| Should I buy one or build one? | | | | "Create-Your-Own" Ghillie Suit kits online. To |
| I love this topic, we get SO MANY e-mails about this | | | | summarize the build process, its very simplistic. Start |
| question from customers who ask "should i buy a | | | | with a jacket and pants, lay them down and attach |
| Ghillie Suit" or make one myself. There is a tone of | | | | netting over them, and then tie strands of |
| information, guides, how to's and instructions on How | | | | dyed jute to the netting. To summarize the process |
| to Make a Ghillie Suit online, that you can very well | | | | to these simple four steps is an understatement, |
| make one yourself. You may think the answer to | | | | because there are dozens of steps in between with |
| our question is simple ... buy one, since we sell them, | | | | meticulous details. |
| but not really for two reasons. We also sell the | | | | I commonly refer to needing a jacket and pants - |
| materials you need if you were to make your own, | | | | but this would the first decision you would need to |
| like Ghillie Suit Kits. | | | | make - whether you want a 1 piece or 2 piece ghillie |
| In these tough, difficult economic times I know we | | | | suit. There are advantages and disadvantages of |
| will all be tempted to cut back on expenses and | | | | each option. The one piece ghillie suit will allow you to |
| make a ghillie suit yourself. Rightly so, making your | | | | get in & out of it easier, and won't get caught |
| own ghillie suit can be a very satisfying project. On | | | | while your crawling, because there is no seem. If you |
| the other hand making your own ghillie suit is an | | | | just need to wear the top part of the ghillie suit, the |
| extremely time consuming commitment and you | | | | two piece ghillie suit is its main advantage. |
| should consider this before you embark on a project | | | | Remember, to always buy one or two sizes larger |
| you might not finish, not get the results you want | | | | than what you normally wear. Visit for Ghillie Suit |
| and you will ultimately have to determine if its worth | | | | Sizes and Ghillie Suit Colors. |
| your time. | | | | For netting, any type of strong netting will do. I |
| Straight out, ghillie suit construction is extremely time | | | | usually recommend people use a black volleyball net, |
| consuming, a chore you will discover once you've | | | | which works great for ghillie suits. Other netting |
| read the step-by-step process. Typically, the most | | | | options include fish netting - if you choose to use any |
| basic ghillie suit can take anywhere between 17 to 43 | | | | other color net, don't forget to dye it darker when |
| hours, a really great ghillie suit can take up to 100 | | | | you are dying your jute. |
| hours to make. Like any "arts & crafts" | | | | The meticulous work begins when you start |
| projects we enjoyed as kids, making your own ghillie | | | | attaching your netting to your suit - do this by |
| suit will give you that sense of ownership & | | | | sewing the netting onto the suit. Using regular thread |
| hard work; but when you spent 9 - 22 days spending | | | | won't work, because its not strong enough. You'll |
| 1-3 hours per day - you might have second thoughts | | | | have to a stronger material like a waxed dental floss, |
| on just day 4. | | | | which is also incredible cheap to get. If sewing is not |
| When we're always deciding on whether to buy | | | | your thing, some people just glue the netting on the |
| something or make it ourselves, we always calculate | | | | suit using Shoe Goo; which I've personally discovered |
| the savings benefits of making something yourself. | | | | that Shoe Goo dries very strong and leaves your suit |
| Personally, whenever I decide to pay someone to do | | | | flexible. Using Show Goo gives your fingers a break |
| something for me, I always ask myself "how much is | | | | and saves labor hours, but you lose real time when |
| this task worth to me"; if the value is there for | | | | your waiting for the Shoo Goo to dry - so its breaks |
| someone else to do it for me, and save myself that | | | | even, time wise. For best, long lasting results, |
| time, I have no problem paying that person. | | | | experienced hunters do both. They sew the netting |
| Now, lets say you can finish making your full ghillie | | | | onto the suit, then Shoo Goo the corners to make |
| suit in 23 hours. How much is your time worth? If | | | | sure the dental floss doesn't come undone. |
| you earned minimum wage at lets say $6.55 (the | | | | How you attach the netting - whether its on the |
| current (2009) Federal USA minimum wage), the cost | | | | back online or on both sides, really depends on how |
| of making this ghillie suit to you is $150.65. If you | | | | your going to use the ghillie suit. If you will be using |
| enjoy making a ghillie suit, then the "value" isn't there | | | | your ghillie suit to crawl or lay down most of the |
| for you, but if you value your time, then the value in | | | | time, then you do not want netting and jute on the |
| buying a ghillie suit is there. | | | | front of the suit. If you will be walking or crouching |
| Cost of Ghillie Suit Materials | | | | a lot, then netting and jute should cover the front of |
| Unless you already have raggedy camouflage | | | | the suit. |
| jackets, pants and other ghillie suit materials you don't | | | | You got your suit, you have the netting sewed or |
| need any more. You will find the cost of ghillie suit | | | | glued on. Now, its time to color the jute. Selecting |
| materials will soon add up pretty quickly, that the | | | | the choice of colors is wholly dependent on your |
| savings of making your own ghillie suit become a | | | | environment. A good starting off point would be tan, |
| liability to your time. | | | | green, black, brown and dark green. |
| Main Materials Needed: | | | | Other jute & synthetic threads are available in |
| - Ghillie suit clothes (jacket, pants, overalls, flight suit, | | | | black, brown, dark green, gray, light olive, lime green, |
| BDUs) - approx: $20-$45 | | | | olive green, natural tan, and sage green. The colors |
| - Netting - $14 | | | | you choose will be based on your environment - |
| - 8lbs or more Jute Thread - ($6.74 x 4 = $26.96) | | | | some general color themes include: Woodland, Mossy, |
| Additional Materials Needed: | | | | Desert, Timber, Leafy & Winter White. You can |
| - Dye - $2.50 | | | | always color the thread by using dye. Once you |
| - Dental floss- $3.00 | | | | decide what colors you want, determine how much |
| - Sewing needles - $3.00 | | | | jute you need of each color (always buy a 1-2lbs |
| - Spray paint - $5.00 | | | | extra, then what you think you need) and then cut it |
| - Shoe Gue - $4.00 | | | | in those section, and dip them into dye. Dye can be |
| Obviously, if you have a flight suit, overalls, jacket or | | | | purchased at any major Big Box store like Wal-Mart. |
| pants will significantly reduce you costs. If you don't | | | | To save time and avoid a mess, you can always |
| have any of the materials what so ever, it will cost | | | | purchase a Ghillie Suit Kit, which comes with pre-cut |
| you a minimum of $57 dollars to $82 dollars. The | | | | and dyed jute along with netting. The Ghillie Suit Kits |
| better the quality, meaning the more realistic and the | | | | are usually 5 lbs and 7 lbs in sizes. |
| more jute you add the more it will cost you. | | | | If you decide on buying a Ghillie Suit Kit, you can get |
| Basic math will tell you, the costs add up pretty | | | | the basic Ghillie Suit Kit, or get specialized ones like a |
| quickly, and buying a ghillie suit may seem like a | | | | Paintball Tracker Kits, and the Paintball Ultra light Ghillie |
| better choice that the arts and craft route. Making | | | | kit. Or get the basic Ghillie Suit Kit, but customized |
| your own ghillie suit will give you that sense of pride | | | | colors and amounts. |
| knowing you made it yourself or the compliments | | | | The next step, after your jute thread is dyed is to |
| you'll get when asked "where did you get your ghillie | | | | have the thread cut into different lengths and attach |
| suit" you can proudly say I made it myself. | | | | them to the netting. The jute should be cut into |
| If you've accepted the challenge, I'm guessing your | | | | strands of 18 to 24 inches and then begin tying them |
| wondering now how to make a ghillie suit? | | | | to the netting. Start with your suit's main color such |
| Now, if you see value of buying an already-made | | | | as lime green. Take all the lime jute and tie one |
| ghillie suit or don't want to spend time with gluey | | | | strand onto each netting square in the centre. Then |
| fingers - great, affordable, high quality suits that are | | | | begin to add on the other colors in a random pattern. |
| popular with our customers include: | | | | Once all the jute thread is attached, do a quick shake |
| - The Paintball Ghillie Suit - $57.87 | | | | test to make sure everything is secure. Make any |
| - The StealthSuit Ghillie Set - $89.50 | | | | changes that need be, like if you feel the color |
| - The Ultra-Light Ghillie Suit - $133.00 | | | | pattern isn't random enough or give it more color by |
| Advantages of a Ready-Made Ghillie Suit | | | | simply giving the thread a light spray painting. |
| - Most are Machine washable | | | | Then take a deep breath, step back and admire your |
| - Cheap | | | | creation. Finally, take it out the woods and show it |
| - More comfortable | | | | off! |
| - Customizable | | | | Advantages of a Homemade Ghillie Suit |
| - Fire Retardant | | | | - Can be less expesive than Ready-Made Ghillie Suits |
| - Designed for many weather conditions (heat, cold) | | | | Depending on what materials you already have |
| - Available in many different terrains | | | | - Get exactly what you want |
| - Long Lasting | | | | Disadvantages of a Ready-Made Ghillie Suit |
| - Ready Out of the Box | | | | - Time consuming up to 100 hours |
| Disadvantages of a Ready-Made Ghillie Suit | | | | - Can actually cost more than just buy a ready-made |
| - Less customization | | | | ghillie suit |
| - Cheap | | | | - Not all materials are fire retardent |
| How to make a Ghillie Suit | | | | - Not machine washable |
| For many military personnel and seasoned | | | | - Depending on effort, quality may not be that good; |
| professionals, they opt to create their own Ghillie | | | | making it a one time or a couple time use suit. |
| Suits. While others choose to purchase | | | | |