Way back in May of 2012 we offered the first glimpse of the US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort Phase IV finalist Brookwood family of patterns.
In April of 2013 we were able to share a little more info with photos of the printed webbing from Texcel.
A few months ago, Brookwood starting seeding sample yardage to a variety of companies. During a visit to Grey Ghost Gear in November I noticed a roll of the Brookwood transitional pattern and they made a Stealth Operator Pack in the pattern for me. I posted a photo on Instagram.
In late summer 2012, at Outdoor Retailer, I was allowed by Brookwood to photograph ACUs in the patterns under the condition that I would not publish them until they gave me permission. I agreed but added a stipulation that I would post the photos if they became public. I have lived up to my end of the bargain and now, 18 months later, the patterns are public so I am now going to share these photos. One thing I like about these photos is that they show larger sections of the patterns as well as the printed loop fabric.
It’s interesting to note that the Brookwood patterns don’t share the same geometry like the other finalists. Despite making much of this characteristic during the Industry day and the run up to the actual downselect, common geometry wasn’t actually a selection criteria.
Tags: Brookwood
Very neat looking patterns. Would like to see them released commercially like the other finalists.
That woodland is too bright IMHO. At least for most woodland areas around where I live (Slovakia, middle Europe).
Agreed–too bright.
Nice stuff, very Euro in appearance.
The printed loop looks fantastic.
Just wondering, if they made efforts to include printed loop, there exists printed webbing straps as well?
the first picture in the article is of printed webbing 🙂
Checking back in after commenting on the last Brookwood post. Just wanted to say thanks, and that these are really growing on me.
Has a definite feel of a modern take on the old M1942 and “duck hunter” patterns
The transitional pattern reminds me a lot of the AOR/MARPAT transitional colorway. But, with more contrasting tones.
The Arid is sort of like the bastard child of UCP-Delta and Bulldogs Mirage pattern. Not that there is anything wrong with that. ( it’s Festivus, had to get in a Seinfeld reference)
Like Wheeler above, the woodland seems very light. As if more suited for a low vegetation/brush environment, than denser woodland/forest
And also Austrian K4 with contrast level of Swiss M83. While that sandy light brown really looks too bright.
I get a Leibermuster vibe off the transitional, but also see a little of the Austrian K4
I’d like to see it in the field and the test photos. It looks better in an ACU than I though it would.
looks better once seen on fabric, but I still prefer the other contenders
Agreed.
It’s hideous!
Now I know the Army says that all four families performed nearly as well. I’m also sure no official data has been released. But I’m wondering has there been any indication which families or patterns performed better either overall or in a given situation or environment.
These patterns seems fairly unusual for the new generation of patterns so I’m very curious to know how they would perform in the field.
Looks alright. Don’t think it would be a drastic improvement over Multicam though.
Multicam fanboy detected.
10th Mountain,
I can see what you are saying. If MC is what the brass wants to supply to the rest of the Army, then any competitor would have to blow Multicam away. Brookwood just doesn’t seem to do that.
Give me a paintball gun and a few loaded hoppers and I could turn out this same pattern. Congrats to Brookwood for taking the easy path.
Looks like it would make for some good hunting camo. I agree the woodland is a little too light/tan. If they replaced the lighter tans with a greenish-khaki (like the dominant color in Multicam), it would be a better woodland/tropical pattern.
After seeing all of the four ‘families’, I have two favorites; Kryptek and Crye.
Not that keen on it, but I do like the GGG pack in it.
I like it. I am only seeing a picture, but don’t know how it stacked up against night vision goggles, etc. I would like to see how the Army test came out.
I agree the woodland is way to light.
The pale tan and gray grouped together look almost off-white from a distance, as against up close. Multicam has no such groupings and therefore appears to fade into the background when compared the the Brookwood woodland and transitional patterns. While I’m not a particular fan of Multicam, it is more recessive than what we are seeing here.
The key to success in camouflage is to recede into the background, allowing the eye of the viewer to glide over the object without drawing attention, either because of color, shape, contrast or brightness (think about the adjustment variable on your television and you will see what I mean). The Brookwood shapes are more recessive than Multicam, but the color, contrast and brightness let it down. Up close, Multicams shape edges let if down, but from what I have seen of previous assessments, these finalists are not going to be judged up close. At a distance, Multicam’s shape edges simply fade away into the background.
Personally, I would have liked to see an ATACS pattern using a Multicam color way. I can imagine that having had great all round potential. Mind you, it might have looked like complete rubbish in real life.:)
The woodland reminds me a lot of the old Wine Leaf pattern.
You’re all being had! The whole camouflage garment thing is comical.
Reverse Evolution Military Industrial Lunacy (REMIL) is coughing up sillier stuff than ever before & taxpayers are getting wickedly fleeced by classic military establishment & govt. types who take themselves very, very seriously – but are unintentionally funny, pathetic even.
Monodimensional camouflage patterns on fabric that fails when dusty, wet, dirty: ie any normal usage – and that barely survive fading in the rigours of laundry let alone war…
Lol!