The Czech Vz95 Parka is a modern and functional army jacket. Genuine European surplus with the quality you can trust. It's a thigh-length general-purpose jacket without lining and with a hood hidden into the zippered collar.

This parka reflects the history of the Czech armed forces: influences from the Soviet winter coats as well as familiar details from the iconic US M65 field jacket, and some original features. It is a nice coat for warmer weather as it is. Also works in colder weather if you put something warm underneath it, such as the BW parka liner, the Dutch teddy bear shirt, or a Särmä fleece or something like that.

The many features of a field jacket

The front has an ordinary zipper closure and a storm flap with buttons. The cuffs have hook and loop adjustment tabs and fold-out extra protection for the back of the hand. The collar has also a hook and loop retention and the waist and hem have lovely retro-style adjustable drawcords.

By adjusting these features, you can make the jacket fit better and increase protection or ventilation as necessary. The armpits have buttonhole-type vents and you can opt to close the jacket with just buttons, though the material is very breathable already.

The pockets are fairly traditional in the front: two on the chest and two lower ones. Both have button-up flaps and the lower flaps can be stowed inside. Over the right buttock, there's a neat "poacher's pocket" of considerable size. You can slip a 1-liter (1 qt) canteen or other stuff in there with ease. The right chest has patch bases for the name and rank tabs.

The hood has buttonholes for a fur lining but as usual, accessories like these have a tendency to disappear. Around the front and the neck as well as at the sleeve cuffs, there are buttonholes for a separate liner jacket. Now those we've seen in the past years so if you're lucky you might be able to procure one of those. Finding it in your size is cosmically unlikely, though.

Pro Tip! For lack of the real thing, the Särmä Jacket Liner makes for a good substitute with a couple of things you should consider. First, the Vz95 Parka is huge so for a Medium-size jacket, you should pick a Large-size liner. Always one step wider.

Another matter is the attachment. The sleeve cuffs are directly compatible (which makes things a lot easier) but the other buttonholes don't line up perfectly - and two females are a kind of a "nature will find a way" situation. If you can sew on a few buttons of your own, you'll be fine. Or just put a thicker sweater or something like that underneath if you don’t feel like handcrafting.

Material and care

The fabric is 50/50 poly-cotton, denser than summer pants, and rather durable as well. Machine wash at 60 degrees Celsius (140 F). The pattern is a Czech development from the '80s called Vz95 and it is derived from the American ERDL woodland pattern. It's very effective and stylish in our opinion.

Size info

These run yuuge! The size system is based on the user's chest and height. The length is generous and the width even more so: you can wear a thick liner as well as several other layers underneath. The widths follow the Euro system and the lengths are coded as follows:

1. 164 cm
2. 170 cm
3. 176 cm
4. 182 cm
5. 188 cm
6. 194 cm

For normal use, go straight for a size smaller than usual, maybe even two. The Medium sizes, for example, are just fine on a person with a 120 cm (47.2") chest and a T-shirt. Usually, this would mean an XL size!

The length is not as much over the top but even there, you can be about 5 cm (2") taller than indicated and the sleeves won't feel short. This depends on the width, of course: when the jacket has some extra width, the shoulder seams drape down and virtually extends the sleeves.

The model in the picture is 183 cm (6') with a 116 cm (45.7") chest and he is wearing a Medium Short parka. The sleeves could be a tad longer but otherwise, there is still plenty of space.

Czech surplus

In used but good, serviceable condition. Washed, of course, not shabby at all. The colors can be a bit faded and there can be some other small signs of use as well of course..