Army softie advice wanted

[presterjohn]

I have often fancied getting an army softie trouser and jacket set for camping but have never purchased any as being a fat bloke I assumed the sizes would not be available. I had the opportunity to try on some size medium trousers today and found they fit me which shocked me as I take a 42" trouser. I admit they were not super comfy but now I wonder if it might be worth taking a punt on a Large or Extra large set. Do any of you guys have experience in the weird and wonderful world of British army sizing methods?

[MeetTheGeeks]

Buy a size up mate, depends who makes them and if they are copies or genuine issue items. If you want some help let me know

[grommit]

mate after 25 years of being in the Army and actually for a stint being Clothing Storeman i can truely say the Army sizing Charts are horendous and i aint goin to commit myself to trying to size you up.
work these combat 95 trs out..
size 80/84/100
that to anyone even squaddies means as the same as the square route of the moon...itis infact 80 leg, 84 waist & 100 seat...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm means alot dont it.
you'd think the Army would go for S,M,L,XL,EEL...but no! set of

[MeetTheGeeks]

My jackets are easy, 190/120 unless its desert then its 200/128, trousers are always the same in either format. If you get the modified gear it gets complicated as Cooneen, Watts and Stone modified jackets at 190/120 are baggy on me unless you pull them in a lot. Army sizing defies humanity and logic..

My best suggestion would be order genuine ones but remember they have elastic cuffs, sleeping in them for some is a problem. If you want any help sourcing genuine items I can give you a few outlets to get them or put you in touch with the UK manufacturer directly. Im sure I listed them in the thread of clothing I was doing..

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...r-hated!/page5

[dogman]

I find snugpak sizings on the generous size. I have worn out my buffalo shirt size 46, & as i found the snugpak equivelent cheap, purchased the large, which is to big. I then decided to get a used softie off ebay to keep in my van/backpack with in the warmer months, as i was told they fold down small, i scored a medium, in that & it fits me fine.

Rob

[MeetTheGeeks]

What about a Belay jacket? We get Keela discount from here and they are great, better made without a doubt than the MOD bivvy jackets?

[Martyn]

I usually take L or XL in jackets, but having read that the issue softie was generous, I took a flyer and went with a medium and it is plenty big enough a L would have swamped me. This is the reversible version BTW, sand one side, green the other. Great jacket, very warm, only complaint is the velcro tabs down the zip stick over the zip, which means you always have to peel the velcro to fasten up the zip. A minor irritation.

[Edit - I just checked the label and it's actually a large]

[MeetTheGeeks]

How do you find the elastic cuff ? The velcro covering the zip was one thing that really annoyed me too. Its such a faff and could have been simpler with just a button

[Martyn]

The cuffs are not the comfiest in the world, but they never bothered me particularly.

[Martyn]

oops - I just checked the label and it's actually a large, sorry about that. I think the confusion was that I bought large over trousers in the same and they were massive, so I ended up getting a meduim in the trousers. But the jacket is large and that is normal for me.