacket, Uf Pro introduced a product which is different from its usual line-up. Following a more casual look and going into the EDC world, this jacket leaves the military world behind, although it has direct roots in it. Let me explain:

Both the heritage of the M1 Field Jacket and the used material – EtaProof – have a distinct military history. The design took its inspiration of the American M41 jacket, which is a well known piece of WWII apparel. At the same time EtaProof is a highgrade 100% cotton fabric, which saw wide use in the British military under the name Ventile. I have already written about the excellent properties of this fabric in the Tilak Loke review. This is also the main reason why I was so excited to see Uf Pro adopt this fabric as well! With that being said, let us take a closer look at the basic specs before we go into more detail of the jacket:

Specs:

• EtaProof® 100% Cotton
• CORDURA fabric
• Ykk Zipper
• Canadian Slotted Buttons

Overview:

The M1 Field Jacket is a 100% cotton jacket of water repellant EtaProof fabric, which is designed as a lightweight 3 season jacket. With an optional (!) and detachable Merino wool body liner it can be used in all 4 seasons, although with restrictions (see more below).

It can be closed with a ¾ front zipper, and features an additional flap in front with soft Canadian slotted buttons, which provide a complete closed front. The lining is made of mesh and critical areas are reinforced with Cordura. The jacket features one inner and two front pockets which can be closed with ykk zippers. Additional features are cable leads in the sleeves and neck area.

The UF PRO M1 Field Jacket

The Jacket

The M1 Field Jacket is more than just a replication of its predecessor, the M41. With a combination of high quality materials (modern and old school), it also brings new features. Before I come to those, I want to give you an idea about the basic setup:

The front zipper closes up to three quarters of the front. This doesn’t mean though that you cannot close up the jacket completely. The rest of the way can be closed by tapered canadian style slotted buttons, which close the wind flap over the ykk zipper.

YKK Zippered front with a wind flap closed by Canadian slotted buttons.

To ensure that you still can fold your collar the way you like it, there is a distinct cut. That way you can either put it up to get more protection for your neck or simply a cooler look. Or you just fold it down, for the more formal look.

Collar cut

Jacket fully closed with collar folded up

On the left and right you will find handwarmer pockets. These are closed by zippers and feature cordura reinforcements.

Handwarmer pockets

Closer look to the Cordura reinforcements

You will find these cordura reinforcements on several areas on the jacket, to provide the necessary protection for the ventile fabric: at the end of the sleeves, and also at the bottom of the jacket. On the waist you will find two buttons for further adjustment.

Waist adjustment by Canadian Slotted Buttons

The sleeves are quite long and the cuffs can be adjusted using two canadian slotted buttons. The question here is, if it would have been better to go with velcro, or to position the buttons differently. Because if you do not close the buttons, the cuffs are really open, closed with the first button it is still quite wide and the third button is already so tight, that only people with small wrists will be able to use it. I am the latter, so for me it is just right. The buttons also allow some wiggle room, so you can stretch it out a bit.

Adjustable cuffs

Another feature in the sleeves is of interest for those who need to run cables for comms and the like to their hands. On the inside there are several loops to thread a cable through and keep it in place.

Cable leads on the inside of the sleeves

Adding to this you will find distinct openings in the collar to do the same thing for your ear piece.

cable opening on the collar area

On the back you will find a bi-swing cut to improve movement for your shoulders.

Bi-swing back

Additional gear can be stored in an inner pocket on the left chest side. This is quite roomy and made of mesh. It also features an opening to the top to route cables out of it.

Inner mesh pocket on the left

Optional Merino Liner

The jacket itself can be considered a three season jacket, depending on your layers underneath. To make it also usable in Winter, Uf Pro gives you the option to zip in an optional Merino Liner.

Merino Liner

The Liner itself is of a highgrade and thick Merino fabric, and is cut like a vest. In the M1 Field Jacket you will find a ykk zipper going around the interior as well as several push buttons. With the help of the latter, you can fixate the liner even more. You will find those buttons around the waistline and at the openings for the sleeves.

push button for insertion of the liner

more push buttons on the bottom

In order not to lose the internal pocket of the M1 Field Jacket, the liner has its own internal pocket.

Inner pocket on the Merino Liner

Size, Cut and Fit

When it comes to Uf Pro, Size and Fit is always a difficult topic. With the pants it is easy, take you usual size and it will fit you. With the jackets it is not that easy unfortunately. This applies also for the M1 Field jacket:

You definitely need to go one size up, if you are uncertain. A closer look at the size chart will tell you why. A typical Size Medium with other companies is a size Large with Uf Pro. This becomes apparent with the M1 Field Jacket even more.

I am wearing a size Large. 180cm height, 78kg

In that regard you have to take into account, that most companies switched to the American sizing system with its larger cuts, addressing the different weight situation in the United States. Uf Pro is using European cuts that are smaller in comparison.

Usually I am between sizes Medium and Large because of my slim stature, but wide shoulders. The M1 Field Jacket in size Large fits me very well and even feels a little bit tight around the shoulders despite the bi-swing back. This becomes even more apparent with the optional Merino Liner attached.

At the same time the sleeves are cut very long – even for me with my long arms. If I would have to compare the sizes to the US BDU system, I would say that size Large is like a Medium Long.

At the same time the jackets ends quite close to the waist line, being testament to the military heritage of the jacket.

Manufacture

When it comes to manufacture there is no room for critic with UF PRO. The jacket is made of high grade materials and the level of detail is amazing. All stitches are clean and straight, critical areas are reinforced with Cordura, which not only gives the jacket the necessary strength for everyday use, but also a very distinct and high grade look.

Top notch manufacture! 1a

The same applies for the Merino Liner which is just as much an example of the high craftsmanship of the UF Pro products.

In Use

The M1 Field Jacket is a comfortable jacket to carry. The ventile/Etaproof fabric offers a kind of breathability that you rarely know from other jackets. This comes in handy especially in warm and humid situations. At the same time it is quite windproof because of the special properties of the fabric.

Rain is also not an issue – I wrote extensively about this in another review: long story short – the fine fibres of the high grade cotton swell up when wet and act as a barrier for more water to come through. In that regard the jacket has a natural water repellant even though it is not waterproof. One hour in the rain should not be a problem though.

Nothing to see here… move along

There are two other points I want to raise:

1. The feasibility of the jacket to concealed carry
2. The use of the jacket in Winter.

Ad 1) Of course you can use the jacket if you are carrying a concealed weapon (and are allowed to do so), BUT the only way to keep it actually concealed is to carry the weapon IWB. If you do not do so, the holster will show on your belt because the jacket is cut too short. As soon as you bend down or reach for something the holster will show.

Ad 2) With the optional Merino Liner the jacket becomes cosy warm – on the torso. The arms however have no insulation and as soon as you are out for a longer period you will feel that. Especially when the temperature drops to 5 to 0 degrees your arms will get cool or cold – depending on your personal cold perception. If you add windchill to that you will also realize that even though the fabric is windproof, it can’t fight the thermal bridge.

One way to counter that would be to use the Delta AcE Sweater by Uf Pro, which has thinner insulation on the torso, but a dedicated G-Loft insulation on the arms.

Still nothing to see… move along

Conclusion

The M1 Field Jacket truly does justice to its predecessor when it comes to style and look. At the same time it provides way more features than the classic. Uf Pro truly brought the jacket to the 21th century and surprised me with a fantastic combination of fabrics.

I am a true fan of Ventile and EtaProof because of its properties, especially in humid conditions, where it allows a level of breathability that I could not find in technical fabrics even until today.

The things you have to watch out for is definitely the sizing – for that I would suggest to study the size chart of Uf Pro to get it right. Also you have to understand that it is not a dedicated jacket for winter, even with the Merino Liner. In that regard the cut of the jacket and the missing insulation at the arms  are limiting the jacket.

With all this in mind, I can recommend the jacket to you, if you are looking for a versatile 3 season jacket, that looks casual enough to blend in to crowds, is able to take on wind, rain, while giving you plenty of room to carry your basic EDC gear with you.

With that being said, thank you for reading! Thanks to Uf Pro, for giving me the chance to write this review for you!

Take care!