Issued to the Bundeswehr (the unified armed forces of Germany), this parka sports Flecktarn, a camouflage developed from a long line of ancestors dating back to just before WWII.
Many agree Flecktarn is one of the best camouflages to wear both in and out of the field (unless you live in Germany).
Fleck parkas are about more than just looks — they feature water resistant fabric, plenty of pocket space, and a cut built for retaining agility while keeping yourself covered. There are even zippers at the armpits for cooling off the body or warming your hands. The Germans have well-mastered parka engineering.
If there was a degree in Flecktarn, we’d hang ours on the wall. Warehouse Ivan spent hours sorting, studying, analyzing, and researching the fleck-info-barren internet. He has found the way — the true method to sort Flecktarn surplus — and the most comprehensive understanding he is aware of (see condition & date guide)
Specs
- Thick poly/cotton water-resistant fabric
- High waist zipper closure with snap-secured storm flap enables the wearer to bend and crouch without restriction
- Cinch cord fasteners at waist, thighs, and in hood
- Two snap-secured front breast pockets
- Two zippered front hand pockets
- Velcro® secured inside pocket
- Velcro® wrist cuff fasteners
- Straps for shoulder marks, rank tabs, etc.
- Zippered armpits for venting heat or warming hands
- Shoulder pocket
Varying Specs for Pre-2005 Parkas
- Parkas dated 1992 and before have brass snaps, while parkas dated 1993 and after have plastic snaps
- Parkas dated 1994 and before have the shoulder pocket on the right arm, while parkas dated 1995 and after have it on the left
- Depending on the manufacturer, the tone of the parka will vary. See picture #7 for a display of parkas of different tones compared to each other
Varying Specs for Pre and Post-2005 Parkas
- Some parkas include a Velcro® fastener on the arm
- Most parkas include a Velcro® fastener above the left front pocket for name tape
Condition
Parkas are in excellent condition with no tears, cuts, holes, or missing hardware. All zippers and buttons are present, and fully functional.
Date Range Guide
Flecktarn comes in two, slightly different color variants.
- Pre-2005: The classic five color pattern everyone thinks about when they hear Flecktarn: vibrant and robust.
- Pre-2005 variants: Sometime during the 90s, Germany was in high demand for BDUs. So it contracted a handful of different companies for manufacture. Because of this construction is identical, but color is not. With the amount of different batches being produced by different printing equipment, the tone of the five colors varies from company to company.
- Post-2005: In 2005, the five colors of Flecktarn were altered into more muted tones. Since then, the colors have stayed free of variation. Every parka made since 2005 features this muted version of Flecktarn.
