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Viper Hood is a kind of slim ghillie suit in the form of a hoodie. The whole is designed to allow for free use of a tactical vest and a backpack. The manufacturer wanted to create a lightweight cover that would take up as little space as possible without losing the camouflaging properties. Thanks to these solutions, the Viper Hood SCG was adopted in units of light infantry and reconnaissance units.

SCG.VIPER HOOD PRO

Viper Hood PRO has been designed based on a wireframe mesh and is covered with a lattice made of a coreless paracord. The hood has been connected to the short cape with a Pasamon tape that does not restrict movement. The bolero sleeves reach to the elbows, and are fastened with the NATIONAL MOLDING latch clamp, located at chest level. The product has a universal size as it is adjustable using a pullcord system, which allows to easily adjust the Viper Hood to the user's silhouette.

SCG.VIPER HOOD HYBRID SERIES (LONG SLEEVES)

Viper Hood Hybrid Series (Long Sleeves) differs from the PRO version only with the material used in the design of the base. Here, instead of a mesh, NyCo uniform fabric has been used, although the mesh remained on the side parts of the hood to improve ventilation. As the manufacturer states, the idea of creating a hybrid version of the Viper Hood was due to the lack of a lattice in the Pencott camouflage. Thanks to this, a quite interesting design has been created that allows one to use a regular thermoactive shirt without losing camouflaging properties.

The burlap

The suits we got were had the burlap already attached by the manufacturer. It has been made from materials specially prepared by SCG such as jute i raffia, which have been used in ghillie suits almost from the very beginning. Yet, in this case the materials have been treated, which allows them to maintain their color and durability fro a very long time.

In addition, among the burlap we will also find pieces of jagged, mesh material resembling a mosquito net in various camouflages. It gives a pretty interesting effect and supports the overall camouflage, especially when we are not able to as some more stuff to the ghillie. The whole set has been specially aged, which gives a more subdued color that does not reflect sunlight in an unnatural way.

But even the best burlap needs additional camouflage, fortunately both models allow to do that without any problems. You can easily attach fresh burlap to the paracord lattice or, optionally, use of sniper bands or a strings cut from a tube bicycle. We can also attach them to the lattice and thanks to that we can attach fresh burlap to our Viper Hoods more efficiently.

Using the Viper Hood

Every person who plays airsoft knows that the limited ranges of replicas force players to choose the appropriate camouflage and create ambush situations, while remaining mobile. This is where the Ghillie camouflage system comes in handy and, in our case, its minimal, mobile form, or the Viper Hood. Its biggest advantage is the lack of encumbrance of movements and the possibility of using practically any type of equipment.

The Viper Hood, thanks to its light weight and relative breathability, will work during Sunday games as well as those lasting for a days. It is not too heavy or problematic, and the camouflage properties it gives us are satisfactory. Contrary to the beliefs of many, after putting on a ghillie, we do not become immediately invisible. You should know your camouflage and you need to know where it will work and where it will not do its job. This applies not only to masking systems, but also to ordinary uniforms. The advantage of a masking system over the uniform itself is such that the system main functions is to blurs the user's silhouette and, in some cases, it will allow us to be unnoticed even in the full sunlight which is not achievable while using a uniform. This is a particularly good solution for snipers, because it often allows one to shoot a second shot before the opponent discovers the shoots position.

A great solution for airsoft games is to use the hybrid version of Viper Hood as a uniform shirt, under which you can wear a thermoactive shirt, even with short sleeves. This will greatly increase ventilation and will create a kind of combat shirt. SCG's offer also includes attachable back covering camouflage, the Viper Cape V2. It will be useful when used without webbing and, thanks to its large surface, it will work without any problem as a camouflage for a patrol backpack.

Of course, it's hard to use the Viper Hood without a headgear, because the material and burlap falls on the eyes all the time, obstructing the field of view. What I did was to use it with a baseball cap, but an even more effectively way, that will blur our silhouette even more it to use a boonie hat, which we also find in the SCG offer.

The asymmetrical design of the Viper Hood  is has several drawbacks. Its lack of any back covering and minimal chest cover cause the hood to be quite heavy, to wear any other way but on the head, because the short cloak's strap presses on one's neck.

The issue of blurring the silhouette also has its drawbacks. This type of camouflage enlarges our figure, which often causes issues on the battlefield when, during a game, we are hit in protruding parts of our camouflage, which we often neither feel nor hear. In such situations you sometimes have to believe the opponent's word.

Summary

Both versions of Viper Hood (PRO and Hybrid Series) we tested are high quality products. Both the materials used and the way they all is made do not leave much to be desired. Unfortunately, this translates into a fairly high price of the end product, but well, the quality costs. The modular camouflage systems used here are one of the most optimal masking solutions on the market which, thanks to their design, we are able to use together with equipment such as a tactical vest and a backpack. Due to the relatively small size and weight of the product, after skillful folding, we can carry it always with you. Of course, the Viper Hood from SCG also has its cons, such as the aforementioned uncomfortable wearing of a short cloak with a hood pulled off the head or a small problem with ventilation, despite the mesh design. However, it must be admitted that it is one of the best products on the market, not only Polish, but also global, allowing the user to remain unnoticed in the forest (not only for military purposes).