Ghillie Suit Tactics

When it comes to camouflage, there is no better tool than the ghillie suit. Because it resembles foliage, the suit allows you to blend into your natural surroundings and provides you a greater chance of hiding from and stalking your targets. Wearing one, however, does not make you totally invisible. Whether for paintball, airsoft or hunting, it’s vital that you know how to use a ghillie suit strategically so as to maximize its effectiveness.

First, let’s go through some basic guidelines common to all scenarios.

1. Movement is the enemy of camouflage. Even if you blend into the background, a slight movement of your hand as you adjust your rifle or scratch at an insect bite can give away your position immediately. While in hiding, stay as still and as quiet as you can.
2. Choose a suit that’s best suited for your strategy. Will you be standing, sitting or crouching most of the time, as in hunting? A full-body poncho suit is best for you. Will you need to move around quickly, as in the case of paintball and airsoft? Consider getting a fitted suit or one for the upper body only. And if you prefer to lie prone, choose one that’s open or padded in front, allowing you to crawl with relative ease and comfort.
3. Customize your ghillie suit to mimic the terrain you will be on. Wearing camouflage that makes you stick out of your surroundings is self-defeating. Take some time to visit the place, note the colors and surrounding vegetation there, and apply these details to your suit.
4. Make sure your equipment is also concealed. Your prey can’t mistake the straight line of a gun barrel for a branch. Blacken shiny objects with mud or matte black model paint,and consider investing in a ghillie rifle kit for your weapon.

Paintball and Airsoft

Using a ghillie suit in combat games like paintball or airsoft not just adds to the fun factor by providing a bit of realism-it also gives you an incredible advantage of being difficult to spot and shoot at. As mentioned, ghillie suits work best when the wearer is immobile, and thus are far more useful for defensive positions rather than attacking ones. Still, there are a number of tactics you can use to maximize your advantage.

One strategy is to lie in wait beside a path, wait for the enemy to pass by, then shoot them in the back. With the right timing, you can take down one or more opponents without blowing your cover. A variation of this strategy is to simultaneously have your companions ambush the opposing team once they’ve passed your area. The subsequent noise will mask your own shots, letting you hit your targets without giving yourself away.

In scenarios such as Capture the Flag, staying hidden is not as much a priority as tagging as many enemy players as you can. This is because your opponents will be most likely making a run for your flag. You’ll want to ambush and take them down as they come into view. Because surprise is on your side, you should be able to tag one or two before the rest can return fire.

One drawback of the ghillie suit is if the opposing team has already seen you in it before the game starts, they’ll know what to look for. Lessen the risk by taking deep cover amongst grass, shadows, and dense leaves. Whatever location you choose, just be sure you’re able to see around you and sight your targets.