and changes in the layout makes it almost im-
possible to define what was "original", "contract",
"issued" or "copy. The subject is so complex that
even the "Bible of Tiger Stripes", 264 pages long
1999 book "Tiger Patterns: A Guide to the Viet-
nam War's Tigerstripe Combat Fatigue Patterns
and Uniforms" by R.D. Johnson does not cover all
the possible variations of the pattern.
Helikon-Tex decided to produce their SFU NEXT
Mk2 pants (plus UTP tactical pants and UTS
shorts but we are still waiting for matching shi-
rts) in a pattern similar to the so-called John Way-
ne Dense (JWD) variant. The colors are matching
the Philippines Naval Special Forces uniforms
with the brownish tint. Personally I would prefer
the greener colors as in the so-called Late War Li-
ghtweight Sparse or 1990-era jungle variant from
US-based Tigerstripe Products company. Not gre-
at, not terrible, but still definitely a better choice
than recent run of Crye Precision combat and
field uniforms in the same ugly color scheme as
in the cheapest Mil-Tec or Rothco grade but sold
with a $700 price tag.
The SFU NEXT Mk2 are pretty decent modern
cut tactical pants and now also available in cool
camouflage patterns (Tigerstripes and just recen-
tly added Desert Night Camouflage).
www.fragoutmag.com
