CAMOUFLAGE

THE PURPOSE OF CAMOUFLAGE

Basically, it allows you to hide in the woods, but it's more complicated than that.

The idea of camouflage is not only to make you the same colour as your surroundings, but to break up the very distinctive human shape. This is not as easy at it seems.

You have THE PAINTBALL CAMOUFLAGE CONUNDRUM. How much camouflage can a player use and not be accused of wearing it to increase the chances of a bounce?

A ghillie suit may effectively conceal you, but they are outlawed on most fields. Basically, the suit consists of a dark base garment to which is attached many burlap strips. The ghillie suit makes the wearer "one with the forest”. Part of my sniper training was the construction of a ghillie suit. While extremely effective (I've been actually stepped on while in my ghillie suit during a Stalking Exercise) they may not be allowed on most fields. Ghillie suits bounce paintballs like crazy.

USING CAMOUFLAGE TO ESCAPE DETECTION

You must keep four things in mind:

1. MOVEMENT

This is what your eye will notice, more than anything else. It is movement which is the main reason even the best camouflage is defeated. This is THE OTHER PAINTBALL CAMOUFLAGE CONUNDRUM: The key to the game is movement -- if you are going to rely on your camouflage to keep you in the game longer, you're going to have to move slowly, or not move at all. Trees and bushes don't run. They don't swat at bugs. If you're going to be running around like a crazy person, don't blame your cammies if you're spotted.

2. SHAPE

The human shape has no other match in nature. The idea is to break up the outline of your shape, especially your head and shoulders. Head- wraps and the like are good for this. Remember, you're trying to blend in and look like your surroundings. Unless the entire field consists of human-form trees, you better think about changing your tell-tale shape. This also applies to your paintmarker. A little burlap around the barrel and loader go a long way.

3. SILHOUETTE

This is like shape, but it refers to your shadow. If you're hiding behind something, check the shadow, can you see your shadow separate to that of the tree you're behind? Other people will. You may have the object between you and your opponent, but the sun may be from the side. Shadows give your opponent another angle to see you, without having to move. Your silhouette is also painfully obvious if you are at the top of a high feature and your opponent is below you. The sky behind you will make a perfect contrast to your dark form.

4. SHINE

Shiny objects not only stand out from the verdant green around you, but they also reflect light. Kind of like a signalling mirror. Your goggle lenses and exposed skin will also add to your "shine signature". There's nothing you can do about your goggle lenses, although a visor helps. I find coloured lenses stand out, too. You shouldn't have any facial skin showing, because you're supposed to be wearing a mask and throat protection. Yeah, I know, the pros don't use facemasks. They get paid big bucks to take one in the kisser for the team; you don't. Besides, most tournaments are making face masks mandatory, now.

WHERE TO USE IT

This is where you need a little common sense. You want to go where your camouflage will do you the most good. Sitting in the middle of an open field is not going to do it. A large leafy bush (which would actually be a camouflaged player) kind of sticks out in a jumble of boulders.

First, you want to stick to tree lines near open areas. The tree line helps you blend in and the open area gives you a large field of fire. If you can’t find an open area, try a path, a bridge or an approach to a flag station. These are called "choke points" which are likely avenues of approach for opposing players, especially places that only allow them to move in single file.

Second, you want to be in the shade. The shadow will help conceal you and your shadow.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE CAMOUFLAGED

You don't have to cover yourself in tree branches. You don't have to buy expensive foreign camouflage. Dark colours, especially greys and browns will do just as well. If you don't believe me, guess again. Animals camouflage themselves quite well, how many Tiger Stripe, Real Tree or Mossy Oak camouflaged rabbits or deer are there? You can wear black and still properly camouflage yourself, if you keep in mind what you've just read.

THIS IS ALL GREAT, IF I WANT TO LAY AROUND AND BE A SNIPER, BUT I LIKE TO MOVE AROUND, WHAT ABOUT MY CAMOUFLAGE?

You won't always be moving. Just so long as the camouflage clothing you’re wearing matches your surroundings, you should be okay. Let's say you hunker down behind a bush to survey your surroundings and you notice a group of opposing players; if you’re wearing the wrong colour, you’re going to be spotted. Movement, shape, shine and silhouette are still going to be important things to keep in mind.

DETECTING CAMOUFLAGED OPPONENTS

First, hope they haven't read this. Mainly you would use movement, shape, shine and silhouette against them. Movement will be picked up by the eye, without conscious effort on your part. Take time and scan your surroundings. Stop moving and look around. I mean REALLY look. I once stood perfectly still, the MIDDLE OF A PATH, and was undetected by a large group of opponents. They looked right at me and then turned away! I was so shocked, I didn't even think to lift my trusty paintmarker and teach them a lesson.

INCREASING THE "LIFE” OF YOUR CAMOS

Here are some simple steps to help you maintain your camouflage clothing and make it last a little longer:

• Buy quality. The best costs more, but in the long run, it will save you money. To tell a superior garment from an inferior one check the following:
  1. The material should be thick. If you can see the outline of your hand through it, it’s too thin and the material will wear out quickly;

  2. The seams should be "double stitched”, that is to say they should have a two rows of parallel stitching around every seam, much like the leg seams on a pair of good-quality blue jeans;

  3. Look on the inside of the garment, can you still see the pattern? This means that the garment’s pattern was dyed into the cloth, not simply printed on top of the cloth. Printed patterns fade quickly;

  4. Knees and elbows should be "reinforced”, this usually means that an extra layer of cloth was sewn onto these wear points.

• Wear knee and elbow pads, these things not only protect your body, but they protect your garments, too.

• Wash your garments in COLD water with a mild detergent. It is a myth that only hot water can clean clothes. If you wash them as soon as you can the dirt and paint won’t have a chance to "set in”. Otherwise, you’ll have to soak them to lift the stains and this lessens the life of the garment. Don’t use bleach. NEVER put them in a dryer, the heat of the dryer does a great deal of damage to clothing.

• Ask other players how long they have owned the garments they are wearing, how many times they play, and how they wash them. This will give you an idea of how durable the garment is.

Paintball clothing takes a lot of abuse, and these simple steps will help you get maximum life out of your camouflage clothing.

Well, I hope this helped. After some years in the infantry, I learned the importance of camouflage. Keep your wits about you and use some common sense.

All of the articles in the website Durty Dan's Paintball Information Services are free to use for webpages, school projects, reference and to promote paintball to players and the non-playing public. Credit for the source of the information should be included in the bibliography or references page.
© Durty Dan Enterprises 2000. All rights reserved. All works contained herein are under copyright of the author Durty Dan. While the Terms of Use are broad they do not include the right to republish this work in any publication (hardcopy or electronic) for the purposes of personal financial gain.