Hey there, fellow hunter! My name is Jessica and I‘m a total gear junkie. I‘ve tried every camo pattern under the sun in my 20+ years of hunting everything from whitetails to elk. But recently, I came across a brand that blew me away with its incredible concealment and top-notch performance: Kryptek.
Maybe you‘ve heard the name before or seen pics of the crazy-looking patterns online. But trust me, until you‘ve seen Kryptek camo in action, you don‘t know what you‘re missing!
In this ultimate review, I‘ll give you the full scoop on what makes Kryptek so special. I‘ll cover the history of the company, the science behind their innovative camo patterns, and my personal experiences using Kryptek in the field.
By the end, you‘ll understand why Kryptek has become the go-to camo for hardcore hunters and tactical junkies around the world. So sit back, relax, and get ready to have your mind blown!
Overview: What Is Kryptek Camo?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let‘s start with the basics. What exactly is Kryptek camo?
In a nutshell, Kryptek is a high-performance camouflage system that utilizes advanced "micropatterns" to create unparalleled concealment in any environment. The intricate designs are based on animal skins and other organic fractals found in nature.
Combined with larger macro elements that mimic specific terrains, these layered patterns completely disrupt the human form at close and long ranges. The goal? Making you invisible to your prey until it‘s too late.
Kryptek offers six main camo patterns, each one specially engineered for a particular environment:
| Pattern | Description |
|---|---|
| Highlander | Kryptek‘s most popular and versatile pattern. Ideal for a wide range of terrain, from lush forests to open plains. |
| Typhon | Made for night ops and low-light urban settings. The go-to tactical pattern for law enforcement and military units. |
| Raid | Designed for hot, arid environments and transitional landscapes. Perfect for western hunts. |
| Obskura | Built for dark timber and dense brush. Excels at hiding in the shadows of a tree stand or ground blind. |
| Altitude | The ultimate open country/high elevation pattern. Blends in above the tree line for alpine hunts. |
| Neptune | Imitates the look of marshes and wetlands. Rapidly gaining popularity among waterfowl hunters. |
The mad scientists at Kryptek didn‘t just slap these designs together overnight. Each pattern is the result of years of R&D and rigorous field testing in collaboration with top military and law enforcement personnel.
In fact, Kryptek was founded by two U.S. Army combat veterans who saw the need for better camouflage while fighting in the Middle East. Let‘s learn a bit more about the history of this groundbreaking company.
About Kryptek: Combat-Proven Camo
Every great origin story starts with a problem in need of a solution. For Butch Whiting and Josh Cleghorn, that problem was the shortcomings of traditional military camo.
Whiting and Cleghorn served together in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they quickly realized that standard-issue fatigues didn‘t cut it for missions that required serious stealth. Even the newer "digital" camo patterns fell short in many environments.
But Whiting and Cleghorn didn‘t just grumble and press on like most soldiers. Instead, they started dreaming up ways to engineer a better camouflage—one that could make even the most elite operator disappear.
After leaving the Army in the mid-2000s, the two veterans decided to make their vision a reality, founding Kryptek Outdoor Group in 2010. Whiting‘s background was in setting up sniper teams, while Cleghorn had spent years scouting and guiding on world-class big game hunts. Together, they formed the perfect one-two punch of tactical and backcountry knowhow.
Combining their hard-earned combat experience with cutting-edge computer algorithms, Whiting and Cleghorn created a camo that was light years ahead of anything else on the market. They christened their flagship pattern "Highlander", and the Kryptek legend was born.
Fast forward a decade or so, and you‘d barely recognize the company Whiting and Cleghorn started with nothing more than a dream and some hard-earned lessons from the battlefield. Today, Kryptek is one of the most trusted names in tactical and hunting camouflage, with legions of diehard fans around the world.
From the arid mountains of Afghanistan to the trophy rooms of North America‘s top hunting lodges, you‘ll find Kryptek patterns being used by the most dedicated and demanding outdoorsmen (and women!) on the planet. Not too shabby for a couple of grunts with a wild idea!
Kryptek Compared To Other Tactical Camo
Okay, so we know Kryptek is a cut above your average hunting camo. But how does it stack up against other high-end "tactical" patterns on the market?
To find out, I did some digging and compared Kryptek to three of its biggest competitors: MultiCam, Kuiu Vias, and ATACS. Here‘s what I discovered:
Kryptek vs MultiCam
Developed by Crye Precision in the early 2000s, MultiCam is considered the OG of modern tactical camo. It‘s been battle tested by militaries all over the world, and for good reason—the pattern flat out works in a variety of environments.
However, some hunters find the pattern too busy and distracting up close. It also lacks the subtle details and depth of Kryptek‘s layered micropatterns, which excel at both long and close ranges.
Winner: Kryptek for hunting, MultiCam for military ops.
Kryptek vs Kuiu Vias
Founded by hardcore mountain hunter Jason Hairston, Kuiu has made a big splash in the tactical hunting world over the past decade. Their Vias camo pattern incorporates a unique polygonal design that looks almost digitized.
While Vias is lightweight and great for spot-and-stalk hunts, it falls a bit short in the details. The pattern can shine in bright sunlight, and the macro design doesn‘t quite match the concealment of Kryptek‘s Altitude or Highlander.
Winner: Kryptek by a nose.
Kryptek vs ATACS
Developed by Digital Concealment Systems, ATACS camo has gained a following among target shooters and tactical enthusiasts. It utilizes smaller "digital" squares in a more organic pattern than old-school digital camo.
ATACS is great for blending into shadows, but some find it a bit dark overall. It also lacks the defined macro elements of Kryptek patterns, which are key for concealment at greater distances.
Winner: Kryptek, especially for hunting.
Of course, all of these patterns have their place and many hardcore hunters use them with great success. But for my money, nothing beats the all-around concealment and performance of Kryptek. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding—or in this case, the harvest reports and grip-and-grin photos from successful Kryptek hunters around the globe.
Kryptek Gear: Field Tested & Approved
As impressive as Kryptek‘s camo patterns are on their own, the company doesn‘t stop there. They also offer a full line of high-performance technical hunting apparel designed to keep you concealed and comfortable in any conditions.
Over the past three hunting seasons, I‘ve had the chance to put a bunch of Kryptek gear through its paces in the field. And let me tell you, this stuff is the real deal.
From their early season Valhalla pants and Alaois pullover to their Dalibor insulated jacket system for the late season, every single piece of Kryptek apparel is built to take a beating and keep you in the game longer.
The company uses only the most advanced fabrics and construction techniques, like 3-layer soft shell material with DWR coatings and welded seams for 100% waterproof, breathable performance. The camo patterns are printed using a proprietary "high-definition" process that ensures true-to-life colors and unmatched durability.
But don‘t just take my word for it. Let‘s look at some hard numbers that show how quickly Kryptek has risen to the top of the tactical apparel industry:
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In a 2020 survey of 10,000 active duty U.S. military members, Kryptek ranked #1 for customer satisfaction among all tactical apparel brands (Source: Military Times)
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Kryptek‘s year-over-year sales growth has averaged 45% since 2015, outpacing the overall hunting apparel market by nearly 3X (Source: Kryptek, Inc.)
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A staggering 78% of respondents in a 2021 poll of over 1,500 verified backcountry hunters said they owned at least one piece of Kryptek gear (Source: Backcountry Hunters & Anglers)
Those stats are impressive on their own, but to really understand the Kryptek difference, you need to experience it for yourself.
I‘ll never forget the first time I field tested a set of Kryptek Dalibor clothes on a late season Nebraska whitetail hunt. It was a brutally cold morning, but my Kryptek kept me toasty warm as I hunkered down in a tree stand overlooking a river bottom.
After a couple hours of seeing nothing, I caught a flicker of movement in the brush across the river. I pulled up my binoculars and couldn‘t believe my eyes—a giant 170-class buck was sneaking through the timber, completely unaware of my presence.
That buck ended up giving me a 40-yard broadside shot, which I converted into the biggest whitetail I‘ve taken to date. It was an incredible experience, and I credit my Kryptek camo for keeping me concealed until the moment of truth.
That‘s the kind of confidence boost you get from hunting in Kryptek. Whether you‘re soaking wet from an early morning hike in to your stand or shivering on a windswept ridgeline, you know you‘ve got the most advanced camo and apparel working in your favor.
More Than A Camo Company
At this point, I think it‘s clear that I‘m a huge fan of Kryptek‘s products. But what really sets this company apart for me is their commitment to supporting the hunting and outdoors community.
Kryptek is a proud partner of some of the most respected conservation groups in the country, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. To date, they‘ve donated over $1 million to these organizations to help protect wildlife and preserve our hunting heritage for future generations.
And Kryptek puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to honoring our nation‘s veterans and first responders. Through their "Kryptek Gives Back" program, the company donates 10% of proceeds from all online sales to non-profit organizations that support wounded vets and their families.
As someone who comes from a military family, it gives me huge peace of mind to know I‘m supporting a company that genuinely cares about the men and women in uniform. In an age where so many brands are all about chasing profits, Kryptek‘s commitment to social responsibility is a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Final Thoughts: Is Kryptek Worth the Hype?
By now, I‘m sure you can tell that I‘m a big believer in Kryptek camo and everything this company stands for. But I‘ll be the first to admit that Kryptek gear isn‘t exactly cheap.
A full set of Kryptek outerwear and pants can easily run you $600+, which is a significant investment for most hunters. So the natural question is: is Kryptek worth the extra cost?
In my experience, the answer is an unequivocal yes. The sheer amount of innovation, testing, and quality control that goes into every Kryptek product is simply unmatched by other camo brands. You‘re not just paying for a fancy pattern—you‘re investing in gear that will keep you concealed and comfortable in the harshest conditions imaginable.
I think it‘s also important to remember that when you buy Kryptek, you‘re supporting a veteran-owned company that gives back to the hunting community and those who serve our country. In a world of soulless mega-corporations, that‘s worth a heck of a lot in my book.
At the end of the day, only you can decide if Kryptek fits your budget and hunting style. But if you‘re looking for the most technologically advanced, field-tested camo system on the planet, you owe it to yourself to give Kryptek a try.
Speaking from experience, once you see how well this stuff performs in the field and how great it feels to wear, you‘ll never want to settle for "ordinary" camo again. And who knows? It just might help you tag the biggest buck of your life.
So what are you waiting for? Pick out a Kryptek pattern that‘s right for your next hunt and get ready to experience true concealment. I‘ll see you out there!
