ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

I'm pretty torn between the two. So I'll do the old fashion way, a show of hands (or clicks). What do you feel is the most adaptable camo for ALL situations (i.e. from dark pine forests to prairie flats).

If you vote predator please list which color. Thanks everyone.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

From a versatility point of view it is tough to beat an Asat 3D Leafy suit.If I was only going to buy one that would be the one I would buy.
It is hard to get past the outline breaking ability of Predator fall gray though!

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Well, it's not too hard to do a search and read the pages I've written on here as of late about what I feel to be the virtues of Predator, and specifically Fall Gray...

Interesting you brought up the 3-D leafy suits, tsoc... I was just reading some thoughts from Marc Barger (the Designer of Predator) and his feelings on 3-D suits....

Again, these are his words, but from someone who's been in the camo business for years and years and studied it as passionately as Marc has, I found it very interesting:

Now, here's some of his thoughts on what differentiates ASAT and Predator; he was responding to someone who said that the reason they preferred ASAT was that it didn't have the"darkblobs of color"in it...

I really think "favorite" camo patterns comes down to the proverbial Ford vs. Chevy deal, to some extent. Now, I DO think there is no way for anyone who is being intellectually honest with himself who looks at a picture of Mossy Oak or Realtree at a distance of 30 yards or so to lay claim that the pattern does anywhere near as good a job as an open-concept pattern such as ASAT, Predator, or the newly emerging Enigma.

A final quote from Marc on these thoughts:

It's not often you get to have insight into an owner's or a designer's thoughts and views; I thought some of you may enjoy reading those comments. Obviously, some may disagree, but it makes for some interesting reading, none the less.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Of the two, I chose ASAT. I used it for one year, and it's a great pattern. I'm excited to see if my new Enigma suit will bebetter.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

If you're looking for ONE set of camos that will be suited for anything, go with ASAT.

If you're looking to buy several different sets of camo for the different times of the year, go with Predator.

I hunt the evergreen state, so year round we have green - everywhere. I went with Predator Spring Green because it had a lot of green mixed with a little brown and black, perfect for my area.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Both are great camo, but I voted Predator. I use Predator Fall Gray in the later stages and still use Predator Spring Green early because I like its breakup abilities as well, but not for the reason of being dominantly green. That reminds me, I need to call and see if I can purchase a replacement piece of material........wore out the knee on my Spring Green pants. If I go out west again I'd love to try some Predator Deception. I also admit to using Realtree Hardwoods Grey quite a bit.;)

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

I voted Predator only because of where ASAT is headed. ASAT is and may always be the most superior camo pattern on the planet however the company ASAT Inc leaves a bad taste in my mouth, that's just an opinion. Unfortunately the product is being outsourced to make money. The pattern ASAT is superior to Predator in every way and I say that after wearing both and the results of wearing both. Unless you've worn ASAT you'll never know how well it works in all aspect, all terrain and all seasons. I've worn Predator only when ASAT wasn't available and once I found it again, my Predator was retired. I absolutely consider Predator the second best camo designed up until Enigma was invented by ASAT's former creative director. I'm anxious to test Enigma and put it heads up in my experiences with ASAT and Predator. I've been fortunate enough to have many experiences wearing both, I anticipate many more experiences wearing Enigma and if it doesn't perform, I'll be the first to turn to Predator because again, I feel in my opinion only is ASAT Inc, is degrading their product, not the pattern.

As far as 3D camo, I understand where the inventor of Predator is coming from, he believes in his pattern and doesn't want to invest in making 3D but 3D is where it's at. Everyone who has seen any camo and seen the same pattern in 3D can verify that 3D breaks the outline up so much better. Darkening or not, shadows create inconsitancies and inconsistancies create illusions, deer rely on it, that's why they stay in the shadows and thickets. Everyone knows that deer's black, browns and tans can disappear when they stand still in the shadows but put one out in the open and they glow. Same goes with ASAT and 3D's...I'm anticipating Enigma's pattern but I'm really anxious to buy their 3D when available. Predator would be so much more a pattern if they'd produce a 3D but as it stands, Predator can't compete with ASAT 3D.

That's from the heart and years of personal experiences wearing BOTH.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

I respectfully disagree with you on this, my good friend. :DMethinks it's the other way around; a monotone background simply doesn't erase the outline like Fall Gray does. Confuses the eye, yes...

Never the less, both are superb patterns; they just accomplish their goals via different methodologies.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Greg, I totally understand where you coming from however repectfully, you've never worn ASAT much less ASAT's 3D in front of animals, I'm not going by how I feel and see, I'm repsonding on the experiences I've had wearing both Predator and ASAT. It'd not my perception, it's my experiences.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

While on the ground kneeling beside a tree, I've had deer walk by me at 5 yards. I once sat on a stump while rattling and had a young 6 pointer come in so close that he barely nudged the cam of my bow while wearing Predator. I really think that deer had never seen a human before. I also had 10 mostly mature does and 2 young bucks within 20 yards of me last early January..........wearing RT Hardwoods. I just watched hoping a buddy could take his first deer. Whatever the camo you use, stay still, quiet and above all use the wind to your advantage.

dwd2001, whichever of the two camo patterns you choose it will be a good choice.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Totally agree, he's already narrowed it to the top two patterns, but companies are another story..

Add Enigma and you really have a tough decision.

I already have my hat. :D

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

How's the old saying go? You don't have to smoke crack to know it's bad for you? [8D]

No, you're exactly right, of course; I've never worn ASAT.... because once I found Predator Fall Gray, I had a baseline to compare ASAT to, and I never felt it justified spending my money on it. I've seen hundreds of pics of the stuff, studied it, and just don't feel confident that it breaks up the outline like Fall Gray does in a tree whena hunter isclose to or has been skylighted.

Now, maybe I need to add this bit of clarification, as well. I don't think Fall Gray is the end-all pattern for all types of hunting. ASAT would beat its socks off, say... out in Nebraska hunting from the ground for prairie goats. On just about any ground hunt, I'd give ASAT the nod... Or Deception. It's when it's up in a tree after the leaves have fallen that I think this stuff beats ASAT hands down. But... how did Marc put it in his quote up above? "To each his own..." :)

The other thread which was started by LT after buying some Fall Gray certainly shows off the pattern's ability to obliterate parts of the human body, but -- as Davidmil aptly pointed out -- there's better patterns for that scenario.

I'd still like to see a pattern which combined a myriad of features which we've been discussing. I think it was Matt in Il who asked me on another thread the question about why Fall Gray doesn't have more background showing through as it originally did. I answered him that I'd be one happy man if the owners would move back in that direction, so I certainly think there's room for improvement. Maybe if someone could take some ASAT-like principles, add a VERY light background (which would blend with the sky), add some jagged blocks over the background (to obliterate the outline), then lay the confusing lines over that... ;)Now THAT'S a pattern which has got some potential! :D

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

ya'll? This is getting entertaining, if nothing else.....[&:]:D;)

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Greg, yes I concur, one reason I wore it on my black bear hunt in a very green June woods...I was skylighted and in a grey tree with a white birch background...Predator Fall Grey was perfect.




It's in the wind.
enigma One entry found for enigma.
Main Entry: enig·ma
Pronunciation: i-'nig-m&, e-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigmat-, ainigma, from ainissesthai to speak in riddles, from ainos fable

2 : something hard to understand or explain

synonym see MYSTERY

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

There's a reason the great philosophers enjoyed their debates so well. Aristotle, Plato, Socrates... all of them knew how to engage and participate in a dialectic which served to broaden everyone's knowledge, while respecting their worthy debater...

And -- to your point, mobow -- besides being highly entertaining,the combined dialecticwas often the impetus or driving force forcreating a solution or settling on an idea that has stayed with us over the centuries. Ergo, in this case, possibly it could be Enigma. ;)

-- Of course, I'm not suggesting Rob and I worthy to be included among those great philosphers of old... :)They debated our very existence at times; we'll just stick to camouflage! [8D]

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Yeah, what HE said......LOL.......:D:D:D:D:D

Greg, I really don't know what you just said, but it sounds positive enough to me......;)

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

I just got the Predator Evolution pants and jacket,and I think it will be an awesome pattern for the early season. The hardwoods in my area are oaks and maples,with a lot of cedars. Here's a pic ,I'll try to get one in a treestand as soon as I can. Fall grey looks great for later in the season.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

The military has sought an all season all terrain camo pattern since they first began researching camo . After over 100 years of research and study they have never found such a pattern . I have little doubt that ASAT is good at what it does , but my vote goes to Predator .

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

Speaking of the military I read somewhere that they originally did give ASAT a really good look but it's effectiveness was gone once the human eye was trained in what to look for. It's effectiveness as a hunting camo is well known,but new things always come into the market. BTW I saw a video clip from the movie Jesus Christ Superstar and it looked like the soldiers leading Jesus away were wearing ASAT BDU's tank tops and shiny chrome helmets!

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

I have experienced the same as Cougerman.

RE: ASAT or Predator... you call it
 

I personally wear ASAT but wanted to make a plug for a company called Day One camo out in Colorado. You can get ASAT or any of the predators plus just about any other pattern. Gary, the owner, is a bowhunter and makes in my opinion the most functional hunting clothing out there. The customer service is great and he makes a bunch of other stuff including great packs and stalking boots, plus custom orders. I'm sure some of you guys know of the company.

I have lightweight pants and shirts and just ordered a parka and black fleece pull-over for wearing in the Double Bull.

A buddy of mine swears by Predator deception so as far as that argument goes, I don't think you can go wrong unless your wearing one of the "popular" green patterns.

My money is on ASAT and I won't wear anything else form coast to coast, any season, any weather. It may not be the only thing that works, but it just plain works and that's what matters to me.