Pockets on the front of the legs (Russian BDU)

[Mr Fischer]

I like russian camos and uniforms.

But: How reasonable is it to wear the pockets of a BDU on the front?

In a tank or something, okay.

But I think if your laying flat on the ground it´s not practical, if your walking a long time and become sweaty, I think it´s unpleasant, too.

http://www.wttag.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p164_PSN-N009---8222-DEWATKA--8220------BDU.html

[WTIO]

British tank suits and flight suits have them there - as you say, fine for sitting down, and handy to be able to just glance down to see a map/checklist/cheatsheet hands free.

I'm not sure about how it is for infantry work, as I've never been issued or had a pair of trousers like that. But British WWII battledress used to have pockets on the front as does current Crye Precision stuff. If you don't like how it is with kit in you can simply leave them empty I guess? Often I leave the sidepockets on my cammy trousers empty, since even at the sides full pockets can interfere with the reach of your legs, crawling and such. Map can be stashed down the front of my smock.

That's a Russian copy of Finnish M/05, right?

[Mr Fischer]

Yes, I think it´s that copy-style.

If I can leave them empty... It makes no sense ;-) - for me.

[cbreedon]

http://www.wttag.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p164_PSN-N009---8222-DEWATKA--8220------BDU.html

Interesting website... Have you used them before?

[STEPAN1983]

In my opinion, front pockets are good for vehicle drivers and pilots, but not for field use, for field it is good to use side pockets.

I must warn you about this site (and about other western websites selling russian military gear). They say a lot of bullsнit about what they sell. They have, for example, many 100% peaceful outddor russian clothes and they say it is "used by GRU, FSB and bla-bla-bla". I work in "Splav" company and reading this uberspetsnaz crap about some of their outdoor producs is very funny

[STEPAN1983]

Frontal pockets in russian uniforms are popular because of legendary soviet specops uniform called "mabuta", introduced in Afghanistan war. This uniform is based on eastern Germany airborn uniform and was designed for specops who use parachutes. There is a pocket fot knife to cut parachute webbing, located on side of a leg, so cargo pockets have to be located on the front of the leg. Because this unifom was very tacticool ans "spetsnaz" many russian companies use this design (and I hate it)

[WTIO]

Hi Stepan, a bit unrelated to the original post, but, since you said you work for Splav I have a question for you:

Is this sort of jacket M4/M3 (http://www.rusmilitary.com/html/m4_parka.htm) (http://www.rusmilitary.com/html/m3_parka.htm) issued to Russian forces, it is good kit or not?

I ask because it seems like a decent warm winter jacket and it is not super expensive, but I wish to find out whether it is good kit or a knock-off before spending on it.

Thanks a lot!

[STEPAN1983]

It is simple non-expensive jackets that some military buy as alternative for issued jackets. It is not realy issued, it is "commercial", but popular among military personel who want something better than issued jackets. Splav dont have a big tenders for military, but sometimes some russian units oficially buy gear from Splav, and probably some of them use this jacket, so it can be considered as issued.

[WTIO]

Ahh so although Russian MoD does not buy it, it is considered good kit. It is the same with us, if it is issue kit it is usually good, but many people buy better kit themselves if they wish. What I wanted to avoid is where someone makes a cheap copy of an issue item that looks like it will do the job but is much worse - which unfortunately happens here sometimes.

Do you have a personal opinion on M4/M3? Protecting down to -40C seems a bit optimistic?

[STEPAN1983]

M3 looks like russian issued jacked (almost the same cut), M4 more known as security jacket. So if you are interested in russian military, I recommend M3. Expecially "Flora" pattern (others are commercial). This idiots call it "Soviet" pattern, but it is not, it was designed in modern Russia/

[STEPAN1983]

Warmest jacket (and trousers) in Splav is SAS, it is a copy of SAS smock with very warm winter lining. But it is made only in Flectarn and black. It is used by some russian unit (it sounds like madness, but it was their idea to order a freaking flectarn) Black variant was made for civilian market.

[WTIO]

I wasn't so interested in looking like Russian forces; I was just looking for a warm parka that keeps the wet and wind out too. M4 looks like it would do this without being too pricey... To buy N3B from Alpha for example is more expensive.

I would get black rather than camouflage as it would look less military. But then again I don't want to get mistaken for a security guard or doorman either :p

[WTIO]

M4 is waterproof but M3 is not, right?

There again, after below -5 or -10C, all the water would be frozen and not in rain form anyway, so no need to be waterproof, right? :p

[dersammler]

Interesting website... Have you used them before?
Do NOT order there. You won't get your stuff. I've heard lots of bad things about the site...

[WTIO]

Cheers for the heads-up, I had no idea!

In this case I am looking for M4/Splav/some other kit from elsewhere now then...

[phoery]

Boba Fett have front pockets

[TallGuy]

I have the Splav M4 jacket and it's very warm, even without the liner. The downside to it is that it makes a lot of nose and it's quite bulky, but very light.


Stephan, do you have any experience with the Survival Corps SURPAT uniforms? Are they hard to get? I was thinking about asking Dmitri at soviet-propaganda if he could get one for me...

[Gore]

I saw in spetsnaz demonstration, the KROT and the KLMK suit, my favorit is the KLMK :D but the only site that I could find is: http://www.wttag.de/shop/. But I heard that the site is "no good". Can you recommend me a site that sells Russian made KLMK ?

Thank you very much for your help !

[STEPAN1983]

Surpat is good. Fabric is cotton/nylon (polycotton is worse than Nyco), quality of stiching is good (but not the best), like commercial Propper. In fact, their "patented pattern" is a hybrid of two patterns - structure is taken from Marpat (100% copy, but instead of marine logo you have Survival Corps logo :) ), colors are taken from CCE Central Europe (french uniform pattern). That is the secret of Surpat. But it looks quite good in the forest and a field (european)

[para944]

I know, it has been said before but I wanted to warn you guys once again: Do NOT order at this site, you won't recieve anything. I tried it twice, didn't get anything and now i sued the owner.