Ghillie suits are essential for military snipers, made from surplus pilot suits and burlap webbing, and covered in natural materials like twigs and leaves for camouflage. Civilian hunters may not find them useful due to state regulations.
Unless your occupation is military sniper, there’s a good chance you’ll never need to buy ghillie suits. But for those whose lives depend on effective camouflage, ghillie suits are a must. Few other clothing items require additions like manure, twigs, leaves, and tire marks.
Ghillie suits usually start out as surplus pilot suits or other types of jumpsuit jumpsuits. Additional canvas pillow-like padding can be sewn to the front of the suit to accommodate hours or days of waiting action in the field. Snipers may also have to carry concealed water rations or food supplies in their Ghillie suits, although they are trained to do without such comforts for long periods of time.
Burlap webbing is attached to ghillie suits with fishing line or other nearly invisible materials. The idea is to look as natural as possible, so snipers often disturb these burlap nets by driving over them with jeeps or storing them in the mud. Enemy soldiers on patrol can search for any silhouettes or scents that seem out of place, so ghillie suits can also get a cow dung cloak.
After the straps have worn down properly, ghillie suits often receive some adjustment. Snipers use native plants and materials to make their ghillie suit blend in with the terrain. This could mean creating a clump of weeds or a leaf mat, or even weaving branches and sticks into the burlap netting. Facial camouflage is also used to eliminate any trace of human presence. Once the ghillie suits have been donned and the target is within range, snipers must remain completely still to gain maximum benefit. Even the rifle barrels are masked to eliminate their abnormally straight lines.
Civilian hunters may also be tempted to wear ghillie suits while hunting, but results may vary. Many states require the use of bright orange or other brightly colored vests to distinguish the hunters from the hunted. Even in states that allow camouflage, ghillie suits can be seen as overkill. These are best left to military professionals who really need the added protection that ghillie suits offer.
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