Ghillie Suits For The Entire Family

The Family’s Guide to Ghillie Suits – These days, given the economy, we are all working harder, longer and are stretched to our limits. All this gives little time to spend with family and friends. The time we do have our kids don’t want to spend it with us, a great way to spend time with your kids in a way that they will enjoy it too are activities like Paintball, Airsoft or Hunting. You or your kids may already enjoy these activities, but doing it together can be even more fun. While a ghillie suit isn’t necessary for any of these activities, it’s a great way to add more fun and a way to create unforgettable memories.

What is a ghillie suit? A Ghillie Suit, or also referred to as a Yowie Suit is a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy underbrush. It is typically constructed from a net or cloth garment, which itself is made up of loose strips of cloth mixed with real or artificial twine, leaves and twigs. Hunters and snipers understand the importance of being completely camouflaged. In many situations, the effectiveness of their uniform's ability to blend into their wildlife surroundings may be a life or death situation. The Ghillie Suit provides excellent concealment in some of nature's harshest natural environments.

> What is the Right Ghillie Suit for Me?

This is a guide to help you buy a ghillie suit for your entire family. While there are various ghillie suits, some designed for specific tasks like sniping for snipers, we will focus on ghillies that are designed to enjoy Paintball, Airsoft and Hunting while doing various activities.

> The Papa Bear Ghillie Suit

The Special Ops Paintball/Hunter Ghillie Suit - This ghillie is for Dad or any adult male; it can also be used by teenagers between ages 14-18. It is a upper-mid tier ghillie that is very popular amongst Paintballers, Airsoft enthusiasts and Hunters! Quick Overview - The inside shell of this ghillie suit truly very comfortable, as it’s designed with No-See-Um material for the inside lining and has the softest mesh material you can find in a ghillie suit. With its 3/4″ inch netting that is sewn onto the mesh, where synthetic threads are then attached. This Lightweight Ghillie Suit is so comfortable that it can be worn with just a t-shirt over. The Special Ops Ghillie Suit, is an amazing, popular and a best seller amongst consumers, but if you wanted to upgrade from the Special Ops, you might want to consider the Lightweight Ghillie BDU Jacket & Pants. To find a trusted ghillie suit retailer visit Retailer Ratings section on the GhillieSuitExpert website.

You can read my complete review on our ghillie suit review website GhillieSuitExpert.com.

> The Mama Bear Ghillie Suit

The following ghillie isn’t “designed” for women, and ghillie suits in general are not “gender” specific, but they are designed for “men” because paintball, airsoft, and military combat operations are heavily male dominated activities. Women & Men can wear any ghillie suit, because they are designed for everybody. I hope by recommending the Ultra-Light Ghillie Poncho, I am not trying to state poncho are for women. The Ultra Light Ghillie Poncho is great for moms and women, because it one size fits all, its super light, and super comfortable. Further, because its designed for all, and if mom is only going to where this once a year, dad or son can wear it whenever they want! Ponchos are also great, because you are able to maneuver in it more easily, get and go, and use it a variety of tasks. Quick Overview - This Ultra Light Synthetic Ghillie Poncho combines all the great aspects of a synthetic ghillie suit with the advantages that come with a Ghillie Poncho. At just 2.25 lbs, this ghillie ponch is extremely light weight and compact – that it comes with its own bag. Which means you can hide it and quickly put it on over you in mere seconds. To find a trusted ghillie suit retailer visit Retailer Ratings section on the GhillieSuitExpert website. You can read my complete review on our ghillie suit review website GhillieSuitExpert.com.

> The Little Bear Ghillie Suit

The Little Bear Ghillie Suit or StealthSuit Ghillie Set is designed for youths and teenagers and because it comes in two sizes M/L and XL/XXL adults can wear it too. Quick Overview - The StealthSuit Ghillie Set is a Lightweight Ghillie Suit and is not to be mistaken for the StealthSuit Paintball Ghillie Set. The StealthSuit is made up of a jacket and pants combo set, rifle wrap and a detachable hood with face veil. The suit is available in two patterns; woodland (all season) and desert. To find a trusted ghillie suit retailer visit Retailer Ratings section on the GhillieSuitExpert website. You can read my complete review on our ghillie suit review website GhillieSuitExpert.com.

> The Baby Bear Ghillie Suit

OK, alright, its not actually for “babies”, but the Kids Ghillie Suit is for, well, Kids! Kids love playing army, hiding and what not. Gone are the days of simply playing "army", today kids go all out in fulfilling their imaginations. Parents are facilitating their kid’s imaginations by giving them more realistic costumes, props and even ghillie suits for kids. Quick Overview - Many retailers advertise this suit as being sold by Bushrag, but it is actually made by StealthSuit. The kids ghillie suit is comprised of 4 pieces, which consists of a ghillie hood, ghillie jacket, ghillie pants and a ghillie rifle wrap. Additionally, many will advertise this suit as “One Size Fits All”, when in actually it does not. The Kids Ghillie Suit comes in 3 sizes and 2 patterns.

Problem-Free Paintball

Recently I played paintball with a few friends on our local woodsball field. There were just five of us, but it was the first sunny day after a week of rain so we were all happy to be anywhere outdoors. We only played for about two hours, but during that time I noticed that there was always at least one player on the sidelines with an equipment problem. My Tippmann A-5 never let me down, but the other guys were really struggling.

Paintball is an equipment intensive sport.  Paintball guns can malfunction in any number of ways that is both frustrating and time consuming.  If you have a busy schedule like me, it’s tough to get a group of guys together to play paintball.  When you finally do organize a game, the last thing you want is to have your gun let you down.  Here are some tips to help keep you off the sidelines and in the game.

Buy A Reliable Gun – You can avoid a lot of mechanical issues by buying a gun that is sturdy and reliable. I recommend either a Tippmann 98 Custom or Pro/Carbine.  There are good reasons why these guns are used by big-time paintball fields like Skirmish USA. All Tippmann markers are extremely reliable and tough as nails, but nothing can match the pure simplicity of the 98 Custom. Don’t be fooled by its work horse reputation; the Custom 98 is a high performance gun that can keep up with just about any marker out there.

Choose Your Upgrades Carefully – Avoid upgrades that add complexity to your marker.  For example, instead of a red dot sight that requires a battery, go with an Armson occluded sight that needs no battery. The Armson will also keep working even if it takes a direct hit by a paintball. Another upgrade that makes sense is a Rocket Cock II. This upgrade keeps dirt and paint out of your bolt and also helps muffle the marker slightly. And though I love my E-Grip, if you’re seeking out worry-free paintball, you’re better off with a Response Trigger or nothing at all.

Hoppers – Paintball is experiencing an “arms race,” as manufacturers compete to create guns with higher rates of fire. Motorized hoppers are necessary to keep pace with these paint slinging monsters. Unfortunately, batteries and mechanical aspects are potential problem areas. Stick with your basic gravity hopper. Batteries die all the time but gravity has never once stopped working.

Carry Extra Air – Regardless of whether you use C02 or compressed air, always bring an extra air tank. Tanks generally don’t break down, but it’s still a good idea to have more air on hand.  If you don’t use the extra tank, chances are somebody else will.

Toolkit – Always carry a good toolkit with you when you play paintball. At my last game, three different guys borrowed my Phillips head screwdriver. A good toolkit should have a Phillips head and flat head screwdriver, allen wrenches, your marker’s manual, extra O-rings, gun oil, batteries, extra squeegee, duct tape, anti-fog spray or wipes, and bandages.  If a parts kit is available for your marker, it’s a good investment.

Gear Bag – A gear bag is a good investment.  Not only will it carry and protect your marker, but you can keep it stocked with a variety of helpful items like water, towels, an extra mask, bug spray, and toolkit.

Buy a Back-Up Marker – Getting an inexpensive second gun makes a lot of sense.  An extra gun can be a backup if your main gun goes down or it can be a gun that you loan out if you invite a friend to play. Consider buying a pump as your back up. Pumps are fun to use and generally require very little maintenance. You can get a decent used pump for about $50.  Playing pump will also improve your paintball skills by forcing you to rely on strategy over firepower.

Take Care of Your Gear – Dirt, paint and oil will build up in your marker over time. Regularly clean your gun and keep it oiled. If you aren’t sure how to do this, refer to your product manual or take the gun into your local paintball shop. Buy a case of paint and then ask them to show you how to clean your gun. Once you feel confident taking your gun apart and putting it back together, you’ll enjoy keeping it clean and functioning properly.

Paintball doesn’t have to be frustrating. With a little preparation and the right gear, you can avoid most malfunctions, or at least be prepared to make a quick fix and get back in the game. If these tips work for you, share them with a friend and help them get on the road to “problem-free paintball.”

Paul Knoch lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two daughters.  He is a member of the Dirty Saints, an association of paintball players committed to preserving the original values of the game. In addition to paintball, Paul is an avid golfer and skimboarder.