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