russian flora effectivity in british summer woods

[Marlowe]

For British Summertime with a good level of sunlight I can recommend Berezka also. It's guaranteed to get you ridiculed at the safezone but is fantastic in woodland. I have been told numerous times by opposing team members that the only way they could spot me in game was due to my face being visible.

[Hoppum]

i spotted the gorka flora, it looks a lot greener, how does it compare to standard, anyone?

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You just answered your own question.

[my_plague_666]

partizan sniper suit

 

Linkage:http://www.soviet-propaganda.com/bdu/sniper/partizan/

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i saw that, doe anyone own them? how hot is it, it looks more like a parka.

 

For British Summertime with a good level of sunlight I can recommend Berezka also. It's guaranteed to get you ridiculed at the safezone but is fantastic in woodland. I have been told numerous times by opposing team members that the only way they could spot me in game was due to my face being visible.

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thats the green and white 'sun bunnies' KLMK right? i'd been looking at that. as i said, it looks awful up close but all the distanced pics of it ive seen i thought it was a totally different pattern lol.

 

you wouldnt happen to have a pic of it in action would you?

 

You just answered your own question.

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i meant is the greener coulouration more effective.

[Delfi]

For British Summertime with a good level of sunlight I can recommend Berezka also. It's guaranteed to get you ridiculed at the safezone but is fantastic in woodland.

 

Got some myself and it absolutely rules in green summer woodland with dappled sunlight. It's also very well made.

 

My only complaint is that the trousers were made for the fattest bloke in the world ... luckily I know a seamstress!

 

D

[Marlowe]

thats the green and white 'sun bunnies' KLMK right? i'd been looking at that.

 

It's almost identical in design, the main exception being that Berezka (or Birch if you Anglicise the name) uses a green with pale olive colouration. The contrast is less glaring as a result, making it not stand out in gloomy weather. It's also readily available in a two peace Bekas BDU, which as Delfi said is exceptionally well made - it remains my favourite BDU and is second only to the GORKA-E in quality.

 

you wouldnt happen to have a pic of it in action would you?

 

The only ones I can think of off hand is this one taken on Rhino's camera. (Ignore the RPK, I'd just got the Kobra and so was determined to use it on everything I could carry). The colouration is not so good on this I'm afraid. Someone else will probably have a far better one.

 

 

There's a few more with that one in the Arniegeddon 2006 gallery (link at top of page).

 

Edit: Second one taken by Ubar here, shows the colouration of the bdu better, but the flash has made it stand out against the backdrop:

 

 

Only complaint I have is that like a lot of the good quality (eg not mass produce purely for export) and hard-wearing BDUS, the Bekas Berezka can get a lot warmer than Western contemporary kit. That's something you probably will just have to accept as part and parcel of owning the longer lasting Russian field gear!

[Hoppum]

i meant is the greener coulouration more effective.

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Well obviously if you'r in a green environment.

[Delfi]

Only complaint I have is that like a lot of the good quality (eg not mass produce purely for export) and hard-wearing BDUS, the Bekas Berezka can get a lot warmer than Western contemporary kit.

 

Ain't that the truth! But at least I'm not worried about the stuff ripping at the first excuse and the stitching is rock solid.

 

Funny thing is that every photo I've seen of this stuff makes it look browner than it really is.

 

D

[Marlowe]

Funny thing is that every photo I've seen of this stuff makes it look browner than it really is.

 

Yep - just found a pic which I've pasted above which shows the colouration accurately, but the flash has picked it out against the back drop which loses how effective it is. I suppose it's one of those things where you have to really see it with the naked eye.

[my_plague_666]

that looks pretty good.

 

is redsoldier.com the ONLY place i can buy it?

[Delfi]

that looks pretty good.

 

is redsoldier.com the ONLY place i can buy it?

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Try rusmilitary.com

 

D

[Marlowe]

If you mean you'd prefer to buy from the UK then Oleg at www.rusmilitary.com will happily oblige. I bought it from there, although it will cost you a fair bit more.

 

Edit: beaten to the post.

[Delfi]

If you mean you'd prefer to buy from the UK then Oleg at www.rusmilitary.com will happily oblige. I bought it from there, although it will cost you a fair bit more.

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Ditto ... it cost a lot more but Oleg is OK to deal with.

 

D

[my_plague_666]

but on rusmil the birch pattern is brown and yellow

[christoff hitler]

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DN

klmk

[Delfi]

but on rusmil the birch pattern is brown and yellow 

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Funny thing is that every photo I've seen of this stuff makes it look browner than it really is.

 

Is there an echo in here?

 

D

[my_plague_666]

lol, stop trying to make me look even more stupid

 

might have to try various patterns, see what works best. thanks for the help

[Delfi]

lol, stop trying to make me look even more stupid

 

might have to try various patterns, see what works best. thanks for the help

 

No effort required

 

But seriously, the quality of this gear is amazing. I've got BDU's for every occasion and after some mods (employ a local seamstress) this stuff will last forever. It's tough ... but Marlowe is right, it's not the most comfortable gear in hot weather.

 

It's also astonishingly effective. Close up it looks pixelated and harsh but at range that allows it to blend in a dappled green sunlight scene. I think the various shots (without flash) illustrate the point.

 

I bought this gear because I wanted a modern Soviet look ... I now consider it to be at least as good as my (very expensive) realtree hunting camo.

 

D

[neoptolemus]

Asked earlier, the Partizan IS NOT A PARKA. First of all, the upper piece is an anorak, and second WHY WOULD YOU NEED A PARKA IN THE SUMMER?

 

It is a VERY light weight uniform and I would highly recommend it to anyone; not only is it reversible, it includes foliage loops, and it has a hood with a mesh veil included as well.

 

Also, to be clear about something mentioned earlier:

 

"Sun Bunnies" is the nickname for the KLMK received because of the coloration and pattern seen on the uniform. KLMK designates a certain type of uniform like Partizan does; KLMK is NOT a camouflage pattern. Berezka is a camouflage pattern however and is the modern derivative of the pattern seen on the KLMK uniforms.

 

 

In regards to uniform quality, I agree whoever mentioned the weight of Russian uniforms being higher. SPOSN, NPO-SM, and Splav are all Russian manufacturers who produce some goods for consumer or at least specialist consumption. Things like the Bekas and Tyen-2 uniforms may be heavier due to the more solid construction, reinforced sections, and stuff like water proofing agents. However, there are also very lightweight uniforms available from SPOSN and NPO-SM for use in the summer.

 

Finally, Rex Designs, who makes the flora uniforms kind of sucks. The uniforms are certainly heavy, but I think this is due to material selection and not quality; the uniforms lack features of the Bekas or other special uniforms which makes them the great buys they are. I would only recommend the flora BDU to some one who is interested in Russian mil-sim. If you buy it with the though that you are getting a good deal on a good uniform, you aren't 100% correct. For 30USD more you could get a lot better uniform (Splav Bekas type in any pattern you want) with better features.

[my_plague_666]

Asked earlier, the Partizan IS NOT A PARKA.  First of all, the upper piece is an anorak, and second WHY WOULD YOU NEED A PARKA IN THE SUMMER? 

 

"Sun Bunnies" is the nickname for the KLMK received because of the coloration and pattern seen on the uniform.  KLMK designates a certain type of uniform like Partizan does; KLMK is NOT a camouflage pattern.  Berezka is a camouflage pattern however and is the modern derivative of the pattern seen on the KLMK uniforms.

 

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first if i didnt type it i meant that as a disadvantge since it LOOKED like a parka, which as you correctly stated i would most definitely not want in summer time.

 

second i know very well that sun bunnies is the nickname given to that particular pattern. if im not mistaken KLMK stands for a soviet warehouse or something, so i know very well that KLMK is not a pattern in itslef, hence refering to 'sun bunnies' specificly. if i refered to KLMK i was refering to ALL similar patterns as im pretty sure there are quite a few (sun bunnies and birch are all i can think of now though)

[Delfi]

Used mine again today in a very heavy foliated partially shadowed place ... I'm a tall guy.

 

In fairly light cover an experienced member of my team nearly trod on me. Go figure!

 

D

[my_plague_666]

you're talking about birch, not partizan right?

 

gah! which to buy??? TBH i can see partizan being more versitile...on the other hand its much more expensive.

[Delfi]

you're talking about birch, not partizan right?

 

gah! which to buy??? TBH i can see partizan being more versitile...on the other hand its much more expensive.

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Yep berezka ... it worked wonderfully today ...

[neoptolemus]

You're going to want to buy partizan.

 

A) It's a rare uniform which will have a good resale value if you choose to sell it later.

 

B ) It's a reversible uniform making it more versatile.

 

C) The pattern itself is less contrasting than the Birch pattern offering superior performance.

 

D) It's seen in use fairly regularly now by MVD, FSB, and FSIN where as KLMK and Bekas in Berezka only see use in VDV and MVD respectively (although it seems VDV has a cult affection for the KLMK).

[Delfi]

You're going to want to buy partizan.

 

A) It's a rare uniform which will have a good resale value if you choose to sell it later.

 

B ) It's a reversible uniform making it more versatile.

 

C) The pattern itself is less contrasting than the Birch pattern offering superior performance.

 

D) It's seen in use fairly regularly now by MVD, FSB, and FSIN where as KLMK and Bekas in Berezka only see use in VDV and MVD respectively (although it seems VDV has a cult affection for the KLMK).

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And your experience of UK countryside is? It's nice to have an effective camo rather than one that you just get to pose in. Particularly given the price (see below).

 

Also I doubt there's any real resale value at all ... at best there are 10,000 airsofters in the UK and there's little other use for this stuff. The initial price will be very high compared to what you pay in the US too. The market over here is very limited.

 

If by 'versatile' you mean more options then OK ... but how many of those options really work in the UK?

 

I can personally vouch for Berezka's effectiveness in a woodland environment over here.

 

Your latter point is so milsim I don't know where to start ... I doubt that many airsofters in the UK would be bothered by this. I'm sure that most wouldn't even notice or care.

 

D

[Marlowe]

Keep it friendly, chaps. Some very good points have been raised by all.

 

I entirely agree with neoptolemus' comments on Rex Design; my Flora whilst infinitely better in build quality than the ANA Noch 91 bdus I once had pales in comparison to my Bekas Berezka (and is in no way in the same league as my Sposn Gorka-E). I have to be honest however and say that I have a set more out of the knowledge that is usually considered the de facto pattern for Russian infantry than out of its skirmish effectiveness. I find the pattern a little too washed out personally in British forests against the effective and highly popular western patterns designed for this region(primarily DPM and Flecktarn).

 

Delfi does have a valid point - regional vegetation should be taken into consideration when recommending uniforms, especially as the op wanted a BDU for British woodland. I know from personal experience that in many areas of America (Vermont being the area I know best) the foliage is very similar to British woodland, but it can hugely vary.

 

As a result with British woodland in mind I believe that Berezka and Partizan are both excellent, and would certainly recommend both over the Flora unless you are not intending on wearing a Russian BDU for more than special scenarios. As has already been said you will get what you pay for ultimately. The Berezka I have used all year around and is especially effective in Spring-Summer when foliage is green and there is a greater chance of direct sunlight breaking through the woodland / forest canopy. The Partizan lends itself well to Summer-Autumn gaming due to its blend of greens, browns and tans, and as already been said you can enjoy two tones of Partizan for different seasons.

 

Ultimately it comes entirely down to exactly which you like and whether you're going for a particular loadout. Berezka is still in sporadic use by some Russian Military bodies but really should be considered more of a Soviet legacy pattern, where as Partizan is assuredly modern and popular in usage. We can't really help you any more than that really. Best of luck deciding - I'm sure whichever of these bdus you choose you will find it excellent for skirmishing.