When deciding on a ghillie suit, there are a few factors to keep in mind. Some factors are obvious and others less so. The first and most obvious is whether to go with burlap (jute which is a natural fiber), or to choose the synthetics. Then you need to decide whether you have the time and patience to build it from scratch or a kit or lacking the time, patience, or inclination should you buy a ready-to-wear suit and if so how much money do you put into it? Do you want a suit that will last through many rough seasons or do you want one you can discard after the end of the season and buy another next time? Next you have choices of style; Ponchos in full body or head and shoulders, pant and jacket suits made on a variety of bases, one piece full body suits which in my opinion are simply full body ponchos, or you can opt for a specialty suit such as bowhunters need. I personally have never heard of anyone being allergic to Jute, but Some folks are allergic to a lot of things and some of them are really unusual. The synthetics are hypo-allergenic ( they don\’t trigger allergic reactions)

In deciding between natural or synthetic fiber there are several concerns. Natural fibers are very flammable. Synthetic fibers are usually fire proof or at least fire retardant. Natural fiber will rot or decay while synthetics will last longer than you will. Natural fiber such as jute carry a strong odor of their own and will absorb other odors that may give away your presence. Synthetics usually have no odor of their own and will not absorb odors. Synthetics may however, carry odors on their surface if exposed to airborne scent particles. A minimum of care and attention should enable you to avoid those scents. Organic fibers are difficult to clean if the need should arise. Synthetics can be cleaned with a simple hosing down and drip dry. Speaking of wetting down your ghillie, imagine being out in the rain in a jute suit. You\’re gonna be carrying around 30 or 40 more ponds in water weight. The synthetics do not absorb water, but they will carry some on the surface. Your choice, between 30 to 40 extra pounds or less than 5 extra. If you store either suit in a damp condition. you won\’t like it when you pull it back out. You may as well toss the organic fiber one,but you can hose down the synthetic and salvage another season from it. I only know of two pluses for the Jute Ghillies. Jute will consistently give you more natural and vibrant colors. This is an important consideration for artists and I include photographers in that statement. The other reason for choosing Jute is nostalgic. Some folks like to do things the old fashioned way.

After choosing your material you must choose between building and buying. If you have a lot of patience and plenty of time, building your own suit can be a very rewarding effort and you can end up with a somewhat better suit than you could buy. Sellers of ghillie suits have to construct them along very general guidelines to appeal to a wide variety of circumstances. You on the other hand would be building one suit to apply to only your specific circumstances. If you are an aggressive type \”A\” personality, you most likely would not do well trying to build your own. It really does take a lot of time and patience. The time and patience cannot be emphasized enough. In the long run, a bought suit is going to do every bit as good as a built one. You can get the personal satisfaction part from earning the money to make the purchase. Purchase prices may range from just under a hundred dollars to around five hundred. As with any purchase, buy the best you can afford for the purpose it is intended.

Style of suit will be dictated by personal preference and the circumstances of use. A poncho is versatile and allows for a wide range of motion. If you are going to be spending some time in a blind, a head and shoulders poncho may be all you need. If you are bowhunting, You need the jacket of the suit to be devoid of any string or attachments on the bow arm and that side of the chest area. Usually, the jacket would be all you need, but you can get pants to match if your particular circumstances would be better served. For varmint shooters, a sniper ghillie comes without any thread on the front, but is reinforced with a heavy, water resistant cordura layer for laying on your belly and taking those long range shots. For really rough wear especially in cold seasons and climates, a ghillie suit built on a set of BDUs holds up better and is more comfortable than any other. You can also get a very comfortable suit that comes on a base of very light material instead of the BDUs. This material is soft to the skin and is bug proof. Be sure the suit you buy suits the purpose you intend to use it in.

Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer that gives some assurance of satisfaction. You do not want a suit built with anything containing UV brighteners. Try to get an accurate picture of the suit to see if there are any straight lines in the construction. Some suits are made looking as if someone cut all the threads to the same length in rows. These straight lines defeat the purpose of the ghillie suit. Try to determine if the suit is constructed in a manner that allows for adding of vegetation in the field. Be sure the synthetics used are non-reflective (a rare situation). Most of the dealers on line who sell primarily ghillie suits with a few related accessories are reputable people. There are also a lot of dealers who sell ghillie suits as a sideline to a lot of other products. Some of these have no knowledge of ghillie suits or camouflage in any form. Some will show you a picture of a ghillie suit and then ship whatever they happen to have on hand.

James Mizzell is a crotchity \’ol fart staying busy by working on his website: http://www.ghilliesandstuff.com. When that doesn\’t work, he hunt\’s for busy people and engages them in idle conversation

James Mizzell is a crotchity \’ol fart staying busy by working on his website: http://www.ghilliesandstuff.com. When that doesn\’t work, he hunt\’s for busy people and engages them in idle conversation.

Author Bio: James Mizzell is a crotchity \’ol fart staying busy by working on his website: http://www.ghilliesandstuff.com. When that doesn\’t work, he hunt\’s for busy people and engages them in idle conversation

Category: Sports
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