Optifade Camo, does it work?

jr8fish

Active Member
Messages
108
So thanks to all you guys who responded to my other post about camo and controlling your scent...

In researching different camo's I came across the relatively new line of Optifade camo. The digital looking stuff.

This may have been asked before on this forum, but what do you guys think about it?

Does Optifade work as advertised?

Is it the best camo pattern on the market (as some people say it is)?

And the final question, is it worth the price tag?

I just want to hear some opinions.

Thanks
 
I don't know Optifade, but like pretty much everything else out there, I doubt that there is a single "best...on the market."
 
camo is a very simple thing.......to break up your outline.

Marketing gimmicks are complicated and if done properly can seperate otherwise smart men from lots of their money......




....



When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small
 
+2

I do believe that some camos will "blob" with the distance and therefore are inferior, but for the most part, any pattern that breaks up your outline and doesn't clash too much with your background, should do fine. I really don't think you can get much better than a plaid red/black pattern shirt. And the first pattern I look for when I buy is "outfitters camo": A simple, three shade camo pattern that has been used since before we were all born. Probably for those bow shots that are close there are better things, but beyond 50 yards, outfitters camo and plaid probably works as well as anything.

Jim Zumbo used to do ads for this or that hunting apparrel in Cabelas, and I used to laugh at them because they would show him beside a big elk wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. This was before email, I had to send him a "real" letter stating that he might want to consider at least wearing the product when he hunted! Shortly therafter, he did. Imagine that!

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
I think camo is way overrated. If you watch some of the whitetail hunting shows they make you believe that you can actually dissappear in the woods.

Camo patterns are made to look cool to hunters so that we will pay $200 for a pair of pants and $150 for a t-shirt.

Chuck Adams, arguably the most well know bow hunter out there, said that a red and black plaid flannel shirt was the best camo pattern made. It just doesn't look cool though, and they're cheap to buy.

If I wear camo, it's cabelas outfitters camo. Just like what was said above. Simple pattern and not expensive.
 
In my opinion some patterns work better than others, depending on the environment. Most camo patterns (Again IMO) are too dark for most of the open country hunting in the west. On an archery deer hunt we were closing in on some great bucks in some sage when a guy walked over the hill in some Predator camo and stuck out like a clown in a circus. Those bucks immediately headed into the next county!
I personally think Optifade is ugly!
If I'm going to the prom with a big old buck, I at least want look stylish! I use Mountain Mimicry but I like Max 1 as well.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-24-13 AT 11:29PM (MST)[p]Imo maybe flannel works as far as breaking up your body good enough to hunt but some new patterns works a bit better. For me the biggest plus of new age camo is the material its made of and ability to be more comfortable.
 
optifade sucks as a camo pattern! If you want a pattern that breaks you up in all types of terrain loot to predator or asat. If you want higher end clothing look to Kuiu. All those brands use larger blocks of color to break up your outline.

avatar_2528.jpg


who farted?
 
Under my blaze orange vest, optifade works best.

Just kidding. As others have stated, anything that's got a predominantly lighter background works best for western hunting in my opinion. The idea is to blend with lots of environments, not match one specific one. I too like outfitter camo- largely because of the material of clothing it's available on, not just the camo. I imagine a pair of brown carharts works as well as any camo in most situations. might be a little different story for bowhunters in a tree or something.

WH
 
Like said before, some camo is just to dark. Well at least where I hunt it is. I like the new clothing such as sitka, kuiu, core4 and so on more for quality of the pants or shirt. I have learned that as long as the camo isn't super dark, but also not faded like crazy then it will work whether the pants and shirt cost you 300 for the set or 50.

2 reasons why the sitka, kuiu and other brands are expensive. The research put into the material, fit and the performance of the product and because they are marketing geniuses!
 
I think it works great. It is a micro and macro pattern. KUIU's new verde pattern is a pretty close imitation.
 
>camo is a very simple thing.......to
>break up your outline.
>
>Marketing gimmicks are complicated and if
>done properly can seperate otherwise
>smart men from lots of
>their money......
>
>
>
>
>....
>
>
>
>When you go swimming in the
>ocean, it is very cold,
>and it makes my willy
>small


What he said with one exception. Sometimes camo is used to create an outline to disguise an empty head. Don't believe me, check out the liberals in the basement.

4abc76ff29b26fc1.jpg
 
I love optifade. Shot a buck four years ago, that had me dead to rights at 20 yards. Walked up on him, he stood up, took 20 minutes to get an arrow out of my quiver, and get the shot. I was dropping down into a canyon to chase bugling elk, came out of some pines, onto a aspen knob. First thing that came through my mind was that this was the perfect spot for a buck. Thats when the buck stood up. He looked through me, just after first light. Squirrels did him in. He would look back into the pines when the squirrels would start chatting. Use to use forest floor, but on an elk hunt I got busted. The bull came in screaming, and it was right at first light, I was behind some aspens, and the dark camo did not work. He nailed me. And I wasn't moving. IMO, a lot of the camo will hide you from human eyes, but animals see differently. Tried Sitka's waterfowl stuff this year, and it also worked very well(for waterfowl hunting). I was hesitant about the optifade, but after the experience with the buck, 4 yr old deer, I was sold. And I love the performance. I would love to try Kuiu and First Lights stuff, maybe try it this year. A lot of people think its a waste of money to spend that much on clothing, but hunting the high country, where in the morning its 20 degrees, and then at 10:30 its 70. I like clothes that wick, are easy to layer, and then can take it off and have it dry quickly.
 
What 400 said..... There is something different about it.

PS: you can't compare Core4 to Sitka and Kuiu. It is not apples to apples. And I might even say Kuiu is headed into a class all it's own.
 
Camo is designed to work for the human eye. Like already said it is a sales gimick.
Animals see movement. Go sit in a deer stand with one solid color from head to toe (happens to be blaze orange). They will be around you for long periods of time without ever knowing you are there, the second you move, you are busted.

I wouldn't buy camo but it is basically the only type of clothes that come with qualities that I desire, weather proof, quiet, dry time etc...

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"


Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?
 
>Funny u say KUIU is a
>close imitation...Jason Hairston the owner
>of KUIU originally started sitka
>


I never used the word "imitation" Core4 and all those other Cabela/Bass Pro/box store brands are imitations of Sitka. I said Kuiu is headed into ballpark all its own. Meaning once all the production issued get worked out, it will be the best clothing line designed for the pack hunter. They arent quite there yet, but getting close.

PS: Kuiu/Sitka make solid colors for those of you who feel camo is a gimick, but demand quality clothing for the road hunter...
 
As a bowhunter, I am thinking about trying some First Lite Camo this year. Merino wool for wicking, all temp use, and scent control.
 
>PS: Kuiu/Sitka make solid colors for
>those of you who feel
>camo is a gimick, but
>demand quality clothing for the
>road hunter...

So I am a road hunter? Wow! you can read minds through the internet, aren't you talented. What color are my socks then?

You should probably be working for the CIA to put your talents to use...

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"


Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?
 
Regardless of what pattern you like, try wearing a different pattern pants than your shirt or jacket. Something that is quite a bit different and you'll break yourself up even more.
 
>Funny u say KUIU is a
>close imitation...Jason Hairston the owner
>of KUIU originally started sitka
>
Actually, I said the Verde camo is a close imitation of the Optifade.

I am aware of the tie that Jason had. I believe he left Sitka about the time Optifade was being phased in and production was moving to China. Now you have the Verde stuff coming from China. I think they are very comparable.
 
All camo is the same and it's all overrated!
Just because you spend $500 on a set of camo doesn't mean your gonna be
Successful
 
>All camo is the same and
>it's all overrated!
>Just because you spend $500 on
>a set of camo doesn't
>mean your gonna be
>Successful

While I believe some of your statements have merit, the gentleman wasn't asking that.
 
What ever you buy (doesn't matter) buy it now and put it outside for the summer and let the sun work its magic. Faded camo, of any pattern will work better than the standard "cabellas walking catalog hunter" who has everything brand new. Don't believe me? go out in the field this next bow hunting season on opening day and glass up the guys wearing camo. Everyone with brand new camo can be easily picked out because of the defined lines of the dark patterns against the back ground. I'll try and get some pics of the 30 year old camo I still use. It works great! had many close encounters over the years.
 
But the question was does optifade work. I dunno if it does or doesn't, but there is something different in how the deer react to it. Here is something to ponder; Can a person really offer an unbiased opinion if they have never used the product?
 
IDK if anyone can give an unbiased opinion on much of anything. A lot of the effectiveness of any camo has to do with the individual wearing it. There is some significant variation from animal to animal in terms of what they will tolerate when they see something and what they won't as well.
 
yes optifade works unless you are moving or on a skyline then nothing works
 
>yes optifade works unless you are
>moving or on a skyline
>then nothing works


I used Opti on an open country elk hunt in 2011. I now use Kuiu and ASAT.

In my opinion, the sitka pattern is incredible. On three separate occasions, I was spotted in knee high sage, while moving, and the elk went back to feeding. I thought for sure that motion would blow my cover but I was able to slip in to bow range over and over and over even after being noticed.

1. Sitka is disruptive in nature and the macro-pattern breaks up the outline. So maybe, even when "seen" the prey doesn't recognize the pattern as a threat or the pattern moves with/like it's surroundings.

2. Sitka is also uses a micro pattern that KUIU and ASAT don't which works in close ranges. So, when you get to 20 yards as 400 mentioned above, you are still effectively concealed.

3. The price sucks. The quality is amazing. The economic analysis is up to you.

4. Also look into First Lite, Predator, and Kuiu.

Chasewild
 

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