Paintball

[slvrwulf]

I know, I'm trashing all this " great new technology". I have had my ACU's for awhile. They are good for shadows, however I dont find them very well for " general terrain". I am really unimpressed with the large amnt of VELCRO all over the uniform

( Please note that this reviews the ISSUE set, not a reproduction set)

ALL the patches are velcro on, everything from the name tape, to the Army tape, to your rank, to your unit patches and flags. The front of the blouse ( jacket) is closed and opened VIA a two way zipper, with a velcro flap over. The front pockets are back to the Vietnam style slash pockets, however they are closed with Velcro too. There are pockets on the sleeves, as well as inserts for elbow pads. ALL of this, any and every opening, uses Velcro.

As to the pants. Drawstring on the inside, so that you can go without a belt if need be. The cargo pockets have been put on an angle ( just the top, for a slanted opening). The rear pockets are closed VIA velcro, as well as the inserts for knee pads. The material IS a little softer than the traditional BDUs. I really hate Velcro.

Now, I prefer the Marpats to my ACU's for a few reasons. the ONLY velcro on the Marpat uniform ( whether it is the green or the tan) is on two pockets on the blouse. I've found the MarPat ( Marine Pattern) offers better camo for woodland areas.

Traitor, I know, but the Marine stuff has more advantages.

[Special_k]

they have velcro patches of fabric that you just stick over the whole velcro area. Then you sew your patches on to that.




I'm getting some and fixing most of the dang problems with this uniform, my only regrett is that I asked my supply sargeant today if I can sew my name/army tapes on and that is a no go. but I am probably going to pick up some of these velcro covers.

[PolarMonkey]

I've noticed how the ACU's don't do that great a job blending in with much too. I think the Army tried to accomplish too much with one uniform instead of going with several different ones for different terrain types like the Marines did. When I first saw someone wearing an ACU I thought it was an old faded uniform that had been through the wash one too many times, it just seemed way too light colored.

[slvrwulf]

The velcro coverign area to sew your patches on sounds good, but still it's velcro, it's something that can inadvertantly get snagged and go "RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP" in the night, thus compromising your position. I liek hte idea of the IFF tabs, but as a general Ebay or gogle search will turn up, anyone can buy those now, without even offering proof of enlistment. and if ANYONE can buy them, the people we dont want having them will get them.

Ah well. I def prefer the Marine Pattern ( traitor), it's just an all around better pattern for the multiple uses and terrains encountered. I've found that the all terrain ACU pattern really is only fitting for low foilage low light environments. I doubt it's bility in a desert scenario, and I've seen that it doesn't really work in wooded areas... yeah, it's distinctive, you can tell it's Army, but it just lacks so much. I'm curious to see how the OICW will be though. field a group of five OICWs and a Beowulf?

[mike31c]

I remember back when I was stationed in Germany in 1989, Velcro was being used by a select few high ranking army folks (sergeant majors, Colonels and above) sewed on the BDU's in place of buttons. The only reason everyone else could not use velcro was because it made a LOT of noise obviously (and the fact it was "against regulations").

I find it amazing the military would change their minds in less then 20 years.

[Firestorm]

Sounds like you need some good old Canadain combats. Only velco is the name tag, and the canadain flag (so you can switch from red to green when you are in the field)

The air force version (which gets issues to everyone however the only version the air force can have) has flaps which cover the buttons from sight. (ebay has lots of it just type in Cadpat)

[Windwalker]

I have a pair of the ACU's and I wish I had waited and researched a little better. They're too light in color for my tastes and most areas I play they do not blend in well.

Slvrwulf, you mentioned that there is two versions of MARPAT?? I have seen what I guess would be the tan version, do you have a link or a pic of the green?

thanks,

Originally Posted by slvrwulf

I know, I'm trashing all this " great new technology". I have had my ACU's for awhile. They are good for shadows, however I dont find them very well for " general terrain". I am really unimpressed with the large amnt of VELCRO all over the uniform

( Please note that this reviews the ISSUE set, not a reproduction set)

ALL the patches are velcro on, everything from the name tape, to the Army tape, to your rank, to your unit patches and flags. The front of the blouse ( jacket) is closed and opened VIA a two way zipper, with a velcro flap over. The front pockets are back to the Vietnam style slash pockets, however they are closed with Velcro too. There are pockets on the sleeves, as well as inserts for elbow pads. ALL of this, any and every opening, uses Velcro.

As to the pants. Drawstring on the inside, so that you can go without a belt if need be. The cargo pockets have been put on an angle ( just the top, for a slanted opening). The rear pockets are closed VIA velcro, as well as the inserts for knee pads. The material IS a little softer than the traditional BDUs. I really hate Velcro.

Now, I prefer the Marpats to my ACU's for a few reasons. the ONLY velcro on the Marpat uniform ( whether it is the green or the tan) is on two pockets on the blouse. I've found the MarPat ( Marine Pattern) offers better camo for woodland areas.

Traitor, I know, but the Marine stuff has more advantages.

[PolarMonkey]

Here's a site that shows the different MARPAT and CADPAT patterns:
http://www.hyperstealth.com/CADPAT-MARPAT.htm

[pillage]

I guess the idea of having one combat uniform to be used by all the services went out the window. During my time in the Navy back in the nineties, the woodland BDU came in two flavors, standard twill (tough but hot), and ripstop (lighter, cooler, but not so tough). Desert BDU's came the same way. I could go into a uniform shop on any base and buy BDU's that were to a standard accepted by any service. It seems like the services are going the vanitey lisence plate, route just to be distinctive. In my personal opinion they need to standardize and cut the amount of varibles the supply train has to provide. Personally I think the Marine woodland pattern looks the best in the green hued department.

[Windwalker]

Originally Posted by PolarMonkey

Here's a site that shows the different MARPAT and CADPAT patterns:
http://www.hyperstealth.com/CADPAT-MARPAT.htm

Thanks for the link! Well, I need to correct myself...it is the green version I have seen. I like that pattern, but it has a little too much tan/brown in it. Although it is much better than the ACU for my area.
I am looking for a pattern to serve the best for a small team I am putting together. Right now we all have differing patterns and to cut-down on fratricide, we're looking at a standard pattern for all of us to wear.

Several people on milsim have the cadpat. That is a great pattern and would do well here, but the price would be prohibitive for some of my team members.

Does hyperstealth sell to individuals or just government types? If they do sell to individuals how expensive are we talking for their non passive negative ion generator type? I have searched their website and cannot find any prices and that leads me to believe that they're goverment only or very expensive...anyone have any ideas?