Night Camo questions

[LAgunman2K-3]

so whats the best night camo you all prefer?

also, does the US military still use the desert night camo design with the light and dark green checkerboard style? i like the design and bought some cover pants for $5 at a gunshow and was wondering if they make any hats in night desert camo, perferably the boonie style hat?

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

[hardcorps1775]

Gunman, you know what? The best night camo is the same camo you use in the day! It all comes down to how you move, how you use your environment, and what the enemy possesses as far as night vision, thermal imaging, etc. The desert night camo is crap but popular crap. It is patterned after the old day desert pattern (chocolate chip) and the grid was created to defeat passive night vision equipment. The only problem is you have to be standing absolutely still for it to work (as little as it does!). Once you move, you become just as visible as everyone else (take two transparent grids and rub one over the other to explain the phenomenon). The day desert pattern was developed by the lab coats in Natick and was developed using the deserts of the southwest as an example. The only problem is...they bear absolutely no resemblance to the deserts in threat areas like Saudi or Iraq! That's why we developed the new desert cammies with the bigger patterns and muted colors. I think US Cav and Brigade QM have the old night pattern bush covers and trousers as well as the coats and liners. Hope this info helps!

[hardcorps1775]

Addendum to my last post. We had the long night desert parkas in SWA but that was issued because we didn't have anything new and it got cold out there!

[JA]

I thought the the checkerboard camo was to hide from nightvision devises in the desert at night.

[Heavy Metal]

If you look like a tree in the daylight, you will also look like a tree at night. Remember, trees do not get up and go for a stroll.

[Chris C]

well, i prefer tiger stripe camo (hard to find a truly effective version) for
most situations.

for night camo, solid, non-reflective black
is best, with olive drab or navy blue a close
second.

Chris

[JA]

Solid colors suck just as much at night as they do during the day. Solid black is the worst as nothing at night is solid black in an urban enviroment. The whole idea of camo is to break up the human form. I have worked the midnight shift on and off in a railroad yard for the last 22 years. Myself and co workers wear camo all the time. I have seen just about every pattern and the best is the differt colors of woodland pattern green/brown/black and light blue/dark blue. The woodland patterns with urban colors black/grey/white and red/grey/white will work only after they have been washed a bunch of times till the white is a light gray or redish color.
The commerical/hunting patterns are ok except for the ones that have fine patterns like tree bark as they look like a solid color at night.
Solid dark colors work well if you are in a rural area on a moon less night.

[Heavy Metal]

I agree that Woodland is the best at night. You can lay on the ground and blend into the leaf litter so effectivly that people will practically step on you. After this, I would choose Realtree. I generally don't like solid colors, but Olive Drab is a good choice if you know it's limitations. Black, just plain sucks! I have far less trouble observing someone dressed like a ninja than someone dressed like leaflitter. Black only works in real dark shadows and nowhere else. It is not nearly as good as even OD.

[Packrat]

Camo should break up your outline so that you don't have the same shape as a human. It need lighter areas to do this. Small patterns are as bad as solid colors. In deep shadow, anything works if it doesn't glow. Fairly new blue jeans or faded black jeans do pretty good, and they are good camo when you have to mingle with people. Nothing wakes up the opposition like seeing people in camo. Jeans (and a jean jacket) are accepted.

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Packrat

[shooterAK]

Unless treated with a UV-blocker, BDUs, especially NEW ones, GLOW under night vision, as does NYLON web gear.

[akdreams]

Woodland is the best that ive seen. German Flectar is pretty good too, I just havent been able to find it lately.

[LAgunman2K-3]

ive seen the german flectar a lot lately, at the gun shows, surplus stores, even saw a button up cover with 4 pannels to make into a small tent at a gun show --kinda neat and cheap (probably should of got one) they also had the raindrop german design too, also check US Calvary mag

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and on the 8th day GOD made the AK-47 and saw that this was good

[Chris C]

i'd sure love to show you guys how good
a proper solid black can work at night.
and tiger stripe (again, try finding a good
pattern before you criticize) is loads better
than woodland camo.

Chris

[Heavy Metal]

I respectfully disagree Chris,
At least in a Eastern Hardwood Forest, Woodland is hard to beat and matches the forest floor better than anything I have seen (and I have seen a lot).

[dadduck]

I asked my dad, a highly decorated Ranger WWII, about the 'best' camo for woods and town. He replied- "Dig a hole and get in it if you are planning to stay awhile and stay out of town"! I thought as I walked off- gotta love reality! Dadduck

[BIGWINR69]

WOODLAND DYED WITH BLACK WORKS PERFECT.YOU WILL BE IN THE SHADOWS ANYWAY.