| So you want to buy a ghillie suit? Your friend has one, | | | | want a one-size-fits-all type of ghillie suit, since they |
| and you've heard that ghillie suits are the ultimate in | | | | are in constant motion, and customizing their ghillie suits |
| camouflage apparel. Still, you would like to learn more | | | | with local vegetation might not be such a good idea. |
| about these cloaks of invisibility before you jump in and | | | | In the end, ghillie suits come down to three simple |
| buy one. If so, you have come to the right place. | | | | attributes: size, weight, and material. While this article |
| In this day and age, the most common civilian uses of | | | | outlined the basics of choosing the right ghillie suit for |
| ghillie suits are hunting and paint-balling. The ghillie suit is | | | | the job, only you can ultimately decide what suits you |
| ideal for both activities, but you must be careful about | | | | best. For this reason, the remainder of the article will be |
| choosing the right suit for the job. | | | | devoted to analyzing the three different attributes. |
| Hunters differ from paintballers in many respects. | | | | Size is something that should always be considered. |
| Hunters will sit perfectly still for hours, waiting for their | | | | The larger the ghillie suit, the better the concealment. |
| game to appear within a few hundred yards of their | | | | However, size is also the number one factor in |
| location. For this purpose, ghillie suits do not need to | | | | restricting movement, so the larger the ghillie suit, the |
| offer a vast amount of mobility, and should be fairly | | | | slower you are able to react. The hunter and sniper, or |
| warm and waterproof. Full, body-length ghillie suits are | | | | even a paintballer with an aversion to too much running |
| ideal for the patient hunter. | | | | around, would most likely opt for a larger suit. Impatient |
| On the other side of the spectrum, the thrill-seeking | | | | hunters, close-action commandoes, and more active |
| paintballer wants anything but a long, heavy ghillie suit. | | | | paintballers would certainly prefer smaller suits. |
| While some paintballers are patient enough to sit and | | | | Weight largely depends on the stamina and endurance |
| wait for long periods, there is always the crazy man | | | | of the individual, as well as the conditions of use. For |
| on campus. This impatient fellow prefers to dash | | | | example, hunting season opens during the fall, when |
| madly about, chasing his more lethargic counterparts | | | | the mercury is starting to drop along with the rain and |
| out of their holes. In this case, a heavy, body-length | | | | snow. A hunter who plans to sit in a stand for the |
| ghillie suit can become a real burden. Paintballers may | | | | better part of a day may want something heavy, |
| wish to go with something lighter and less restricting, | | | | warm, and waterproof. A summertime paintballer will |
| possibly a simple mesh cover that can be customized | | | | choose his ghillie suit based largely on his resistance to |
| with local flora and fauna to fit the environment. | | | | heat. The thicker and heavier the suit, the hotter, but it |
| For an example of how others use ghillie suits, you | | | | also absorbs the paintballs much better than a lighter |
| need only look as far as our own military. In the military, | | | | ghillie suit. |
| much like in the civilian world, there are many different | | | | Finally, there is the material. The firm, waterproof |
| uses for ghillie suits. Two contrasting uses are outlined | | | | material will keep you warm and dry, good for any |
| here. | | | | hunter or sniper, but it is also noisy during movement |
| Snipers, like an exaggerated version of hunters, are | | | | and less breathable in the heat, bad for any paintballer |
| exceedingly patient, often holding their position for days, | | | | or close-action infantryman. Mesh allows the stationary |
| meticulously scanning the surrounding terrain for their | | | | hunter or sniper to blend perfectly with the surrounding |
| most feared opponent - other snipers. If such | | | | vegetation, by tangling bits and pieces in the material. In |
| dangerous foes happen to be around, the sniper does | | | | addition, it is very light and allows freedom of |
| not wish to be spotted by them first. The answer to | | | | movement. However, it offers little protection against |
| this problem is the ever-useful ghillie suit. A sniper's | | | | the elements or paintballs, and can become entangled |
| ghillie suit is often a complex version of a large blanket, | | | | with vegetation that is still rooted firmly in the ground. |
| built to cover his entire body as well as his long rifle, | | | | This is not good for those attempting a high-speed |
| while still allowing him to see and shoot. It can be | | | | escape. |
| customized with surrounding vegetation, and is built so | | | | Whether hunter, paintballer, or Special Forces |
| that an experienced sniper can be invisible from even | | | | operative, the ghillie suit is perfect for your needs. No |
| a few feet away. | | | | one but you can decide exactly what sort of ghillie suit |
| The more action-bent infantrymen, like paintballers, may | | | | you need, but hopefully this article has helped you find |
| prefer something much lighter and less restricting. | | | | the perfect ghillie suit. |
| Unlike paintballers, however, these commandoes may | | | | |