Understanding Camouflage: The 7 Distinct Patterns To Know

I was a MARPAT fan, but grew a little self conscious of the EGA (Eagle Globe and Anchor)
I'm fascinated by all the new designs and hunter crossovers. I like Multi-Cam and Kryptek.
 
georgel said:
I was a MARPAT fan, but grew a little self conscious of the EGA (Eagle Globe and Anchor)
I'm fascinated by all the new designs and hunter crossovers. I like Multi-Cam and Kryptek.
Click to expand...

There was all sorts of consternation and pearl-clutching about Naval personnel assigned to MC units and wearing MARPAT because of the EGA (even though the left-breast tape said "US Navy"). It was a non-issue. Naval personnel have been wearing USMC utilities for 200 years and no one ever gave a rip. Turns out the EGA was a branding thing so as to copyright/trademark MARPAT so no other branch could wear them.

They wanted to go ERDL after VN, but big military forced them into woodland like everyone else. They held that grudge.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JT
Almost every modern camo pattern has its roots with the Waffen SS camo research program in WW2. A friend has a book showing the dozens of SS camo patterns and flipping through it is amazing. They even had digital patterns.
 
I love Tiger and Multicam.
 
I used to play woodsball (paintball in the woods) a lot and got to see a lot of different camo patterns players would wear in that environment. I thought the best was tiger stripe, slightly better than woodland in the woods.

I think most camo patterns are too fine. They need to be blockier and breakup the human form better IMO.
 
Last edited:
Flashpoint said:
They need to be blockier and breakup the human form better IMO.
Click to expand...

This!
#1 - Break up the outline and form.
#2 - Tint, i.e., how light or dark.
#3 - Color, i.e., brown, gray or green.
Match #s 2 & 3 to the foliage. Any pattern will work.

I once had a guy who was scouting try to take my arrow off the rest of my bow. Fletching was hot pink and canary yellow, nock was bright green. I want to watch where that arrow goes. Everything else was camo matched to tint and color. Coveralls, hat, gloves, facenet. Camo tape on the bow limbs. Even the arrow shafts were camo. He thought he had found a stray arrow in the branches of a tree. His hand was about six inches from the arrow when I smiled. The movement and my pearly whites told him he had been fooled.


And I never saw him in that neck of the woods ever again. Priceless!
 
Last edited:
Chuckman said:
Naval personnel have been wearing USMC utilities for 200 years and no one ever gave a rip.
Click to expand...
At one point, I had more sets of utilities than I did dungarees. And I vastly preferred them. No camo of any kind post-VN; just the greens. And nobody in either branch gave a hoot about insignias.
 
JT said:
At one point, I had more sets of utilities than I did dungarees. And I vastly preferred them. No camo of any kind post-VN; just the greens. And nobody in either branch gave a hoot about insignias.
Click to expand...

I had dungarees, but only wore them in boot camp. Once I got to the Marines, I never wore them again. I kept a few shirts to use for painting and gave everything else away. I wish I kept the denim trousers and cut them off into shorts. One day battalion called an all-call for corpsmen and RPs, so we met at a warehouse. We were issued the blue short and Dickey style blue work pants, the unies that replaced the dungarees. They stayed in the bottom of the seabag; never, ever wore them. Eventually gave those away, too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JT
My old paintball team in Orlando (Doom Troopers) had an official pattern: DK Flatwoods.
DK.png

DK2.png

We used to get it at Bass Pro down there. It looks goofy, but it worked in 90% of Florida woods.

I made a ghillie suit with the help of an old sniper while I was in high school. It's pretty good, but the name of the game is adaptability if you want to be truly concealed. I could lay in your own front yard with that suit, augmented with a few pieces from nearby foliage, and you'd be none the wiser.
 
Since this thread came back up, it reminds me of a story.

Many years ago, I was invited out shooting with a group that included a Sgt. Maj Kerns, for those that might have known him. We met up at a McDonald's in Rock Hill and decided to grab some breakfast before heading out. While inside, the Sgt. Maj, who along with his group were all decked out in woodland, started ribbing me about being in jeans and a sweatshirt. I said, "Sgt. Maj, look around you and tell me who's standing out in this restaurant right now." He chuckled and we both sat down.


Urban camo is a thing.
 
georgel said:
Since this thread came back up, it reminds me of a story.

Many years ago, I was invited out shooting with a group that included a Sgt. Maj Kerns, for those that might have known him. We met up at a McDonald's in Rock Hill and decided to grab some breakfast before heading out. While inside, the Sgt. Maj, who along with his group were all decked out in woodland, started ribbing me about being in jeans and a sweatshirt. I said, "Sgt. Maj, look around you and tell me who's standing out in this restaurant right now." He chuckled and we both sat down.


Urban camo is a thing.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine is a senior-ranking PJ, his last tour attached to JSOC. He said that when the JSOC bro's would hang out on the weekend, they were all in khaki pants, Solomon boots, t-shirt, Columbia shirt over, and either North Face or Arc'teryx jacket, and a ball cap. He said his wife commented at a unit cookout that they were the most conspicuous inconspicuous group of guys, that everyone knew who they were. She said that any wife or girlfriend could change their look for the better for $10 at a Goodwill.
 
Chuckman said:
A friend of mine is a senior-ranking PJ, his last tour attached to JSOC. He said that when the JSOC bro's would hang out on the weekend, they were all in khaki pants, Solomon boots, t-shirt, Columbia shirt over, and either North Face or Arc'teryx jacket, and a ball cap. He said his wife commented at a unit cookout that they were the most conspicuous inconspicuous group of guys, that everyone knew who they were. She said that any wife or girlfriend could change their look for the better for $10 at a Goodwill.
Click to expand...
Well, that's the urban casual uniform. Kinda like when you see guys in khakis and black polos.


😉
 
Last edited:
Chuckman said:
A friend of mine is a senior-ranking PJ, his last tour attached to JSOC. He said that when the JSOC bro's would hang out on the weekend, they were all in khaki pants, Solomon boots, t-shirt, Columbia shirt over, and either North Face or Arc'teryx jacket, and a ball cap. He said his wife commented at a unit cookout that they were the most conspicuous inconspicuous group of guys, that everyone knew who they were. She said that any wife or girlfriend could change their look for the better for $10 at a Goodwill.
Click to expand...
when pete brownell was nra president, I was at an event where he was supposed to show up, but nobody was sure when.
Then I saw this exact security goon you're talking about appear and start eyeballing everybody on the range and I said "oh, he must be here now"
sure enough.
"the most conspicuous inconspicuous" indeed
 
Wowzers, looky what I found......

Swedish M90 Camo | Etsy

Check out our swedish m90 camo selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our men's clothing shops.
www.etsy.com www.etsy.com
 
Just out of curiosity, has there been a study of how the various camo patterns appear to game, especially deer and wild turkeys? Their color perception is different from that of humans, as I understand it.
 
the human eye at 20/20 has right at 1 MOA or 1" at 100yards resolution.

When looking at Multicam as a example its a 100 yard or closer pattern. Due ot the size of the color shapes. This is also why Multicam goes "brown" at 150 yards and the colors all merge to one color.

The NATO Woodland pattern was based on 200-300 yard resolution, due to its larger color shapes.
 
JBoyette said:
the human eye at 20/20 has right at 1 MOA or 1" at 100yards resolution.

When looking at Multicam as a example its a 100 yard or closer pattern. Due ot the size of the color shapes. This is also why Multicam goes "brown" at 150 yards and the colors all merge to one color.

The NATO Woodland pattern was based on 200-300 yard resolution, due to its larger color shapes.
Click to expand...
Very interesting. Thanks.
 
concerning turkeys: like other birds, they focus on movement (humans focus on patterns).
as long as you just blink and breathe, any color/camo will do. however, for safety's sake,
do not wear red, white, or blue while hunting. another hunter might mistake you for a gobbler.
 
Last edited:
JBoyette said:
the human eye at 20/20 has right at 1 MOA or 1" at 100yards resolution.

When looking at Multicam as a example its a 100 yard or closer pattern. Due ot the size of the color shapes. This is also why Multicam goes "brown" at 150 yards and the colors all merge to one color.

The NATO Woodland pattern was based on 200-300 yard resolution, due to its larger color shapes.
Click to expand...
Which makes me wonder why we went to those fine patterns when deployed to the middle east where engagements are typically at longer distance? It may have something to do with literally everything out there being the same color, lol.

In urban environments I wonder how large irregular/angled blocks a la WW2 dazzle ship cammo but emulating stone walls and shadow would do. Yes I know Dazzle was not intended to be actual camo, but rather to make it difficult to estimate speed, etc.
 
Last edited:
Flashpoint said:
Which makes me wonder why we went to those fine patterns when deployed to the middle east where engagements are typically at longer distance? It may have something to do with literally everything out there being the same color, lol.

In urban environments I wonder how large irregular/angled blocks a la WW2 dazzle ship cammo but emulating stone walls and shadow would do.
Click to expand...

Well,

First question is silhouette or no silhouette?

Next is where are you hiding at?
Iraq hardly had any open space conflicts. Due to the firearm types, 300m and less, in urban cities, we are talking 100m or less and a uniform does not add value to that fight because the silhouette was the first identifying factor.

Afghanistan you had longer engagements, silhouette is not the first factor, color is.

So the question I ask is, When does camo matter? I say its under 300m in the conditions that lend its self to no silhouette.
 
Anybody remember this pattern?
iu
 
according to this guy:
"The art of adaptive urban camouflage is part street smarts,
social simulation and situational awareness. It’s not hiding."
vinjatek.com

The Art of Adaptive Urban Camouflage: Tips & Tactics to Blend In

Actual, casual and active urban camouflage is becoming a part of an interpersonal space, not hiding within a (crypsis) visual space.
vinjatek.com vinjatek.com

essentially: it is look like AND act like everyone else.
a favorite quote from a spy novel says:
“The byways of espionage are not populated with the brash and colorful adventurers of fiction.
A man who, like Smiley, has lived and worked for years among his country’s enemies
learns only one prayer: that he may never, never be noticed.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom