Night Vision Proof

[Firehead]

I'm sorry, I thought he meant something else. There is another ugly pattern that is greg(dunno the era though).

[TimW]

As pointed out, IR lights are a nice big "SHOOT ME" to anyone else with NVGs.

Clothing washed in regular detergeant (with the UV brighteners) makes you glow as well.  Why do you think all your clothes look nice and BRIGHT in the sunlight? It ain't because one brand cleans better than the other.

Go to Sportsmans or Sports Authority and get the hunter's soap.  

Run your BDUs through WATER ONLY once or twice to get the remaining soap out of them, then wash them twice in teh hunter's soap (contains no brighteners).  I ONLY wash my BDUs and other tactical clothing in this stuff, ever since getting it.  

Deer and other animals have a heightened ability to detect UV light, which is one reason they can see so much better when it's dark.  Thus, clothes washed in regular detergent glows like you wouldn't believe.

Also, as pointed out, do not use starch in any of your tactical clothing.

It DOES make a difference.

Next, buy some Bowflage and use it on your fastex buckles.  Military Moron's site has a great section on NVGs, and he shows how much paint and Bowflage (the brand of removeable paint) cover (or not) the buckles from IR reflectivity.  You might be surprised.

Finally, stay away from Snugpak line of clothing unless you treat it with some anti-IR reflectivity "stuff" (which I don't have and wouldn't know where to find).  I have a couple of their jackets, which are a nice OD green.  At night, under natural light/darkness, the material is great.

When viewed under NVGs, however, you look like you're wearing a white t-shirt under a blacklight, esp. if there is any moon.  I was appalled at how much this stuff glows.  Which is a shame, because it has a REALLY good warmth / weight ratio.

[creed_DET5]

Firehead:  Purple base with hot pink polka-dots is good camo through Gen I NVGs.  A little less good through Gen II or Gen II+.  I've had some trouble spotting folks in old, dirty, sweaty clothes through Gen IIIs in marginal (no moon) light.  The jokers who wear their Oakland Raiders warm-up jackets might as well walk up and let themselves into the back of my truck.  Save everyone the time and effort :-)

I like the Snugpak gear I have so far, which is their jungle sleeping bag.  Needs a liner for winter nights in the desert (nearly froze my a$$ off the first night of Cold Burn), but it's not designed for those temperatures anyway.  Haven't looked at it through my NVGs, though, but then again, you usually don't worry about that kind of thing in a sleeping bag.

Another problem with many of the synthetic fabrics, especially Gore-Tex.  They're LOUD!  They swish loudly when you move, and make a distinctive "zzzziiiiip" sound when a passing brush swipes across the cloth, or the sling on your gun shifts.  If you're dealing with opponents who've had a few hours to get used to nighttime conditions you might as well be carrying a flashing neon sign and a boom box.  At night your hearing becomes more acute and minor sounds are audible across greater distances than during daytime.

Active IR lights are useful in complete darkness - indoors - when using NVGs.  Anywhere else a decent set won't need them.  If you have a set that does need them for normal nighttime conditions, it's not decent.  

-Chris

[TimW]

I like the Snugpak gear I have so far, which is their jungle sleeping bag.  Needs a liner for winter nights in the desert (nearly froze my a$$ off the first night of Cold Burn), but it's not designed for those temperatures anyway.  

I have their Silk liner and TS-1 liners in stock.

I used my Merlin 3, liner and bivvy in 42 degrees w/10+ mph on the side of a hill (no tent).  I was warm, except for that part of my face which was exposed....brrrrrrrr....

[Surplus man]

For being a fan of older gear, you sure don't know much about the BDUs. There is a pattern that is OD green with a light green grid running about it. It was designed to make you blend in with the look that you see with NVGs(that grainy look). It doesn't work that well with newer gen but it works great with 1 and 2.

actually its a grey green color with a dark green grid and splotches all over it. and its not a bdu, it was only manufactured as a parka and over pants.

[azsarge]

I like the Snugpak gear I have so far, which is their jungle sleeping bag.  Needs a liner for winter nights in the desert (nearly froze my a$$ off the first night of Cold Burn), but it's not designed for those temperatures anyway.  

I have their Silk liner and TS-1 liners in stock.

I used my Merlin 3, liner and bivvy in 42 degrees w/10+ mph on the side of a hill (no tent).  I was warm, except for that part of my face which was exposed....brrrrrrrr....

Such a salesman, Tim! [smilie=armata_pdt_34.gif]

I love the GoreTex parka, but it IS very goddam noisy!  I like mine alot, but it was free.  I cannot imagine why anyone would want to spend over 100 dollars on one, when there is much better stuff available!  Maybe only the uber-wannabes, the type of guy that wears a beret, buy those things from surplus stores for the retail price.  HA!

I've seen other guys BDUs that have been laundered through gen 3 NODs, and it didn't show up any more than those that treated them.  I'm talking WISK detergent and Downy fabric softener, with a Bounce sheet in the dryer!  All that sh*t does is make it softer, and lubricates the fibers to make the fabric last longer.  I have yet to see it create adverse effects when using NODs.

Starch is another story!  The CSMs and Officers with the creased-up BDUs and such showed up like a green ghost under IR illumination.  Strangely enough, they weren't so luminescent under natural, amplified light.  I think it's a reflectivity issue.

Either way, I'll be running around with NODs this weekend, and I'll make it a point to remember who glows the most.  I love my job!

[Firehead]

Yea, when you have the IR Illuminator it picks up anything reflective. I saw a snake through NODs once, and man...his eyes glowed like plutonium.

[azsarge]

Yea, when you have the IR Illuminator it picks up anything reflective. I saw a snake through NODs once, and man...his eyes glowed like plutonium.

I bet your ass did too when you realized what you were looking at! :shock:

[Firehead]

It was a harmless snake, fortunately. I had them on as I was walking out of camp. I stopped at my instructor, and flipped them on. I realized what I was looking at, and told him to turn around. He thought I was kidding around, and boy was he in for a surprise when he saw what was behind him(it was like 3 feet away...what the hell?) We quickly removed the snake and carried on with normal business. I was able to sneak up and scare a few kids too.

I love NODs.