Finding a Coat / Jacket

[MacWage]

Living in Georgia, I am finding that a decent polar fleece worn over a long sleeve turtleneck does a great job. If it's below freezing I layer a fleece vest underneath.

As most fleeces breath (allowing wind in), using it as an inner layer/insulation under a windbreaker is actually QUITE effective. I use this combo regularly around cold top down driving in mid-winter and am comfortable.

(WARNING: this is for just below freezing and above temperatures. For FRIGID, please use sense and generally advised clothing that keeps all parts and extremeties at normal operating tempratures.)

[billmcc]

U.S. Cavalry sells an MA-1 style flight jacket for $30. See it here:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.asp...bID=1&CatID=44

[RockyR]

U.S. Cavalry sells an MA-1 style flight jacket for $30. See it here:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.asp...bID=1&CatID=44

Hey Bill,

Do you know where the jackets are made? I LOVE the $30 pricepoint, but I'm wary about ordering them until I know where they're made as they say "MA-1 STYLE jacket". I know that US Wings is much more expensive, but I know they're made in the US and they're the "official" flight jackets.

Just wondering... US Cav isn't open now (Sunday Morning) to call and ask.

[auld argonian]

I've noticed that there seems to be a "premium" line of these jackets and a "knock-off" line.

This has been one of my on-line resources and they have the MA-1 and the N2-B, which looks pretty functional.

http://www.imsplus.com/ims19.html

This is a link to the jackets at a place right around where I live...thus I can pop into the store and check out the merchandise and not pay shipping. They have that "two lines" of jacket thing going..."genuine" and "other".

http://www.flyingtigerssurplus.com/shc-2.html

Best

AA

[RockyR]

The other style of jacket I have (in Green... getting one in black) is the CWU-45P Flight Jacket:

http://www.uswings.com/cwu-45p.asp

It's warmer than the "poly fill" lining of the A-1 and I like the nylon collar better than the stretchy cloth... it doesn't get caught on my beard and neck stuble.

[RockyR]

The other style of jacket I have (in Green... getting one in black) is the CWU-45P Flight Jacket:

http://www.uswings.com/cwu-45p.asp

It's warmer than the "poly fill" lining of the A-1 and I like the nylon collar better than the stretchy cloth... it doesn't get caught on my beard and neck stuble.

The one above is the "normal" weather one. I have (my father's old) the Cold Weather one which is 100% fire retardent and has a much nicer "filling". It's also (I was shocked to see it) about $300 retail vs. $80 or so for this one.

[billmcc]

Hey Bill,

Do you know where the jackets are made? I LOVE the $30 pricepoint, but I'm wary about ordering them until I know where they're made as they say "MA-1 STYLE jacket". I know that US Wings is much more expensive, but I know they're made in the US and they're the "official" flight jackets.

Just wondering... US Cav isn't open now (Sunday Morning) to call and ask.

Hi Rocky,

I know the jacket is imported, but don't know where it is made. US Cavalry has a good reputation and the jacket has good reviews on the (uscav) website. Just though I would mention a cheaper alternative for part-time kilt wearers.

I noted the Flying Tigers Surplus website, which auld argonian mentioned, shows jackets in other colors than the usual green and black.

[RockyR]

good to know. after doing a little more research, it appears many of the companies are either "imported" or made with "American material overseas".

I looked at the sites AA pointed out too. Nice Stuff! Looks like the back CWU-45P jacket I want will be about $80 plus shipping (the good $300 isn't made in black). Not too bad...

[Jimmy the Celt]

Well, as much as I would like to get the U.S. Wings flight jacket, I have a budget for now, so I'm ordering the one from U.S. Cav in black. I'll post up a review when I get it.

The money I save is going to USAK in the next month or so

[RockyR]

Well, as much as I would like to get the U.S. Wings flight jacket, I have a budget for now, so I'm ordering the one from U.S. Cav in black. I'll post up a review when I get it.

The money I save is going to USAK in the next month or so

Well... that's a different story then! HAHAHAHAHAHA

J/K. Some things you CAN'T get made in the US and that's fine too... I just like to know who I'm supporting. I've seen the "knock off" flight jackets and the real ones. They're both well made. The MATERIAL of the "real" one is better, but for the price, the knock offs are nice.