What Jacket Does Travis Bickle Wear in Taxi Driver? M-65 Jacket Explained

Few pieces of movie clothing are as closely connected to a character as the military jacket worn by Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. Robert De Niro's portrayal of the troubled New York cab driver turned a practical olive-green field jacket into one of the most recognizable looks in American cinema.

But there's an important detail that often gets missed: Travis Bickle wears more than one military-style jacket during the film.

Quick answer: Travis Bickle wears a tanker-style military jacket earlier in Taxi Driver and an olive-green M-65 field jacket later in the movie. The M-65 is the jacket most strongly associated with his famous mohawk appearance and the garment most shoppers mean when searching for a Travis Bickle jacket or Taxi Driver jacket.

What Kind of Jacket Does Travis Bickle Wear in Taxi Driver?

The jacket most people associate with Travis Bickle is an olive-green M-65 field jacket, also commonly called an M-1965 field jacket.

The M-65 wasn't designed specifically for Taxi Driver. It was military outerwear, and that functional background is an important part of why the jacket works so naturally on the character.

Travis is presented as a Vietnam veteran. Instead of dressing him in something that merely looks military, his wardrobe draws from recognizable military clothing.

Earlier in the movie, however, Travis also wears a different military-style garment commonly identified as a tanker jacket. So both jackets belong in a complete discussion of the character's wardrobe, even though the M-65 became the more famous of the two.

What Is the Actual Name of the Taxi Driver Jacket?

If you're searching for the proper name of the famous Taxi Driver jacket, look for:

M-65 Field Jacket
M-1965 Field Jacket

You'll also frequently see it written without the hyphen as an M65 jacket.

It wasn't originally a piece of movie merchandise. The basic design existed as military clothing before Robert De Niro wore it as Travis Bickle.

That's useful to know when shopping because a vintage military M-65, a modern reproduction and a dedicated Taxi Driver-inspired jacket aren't necessarily the same thing.

A standard reproduction may recreate the military garment without Travis's character-specific patches and badges, while a movie-inspired version may add those recognizable details.

Is Travis Bickle's Jacket Really an M-65?

Yes. The olive-green field jacket associated with Travis Bickle's later appearance is an M-65 field jacket.

Several construction details help distinguish the design from an ordinary green casual jacket.

The classic M-65 silhouette includes:

• Four prominent front pockets
• Shoulder epaulets
• Front zipper
• Protective storm flap
• Adjustable waist
• Military field-jacket collar
• Concealed-hood construction

These functional details create the slightly roomy military silhouette associated with the M-65.

So if you're shopping specifically for a Travis Bickle M-65 jacket, don't judge a reproduction only by its olive-green color. Pocket placement, collar construction, closure and overall shape matter too.

What Does M-65 Mean?

M-65 is the commonly used shortened name for the M-1965 field jacket, a U.S. military field-jacket design developed during the 1960s.

It followed earlier generations of American field jackets and was designed as practical military outerwear capable of accommodating layering and changing weather conditions.

That functional origin is particularly relevant to Taxi Driver.

Travis doesn't look as though he's wearing a carefully styled fashion jacket. He looks like a veteran wearing practical military clothing, which helps the character's wardrobe feel believable rather than theatrical.

Did Travis Bickle Wear More Than One Jacket?

Yes, and this is one of the details that can cause confusion when people try to identify the Robert De Niro Taxi Driver jacket.

Travis wears a tanker-style jacket earlier in the movie and the better-known M-65 field jacket later.

The tanker jacket has a shorter, more compact appearance. The M-65 has the longer field-jacket silhouette and prominent pocket arrangement most viewers associate with Travis's later appearance.

The change also works visually with the character's transformation throughout the story. As Travis's appearance becomes more severe, the M-65 and eventually the mohawk become part of the image audiences remember most clearly.

Is the Taxi Driver Jacket a Bomber Jacket?

No. The famous olive-green Taxi Driver jacket is an M-65 field jacket, not a traditional bomber jacket.

The two styles have noticeably different constructions.

A classic bomber such as an MA-1 is generally short and waist-length, often with rib-knit cuffs and a ribbed waistband. Its design originates from military aviation clothing.

An M-65 field jacket is longer and roomier. It uses four front pockets, an adjustable waist, shoulder epaulets and a front zipper protected by a storm flap.

If you're trying to recreate Travis Bickle's recognizable later-film outfit, M-65 field jacket is therefore a much more useful search term than bomber jacket.

What Color Is the Travis Bickle Jacket?

The famous Travis Bickle field jacket is generally described as OG-107 / Olive Green 107, the military olive-green color associated with U.S. Army garments of the period.

The more specific OG-107 terminology is useful because “olive green” covers a surprisingly wide range of shades.

Modern M-65 reproductions can appear lighter, darker, browner or greyer depending on the material, dye and finish. Vintage examples can vary even more because years of wear, washing and exposure naturally affect the original color.

If you're comparing military-inspired reproductions, useful search terms include:

OG-107 M-65 Field Jacket
Olive Green M-65 Jacket
Travis Bickle M65 Jacket

For a Taxi Driver-inspired appearance, the overall olive military tone matters more than simply choosing any dark green jacket.

What Patches and Badges Are on the Travis Bickle Jacket?

The patches and badges are among the most recognizable elements of Travis Bickle's M-65.

Without them, you essentially have a traditional olive military field jacket. Add the character-specific details and the connection to Taxi Driver becomes much clearer.

King Kong Company Patch

One of the most distinctive additions is the King Kong Company-style patch seen on the sleeve area of the jacket.

It provides an immediate visual connection with Travis's customized military appearance and is an important detail to compare when evaluating a movie-inspired reproduction.

Paratrooper Jump Wings

Another recognizable feature is the military-style paratrooper jump wings badge positioned around the upper chest area.

The wings are relatively small compared with the other patches, but they're important for anyone interested in recreating the details of the movie jacket rather than simply buying a plain M-65.

“We Are The People” Button

Perhaps the easiest detail to recognize is the large round “We Are The People” campaign-style button worn prominently on the front of the jacket.

Because of its size and placement, the button stands out immediately against the olive-green fabric.

Together, the patches, wings and campaign-style button transform an otherwise familiar military jacket into the character-specific garment associated with Travis Bickle.

Why Is Travis Bickle's M-65 Jacket So Iconic?

Context plays a major role.

Travis Bickle is presented as a veteran trying unsuccessfully to find his place in 1970s New York. Military clothing therefore isn't simply decorative wardrobe styling; it visually connects the character with his past.

The worn, practical appearance of the M-65 field jacket also suits someone spending long nights driving a taxi rather than someone particularly concerned with fashion.

As the story becomes darker, the jacket becomes part of a much more unsettling visual identity.

By the time Travis appears with his mohawk and military field jacket, an ordinary piece of utilitarian outerwear has become inseparable from the character.

That's one reason the Taxi Driver jacket remains recognizable decades after the film's 1976 release.

Can You Still Buy a Jacket Like Travis Bickle's?

Yes. Buyers generally have three different routes.

Vintage Military M-65

An original military-surplus M-65 is the obvious choice for collectors interested primarily in military history and authentic period construction.

However, vintage condition, sizing and color can vary considerably.

Modern M-65 Reproduction

Several manufacturers produce modern interpretations of the traditional M-65.

These can be a good option if you want the military silhouette for everyday wear but aren't particularly interested in reproducing Travis Bickle's exact movie styling.

Taxi Driver-Inspired Jacket

The third option is a dedicated Travis Bickle jacket designed specifically around the character's appearance.

These versions may incorporate the olive-green field-jacket construction together with movie-inspired patches, badges and other recognizable details.

For someone primarily interested in recreating the Taxi Driver look, this can be more convenient than purchasing a plain M-65 and sourcing all of the character-specific additions separately.

What Should You Check Before Buying a Taxi Driver Jacket?

Don't rely on the product title alone.

Two jackets advertised online as a Taxi Driver M-65 jacket can have noticeably different construction.

If movie-inspired accuracy matters to you, compare the following details:

• M-65 field-jacket silhouette
• OG-107 / olive-green appearance
• Four front flap pockets
• Front zipper with storm flap
• Shoulder epaulets
• Adjustable waist
• Appropriate field-jacket collar
• Concealed-hood construction
• Military-style jump wings
• King Kong Company-style sleeve patch
• “We Are The People” campaign-style button

A jacket doesn't necessarily need every movie-specific detail to be a good M-65. But someone shopping specifically for a Robert De Niro Taxi Driver jacket should pay attention to these features.

Material is another consideration.

Rather than assuming every reproduction uses the same fabric as a period military garment, read the seller's actual product specifications. Fabric composition, lining and finishing can vary significantly between vintage pieces and modern reproductions.

Sizing deserves the same attention. Field jackets traditionally have room for layering, so compare the seller's measurements with a jacket you already own rather than relying entirely on your usual letter size.

How Do You Style an M-65 Field Jacket Today?

One reason the M-65 has remained relevant is that you don't have to dress like Travis Bickle to wear one.

For everyday styling, combine an olive field jacket with a plain T-shirt or henley, dark denim and boots. The military structure gives an otherwise simple outfit some character without requiring many additional pieces.

Sweaters and lightweight knitwear also work underneath during cooler weather.

For a recognizable Taxi Driver-inspired outfit, the olive field jacket becomes the focal point. Keep the rest of the clothing relatively understated and let the military silhouette and patches provide the visual connection to the film.

That's ultimately one of the M-65's strengths.

Remove the movie association entirely and you're still left with a practical, distinctive piece of men's outerwear.

What's the Difference Between an M-65 Field Jacket and a Regular Jacket?

A field jacket was designed around function.

Instead of small decorative pockets, the M-65 uses four substantial front pockets. Instead of relying solely on a fashion-focused fitted cut, the design incorporates waist adjustment and enough room for layering.

Its storm flap, military collar construction, shoulder epaulets and concealed hood arrangement also reflect its original practical purpose.

A regular casual jacket doesn't have to follow any of these conventions.

That's why simply buying an olive-green jacket won't necessarily reproduce the Travis Bickle jacket appearance. The silhouette and functional construction are just as important as the color.

Is the Travis Bickle Jacket Still Worth Wearing Today?

If you like military-inspired outerwear, the M-65 remains remarkably easy to wear.

Its appeal doesn't depend entirely on Taxi Driver. The straightforward shape works naturally with denim, T-shirts, sweaters, boots and other everyday basics.

For movie fans, however, the association adds another layer.

The Travis Bickle M-65 jacket connects one of cinema's most recognizable characters with a real piece of military outerwear. That allows someone to wear a movie-inspired jacket without necessarily looking as though they're wearing a full costume.

And that's probably the best explanation for why the look has survived for so long.

Taxi Driver made this particular M-65 famous, but the underlying field-jacket design was practical and distinctive long before the cameras started rolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What jacket does Travis Bickle wear in Taxi Driver?

Travis Bickle wears more than one military-style jacket in Taxi Driver. Earlier in the film he wears a tanker-style jacket, while his most recognizable later appearance features an olive-green M-65 field jacket.

What is the Taxi Driver jacket called?

The famous olive military jacket is an M-65 field jacket, also commonly called an M-1965 field jacket.

What color is Travis Bickle's M-65 jacket?

It is an olive military shade generally associated with OG-107 / Olive Green 107.

Is Travis Bickle's jacket a bomber jacket?

No. His famous later-film jacket is an M-65 field jacket. A traditional bomber jacket such as the MA-1 has a shorter silhouette and different construction.

What patches are on the Travis Bickle jacket?

The movie-inspired appearance includes distinctive military-style details such as a King Kong Company-style sleeve patch, paratrooper-style jump wings and the prominent round “We Are The People” campaign-style button.

Did Travis Bickle wear a tanker jacket?

Yes. A tanker-style military jacket appears earlier in the movie, while the M-65 becomes associated with Travis's better-known later appearance.

Can you wear an M-65 jacket casually?

Yes. An olive M-65 works easily with jeans, T-shirts, sweaters, boots and other casual clothing. You don't need to recreate Travis Bickle's complete outfit to wear the jacket.

What should I look for when buying a Travis Bickle jacket?

For a closer movie-inspired appearance, check the olive-green color, four-pocket M-65 construction, storm-flap front, epaulets, collar, waist adjustment and character-inspired patches and badges. Always check the seller's actual material and sizing specifications as well.