REGULAR READERS AND FOLLOWERS OF AIRSOFT ACTION WILL KNOW THAT WE’RE ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR REALLY COOL CAMOUFLAGE SOLUTIONS FOR BOTH CLOTHING AND GEAR, AND WE’VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE VERY BEST IN THE “CAM AND CONCEALMENT” COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS; THEREFORE WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT PHANTOMLEAF YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE THAT WE TOOK IT GLADLY

It’s a fact that there are so many camouflage patterns out there that it’s sometimes difficult to batter your way through all the technobabble to get the bottom of whether something is effective or not, and it which conditions it excels.

Quite often it’s the case that you base your own loadout on images that you’ve found of specific units that you want to emulate, you see something in a game or movie that looks cool, or see someone wearing a particular pattern in-game and think to yourself “Now THAT looks cool!”

But ultimately does a pattern WORK?

We’ve all seen players out in the woods in desert BDUs and think “What the hell?”, and conversely we’ve seen the ghillied-up walking bushes in an urban setting… but you know what? It really doesn’t matter what you’re wearing if you enjoy playing airsoft and are having fun!

There are those of us, though, and I count myself very firmly in this particular camp, that like a camo pattern because it DOES work in a specific environment, and I’m proud to be able to say that during my time with AIRSOFT ACTION I’ve introduced some pretty unique patterns, and indeed tried many of them for myself to prove their efficacy. And I keep searching, for I believe that their genuinely is a camouflage solution for each and every environment, and the more I can catalogue the more options I have to ensure that my own personal concealment choice is as effective as it possibly can be.

Is there one solution to every situation and environment? No, of course there isn’t, and socalled “universal patterns” are a jack-of-all-trades solution, but truly a master of none! So what do I look for?

Simply put, I look not just for one pattern, but a cohesive “family” of them, that through careful consideration has been developed to offer bespoke solutions for individual AOs… yes, it does take time to build up not just one set of gear but a couple of them, but as I’ve illustrated before once you’ve done so, your investment will mean that you can have specific gear for specific settings, and with considered mixing and matching probably cover off a bunch of others too.

I’ve been speaking to the good folk at FLECKTARN UK (www.flecktarn.co.uk) for a good while now about PHANTOMLEAF, and down at The NAF I finally got my hands on some to check out.

Now, the guys at FLECKTARN UK know a bit about (a LOT actually!) about the efficacy of different camouflage patterns, and if you check out their website you’re going to find a cornucopia of camo! However, it was PHANTOMLEAF that as a relatively new arrival to their range that they wished to introduce me to, and I have to admit that I found it immediately alluring…

IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICE

PHANTOMLEAF is a patented camouflage made for professional users in Germany, and their website tells me that

“Right from the start of product development, we work together with practicioners and our industrial licensees and partners in a spirit of trust in order to implement systemic approaches that are exactly tailored to their needs. From official special units to industrial companies to end users, your protection is our top priority.”

I said earlier, PHANTOMLEAF is not just a single camo, but a family of them that’s tightly created on a cohesive model to give the widest, and most effective choice to the user. For those that haven’t come across the PHAMTOMLEAF family before it breaks down pretty simply and understandably:

WASP 1: The versatile pattern WASP I was developed exclusively for the PHANTOMLEAF® license partner MIL-TEC, and a separate collection (CIV-TEC) was launched by MIL-TEC for this purpose. The end-users specified for WASP 1 include outdoor enthusiasts in the areas of bushcraft and sports shooting (including airsoft) and it’s further broken down into “zones” to include temperate (Z3a), arid (Z2), and transitional (Z1b) AOs.

WASP II: this is characterised by a more specialised colour palette, and professional users from the government and security sectors can rely 100% on the effectiveness of the six AO-specific zonal camouflage patterns. In combination with functional materials and userfriendly fit, effective overall systems in the form of camouflage clothing are produced specifically for users in collaboration with trusted partners. WASP II can be purchased by the metre direct from PHANTOMLEAF® TEXTILES (B2B), or from their partners TACTICALTRIM and TARNSTOFFE MARONN (B2C), whilst finished products are available from the likes of LEO KÖHLER, ZENTAURON and DEFTEX.

The team at FLECKTARN UK have been choosy themselves when it comes to the garments that they offer, with a mixture of both WASP 1 and WASP 2 on offer in both the Z3a temperate pattern, and the browner Z2 arid pattern, and the garments themselves range from simple BDU trousers and shirts right up to more specialist UBACS and even Operator Smocks and Cold Weather Jackets!

The Z3a pattern is an innovative adaptive camouflage pattern effective at a variety of ranges with its combination of macro and micro elements and extensive disruptive shading, and the WASP I Z3a is optimised for green and temperate environments, and uses both green and brown tones with dappling effects to confuse the body shape fully even at close range... so perfect for European woodland!

THE GEAR areas of colour contrast, medium sized dappling effects, and micro flecks that help to widen the optimal range of use. with concealed buttons.

I had one of the simple BDU shirts to pore over from MIL-TEC and I have to say not only does it look great, but it’s also very sturdily put together in the distinctive WASP Z3a green dominant pattern, featuring a disruptive pattern with both green and brown elements to provide an effective camouflage effect in forest areas.

The shirt marries up with the WASP 1 Z3a trousers (sold separately) for a complete solution, and sizes available are Medium, Large and XL.

One item that I saw and REALLY liked was the Operators Smock, which reminds me of the classic SAS Smock of old, but with a thoroughly modern twist. The Operator Combat Smock in green-dominant WASP II Z3a is a fully featured, operator-designed combat jacket. Made from top-grade material it’s low-noise ripstop, with reinforcements on elbows in 600D

The WASP 1 Z3a BDU shirt is made in a ripstop cotton-poly blend which is designed to create a low noise signature, and features a classic BDU four pocket design with a slight taper around the waist. The elbows have a second layer of material to help reinforce the area, and the cuff or tighter gathering. The front of the shirt is buttoned up

The Smock features two chest pockets, two zip-up dump pockets, four waist pockets, and one large seat pocket. The waist tightens with drawstring and the hem also has a drawcord for tightening around the seat to keep out draughts. The elbows are reinforced with cordura and can open to accept padding. The upper arms also have pockets; the left is a flat document or ID pocket and the right is a larger, suitable for field dressing.

The hood has a high collar to prevent draughts from entering from the neck area, and it’s wired around the top and can be retained with a velcro strip on the back of the head to prevent the front from dropping over the eyes when prone . A drawstring with plastic cord retainer on either end keeps the hood tight around the head.

The cuffs close with Velcro, and the upper arms have velcro for insignia or identification patches, along with Velcro name tape strips on the front of the jacket above the chest pockets.

Long double zippers are located in the armpit areas that allow the jacket to be unzipped from either arm or side of body for ventilation, and the front of the jacket has a button and velcro baffle to keep out draughts, as well as a double chunky zipper for opening the jacket. Underneath the baffle is a zip opening to allow easy access to shirt or fleece chest pockets. All buttons are 25mm diameter slotted buttons for

Made by a German contractor to the same specifications as KSK and German Special Forces smocks, sizes here are again M, L, and XL.

Of course, ther’s also an option for those that want to run with plate carriers, and the WASP I

Z3a green UBACS features a polycotton stretch torso, specific underarm panels with quick dry fabric and ventilation mesh, a quarter zip on the front, double arm pockets with zip closure and velcro facing, velcro cuffs, seamless construction and extra shoulder and upper arm loops for organisation of comms or other leads on the shirt.

The WASP I green Z3a shirt combines a low noise rip-stop sleeve and shoulder camouflage with a comfortable single-colour and well ventilated torso… sizes available at the time of writing are M and XXXL, but no doubt the other sizes will come back into stock

Overall I have to say that I’m very impressed by just how well the WASP I Z3a pattern works in the woods, especially at this time of year when the greens of summer are still prevalent! I appreciate that this level of kit is not exactly the cheapest available, but it’s all of the highest quality and specification and will give you a summer woodland/ “Green Team” loadout that will literally last for years to come.

More and more manufacturers are working with PHANTOMLEAF and making use of their excellent patterns which in turn could potentially make things more cost effective. If you don’t want to follow the “airsoft herd” then I’d most definitely check out PHAMTOMLEAF, and especially WASP I Z3a, and get yourself some of this awesome camouflage pattern sooner rather than later!

My thanks go to Jo and the team at www. flecktarn.co.uk for all their help in the preparation of this article. You can find out more about the PHANTOMLEAF family of patterns by visiting www.phantomleaf.com... prepare to be impressed if you do! AA

“ONE ITEM THAT I SAW AND REALLY LIKED WAS THE OPERATORS SMOCK, WHICH REMINDS ME OF THE CLASSIC SAS SMOCK OF OLD, BUT WITH A THOROUGHLY MODERN TWIST; THE OPERATOR COMBAT SMOCK IN GREEN-DOMINANT WASP II Z3A IS A FULLY FEATURED, OPERATOR-DESIGNED COMBAT JACKET”

“IF YOU DON’T WANT TO FOLLOW THE “AIRSOFT HERD” THEN I’D MOST DEFINITELY CHECK OUT PHAMTOMLEAF, AND ESPECIALLY WASP I Z3A, AND GET YOURSELF SOME OF THIS AWESOME CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER!”