Maybe some of you in the military can tell me. I really like the looks of the new ACU clothing but I am concerned it is not as quiet as the stuff we can get in all the commercial camo patterns. Is this stuff quiet? The desert digital just looks so much more efective than a lot of the stuff out there

Are you looking to fool people or animals? If its animals, the old woodland pattern is just as good as is most of the commercial stuff on the market today. I wore the Army camo for over 27 years (before that we had tiger stripe but the vast majority wore the solid OD) and it came in two varieties (a form of nylon and all cotton). The cotton can easily be made quiet. The new stuff can also be made quiet EXCEPT for the velcro which is all over the garment. Velcro is used to keep all pockets closed, keep the jacket closed, and to attach patches, etc. One could remove the velcro and add buttons, but why bother? Commercial stuff is, IMO, better than the new ACU for fooling animals (not the enemy as it were), and doesn't have to be modified. I have some buds still serving in the Rangers who have removed all velcro and gone to buttons. Military garments are designed to fool the enemy and wear as long as possible. Quietness is down the list for consideration. Any of the military camo having nylon in the fabric is going to be louder that cotton, fleese, etc. The nylon stuff last longer in the bush, but makes more noise.

Dittoes on LBGuy's. Stuff for hunting just doesn't work like when you are hunting men. It wasn't meant to.

Wait a few months and you'll see the digital stuff out on the market made of nice soft cotton or fleece.

I have some of the new digital camo. I cut off most of the offending velcro.

I like it for late season bow hunting for deer, in our oak savanna low lands. It blends better than most commercial patterns. BT

quote:

The desert digital just looks so much more efective than a lot of the stuff out there

Camo patterns are like fishing lures. They're designed to fool hunters (or fishermen), not their prey. Truth be told, most camo patterns are designed to look good to human eyes, not the animal's. The old woodland camo patterns are better than 99.9% of all the wonder realtree/mossy oak/etc patterns out there.

Boltman is right. The new patterns are just pictures of leaves and don't break your profile - not enough contrast and usually too dark.

The old green leaf or brown leaf are just as good as any.

I never use army junk, it's not as good as commercial. It's noisy, not as warm, etc.

ACUs Quiet . . .
I wore some ONE day last year "stalking" elk.

I felt like I was wearing a suit made of Post Toasties. It was pretty chilly, but I stripped out if the shirt and went on in a T shirt.

Yes, ACUs are VERY NOISEY.

I will bet money that soldiers will die because the famous sound of velcro (NOTHING sounds like velcro) will give away someones position at a very inopportune time.

I keep saying that I am going to do a comparison with all of the different patterns in the same spot as close together in time as possible. IF I get the digital camera I am looking at, I will do it during May and post the results.

What has appeared to be most effective (early evening)in a VERY unscientific poll is the old night desert jacket and over pants. Simple black squares printed on dark OD cloth.

All that and I think movement is the hunters biggest enemy.

As far as patterns go I have to COMPLETELY diagree with you guys. I have worn the MARPAT camo for 3 years bow hunting and I have clearly seen a difference in how game looks at me verses looking through me. The digital pattern makes it impossible for the animal to focus on you. I did numerous field studies, informal of course, and hands down the digital camies are superior.
As far as the velcro goes it is noisy but I always tuck the flap in so I dont have to "rip" my pockets open.

Perry