Camouflage

[Wolfen]

I thought it would be a good idea to make a thread about all different camouflage options available.



First off is the Ghillie, now we all know that these comes in different styles. we have the Full suit, the Poncho style and the full suit with partial ghillie.

Now the advantages with Ghillie is that it conceals you really well making you extremely hard to find. It also makes most hits bounce from you .

The biggest disadvantages is that it they're really warm which makes them hard to have on for long periods. Also a Ghillie will hinder you movements, as well as actually making you easier to spot while you move (bigger target is easier to spot...). Last big disadvantage with a ghillie is, that due to the fact that most hits will simply bounce off you many fields won't allow you to use one. So if you plan on making or getting a ghillie make sure the field you play at allow the use of ghillies
.

An Example on how a ghillie can look. (for more just check the How to make your ghillie thread)





Now for those that like to move around a bit more there's a few alternatives that will be better then a ghillie. First of is the 3-d suit

A 3-d suit is a very lightweight camouflage that alters the contour and silouette of you, which makes you blend in to your background. It is built on a mesh netting body, on which pieces of extremly lightweight cloth has been sewn on so that only one side is attached to the body (see picture). The cloth is a bit stiff, making it stand out from the body, thus changing your silloutte. Unlike the Ghillie a 3-d suit won't get stuck in any branches or anything.

Advantages: It makes you extremly lightweight and offers you amazing breathability. Hides you better then a normal camo suit due to the fact that it alters your shape and silouette (like a ghillie). Good moveability

Disadvantages: Since it's so thin it won't offer you any protection against paintballs (hits may hurt more). Can be hard to find the right color combination for your area. If you play really active you might risk tears in the mesh after a year or so (i've had mine for over a year and no problems yet).


This is the exact 3-d suit i use, i'll add some pictures of me using it in full paintball gear when i have time.



Next one is a optical 3-d suit

Optical 3-d suits isn't actually 3-d but tricks the eye that it is. Many hunting suits work this way. The pattern of the suit blends into the background making it hard for the eye to decern the shape of whoever's wearing it.


Advantages: easy to find in the right colors of your area (just check out hunting stores). Huge selection on different styles (how thick they are, if they have a hood or not etc. etc.) Works better at concealing you then a normal camo suit. Good moveability

Disadvantages: Doesn't hide you as well as a Ghillie or real 3-d suit. If the color scheme or pattern is wrong for your area it won't work at all.



A picture showing how the suit tricks the eye.



Next one we're going to talk about is the web-tex style suits. These are basicly vests or suits made out of web/netting that has loops where you can add stuff from the enviorment. Now i have never used a professionally made web suit (If someone has please fill in anything i might miss), but i have made home made ones from mosquito jackets.

Advantage: you can change your camouflage to match perfectly where ever you hide. It's lightweight and breaths well. Really really easy and cheap to make your own ( made mine for under 10 euros (umm 13ish USD))

Disadvantage: Takes a bit of time and practice to get the camouflage good (helps alot if you have a teammate that can do it for you). Does tend to get stuck like the ghillie if you crawl around. Can be difficult changing the camouflage when you get to a new spot.



And last but not least we have the normal camouflage.

These comes in every pattern, shape and color scheme imaginable. I won't add any pictures since i hope you all know how they look.

Advantages: they're cheap, with a close to unlimited options on color, style or pattern

Disadvantage: While a normal camo suit will hide you better then no camo at all, it does pale in comparison to all the mention above.


Now i personally have used every kind of camouflage mentioned in this post. The ones i like best is the 3-d suit and the optical 3-d due to the fact that they keep me cool while playing and they offer both excellent moveability and good concealment. A Ghillie does work great if you plan on limited movement. Make sure you have a good thermal lense and plenty of water along though ( you wouldn't want to get fogging now would you?)

Feel free to add anything i might have missed. Next time i'll be talking about camouflaging your marker and other gear.

[skullcandy1993]

nice write up Wolfen, if I had a cookie I would give it to you but sadly I already ate all of mine.

+rep 4 you

[Allu]

Speaking of camouflage, here are some thoughts; When choosing your setup take pictures and have someone else give you pointers as to what sticks out,
(this is done in at least similar terrain as the one your going to be playing in) when trying to improve your camouflage i try to start with the things that stick out the most,
e.g. since the small excellent details on your marker camouflage wont do you any good if you run around with a fluorescent yellow mask(extreme just to make a point)

Here are things I have noticed sticks out the most (random order) when playing, unnatural colors, hoppers, masks, large black lenses in a lighter colored mask, any glare of shiny equipment, large single colored markers(also black ones), generally straight lines and unnatural shapes and above all movement.

This is by no means any kind of single truth or definitive guideline, just some things i came to think of of the bat.

There are lots of nice lists of how to camouflage well, and what to think about (if I'm not mistaken there was a nice one in the stealth thread) in all sorts of manuals and the like.

Hope its useful to someone.

[Wolfen]

having someone else help you with camouflage is a great idea (something i do with Allu all the time). Also all the things Allu lists that stick out is true as long as the person looking is trained at finding these things. Most of these can easily be altered to hide you better though. i'll see if i can get them all in the next post about camouflaging your gear and markers.

[Lt.Col.Vortex]

I love real tree camo look, but I rather stick with the BDU camos, gives me more flexibility.

Great thread though.

[majorghost]

Just am FYI, there are two main groups that all camo fit into.

1.) Passive- The pattern matches the environment exactly. Example is the 3D leaf, ghillie suit and mossy oak patterned clothes.

2.) Aggressive- Mimics the real bush or terrain, but does not look like it. Examples of this are Cadpat, Multi-cam and Urban digi.

[coralnerd]

I like darker camos of any kind since they work really well in shaded areas; lots of places like that here in co.

[coralnerd]

Has any one had any success with the specops gillie suit? It's kind of like a 3d suit and gillie put together.

[Wolfen]

What kind of pattern or color you use is decided by your own preferences and where you intend to play. I personally have so many suits of different colors,patterns and styles that i can always choose one that is just right. This is a good tip for anyone who want to really use their camouflage to their advantage. Have several different ones and when your going to play just walk the field beforehand and choose the one that is the best fit. Either that or use a Web-tex style camouflage.

If you use aggressive (as major so elegantly put it) camouflage, make sure you it doesn't have too many similar colors on it since this will make you stand out in your environment (same reason why a guy in single color clothes is so easily spotted. If you like darker shades on your BDU then one good pattern is the Brittish SAS pattern.

[Reaper]

When you say "SAS" pattern
Do you mean the disruptive pattern (DPM) or something else?

[Allu]

More random thoughts: about the single colored clothes I do agree with Wolfen, tough in some cases single color can do its job to, not always as well as "real" cammo but still..
(also apart from white snow cammo)

What im getting at is whole gray clothes in extremely rocky environment or in concrete urban environment, also my grandfather wasn't into the cammo patterns, he used a dark green fleece that matched the forests around here decently and also had some texture to it(it was not smooth but had a surface that was, hm how should i describe it,.... lumpy) and he was a successful hunter. It goes without saying that smell sound and movement where also factors to take into consideration.

[Allu]

To reaper, I think hes referring to the DPM pattern, at least thats what we used on a regular basis, dunno if he stacks some other of the British patterns, cant recall seeing any on him but with Wolfen you never know.

[Wolfen]

yea i mean the DPM

[mayhem]

I actually lean toward the web-tex (though I'm not practiced yet) for several reasons (some hinted at here)

-Lighter than full ghille. I can breath easier, less heat
-Less hooking. Yes, it can get caught like a ghillie, but it's more like a cape and ths easier to make crawls
-No leg coverings means I can run easier
-local foliage always blends better imo
-Yes it takes time to get local foliage in place, but with practice you can build at least a little and be just as effective (if not more) than most of these options
-easy to stow the cape when not in use or whip out of a pouch should the need/opportunity present itself. Element of surprise?
-Cheaper than most other options
-Easier to clean and maintain base

My plan is to combine it with a good camo wrap for the marker and practice practice practice building it quick on the field.

[Wolfen]

the web-tex (style) works great. Especially if you have a teammate that can help you with the original camouflage. You just need to take notice of your surrounding at all times to match the camo to it. The reason i don't use mine that much is simply because i generally move too quickly to have time changing the camo. I Always end up running with same coverage that i added to it at the beginning. Now if this isn't your play style then web-tex style camo is a great way to go.

Also it's really easy to use this same method for camouflaging your marker. You Can buy gun wrap tape (does not have any adhesive on it). Once you wrapped your marker you can for a quick and temporary solution use, double sided tape (does work really well actually) to fasten small rubber bands or loops to the wrapping. If you want a more permanent solution then super glue them on. After that you can just add foliage and stuff from your surrounding effectively altering the shape of your marker and make it blend into the surrounding. It's quick, easy and cheap.

[mayhem]

I agree. I think different camo/ghillies are going to work for different folks, and different scenarios. Just providing my thoughts here for mine personally.
As for the wrap. My plan is to pick up the self adhesive tape as you suggest and also likewise go with a few bands for local foliage. I've seen ghillie wraps for markers and didn't think they had the right feel/maneuverability for my purpose.
Again, just my opinion. I would love to hear some opinions from those who do use them.

[Wolfen]

Now i haven't used any commercial paintball marker wraps so i can't say anything about them. however i've used several different styles of real firearm wraps while i was in recon/sniper training for different kind of guns and they all had the same problem, they were made specifically to fit one type of rifle which made it impossible to use it on another type. And even though they were made for a specific rifle it was almost always a bad fit. I think you will have same problems in paintball, a wrap commercial wrap might work on a 98c but won't fit on a x7 or a A5. This would mean that you would have to test out several to find one that works on your marker, and that costs time and money. i just think it's way less bothersome to just make your own since it's so easy.

[Allu]

Ill have to agree with Wolfen, when you make your own you get it just the way you want,
and on the field it really comes down to what you like and what you feel comfortable with, other peoples solutions can be great for ideas, but you have to find out what suits YOU, and as posted earlier in some other threads, if its stupid and works, its not stupid

[majorghost]

Just remember one thing.. Most players make the mistake of having a ghillie or camo that is too dark for their field/environment. Unnatural shadows are a dead give away.

Its far easier to darken a light ghillie, than to lighten a dark ghillie. If you go the route of using a ghillie, go lighter. Then add on stuff.

[coralnerd]

I decided not to dye my gillie at all. It's still just plane old burlap. I then add on darker pieces of foliage when needed. I use the gillie in spring and fall, so most grass is brown anyway.