Hunters and snipers understand the importance of being completely camouflaged. In fact, in certain situations, the effectiveness of their uniform’s ability to blend into their surroundings may be a life or death situation.  The Ghillie Suit was invented to ensure that hunters, snipers, and other military personnel have the ability to be completely hidden away when in dangerous situations.  Sometimes a Ghillie suit may be referred to as a Yowie Suit, but no matter what you call it, the Ghillie Suit provides excellent concealment in some of nature’s harshest natural environments.

The Suit derived its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for boy referring to the boys who assisted the Scottish men during hunting or fishing excursions.  In Scottish folklore, the Ghillie Dhu is a tree spirit that is revered for its ability to conceal its identity by disguising itself in various forms of vegetation, such as branches, twigs, and leaves.  This is the perfect description of the Ghillie Suit which uses natural elements such as mud, manure, twigs, leaves, and more to ensure that their Ghillie Suit is as camouflaged as possible.

A Ghillie Suit may be considered the hunter or sniper’s cloak of invisibility.  The Ghillie Suit may include full body Ghillie Suits, Poncho Style Ghillie Suits, Ghillie Pants, Upper Body Ghillie Suits, Back Packs, Face Veils, Head Covers, and more.  The construction of the Ghillie Suit is important to ensure that your suit provides as much concealment as possible for your environment.  Often, hunters or snipers may add a few more natural materials from their local environment to provide the highest degree of concealment.  Some hunters may choose to construct their own Ghillie Suits, though they may be surprised to discover that the process is indeed time consuming.  Along with the manufacturing process, Ghillie Suits must be “seasoned” in mud, manure, or a combination of both to ensure that your human scent will be completely camouflaged when out in the fields. Many professional hunters find that purchasing a Ghillie Suit is more cost effective and time saving in the long run.

Burlap and jute are the common materials used to construct the Ghillie Suit.  The burlap or jute is typically applied to a garment in strips. The strips are sewn to the garment with invisible threads.  Other materials are often added to add more realism to the suit.  When the suit is completed it offers a realistic three-dimensional appearance that enables the wearer to hide and virtually blend in with their surroundings.

It is important to realize that a Ghillie Suit is very heavy and can be hot.  For this reason, it isn’t recommended to be worn by hunters in all climates.  It is best suited for use in cooler climates or forested areas.  Due to the weight of Ghillie Suits, they may take some practice and skill to best maneuver them.  In fact, you can choose different suits based upon the type of mobility that is needed.  Since Ghillie Suits are made from jute, which is highly flammable, it is a good idea to choose a suit that is flame retardant and always practice fire safety rules when wearing your suit. This includes never smoking while wearing a Ghillie Suit.