Choosing the right Ghillie Suit

When it comes to choosing the right Ghillie Suit it is important to understand the different ways that Ghillie Suits are used so that you can determine the best suit for your needs.  First, a Ghillie Suit is designed to give a hunter, sniper, or someone engaged in the sport of Paintball as much coverage as possible.  Unlike regular BDU (basic dress uniform) issued by the military, a Ghillie Suit uses natural materials, such as twigs, leaves, moss, mud, and manure to ensure that the wearer is provided with as much camouflage as possible.  In fact, the Ghillie Suit is seasoned with mud and manure to remove the wearer’s natural human scent.  This gives the wearer a great advantage in concealing their identity.  Animals often have a higher degree of smell and won’t come into a territory if they detect the scent of a human.  As well, many trained military personnel can notice the scent of a human, but with a properly seasoned Ghillie Suit, animals as well as soldiers may lurk within feet of a hunter or sniper who is wearing a properly seasoned Ghillie Suit.

Ghillie Suits may be full body, consist of pants, a poncho style top, or even a hat.  They may have pockets lining the inside, giving the wearer ample room to store items such as weapons, food, or water.  Generally though, it is important to note that Ghillie Suits may weigh anywhere between 2-10 lbs, so they aren’t recommended for the novice hunter who wants to simply blend into their surrounding.  It takes skill and practice to master the art of wearing as well as maneuvering the Ghillie Suit, but for those whose lives may depend upon the extra invisibility, the Ghillie Suit offers the greatest coverage possible.

To choose the best Ghillie Suit you will need to first take a look at how much maneuvering or mobility you will need.  If you are going to be standing for excessively long periods of time, or need plenty of mobility, you may want to consider a lightweight Ghillie Suit poncho.  This will leave your legs uncovered by the suit and allow you greater freedom to move.  The back of the poncho extends down to the ground, allowing you to lay down completely camouflaged. Or you may choose to select an upper body only Ghillie Suit poncho.

A full length Ghillie Suit Poncho is also a great choice for those who are looking for complete body coverage while needing to remain lightweight.  The poncho may be trimmed down to your individual size ensuring that you have an even greater fit.

For those who will be doing plenty of crawling on the ground, consider choosing a Ghillie Suit that has Velcro closures, rather than zippers or buttons.  Zippers and buttons may become annoying or even painful if you spend a long time crawling or laying down.  A Velcro closure will be gentler and easier for mobility.

If your sport is archery, then you will want to consider choosing a Ghillie Suit designed for ease of use with a bow and arrow.  These Ghillie Suits leave room in the arm area for holding a bow and arrow without fear of constriction due to burlap or jute strips.  If you will be spending time in warmer climates, it is important to ensure that your Ghillie Suit is lightweight and won’t cause you to overheat.  It is also important to choose a color for your Ghillie Suit that best blends with your environment.  Since Ghillie Suits are made with jute (a very flammable material) it is important to choose a suit that has been treated with flame retardant materials, or to choose a flame resistant suit altogether.  Always practice fire safety precautions when wearing a Ghillie Suit.