A-TACS® Camo Pants review

Hello dear friends,

Do you remember this photo and cammo that soldier is wearing? This photo first was seen few years ago and was a topic of many discussions. So, things are going and we would like to introduce you A-TACS®.

A-TACS® was developed by Digtal Concealment Systems, (DCS) to answer the call for better and more effective camouflage system integration for duty personnel in any service branch from military to law enforcement. A-TACS® is designed as a universal pattern for a wide range of operational environments with additional supporting color and design variants to follow.
Many of the modern digital camouflage patterns currently in use by the tactical community have flaws. The square pixels used to create the distortion effect do not replicate the shapes, forms and shadows of the environment they are deployed in-especially when viewed through optics. The ninety-degree angles and limited use of natural colors can in many cases, make detection easier.
Additionally, the “visual noise” in these same patterns tends to make them close-up into a solid color, producing a “blobbing” effect when viewed from a distance. A-TACS® addresses and improves these critical issues in three ways.
1. – Replace un-natural square pixels with organic pixels. Utilizing our patented process, we created a palette of natural colors digitally sampled from real-world elements in carefully controlled lighting. The pattern is then created using a mathematical algorithm that writes “organically-shaped” pixels using the specific color information given. The resulting pattern while still digital, is far more organic in appearance.

2.- Use small patterns to create larger more distinct shapes designed to work at a distance. Small shapes create larger shapes and larger shapes are organized into a distinct pattern with no horizontal or vertical orientation. This unique “pattern within a pattern” concept allows A-TACS® to effectively break the human outline at great distances thereby, minimizing the “blobbing” effect of other patterns when viewed from a distance.

3.- More effective use of color-range produces a better concealment system. A-TACS® is created using a far greater range of inter-mingled natural colors than was previously possible. The overall base color for the cast is a neutral tan which is designed for use in open, rocky or arid environments.

Furthermore, the abstract and intricate nature of this pattern gives it a unique “fingerprint” which is not only adaptable to various service branches, but also makes it difficult to copy.

By A-TACS®

As the last sentence states, it is difficult to copy this pattern. True. It took a year for chineese manufacturers to copy this pattern.

Lets start. These combat pants, were gladly borrowed by team member Bull [Tomas]. He got them from ebay for 52 GBP. Quite a price for airsoft player, but as you all know if you wt GOOD STUFF you have to pay, especialy if the product is exclusive

First look. We see big label– ADVANCED TACTICAL CONCEALMENT SYSTEM.

Manufacturer of these pants is PROPPER. A-TACS® are also available in FG (Foliage Green). Additional lable informs, that uniform does not have NIR. WTF? Is it actual for airsofter? Probably not. On the other hand, for such a price, they coud have it. Although almost half of PROPPER production has NIR. For example ACU(Army Combat Uniform)…

Size in inches – waist 39-42, Inseam – 29-32. Strange measures. It wont fi tas regular pants with similar sizes and you will have to get some help from tailor. But if done right, no one will see that ;)

Some useful informatikon for your wife/girlfriend/ or yourself…

Pants are made of (rip stop) material. It is strong and stiff, without any filament as you can see in other pants. I assume that in cold weather or even during winter you can wear them without any under pants. Zipper and buttock zones have double layer of material, central seam looks strong and should be ok under any situation.

You can use some subjectivly objective test to see, how good is material paint. Take a white peace of cotton cloth, make it wet in hot water and rub the material. These pants went through this test flawlessly.

Knee zone also has double layer of material. Here you can find small 10-15mm width inner pocket with velcro, purpose is to place soft knee guards. I prefer wider velcro and it holds better . In these pants velcro is quite weak, and some hooks are already straight, although pants are brand new.

For dressing up, there are buttons As pants are new, button holes are tight and stiff. Buttons are sewed directly to the material It will be very nice, if some spacer would be used for stitching, to prevent ripping material. This could happen with upper button, if you like to wear ants without any belt. For additional waist fixation, there is a beaded rope. It looks stiff and strong, but the ends of it are rough and could scratch your skin. Belt loops are 50mm wide and 2“ belt should fit without any problems.

There are 8 pockets on the pants. 2 in front, 2 on back side, 1 on each sides thigh an 1 on each sides shin. Upper front pockets are big and spacious, you can put 2 magazines withou any problems. The lining is made of thin, but, lokks to mee, quite strong material. Inner pocket stitching is not very strong and ended properly. It is strange, why pocket form are made with angle at the end… Some small stuff will fall there and will be difficult to extract. I have seen some pants with rounded nedings- very practical.

Pockets on the back side are made very strong. Inner lining the same. Pockets are with buttons. It is common that have some problems reaching back pockets and stuff in them, especialy with gloves, but with these pants, you wont experience this problem, because even inner lining is rounded.

Side pockets are HUGE! I can fit my dog in them… They have some folded material, so can be stretched almost to infinity. I assume you can put there gas mask. 1 meal Lithuanian pack fits there like a charm. Pockets are sewed on a main material, so no lining. And pockets will serve very long. They are sewed paralell to the leg, and monstrous cap is sewed with some angle, that allows you to reach the pocket stuff easier, when you are kneeled. Although these pockets look VERY WIDE, you wont lose anything from them. Strange paradox, noticed by many.

As any other pocket on these pants, you close them with 2 buttons. For even more reliable pocket stuff carriage, there is rubberized rope with plastic presser. If you use rubberized rope, to make pocket smaller, there is 3rd button. We noticed one minus: the knot, that suppose to prevent from loosing plastic presser is worth nothing, it untied and we almost lost presser even before starting this review. Need to find out something more reliable.

Lower pockets, located on the shins, did not impressed me. Have no clue for their purpose. Packet of cigaretes goes deep and holding extra magazine will be very uncomfortable. They have no material fold, and closing is so so.

As mentioned before, have no clue of the purpose of these pockets. Velcro is sewed unreliably, corners are left negligent. If you open such pocket withou gloves, velcro, will definetely stab you under your nail. Such velcro only for baby Pampers… I have Emerson tactical pants, There are also pockets on the shins, but smaller, although with folds, exactly for packet of cigaretes and ten times better velcro. Although half a price of these…

I still wonder, why military pants, where functionality is primary, strange ropes on the end of leg are used. Why not to use rope similar to rope used on a waist regulation or attach some velcro strap (might cause some problem with holding in snow, but still)?

To make long story short, I‘m not very demanding person. Have various tactical gear and will never be dissapointed when I get cheap chineese pants without buttons or if they get ripped same day. But this time I expected hgher quality and more attention to details. Matterial is very good, most seam are double and strong and that awesome pattern… This patern really works. I really recommend them. If you get original used conditon, or Foliage Green, or discount time- grab them. And they are not as popular as Marpat or woodland, that look like a comic book if to compare with these.

Final words about wear and tear and how tehy work in our fields, will give you.

Related articles

• INFANTRY: U.S. Army Adopts SOCOM Camo (strategypage.com)
• How pixelated uniforms turned soldiers into walking targets (holykaw.alltop.com)

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