Is there really any need for camoflage?

[Vyvsdad]

Hi,
this has been playing on my mind for quite a while now, so I thought I'd just get my thoughts down and see what everyone thinks.
I'm new to this forum, but not new to bushcraft and life outdoors in general, having worked as a gamekeeper in England and Scotland and guiding wilderness treks in the Himalayas. Still have much to learn though. Everyday's a school day after all.

My problem is this: ex army gear. Now, I should say straight away that I understand perfectly why it's popular, Christ knows I have enough of the stuff myself. It is after all cheap, generally fit for purpose and readily available, but I can't help but think what first impressions would a member of the public have (i.e. a dog walker) if they bumped into someone in full DPM in the woods. Probably not favourable I'd bet. I have friends in who's mind bushcraft is linked, wrongly, with survivalism and sociapathic tendencies. I consider it part of my hobbby to change their opinions, but I have been on meets where people have trucked up in full camo, head to toe, camo tarp, camo mug, camo knife, probably camo underwear to and I can't help but think that these people are coming at this all wrong. After all, I'm there in a battered old tweed, nice thick wool jumper, home made waxed cotton bivvi and bog standard enamel crockery, and we are just as comfortable and well prepared as each other.

It's not as if we NEED the camo gear, unless of course we are doing some poaching (naughty, but when I was a keeper I had no real problem with people taking a rabbit or two for the pot, and camo isn't needed for it either) or are camping without permission (naughty, but we've all done it. Well, I certainly have). So what I guess I'm really saying is why not ditch the camo, maybe even some of the olive drab, and go out and about in something altogether more civilian. I'm not saying that we should rush out and buy day-glo goretex rambling gear, but there mush be a middle ground, mustn't there?

And then perhaps we won't scare the bejeezus out of the couple with the spaniel or the family on the bike ride

That's all.

(Mods, feel free to move this, I'm not sure if it's in the right section. Ta.)

 

[Retired Member southey]

I quite often bump into people in full cam gear either surplus stuff or civvie realtree type stuff, but in context it doesn't even cross my mind that their wearing anything odd, the're just going about there job either in the countryside, or in town. I don't think there is any ad connotation linked to wearing dpm, though wearing. Helmet too might get some looks .

 

[Bushwhacker]

Perhaps something like these dudes are wearing?

 

[dwardo]

I think you are asking the wrong people as most here i guess would not give it much thought. People who only use the outdoors to get from one indoors to another i think would see it as slightl un nerving but it depends on context. I have a DPM bergan not really by choice but as you said your self its cheap and reliable and fit for purpose. But that is where my DPM ends as i usualy have black combats and a greenish is top be it thin, thermal or venitle.
So summed up too much will scare the un-initiated a little barely gets noticed and at the end of the day stuff em anyways

 

[JonathanD]

I was out in a three piece suit the other day looking for adders. Got some strange looks then for sure. It was such a perfect day I couldn't pass up the opportunity though.

 

[Badger74]

I stayed away from camo, but then wanted a cheap cotton jacket with lots of pockets for playing round fires, so I bought an early 90's dpm jacket for a tenner and dyed it green which took out all the light camo and made it less obvious, jobs a good 'un. But then at christmas the wife thought I needed more pockets so she bought the swiss camo cotton jacket, which has more pockets than I'll ever need, again for £10. My waterproof is now the belgian symptax (sp) jacket, again cheap, but not in your face camo. I am staying away from camo trousers though.

I also wear them for dog walking too, and yes, shes a spaniel.

 

[spandit]

How do you go about waxing a tarp or did you buy ready waxed cotton?

 

[John Fenna]

I agree that camo is not needed realy.
Nor Olive green.
Civvy colours are fine .....
I wear predominantly olive/coyote/tundra all the time, even at work because it suits me to do so - I get the majority of my kit free!
My canoeing kit - BA, gear bag etc are cammo - it was the fabric I could afford when making the gear but my canoes are Olive and the other blue and white.
TBH I look a total pilchard in bright colours or pastels, I dislike wearing patterned clothing (I have one check shirt) and I can co-ordinate my wardrobe easily if I opt for earth tones. Black fades to scruffy grey too easily for my taste.
Sometimes my work decrees that I wear camo - reviewing hunting camo clothing or military stylee gear ... but I prefer plain colours for everyday wear. To most who see me it comes as a revelation that I was at Art Coll for 2 years and have an OND in Fashion Design!
Ditching the camo or olive/coyote colourways would certainly make me feel less comfortable - and my wallet a lot lighter and I think that these are the reasons that some folk will stay with these colour choices.
That and a fashion statement of course ...

 

[hobson]

I use camo when i'm out shooting, but thats all done with permission on private land, so most people i'd bump into i'd know anyway.

Regarding the use of camo/DPM gear for bushcraft/camping, i'd agree that it gets used a lot because it's cheap, plentiful and does the job, so why pay three times as much for the Jack Pyke type stuff?

At the end of the day it's down to personal preference, how deep your pockets are and what image you desire! people love dressing up and 'looking the part' i have a friend who's a banker (i know boo-hiss) and last year he bought a Land Rover Defender, fully kitted up, big tyres, loads of spotlights, bull bars, everything. he uses it everyday to drive to the train station! where he gets the train into london! i think i've seen it dirty twice!

But i've also met plenty of armchair survivalists who watch Messrs Mears and Grylls regularly, buy all the latest kit to survive world war three, but only get out into the woods once a year (if that!)

So Camo is like that, not really needed in most cases, but does the job for some and gives a nice feeling to many!

 

[wattsy]

i've got a few items of camo clothing and equipment but only because it seemed the best product for what i needed at the best price, i mostly kick around in earth tone colours anyway.

 

[MartinK9]

I got all mine free, so I'll use it until it falls apart; then open another packet and do the same.

When it's all gone I'll buy some civvie stuff. Until then; I couldn't care less what others think of what I wear.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Like dwardo said, you may be asking the wrong people here, if we see someone mucking about in the woods in camo, we're likely to go & talk to them, see what they're up to rather than imagine that they're some kind of redneck survivalists or would be paras.
No camo isn't neccessary, but it cheaper & probably tougher than civvy stuff, so why not.& using army surplus is a good example of recycling.

 

[Bushwhacker]

I was out in a three piece suit the other day looking for adders. Got some strange looks then for sure. It was such a perfect day I couldn't pass up the opportunity though.

I hope you were wearing a monocle and carrying a cane. Bad show if not.

 

[Retired Member southey]

I hope you were wearing a monocle and carrying a cane. Bad show if not.

Of course not, His wallah carries the cane, with which to beat back the local urchins:twak:

 

[Trojan]

Perhaps something like these dudes are wearing?

That was a great night!

 

[Bushwhacker]

Of course not, His wallah carries the cane, with which to beat back the local urchins:twak:

But when he's travelling abroad he needs something to prod people in the chest with. It's the only way to get those ghastly Johnny Foreigners to understand.

 

[Retired Member southey]

He uses a small hungry orphan for that, it saves the cane for formal occasions,

 

[John Fenna]

Perhaps something like these dudes are wearing?

Is that Drew - bottom left?

 

[Tony]

I don't use any camp gear, but if i needed to get something quick and cheap that's tough and hardwearing I'd go for GI stuff and it's likely to be some form of camo. I'd never wear it as needed for being outdoors, there's very little that one really needs for being out and about. I'd also avoid it generally because of the image. It's practicality and price often wins out for people though....

 

[LoveBeavers]

Well its all relative. I think no one believes that army trousers are an odd thing to see in the woods. They are cheap, they have the side pockets, they are durable (yea right) etc etc, so very usefull for the outdoors. Same goes for other pieces of garment. Now a tactical vest filled with altoid tins with a ton of uselles stuff well....not a good thing to bumb up in the woods imho. And btw, I strongly believe that army clothes are suitable for the army for various reasons but not necessarily for outdoorsmen. There is a small industry of quality items for the outdoors outhere that we should support.