RMNZ M-455 w- thinner fleece

[Skip]

This came in last week. Been looking for a thinner Navy fleece jacket for a while, as I just prefer pockets to carry stuff, handy in Winter when your out photographing. Finally found this M-445. Initially I was after an M-444 due to the thinner fleece, but as I'm tall/thin build couldn't find one with the fit. Contacted Paddy from RMNZ and she came up with this jacket, based on the M-445 but with the thinner fleece of the M-444. She's not sure why it was made with the thinner fleece, maybe it was a manufacturing mistake and relegated to the storeroom, nevertheless works for me, as it happens to be a 40. Got it at a discount due to discontinued stock.

I'm really happy with it and the fit, as not only will the longer collar cut the wind/cold, but the thinner fleece means it will get more wear in Australian (Southern) Wintery conditions. Wore it this morning in 16C a bit warm but bearable. The only issue being (and not a big one) the period side straps are a bugger to do up, my advice is when done up leave 'em that way, it needs a team effort. Took my wife and I half an hour to do both, imagine trying to do it with cold fingers while sitting in your Catalina.

for those interested in the measurements, I'm 6'3", 38 chest, and 25 sleeve. The jacket is a size 40, measurements are:

Chest: 45
Shoulder span straight across: 19
sleeve length: 25.75
side of neck to shoulder point: 6.5
Back length: 25.75

Apologise for the serious facial expression, was a bit glarey:

 

[chamboid]

very nice jacket, there are my favorite of the U.S fleece jackets, and RMNZ does a great job on them. the thinner fleece makes it much more practical as well.

love the 'Is that a bird I see' pose

 

[Smithy]

Corker of a jacket Skip and the fit looks spot on to my eyes.

 

[Skip]

Thank you Chamboid, Smithy, looking forward to Winter..

love the 'Is that a bird I see' pose

We have terrain hugging Magpies that love practicing on unsuspecting humans, but alas on this occasion it was just a lumbering Tigermoth

 

[B-Man2]

The jacket looks great and fits you perfectly.
Enjoy!!!!

 

[Vcruiser]

Looks great,Skip..
The fit seems perfect,too.

Congrats
Van

 

[TOMG1401]

Fantastic jacket, great fit, enjoy !!!!!!!!!!

 

[TOMG1401]

Fantastic jacket, great fit, enjoy !!!!!!!!!!

 

[TOMG1401]

Fantastic jacket, great fit, enjoy !!!!!!!!!!

 

[TOMG1401]

Fantastic jacket, great fit, enjoy !!!!!!!!!!

 

[John Lever]

Great jacket and a perfect fit. I have the same model and really like it apart from the sheepskin gussets under the arms. They are way too bulky with very thick seams and produce a tight fit under the armpits. After a while my arms start to go numb.
Later versions have satin lined goatskin gussets , a big improvement.
Can you fasten the zip right up to the top? I can only do it with assistance. The zip reaches a point at the base of the throat and seems to stop at a fold/step and just won't move any further. The later throat latch and shorter zip as on the Anj-4 is easier to use.

 

[eckhartus]

Beautiful jacket and perfect fit !

 

[Skip]

Thanks for all the comments guys, takes a lot of hunting around to find a fit for this longish frame, finally found one at last.

Tom, you either like the jacket a lot or is there something happening with your posts?

John, never seen one with sheepskin gussets, the thinner fleece certainly makes it quite comfortable to wear, not as heavy either. Bare in mind I've only compared it to a B3, never handled a full fleeced 445. Mine has quite a lot of spare room in the chest, but only gets tight when I cross over my arms, you can feel there is no give in the back panel, but the extra room in the sleeves help there.

As for the zip, I know what you mean, once again the thinner fleece i think lets me go right up to within 2.5' from the end, getting the rest of the way is a struggle of folding fleece, adjust collar, zip, repeated a few times with maximum effort.

 

[John Lever]

Surely from the photo of the inside of the jacket, the gussets are sheepskin ?

 

[Skip]

Yes they are, sorry, interpretted incorrectly, trying to do too many things at once.

Mine aren't bulky, nor tight, got to be the thinner fleece

 

[John Lever]

I shaved mine so it is now slightly better

 

[dujardin]

nice one,

congrats

fit is perfect

she looks warm and comfortable

enjoyyyyy wearing

 

[omarco]

lovely jacket skip and a perfect fit.

I dont get the stiff collar zip on my m444, thing just slides right up to the top

 

[Jason]

Looks fantastic - Paddy has done well to remember this item in inventory and refer it to you. Perfect for when those biting southerlies come in off Port Philip.

"Terrain hugging magpies" :lol: Couldn't have been a plover then, they start their dive bombing run at altitude.

 

[Skip]

Thanks Marcel

lovely jacket skip and a perfect fit.

I dont get the stiff collar zip on my m444, thing just slides right up to the top

Thanks Omarco, maybe the shorter less bulky collar is the trick there, hoping with use it might get easier.

Looks fantastic - Paddy has done well to remember this item in inventory and refer it to you. Perfect for when those biting southerlies come in off Port Philip.

"Terrain hugging magpies" :lol: Couldn't have been a plover then, they start their dive bombing run at altitude.

Thanks Jason, that collar does come in handy for multiple purposes, biting cold winds, kamikaze birds...