What is a Ghillie Suit?

A ghillie suit, also called a camo tent, wookie suit or yowie suit is a type of camouflage clothing that is designed with heavy foliage for blending in a wooded environment. The suit is made with a net cloth covered with loose strips of twine or cloth making it look like leaves and twigs. They come in a variety of styles, colors, patterns and sizes. Some ghillie suits have scraps of foliage that can be attached and will move in the wind the same way as surrounding foliage.

Ghillie suits are designed for hunters and snipers so they can blend into their environments to hide from targets or enemies. They were originally developed by Scottish gamekeepers as portable hunting blinds. The first military unit to use ghillie suits was the Scottish Highland regiment created by the British Army during the 2nd Boer War.

Australian sniper’s suits are nickname “yowies” because they resemble the Yowie, an unidentified great ape similar to the Yeti which is a large creature resembling a bear living in the Australian wilderness.

High quality ghillie suits are manufactured by hand from about six pieces and are very time consuming to build. High quality suits can take up to weeks or months to manufacture. Most military snipers actually make their own unique suites from natural materials available in the environments they operate in.

Although ghillie suits are very effective at hiding a person, they are impractical for many situations because they are heavy and hot. A suit, even in moderate climates can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is usually flammable unless treated with fire retardant.

Thanks to the Internet, many online stores sell ghillie suits making them easy to obtain. There are several brands which include Bushrag, Mossy Oak, RAP4 and Rancho Safari with prices ranging from $50 to $250.

Choosing the correct ghillie suits depends on what your hunting purpose is. You may only need a jacket ghillie, instead of a full body ghillie if you are hunting from a blind where only your torso will be exposed. A Ghillie Poncho may provide greater mobility if you are hunting in thick low growing cover. However, if you are in the military as a sniper, you will want to choose a genuine hand-made sniper suit for comfort and longevity.

Utilizing a ghillie suit correctly is very important. You should be aware of the available cover and choose the right suite to properly blend into your environment.