USA M81 WOODLAND Camouflage Effectiveness

The U.S. Woodland is a camouflage pattern that was used as the default camouflage pattern issued to the United States Armed Forces from 1981, with the issue of the Battle Dress Uniform, until its replacement in the mid to late 2000s. It is a four color, high contrast disruptive pattern with irregular markings in green, brown, sand and black. It is also known unofficially by its colloquial moniker of "M81", though this term was not officially used by the U.S. military.
#camouflage #outdoorlife #wildernesslife

[@Georgia4Low]

Every man should have a set of M81 Woodland Camo, it's just a right of passage for becoming a man. Great video

[@jrapp1468]

Good video. M81 is very dark, works better in the shadows and forests with lots of dark pines. Very much stands out against leafy greens like 5:01. Not the most effective camo but workable. M81 is also attractive because it’s not used by any government agencies or militaries.

[@NorthwestScout]

Yes, around pines and spruce terrain is does well. Take care!

[@jmmartin7766]

@jrapp1468 - Literally my favorite cammo because I served in it, and because you won't be mistaken for a WOKE fed-boi 😏

[@slimehollow1373]

@@jmmartin7766 yep. Worlds most based camouflage

[@jmmartin7766]

@@plaiddad276 💯

[@sonofliberty92]

Not if you're laying down or taking cover like you're supposed to be doing

[@FAA-DPE]

I've found my M81's that are very faded works much better than new ones. The softer colors are not as harsh and blend better. Most importantly when viewed from a distance they don't turn you into a black silhouette as much. But the Honey Island Swamp I train in is different from most places. Will always be my favorite and go to camo!

[@NorthwestScout]

Mine don’t get worn enough to fade yet, only because I experiment with multiple patterns. The seasonal shifts keep me shifting patterns lol. Have a great day!

[@JuggernautJo]

I really appreciate someone from the PNW actually doing some real footage of m81 in the field in different angles and conditions. I’ve been debating on m81 or Brown grey/ranger green for my new custom LBV kit I’m building and this really helped especially the clip at 2:10 BTW - loving the ACE stock

[@NorthwestScout]

Thanks! I’m actually in Northwest Ontario. We have lots of bedrock outcrops and pines as well as swamp environments. Good luck on your new LBV build!

[@user-nq2oz8tf2l]

What also works very well is wearing two different camos for your top and bottom that have a shared color. Breaks up the silhouette very effectively. Dark on top and light on the bottom is ideal as well, it's very prevalent in nature and known as Countershading.

[@NorthwestScout]

Excellent points! This year I’m going to be trying some of that. I hadn’t heard the word countershading, thank you!

[@MartyRodriguezOrthodoxMarine]

I Wore The Woodland M81 Camouflage Pattern As A Regular Component United States Marine Corps Infantry Rifleman ( MOS 0311) and Reconnaissance Marine ( MOS 0321) During The Late 80s and Early 90s And It Was The Best Camouflage Pattern Ever Fielded By Our United States Armed Forces ( US4CES). I Still Hard Rock Woodland M81 As Well As MultiCam and Organizational Camouflage Pattern ( The USGI Version of MultiCam).

[@NorthwestScout]

That’s awesome my friend! M81 Woodland camouflage has been a lifelong favourite of mine as well. Thanks for sharing some of your story!

[@MartyRodriguezOrthodoxMarine]

@NorthwestScout : My Absolute Pleasure. Glad To Be Allowed To Contribute.

[@bugoutbrad8395]

Woodland is excellent. Can't get enough. Lol. Cheers 🍻

[@NorthwestScout]

Definitely a great pattern! 👍

[@akademiasurvivalowo-milita1157]

2min 3s A beautiful and perfect place to stay. Nice!

[@NorthwestScout]

Yes, a favourite spot to getaway from noise. Take care brother!

[@Norvi]

Me and my friends are actively debating the best camo to use and this is really helpful! Thanks man!

[@NorthwestScout]

Glad I could help! M81 Woodland is a classic pattern, versatile year round. I have several other demonstration videos on camo’s. Take care!

[@Hobbes0331]

Look up Realtree Max-1. I know it's not a military camo but it is good in the desert and the forest!

[@eerienine]

I wore the BDU sometimes but mostly the ABDU which is a two piece flight suit of the BDU. ABDU was woodland but definitely a different color. When really washed and faded looked cool. Looked darker always ....kinda faded to a light brown color not so white like BDU's. I'm not good with colors maybe some of my Bros can help me out here? I still have some old ones. Good colors for fall hunting eastern US woods.

[@davidtaing6045]

Dunno if its me but the UCP seemed to blend better. This one looks almost too dark and gives a silhouette.

[@regularguyprepper2993]

Good news, of you see a dude rocking m81 you know he's likely not the threat ;) Can't say the same about multicam though since literally every country and agency all switched to the same pattern. I own precisely 0 multicam articles specifically for this reason. DCU works surprisingly well in many environments including late fall and winter in the north when the woods are very brown and bare.

[@NorthwestScout]

I try different patterns, but M81 Woodland and CADPAT are among the favourites. We’ll Flecktarn as well. Take care

[@mason569]

100 % exactly the same here. I recently flirted with the idea of going to multicam but then I said man everybody is using it nowadays and if something breaks out I want to be able to be different than the rest. Second of all I live solely on the east coast and in near the Appalachia region 81 Woodland works fine

[@maltaconvoy]

This is wisdom, right here. Hadn't occurred to me but it's an astute observation. Thanks for posting.

[@oathtaker2768]

Great to see our brothers in the north that knows what coming. Hope you get your rights back as we are fighting to keep ours.

[@NorthwestScout]

Keep training and staying fit, cause things are gonna get ugly. Government isn’t getting our guns.

[@oathtaker2768]

@@NorthwestScout That’s what I wanted to hear and they won’t get ours either.

[@mykemcc1]

Excellent, no talking... Looping it as my background noise.

[@NorthwestScout]

I’m working on changing up my format and anything I want to say or add I’ll save for the end of the video. Have a good day!

[@maltaconvoy]

Have to agree 100%. People do not get that talking should be left OUT.

[@moyers680]

There was honestly moments where he disappeared! Like the camo and your video definitely help made my decision buying a set!

[@NorthwestScout]

Glad to hear that! Woodland camouflage definitely is in the top tiers of patterns. Take care!

[@ialexander8715]

For ops in the jungles of SE Asia and the woodlands of Eurasia, the M81 pattern is best.

[@NorthwestScout]

Awesome! It’s a a classic pattern!

[@tstrongarm77]

Not bad for SE USA either

[@xc8487]

M81 for dense green areas, RBS for grassland, White for snow, coyote for arid.

[@NorthwestScout]

M81 is great but it has its limitations. Take care!

[@Gonzo.S.Thompson]

Still the best camo.

[@NorthwestScout]

👍👍

[@MidwestSurvivalCompany]

Thank you! The Brent guy lives in Texas and that doesn’t help when you live way north lmao.

[@NorthwestScout]

Brent’s Texas vegetation is limited. Here in Northwest Ontario there is a full scope from coniferous to deciduous trees, rock formations and swamps. Take care!

[@kurtbaier6122]

Great camera work and video. It works.

[@NorthwestScout]

Thanks Kurt! Really appreciate that! Take care!

[@kouvue1081]

Just found your channel. Wow great visuals and knowledge

[@NorthwestScout]

Thanks! Have a great day!

[@racer14glr91]

M81 is the great grandfather of multicam.

[@slimehollow1373]

Who’s the father?

[@racer14glr91]

@@slimehollow1373 unfortunately, ACU

[@W-SS]

SS Dot 44 Erbsenmuster would be the great grandfather of MultiCam.

[@MartyRodriguezOrthodoxMarine]

@racer14glr91: ACU or Army Combat Uniform is The Replacement To The BDU or Battle Dress Uniform That I Wore As A Regular Component United States Marine Corps Infantry Rifleman and Reconnaissance Marine During The Late 80s and Early 90s Of Which The Woodland M81 Camouflage Pattern Was Subscribed To. The Pattern You're Obiviously Referencing To Is The Universal Camouflage Pattern ( UCP), Which The Army Replaced The Woodland M81 Camouflage Pattern, When They Adopted The Army Combat Uniform or ACU.

[@racer14glr91]

@@MartyRodriguezOrthodoxMarine I wore woodlands BDUs from 89-93. Except the "chocolate chips" during Desert Storm. It was simply a joke. I never heard anything positive about ACU/digi-cam. Although, the Marines had the better colored one. I think all camouflage uniforms go through an evolution over their lifespans.

[@thriwaway7865]

M81: the People's camo.

[@gunsofmasseffect4321]

I love my M81, I have so many things in that camo pattern, and attempting to find more.

[@NorthwestScout]

Awesome! Been a lifelong favourite for me as well. Have a great day!

[@vlima7164]

Tiger stripe next please!

[@NorthwestScout]

Don’t own any but it’s worth considering

[@sonofliberty92]

It just works

[@NorthwestScout]

Agreed!

[@ethantaylor5001]

Where do you get your M81 at? I'm kind of a quality snob. Crye Precision and Beyond Clothing are too expensive, but i dont want the amazon chinese stuff either. Surplus seems to be out of stock most places, and Propper is 100% cotton (not a desirable fabric). Im a Large Long/Tall top and bottom. Only thing i can seem to find is Tru-Spec, but i would love to find some U.S. manufactured surplus M81. Great video by the way!

[@NorthwestScout]

I picked up my M81 off of eBay years ago. There must of been a huge release of surplus at the time because I was able to find all kinds of kit. Some was from private sellers and other buys was from like auction dealers I think. But eBay has been my go to for almost all my purchases. I’m a large long top as well so sometimes I’ve waited months before a piece showed up. Thank you! All the best!

[@petesheppard1709]

I just stumbled across this video. I live in Alabama, USA, which is pretty well forested with deciduous and pine trees. I saw in a comment below that you are up in Canada; what's your thought on the Commonwealth DPM? I think it's a really sharp pattern and should easily hold its own against the US woodland.

[@NorthwestScout]

I have a playlist with just DPM Camouflage. Personally, I like DPM. It’s a great pattern and very comparable to US Woodland. In my terrain here in Northwest Ontario it does very well.

[@petesheppard1709]

@@NorthwestScout Thanks! I'll check it out. I actually prefer DPM, I have a surplus British Gore-Tex jacket and its one of my favorites! As an aside, when I saw that bullpup I was assuming you were American and I nearly went crosseyed trying to make it a Tavor; it finally occurred to me that you are Canadian and it was that Chinese bullpup you could import.

[@NorthwestScout]

@@petesheppard1709 Tavor is out of my price league, yes it is a Norinco T97 5.56. Nice size to use running in the bush.

[@petesheppard1709]

@@NorthwestScout I've watched several reviews of the T97. Despite its quirks and issues, I'd really like to try one out--however, they and other Chinese guns are banned here in the States.

[@NorthwestScout]

@@petesheppard1709 I had traded my Mossberg 308 Scout Rifle for it. I had feed issues but it was because of the steel mags. When I switched to PMAGS the issue was instantly rectified. Last year I smoked a Black Bear with it in my yard with FMJ’s. Other than finding the right mags, that was my only issue at the time

[@JuggernautJo]

What pack are you running in this video?

[@NorthwestScout]

I believe it is the U.S. issue 3 day Assault Pack

[@easygroove]

CCE > M81 😉

[@1lostinspace]

looks too dark most of the time

[@NorthwestScout]

Woodland works better if shadows hit it. Have a great day!

[@1lostinspace]

@@NorthwestScoutit actually doesn’t it’s when it turns too dark, most woodland pattern look too dark in shadows, it’s why multicam is effective it’s because it’s lighter, I have even seen UCP out performing a lot of darker patterns in tree canopy or darker areas with no light

[@NorthwestScout]

@@1lostinspace Next week I’m taking the Woodland gear out. Thanks for the feedback. Definitely will test some more, thanks!

[@1lostinspace]

@@NorthwestScout test concealment meaning behind brush and about 25-50m out and on knee in actual combat ranges and positions including upright, sun to your face and sun to your back

[@NorthwestScout]

@@1lostinspace Appreciate the tips!

[@chrisbryant9229]

Was that a bulpup?.... gross.

[@NorthwestScout]

Seriously…lol

[@NorthwestScout]

…….lol