Looking after German Army Flektarn Waterproof gear ?

Hey guys I am just buying a few things to complete my hunting gear and I am trying to save a little bit of money where I can. I decided to get some milsurp wet weather gear to stuff in my pack and ended up getting the German Army Flecktarn rain jacket and rain pants as they seemed good value.

The pants have suspenders built in and seem to work well with the jacket. They are made with Sympatex which is sort of similar to Goretex from what I understand.

This is the jacket:

https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/pr...14d0a0f5&_ss=r

I have dunked the pants and jacket under the shower already and they worked perfectly, water just beaded off, no leaking. My question is do I need to treat the jacket and pants with something to keep them waterproof long term?

@Projects did a thread a few months ago on this sort of gear where a comment was made that this stuff needs to be used with "a wash through water repellent"

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....us-gear-59949/

Any suggestions on brands/products I should use? I would like to get a few years out of this gear.

A guy has left a review on the army and outdoors site that he uses"NikWax" to keep his one in good nic - anyone used this stuff or have any better alternatives?

Great waterproof gear. I worked in the rain and mud for a couple of years and the pants with suspenders were awesome. They got a spray down at the end of the day and hung up ready for the morning. Might be a bit noisy in the bush.

Good gear - I get them for bugger all out of Ukraine - have 3 coats scattered around diff vehicles-boats etc
Never treated mine - but it prob would take treatment too well as its the old heavy weigh Gore-Tex
Dont seem to heat up or sweat in them either

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Originally Posted by Nathanfish

Great waterproof gear. I worked in the rain and mud for a couple of years and the pants with suspenders were awesome. They got a spray down at the end of the day and hung up ready for the morning. Might be a bit noisy in the bush.

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@Nathanfish - it does seem really well made stuff, very tough. I think all wet weather gear is noisy, even the Hunter Element stuff I was looking at, Oxide I think it was called, was not quiet.

I think I would only wear it if it was pissing down or super windy, in either case I think it is debatable how much an animal could hear me with this gear on if I walked carefully?

@Sarvo I have a new army desert cam jacket and it's brilliant :)

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Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@Sarvo I have a new army desert cam jacket and it's brilliant :)

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Which military issue is that - NATTO ??

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Originally Posted by Sarvo

Good gear - I get them for bugger all out of Ukraine - have 3 coats scattered around diff vehicles-boats etc
Never treated mine - but it prob would take treatment too well as its the old heavy weigh Gore-Tex
Dont seem to heat up or sweat in them either

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Sounds good re ukraine do you have a link there for purchasing? Doesnt have to be in english thanks very much in advance

I've also got one of their jackets. Had it around 6 years now and still water proof.

Wore it on a hunt in the wairarapa recently, and even though i thought it was noisy it was no worse than the hunters element and stoney creek that the others wore.

And we got 5 deer, so the noise can't have been that bad

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Originally Posted by DemocKot

Sounds good re ukraine do you have a link there for purchasing? Doesnt have to be in english thanks very much in advance

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No link - just the mother inlaw lives there and finds it for me then sends it out
Old saying - its not what you know but who you know

@Sarvo The Brit one https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...ert-mvp-jacket

Re me supplying
Since CV19 all imports via the mother in-law have stopped
As it is I was hopping to have had some amazing Thermal to offer for sale on here way b4 now

I bought a heap of it and its somewhere between Kiev and Marlborough :-(
My wife who is an optimist says it will turn up one day - me a pessimist saying no - its been 3 months already

My german Flecktarn jacket is still my favourite coat .
Over time the inner layer of the fabric has worn off right where my Pack belt strap sits over my hips .
I doesn’t seem to effect its performance, but it is something to consider.
For the money paid its the best value jacket out there in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Sarvo

Re me supplying
Since CV19 all imports via the mother in-law have stopped
As it is I was hopping to have had some amazing Thermal to offer for sale on here way b4 now

I bought a heap of it and its somewhere between Kiev and Marlborough :-(
My wife who is an optimist says it will turn up one day - me a pessimist saying no - its been 3 months already

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I got some stuff from Moscow 2 weeks ago from january... good old Pochta Rossiya so fingers crossed for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sarvo

Re me supplying
Since CV19 all imports via the mother in-law have stopped
As it is I was hopping to have had some amazing Thermal to offer for sale on here way b4 now

I bought a heap of it and its somewhere between Kiev and Marlborough :-(
My wife who is an optimist says it will turn up one day - me a pessimist saying no - its been 3 months already

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I'll remain an optimist on your behalf, I want to buy some off you.