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Safety Factors
in Wearing a Ghillie Suit
A ghillie suit
is a suit that is essentially worn for protection. While it may be used to hunt game, other
common uses of the suit include military combat and simulated war games (such
as paintball). Wearing a ghillie is a
form of protection in itself, as it camouflages the wearer to blend in with
various surroundings. However, there are
some safety factors that you should consider before suiting up.
While ghillie
suits are very practical for hunting and combat, they also have a tendency to
become very hot. Carrying the weight of
the ghillie suit may be a consideration, depending on the construction
style. A hot suit as well as a heavy one
will take its toll on a long hunt. This
is why some hunters will look for ultra-light ghillie suits, made from
synthetic material. These suits can
weigh as little as three and a half pounds and are said to be just as effective
as burlap/jute designs. Some new
ultra-light products are also scentless, washable, non-allergenic and resistant
to mildew.
The two biggest
safety concerns will be the ghillie suit temperature (which could get steamy at
120 degree Fahrenheit if not specially treated) and the application of flame
retardant. Burlap (what most ghillie
suits are made of) is known to be a very flammable material, so make sure that
your suit reads that it has been treated with fire retardant.
Of course, your
safety will be determined largely by the activity that you are involved
in. Military operations, as well as law
enforcement tasks, will put a great deal of emphasis on flame retardant. However, for hunting activities and paintball
gaming, the comfort level of the suit (temperature, weight and mobility) will
be the most important factor. Stay safe
while wearing your ghillie suit so that you can identify your target with ease
and in comfort. |
