ACUPAT (UCP, Army Digital) Camouflage VS MultiCam

[MrPlaystationboy]

If you set the video to 240p and make it full screen then this whole video is a still image of a digital camo patern

[Maximalnoob]

So long your vest and gear is in tan or something else than the pattern the camo won't work that well.

[TheGlerian]

@Maximalnoob They vest and gear now gets issued in the Multicam pattern, which all blends making you practically invisible. You can even get Multicam tape to wrap your rifle or other gear in.

[Maximalnoob]

@TheGlerian I agree, but I were talking about the marines.

[Radi0activ3Cupcak3]

@Fettman501 ACU works brilliantly in the rugged mountains of Iraq and Afghanistan. Not in the forrest

[sl8734]

How is it going to work that MC is adopted by like 5 other countries, if the US goes to war with those countries how would that work?

[Fettman501]

This was really useful. I didn't know what kind of environment ACU was for, and it doesn't do much of a good job. Multicam did well, but it had some difficulty.

[ghillisniper300]

@Fettman501 Thank you. We've shot some more video but it didn't amount to much. We intended to show both patterns in various environments throughout the year but it just didn't happen. I can say that I'm pretty pleased with the versatility of MultiCam. It's not a magic cloaking device (what is?) but it does well for me across a wider spectrum than any other camo that I've had. And I'm not a big fan of the "hunting" patterns anyway.

[yesimfromengland]

@Fettman501 acu was designed for iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan and if you see it it worked alot better then multicam but multicam is more for woodland style terrains

[MrSPFB]

The ABU is probably the worst US military uniform, if you don't consider the NWU. Try sneaking around in that XD

[TheNASCARknowitall]

@11bangbangable ok thnx for ur infomation really helped :)

[TheNASCARknowitall]

@11bangbangable well i can understand mtn warfare but im talkin about something like MARPAT woodland but an army version and also my mistake with multicam i since then watched a video showing various pics of it and noticed how the pattern worked in a correct enviroment

[TheNASCARknowitall]

@11bangbangable just a quick question about some of the armys unifoms If the U.S was ever deployed to somewere were there is a winter enviroment like some of europe or heavy wooded areas like sputheastern asia would the army take time to make digital woodland and winter or just use the M81 like awhile back and thnx for ur service.

[85funnyguy]

does the army use multicam yet

[ghillisniper300]

@85funnyguy Some. Many people being deployed to Afghanistan get issued MC. I talked to a couple of guys who are getting it issued but then will switch back to UCP when they return home. I do think the Army "adopted" MC but actually getting that rolled out probably takes awhile and since I'm not in the Army I don't know what "adopted" means.

[ghillisniper300]

@11bangbangable Are you guys allowed to paint your weapons? I've seen picture and video of folks with painted M4's but I've never asked anyone if it is generally okay or not. If not, it should be.

[ghillisniper300]

@11bangbangable That is a great point. I would say that which one you are wearing still matters some, but it's a valid point. I've communicated with a few other people who have been deployed and mostly they prefer MultiCam either way.

Thank you for your service as well.

[themanwich212]

So which one is suppose to be better?

[ghillisniper300]

@themanwich212 It depends, in theory, on where you are. ACUPAT is typically thought to not be that good in most environments but does work well in some. MultiCam seems to be better in most grass and wooded areas but not necessarily in some lighter colored desert areas or really green grassy areas. In scrubby, brown desert it probably would be better. It all depends. I like MC better but it's because it works better in my climate year round.

[ghillisniper300]

@Mihaelowizh Agreed. I was disappointed in the video quality. It was recorded in HD but the process to get it from Doc's HD camera to my PC for editing reduces the quality by a large degree. I hope to fix that at some point and reshoot this video. Sorry, and thanks for watching.

[crazypaste]

The acu seems to reflect light alot more in direct sunlight and looks lamost white. Lots of soldiers more so in afghanistan are fighting more ranged and have more fire fights, also in both campaigns a lot of IEDs are manually triggered by mobiles, wires and other transmitters so a road patrol it would make no difference either way. but if the were to the side/near cover MTP would be less visble and a trigger bomber may miss time detination or be spotted first. acu is more urban suited

[ANonCoolName]

Personally I was against this camo because I really like digital camo and was hoping i could make it to basic while digital camo was still in. But then I watched this video and now Im all for MultiCam instead of Digital camo. Thanks so much for making this video.

[ghillisniper300]

@ANonCoolName No problem. Thanks for watching. In my opinion, digital camo looks "cool" but doesn't work very well. In the army tests that were done, the pattern that became UCP performed pretty poorly, so why they used it I'm not sure. Anyway, I like MultiCam and it seems to work really well for me, especially in fall during deer season when I actually need it

Thanks again and thank you for your service. Take care.

[ANonCoolName]

@ghillisniper300 Yeah I leave for basic 11 October and a guy at my recruiting station showed me the new uniforms and i thought they were ugly, because I really like the UCP. So when i saw this video with the testing it totally changed my mind. The only thing is, the Army now has a policy making the "meat tags" and insignia as an optional sew-on. So with the new uniforms and sew on meat tags, we're gonna look like the Marines. Its nice that we can distinguish uniforms so we'll see how it works.

[cripplehawk]

@ghillisniper300 because the multicam is 7 dollars more costly then the UCP

[ghillisniper300]

@cripplehawk $7 seems a small price to me to keep from sticking out like a soar thumb, but it is interesting how the government works.

[RGM79GM1]

@ghillisniper300 It is significantly more than $7 or was anyway. Uniforms in Multi-cam were usually around $20 more than in other patterns when it was released. So consider that there are about one million soldiers(Active, NG, and reserve). If you add just an extra $20 more to the cost of each uniform that is $20,000,000 that could be used on something else(ammo).

Personally I have used multi-cam and UCP and I like them both. Since for me they both work, where I live, but in different areas.

[ghillisniper300]

@RGM79GM1 When has the government balked at spending that? Plus, if you just give them to the 100,000 + in Afghanistan (which they are finally doing) we'd probably have more people still alive than we did before.

I don't mind UCP, it just stinks. I know there are places where it works, but I've not found any. After speaking with people back from deployment they all hate it. If they hate it, I hate it, just becuase they are the ones who's lives depend on it.

[RGM79GM1]

@ghillisniper300 I never said they ever had a problem spending $20,000,000. I said they'd rather use it on something else like ammo or armor. There might be a few more alive but most personnel are killed by IEDs so camo wouldn't change much with that as a result armor would be more important.

It works best in gray urban areas and in desert areas. Based on my tests UCP and Multi work well in the areas the other is bad, or at least not as good, in. That may just be me but it is what I've seen.

[ghillisniper300]

@RGM79GM1 I'm not trying to argue, I'm just saying that the base pattern that was used to make UCP scored the absolute worst out of the testing the Army did to determine the next uniform. Why bother testing if you pick the pattern that scored the worst. They could have picked any of the other patterns, including MultiCam if they wanted to. I'm not in the Army, so I'm not that invested in it, it just doesn't make much sense to me.

[RGM79GM1]

@ghillisniper300 I understand I'm not trying to argue either. Actually it scored 4th. The original test started with about 17 patterns and only the four best made it to the final round. The one made into the UCP was fourth of the finalists. I would like to know why they picked that one instead of the top performer but I'm assuming it had to do with the conversion to digital. I'm not in the Army either, yet, but I do want to enlist which is why I test the camo I'd use. So sorry for the trouble.

[ghillisniper300]

@RGM79GM1 That's what I was meaning, the final test of the four patterns. It's no trouble, it's good respectful conversation, so no worries. Take care and good luck. Stay safe.

[RGM79GM1]

@ghillisniper300 Oh. Most people I talk to don't know about the other patterns. Thanks and you too.

[ghillisniper300]

@RGM79GM1 I'm not all that familiar with them but I did a little research on how UCP was adopted and found out more information than I thought existed.

Later.

[CameronsFace]

@ANonCoolName You will still be issued Digi. The Army hasn't phased in MultiCam to everyone. It's specifically for currently deployed forces. You may not be issued a beret, as the Army pulled the plug on that yesterday.

[cripplehawk]

@CameronsFace you will still be issued berets but you will not be allowed to wear them with your ACUs. Only with your dress uniforms. That's what I heard

[ghillisniper300]

@XsweetxsacraficeX Every camo has its place. I've seen a little on A-TAC and I like it. The problem is, it isn't field proven like MultiCam. And the other problem is, the pictures I've seen of it are deliberate pictures where it is put in an environment it will excel in.

Personally, I don't think it would work very well for me except in a certain place I hunt, and MultiCam works very well there already. Also, nothing about MultiCam is "off white".

I do like the A-TAC though.

[XsweetxsacraficeX]

@ghillisniper300

A-TAC is great and I admit, some of that is just due to the "newness factor," as many of the other patterns just seem dated already. I hate ACU, because it's just not as versatile like Multicam is. It always appears much too bright overall for most sun-lit, American woodland areas. Of course, it works well in Iraq and Afghan enviro's. What I meant by Multicam's off-white color is that lightest color it has, which is a very light taupe, my mistake. I do hope A-TAC pans out.

[ghillisniper300]

@XsweetxsacraficeX Ah, I see what you're saying. Yeah, ACU is way too light. They actually adopted that after it performed horribly on a set of tests against other similar camo patterns and MultiCam. I'm really glad they are finally dishing out MultiCam to our men and women in Afghanistan....that ACU was getting people killed up in the mountains I think.

The A-TAC does look very good, I'd like to see more of it.

[XsweetxsacraficeX]

@ghillisniper300

Yep, more A-TAC, and more variations of it as well. You're right, ACU has likely allowed the enemy to more easily spot troops just from the sheer ineffectiveness of it against most landscapes/times of day. In fact, I'll go as far to say ACU only works when it collects a high amount of dirt and dust from the local enviro all over it, before it starts to "blend" well enough into the background. No doubt, Multi would help soldiers in Iraq & Afg right *now*

[ghillisniper300]

@XsweetxsacraficeX agreed. And of the few servicemen I've talked to, the really love and want MultiCam. Some have purchased their own for personal use. One National Guard member I spoke with was deploying to Afghanistan and was going to be issued MultiCams, but then had to give them back when returning home. At least he got some while deployed I guess.

Thanks and take care.

[christhegreatish]

i live in NJ i don't know if i should get multi cam or marpat i like them both but i thought you might be able to help me decide

[ghillisniper300]

@christhegreatish I'd love to but unfortunately I've never been to NJ and I don't know what the area you'll be using it in looks like. I should have another video coming out soon comparing M81 Woodland to MultiCam in a dry, fall environment but it will be a very short vid.

The MultiCam is expensive, but seems to work well in more areas. If you'll be in darker areas then nothing wrong with MARPAT...especially if it is cheaper. If I can help more let me know.

[christhegreatish]

@ghillisniper300 thanks i think i'll end up going with multicam because in nj it's not to dark but thanks 4 the help and btw good video

[ghillisniper300]

@christhegreatish Thanks man. I personally like MultiCam over MARPAT but that's me. You could do worse! Camo isn't a magic bullet or anything, we won't disappear in it but good camo can help. Thanks again and have fun.

[nemisous83]

MARPAT is the best woodland camo imo

[ghillisniper300]

@nemisous83 I like MARPAT a lot better than ACUPAT for forested areas. I don't have MARPAT so I can't test it, but it appears too dark for my area. It definitely depends on where you are though. But yeah, I like MARPAT.

[Darekun]

I'd say based on this vid, neither has enough contrast for the area. Which is OK while you're in an "attack posture", but even then a higher-contrast camo would do better.

[ghillisniper300]

@Darekun I'm not sure what yo mean by more contrast. I could be completely wrong, but in my mind camo only does 2 things by design. First and foremost it breaks up the outline. After this it should at least attempt to blend in with similar colors to the area. This is much harder unless you only plan on going to one area. Again, I could be wrong but contrast seems to be the opposite of what I would want more of, unless you mean to try to blend in to more varied areas.

[Darekun]

@ghillisniper300 I mean it's utterly failing to break up the outline. He looks like a solid grey-green blob. Hull-down, he doesn't stand out from the other shadowy blobs, but he still looks like one solid shadowy blob. In that terrain, he might as well be wearing a solid color instead of camo.

[ghillisniper300]

@Darekun I see. The UCP always looks like it fails to break up the outline to me. I think the MultiCam did really well for the most part, except in the open field.  Right now, in this area, the grass is brown and it will probably do much better I think. Hopefully we'll get a test of that as well. But I see your point.

[ghillisniper300]

@Darekun I think it is also fair to say that MultiCam is brown dominant. That makes a huge difference in what type of environments you can use it effectively in. I suppose you could say UCP is green dominant, but it looks grey to me from a distance. But I woulnd't try to get away with using MultiCam much in a very vibrant, green field.

[RGM79GM1]

Overall they both seemed pretty good. Multicam is better choice there though. Based on tests I've done Multicam is better for most or all woodland areas and urban areas with red bricks. While UCP is better for most urban and desert areas.

[xplorwest]

I still think good old woodland, or perhaps flecktarn or marpat are great choices for the PNW where I live. Multicam is just off for this area.

[ghillisniper300]

@xplorwest there is definitely no such thing as magic camouflage. I like MultiCam and I think it works well for most areas I'm likely to go in, but I think you are right and there are plenty of other good choices out there. Additionally, how you wear it and what you do in it matters more than what it looks like. Thanks.

[IWorshipMCR]

Where did you get your Multicam from, and how much did it cost you my good sir?

[ghillisniper300]

@IWorshipMCR I ordered both the ACU jacket and the BDU pants from Amazon.com. If I remember correctly, the jacket was about $50 before shipping, the pants were a little less than $50 after shipping. The ACU pants are about the same as the ACU jacket would be. I ordered MultiCam pouches and a plate carrier from US Patriot Tactical, but be prepared for backorder on some of that stuff.

[1lostinspace]

ACU needs shadows or tree cover to work in woodland. Multicam is a better choice there but in Urban/Desert and open field UCP does an ok job. I think Marpat would work even better out there

[ghillisniper300]

@1lostinspace I prefer MultiCam for one because it doesn't have black in it. It is just dark enough and just light enough to work over a larger variety of environments. And there is no black in nature unless maybe you happen to be sneaking around and old shale pit in Eastern Oklahoma and even then it's more gray!

[SkooterBush]

*Burp*

[ghillisniper300]

@SkooterBush Excuse you!