REVIEW: BE-X Sniper Basic Cape

A little man stands in the forest, quiet and silent - and he can hardly be seen. The reason for this is a Ghillie cape, which is a science in itself. For those who want to avoid the elaborate process of cutting up a BDU or sewing something themselves, they are happy to opt for a ready-made base. From BE-X, the Sniper Base Cape was available - and we took a closer look at it.

Delivered in a pack sack, weighing approximately 430 g. The cape without the sack is 20 g lighter. So, as the name suggests, a good, lightweight base for a camouflage cover.

The cape (in TAN) unpacked. Lots of net fabric with sewn loops and a Cordura bib at the front, that's the heart of the cape. Lots of jute or other camouflage material can be knotted to the loops.

A close-up of the fabric shows that this is not a normal mesh, but a special hexagonal net. This has the advantage that under load (e.g. lots of wet jute) it distorts much less and is generally more stable under tension. The loops are extremely clean and tightly sewn.

A special feature of the cape is its construction. The body is cut very ergonomically, and the hood is attached to it. The shaped shoulder area ensures that the cape fits very well and doesn't slip too much, even under weight!

To achieve this ergonomics, a front closure was dispensed with, which has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are no closures that could break or come undone and a good fit. The disadvantage is when putting on and taking off. Through the head hole, it is difficult to put on with a (firm) headgear. So if you want to quickly put on the cape but wear a helmet with radio equipment, you have to take it off and put it back on, which is not particularly fast.

The large hood (a helmet fits underneath) can be secured with a simple drawstring, similar to a combat helmet with a 4-point strap, which can also be easily removed.

Another special feature is the impregnation of the net fabric, which is antibacterial and protects against mold/mildew, with an effective duration of about two years or 4-6 washes according to the manufacturer.

As TAN does not camouflage well in our areas, we did what the cape is intended for: as a base for a Ghillie. So we dug out spray paint and jute and off we go.

First, we darkened the cape with green and brown tones, giving it a more matte finish. The untreated fabric had a slight sheen. On the right in the picture is the finished result.

Quickly tested the cape without jute - and we are quite satisfied. Has a resemblance to an Endor Suit.

Now just a few strands of jute knotted to improve the camouflage, as we want to use the cape more as a light cover than a full-fledged Ghillie. For now, we are quite satisfied. With a bit more jute and natural camouflage material, then one will be much closer to invisibility.

CONCLUSION: For anyone who wants to build a quick camouflage cover or a solid Ghillie cape, this cape is quite suitable as a base. Thanks to clever design and special net fabric, the cape also wears very well under load. Whoever equips the BE-X Sniper Base Cape with just a few jutes can enjoy very good air circulation.

Available at Begadi in Tan and OD for € 89.90 excl. Shipping (not currently available)

(Republic from 2017)