What's better ACUs or BDUs?

[Delta Farce]

I think ACUs. BDUs just aren't all purpose. Plus digital looks better.:mp:

[mtnsldr]

Thats it? Major fail on the post. At least try and stretch it into more than one line if you don't want to make the effort to ask an insightful question. I mean, I could just ask "Why is the sky blue?" but what a crappy discussion that would be.

[Drill for life]

It depends on what you are doing. I like wearing BDU's for cross-country litter carry and also for spinning but I like to wear ACU's just because they feel real good and look real good. It's weird I rolled the ACU sleeves up(at home don't say i was out of regulation, I was in shorts and a t-shirt) the USMC/USN way and they looked good and felt reall comfortable. WHy doesn't the army start rolling the sleeves up the USMC/USN way(you cant roll them up Army, Air Force way).

[ArmyJrotc Raider]

I really don't care :p, but I think most of the men and women in uniform only care which one will keep them well hidden and blended with their surroundings (this is purely my opinion and it may or maynot be true.)

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

BDU's are way better.

1. The Battle Dress camouflage actually WORKS. Wear ACU's anywhere, you're being spotted.
2. BDU's are more durable. My pair of ACU's, I've had for a year. They've already started to rip. The BDU's I've had for about four? Goin' strong.
3. I find BDU's to be more comfortable to wear than the ACU.

[cscsmp]

ACU's are much more comfortable. BDU's are much more durable and work a lot better. About the only thing I've seen were ACU's work better than BDU's is in tall grass and sage brush. That's about it. Everywhere else BDU's are better.

[Drill for life]

I've got a set of DCu's they are the best. Think how comfortable ACU's are and the durability and the good looks of BDU's with the ability to roll up sleeves.

[Airbourne Infantry]

I think the BDUs are more durable because they're made of a more thick material. Unfortunately, this also makes them hotter to wear. I'd never wear BDUs out in the desert, and then again I'd never wear ACUs when I'm getting rough. As for looking good, I think the ACUs look better, but if they can't keep you cammoflauged, what's the point? It's weird, the ACUs are like a cross between a forest and a desert cammo, but in general I think they work better in the desert.

[Drill for life]

You guys know they make summer and winter weight BDU's,DCU's and other uniforms.

[C/SSGT Seifer]

For my purposes I like BDU's a lot better. I live in the north so it gets cold in the winters (try down to 0 degrees and below) and in the summer it gets up to the hundreds on really hot days. I find that BDU's are warmer, but because you can roll up the sleeves when it is hot it is efficient in any condition. I do however like the look of the ACU. If I had the choice I would stick with my nice and worn in BDU's

[soccermark23]

For the Air Force, I like the summer weight BDUs. They feel great and the coloring hides all the grease and other junk I tend to get all over me working on jets. With the ABUs I'd probably end up with a huge black spot. Not to mention the green ABU boots, those would be disgusting in a week.

[MP_Girl]

All Uniforms have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll start with the one that was my very first issued-The BDU. The BDU over all is much more durable. It does not have as much wear and tear, and also if you wear them in woodland environments, they actually work. I think they are also much more comfortable. Stains are easier to get out of the BDU as well. The only disadvantage I was able to find was the fact that every time you are promoted, or for females who change their last name due to marriage, their name tapes are sewn on, and you have to take the name tapes off and re-sew the new one's on, along with the ranks.

Next Up-The ACU's. The ACU's have more disadvantages then advantages with me. For one, they do not camoflauge the way they need to be. The ACU is suppose to be multi-purpose, and they do not do this-wear them anywhere and you will be seen, especially in woodland environments. Story behind this one was when we were practicing Camo in the woods. Our Sergeant had been deployed, and was infantry-infantry was one of the first to get ACU's. He wore his ACU's and I was able to take the advantage and make sure I was completely hidden. Disadvantages of the ACU is the wear and tear- the velcro and the uniform itself wear and tears much more easily then the BDU. I had mine for not even six months, when the velcro and soon after the uniform started to fall apart. Another example comes from my cousin who was over in Iraq. He leaned against a HMMWV and he had an incoming, so he had to move quick, he moved quick, and the result was his rip in the ACU from his leg all the way up to his groin area. Not good. Also, they are not as comfortable as the BDU to me. Not to mention the dirt on them is not easy to remove.

DCU- I have had no experience with these, but my cousin has told me that they are comfortable like the BDU, easy to clean, durable, and camoflauge better when in desert.

[Drill for life]

DCU's are very comfortable. I love to wear them they are my favorite utility uniform.

[armysc_25b]

The only disadvantage I was able to find was the fact that every time you are promoted, or for females who change their last name due to marriage, their name tapes are sewn on, and you have to take the name tapes off and re-sew the new one's on, along with the ranks.

Here's the thing though. There's nothing in AR 670-1 that states that rank was required to be sewn on. I always used pin-on ranks for my BDU blouses. Should you choose to sew ranks on anything, it's out of your pocket. That said, the rank on my Patrol Cap has always been sewn on (except for recently when the rank came off my cap at WLC and I just haven't bothered to get it sewn back on since I don't wear the thing often). I can't stand the clutch backs against my forehead.

[pingjocky]

I can't stand the clutch backs against my forehead.

Push the posts through the cap and then bend them over flat. No need for frogs. That's what I did back in the day when I had to wear a crow on my ballcap. If you bend them out away from each other it'll hold your insignia on there pretty good.

R/
Pingjocky

[Ben Shotalot]

I think ACUs. BDUs just aren't all purpose. Plus digital looks better.:mp:


ACUs suck unless you like getting shot at. All the other stuff about how great it is only seems to come from REMFs who don't go through all the maneuvers that a grunt goes through. They are crap. Velcro sucks, etc.

Who gives a crap about how 'cool' the pattern is? Wait until you need real camouflage before you start talking about how 'digital looks better'. Unless you like bullet holes....

:recon:

[Drill for life]

ACUs suck unless you like getting shot at. All the other stuff about how great it is only seems to come from REMFs who don't go through all the maneuvers that a grunt goes through. They are crap. Velcro sucks, etc.

Who gives a crap about how 'cool' the pattern is? Wait until you need real camouflage before you start talking about how 'digital looks better'. Unless you like bullet holes....

:recon:

Hahaha, I think the Army should have designed them a little better, the Marine Corps MARPATS are just plain out awesome, the desert pattern blends in with almost every light color from Salmon to brown and the woodland is great it can't be seen in dark backgrounds like Black and green and can even be camoflauged in some light colors also. The Army is making a new digital uniform to adress the ACU's downfalls,they are called Future Force Warrior. The ACU's are good for Recruiters JROTC instructors and Drill Sergeants. They have alot of draw-backs period, there draw-backs outway ther advantages.

[armysc_25b]

Hahaha, I think the Army should have designed them a little better, the Marine Corps MARPATS are just plain out awesome, the desert pattern blends in with almost every light color from Salmon to brown and the woodland is great it can't be seen in dark backgrounds like Black and green and can even be camoflauged in some light colors also. The Army is making a new digital uniform to adress the ACU's downfalls,they are called Future Force Warrior. The ACU's are good for Recruiters JROTC instructors and Drill Sergeants. They have alot of draw-backs period, there draw-backs outway ther advantages.
Really, you don't have to tell a Soldier that ACU's suck. Most of us know that, and the ones who don't are probably the ones who ripped us off.

[C/Major]

I think ACUs and BDUs are pretty much the same, both uniforms have there ups and downs.:beret:

[Drill for life]

Really, you don't have to tell a Soldier that ACU's suck. Most of us know that, and the ones who don't are probably the ones who ripped us off.

I didn't say sucked I just listed downfalls of ACU's and listed Advantages of the MARPATS. Here is that uniform I was talking about earlier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Force_Warrior
The uniform pattern is called Multicam and as you can see in the pictures it works very well in camoflauging.

[armysc_25b]

I didn't say sucked I just listed downfalls of ACU's and listed Advantages of the MARPATS. Here is that uniform I was talking about earlier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Force_Warrior
The uniform pattern is called Multicam and as you can see in the pictures it works very well in camoflauging.
So here's something you probably didn't know. Multicam was one of the uniforms being looked at when the Army was looking at the transition from BDU's to "new uniform X". For whatever reason, it was decided to utilize the Univeral Camoflague Pattern that now embraces the Army Combat Uniform versus go with something that has been proven to work.

[Drill for life]

So here's something you probably didn't know. Multicam was one of the uniforms being looked at when the Army was looking at the transition from BDU's to "new uniform X". For whatever reason, it was decided to utilize the Univeral Camoflague Pattern that now embraces the Army Combat Uniform versus go with something that has been proven to work.

I didn't know that. I have a question for you, what do you think of the Multicam pattern? Have you ever tried this uniform before?

[armysc_25b]

Nope, never touched it, but love the way it looks if it's advertising pictures promote it accurately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army_trial_patterns

Some info about the testing that went down to select the new uniform.

[AirPower3P0X1]

Having worn the BDU and ACU (and the ABU, but that's a horse of an entirely different color- well okay, it's similiar to the ACU in color, but that's not the point), I've formulated my own opinions on them. The ACUs suck in the field. In urban ops and desert, they might work a little better, but I haven't seen them in those scenarios. They stand out in the forest. Velcro sucks. Every aspect of it, except, perhaps, when a buddy needs to borrow a uniform for some reason or other. The ACU isn't very durable, either. The velcro dies out and the pocket edges try to stand up after it's been washed, too. It stains easy. Forgot about that part. On the good side of it, I loved how light it was, and not having to press it saved time.
As for the BDU: it's pretty darn effective, and it's durable. It drove me nuts on FTX when I would jack up my boots and have to reshine them, though. The was resolved the next time, however, by a 2nd pair of black boots. It's pretty sharp in garrison when ironed, as well.

[armysc_25b]

Velcro sucks. Every aspect of it

Glad we don't use Velcro, instead we use hook & loop fasteners... </sarcasm>

[army_grunt_11B]

Im bad, let me start off by saying, I've never been deployed and am a weekend warrior. The most I've worn ACU's was during OSUT this summer.

Ill start at the bottom and work up.

I don't like how easy the boots get dirty and don't clean up that easy, as with Black Combat boots, you just shine, and your good to go. My summer issue are pretty much trashed with mud stains and the like that won't come out.

The trousers, how ever I do like. I don't have a problem with the Hook and Loops, and I love the pull cord on the pockets, plus I love the fact I can keep my cell phone in the ankle pocket, and is in easy reach when Im sitting. Plus I can keep my Beret or PC in the side pocket, and not have to fumble with buttons to try and pull them out.

Next the undershirt, I think the tan undershirts look a lot better than the BDU, brown shirt. I bought a couple packages of these Under Armour shirts at clothing sales, that are really nice, I haven't worn the Issued shirts since July but, they are pretty decent, only problem is they show sweat, Im sure Active Compent guys aren't getting smoked all day, so Im sure thats not a problem for AD. But during basic, our shirts, especially around the pits, were nasty looking.

Onto the jacket, I like the fact that once again I don't have to un-button the jacket to take it off, all I have to do is un zip it and Im good to go. I like the fact that the patches can be easily switched, (I have a KSARNG HQ patch, I have to wear to cadre for RSP, and my home units patch) The one thing that drives me nuts are the hook and loop covers for the IR tabs, The one on the right is fine, its all ways folded under since the US Flag is there, but the left side one drives me insane, it all ways comes undone and is flapping around. Also, another thing I like is the fact that I can put a pack of "gum" and have it in quick reach on my shoulders.

As for being made of cheap matrial, I think it feels fine, and has yet to develop any tears or holes. Plus it feels nice when Im all sweaty from getting smoked.

Also, my hook and loops, are still attached all over just fine, and I haven't gotten a new set since May, and went through OSUT with them.

As for cammo, it worked fine in the woods at Ft. Benning, but Im not going to comment on Cammo wise as I haven't "Been There, Done That".


Also, I wear BDU's once a week for JROTC, since 9th grade and still prefer ACU's.

[Javelin66]

You guys are all missing the point. I have worn everything from OG 107s (the pickle suit), to jungle fatigues, the original BDUs (with the Elvis collar), the 'new' BDUs, Chocolate Chips, DCUs, and now ACUs. All of them have shortcomings and advantages.

What you are all missing is the fact that The Army (the institution that has to pay for 4 or more uniforms per troop for over a million troops), is not really trying to get the best uniform available for every possible situation. This would would require several sets of uniforms per troop, one for each terrain type and season. Think a winter/summer uniform in desert/woodland/urban terrain, this would come out to 24 uniforms per troop, at 60-100 bucks a pop, not to mention rain gear, sleeping bags, tents, etc.

Rather, the Army settled for the uniform that is: a) OK-ish in most terrain and weather, and b) cheap to replace when it gets destroyed. Looking cool doesn't hurt, but I doubt that it was at the top of the priority list down at Natick Labs.

That's all there is to it. The Marines have a fraction of troops to outfit (and has a completely different mission set). The Air Force and Navy both developed absolutely ridiculous combat uniforms, but both of them put their guys in ACUs when they are working with the Army, and sailors working with the Marines wear Marine uniforms.

[Drill for life]

I have worn jungle Fatigues to. They are very comforrtable and eery thign but they only work in one enviroment........The Jungle....... I think the BDU's where perfect and the military had a great idea when they made them. They have just imporved on a ide with ACU's,MARPATS,ABU'sNWU's and OGU's. The military got tired of people mistaking them for another service so they just decided to make there own utilities.

[Javelin66]

Don't get me wrong, I am not an ACU fan. However, calling BDU's 'perfect' is a bold statement.

Don't think about how these uniforms look, think about them as a tool. ACUs and the MARPATs were not designed to make us look different or cool (the ABU and the Navy fatigues were, on the other hand). They were designed to meet the needs of a ground force engaged in full spectrum combat operations on three continents (and other places). Once you've spent a few months wearing them in the field the differences become obvious.

The ACU was designed to be worn under body armor and in and around vehicles. Guys conducting operations now have the option of using the combat shirt. By the way, Under Armor, although it may be sexy and cool, is not allowed off the FOB because it fuses to your skin in a fire.

I wore BDU's of various flavors (there were three major types, by the way) since 1985. The originals were too hot, and the collar (the Elvis collar) got twisted up in your web gear. The second generations had the 'fat boy tabs': the heavyweights were too hot and took too long to dry when you got wet. The lightweights were too light, they literally rotted off your body and came apart at the seams in the field.

The third generation was OK, the collars, elbows, and knees were reinforced, and they got rid of the fat tabs, but pretty soon we were at war and we were wearing DCUs, which are essentially second generation BDUs in a desert pattern.

As the BDU's 'evolved' by the way, they were changed to make them easier to press so they would look better in garrison. The pockets got smaller and were sewn down on one side. They became less and less of a field uniform as time went on.

Finally, don't be obsessed with the cammo pattern. Yes, it helps, but trust me, no matter how good you are, a platoon or company of guys walking down a street, through the woods/jungle/swamp, or across the desert are not undetectable to the bad guys regardless of what cammo pattern they are wearing.

[Skylark]

The ACU is a decent weapon in garrison since you don't have to iron it or shine the shoes because, as a First Sergeant once told me "the Army operates on an 8th grade level". But whenever I see guys walking around in their cammie jammies I think "tacky as hell." Javelin is right about Sailors wearing ACUs when placed in Armyland. In the field I can't do much more than echo what's already been said, as it covers my experience with it fairly close enough. The Velcro seems great at first until it wears out and the patches get all warped, the thing tears easy, and give it enough washes it almost starts to turn pink.

Probably the one thing about the ACU is all the many fantastic pockets.... which we will never use.

[USFreak]

I know the ACU's look cool, but I just don't like them as much as BDU's. Grant it the ACU's are easier to put patches on. I just think that BDU's are more comfortable. Also I haven't found a way to clean desert boots easily, I'm used to shining the old black boots.

[armysc_25b]

You will never get the suade boots to look good as new. My oldest pair of boots is from June 2006, and I'd say they're pretty clean given what they've been through. The important thing is to take care of them. Kiwi sells a boot cleaning kit that contains everything you'll need to manage that.

[Drill for life]

It is pretty exspensive though but it does make them look close to new(just had to add that specialist).

[armysc_25b]

The cleaning kit? I don't remember it being anymore than $20, but the stuff I have I bought a long time ago.

[Drill for life]

They also have a product that cost $5. I use it up real quick though and it doesn't do as good of a job as the cleaning kit(that last you seven times longer).

[ArmyJrotc Raider]

An art eraser worked fine for me, first a little water to get off the dirt and grime, let th ewater dry, then an eraser of any sort as a matter of fact, just to get rid of all the markings. Works pretty good for me but, *Results May Vary.

[DSEddie]

ACU's are by far more comfortable than BDU's and require much less maintenance. However, I am not a fan of the velcro, pin on badges, or color scheme.

[Landwarrior]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the ACU a type of uniform (i.e. where the pockets are placed, the material it is made of, etc), not a type of camouflage (which on the ACU is Universal Camoflauge Pattern)? Also, I think the Marines wear Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniforms (MCCUU). MARPAT is the type of camouflage on the MCCUU's. I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but attention to detail is very important...:)

[SemperUSA]

I think both of them have there pros and cons. ACUs breathe better. BDUs look better, especially if they are properly ironed. Digital is also very nice, and compared to the old style camoflague, it better conseals you. Also there really is'nt a terrain out there that resembles the ACUs.

[PhoenixCadet]

Also there really is'nt a terrain out there that resembles the ACUs.

Of course there is!

Battlefield: Grandma's Couch

http://www.defensetech.org/images/ACU-couch-web.jpg

[Drill for life]

Real dirty sand, gravel pit and the hood of your friends busted 1998 honda civic.

[Sandbagger]

I think both of them have there pros and cons. ACUs breathe better. BDUs look better, especially if they are properly ironed. Digital is also very nice, and compared to the old style camoflague, it better conseals you. Also there really is'nt a terrain out there that resembles the ACUs.

In transitioning from the BDU (battle dress uniform) to the ACU (army combat uniform) the army probably saw less of a need for a uniform which was only marginally dressy and unnecessarily complicated to maintain.

Sharp pressed BDUs do look awesome but a lot of the treatments that soldiers were putting into BDUs to get them to look like that were A.) decreasing the service life of the uniforms B.) taking up additional money and time which was no provided for by the units (I have never dry cleaned a set of ACUs) C. ) taking focus off of warrior tasks and training drills which are arguably more important for soldiers to focus on than gussying a UTILITY UNIFORM.

There were a few issues with the woodland NATO pattern. one of the issues was that it was far to dark and even in a woodland environment during the day you can have issues with soldiers sticking out like dark green dots on top of light green leaves. Removing the black and lightening the pattern was a desirable change. The UCP is NOT SUPPOSED TO RESEMBLE A REAL WORLD TERRAIN BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BREAK UP PATTERNS OF A SOLDIER IN ANY TERRAIN. - this is really the whole point. Admittedly getting the color right eluded Natick when they were picking sage green but all in all I think they did the best they could do.

There are a few situations I have seen in my travels where the ACU shines (or "blends in" better to be more accurate).
Generally during low light, the blue hue of the light off the moon causes everything to wash out and The UCP works well here.
In environments with asphalt or concrete the greys blend well with the UCP
granite colored rocks, gravel, dark tree trunks dead trees etc also work well with UCP.


Personally, Having worn the BDU day in and day out for 6 years- having ironed and pressed and clipped strings and polished boots etc etc... I believe that the ACU is a better uniform. Better fit, better features, more adaptable, more versatile.

[C/SSGT Seifer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the ACU a type of uniform (i.e. where the pockets are placed, the material it is made of, etc), not a type of camouflage (which on the ACU is Universal Camoflauge Pattern)? Also, I think the Marines wear Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniforms (MCCUU). MARPAT is the type of camouflage on the MCCUU's. I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but attention to detail is very important...:)

Not to be a jerk cadet, but I doubt that when the Air Force cadets are referring to their ABU pattern they call it anything other than ABU, (maybe Tiger Stripes.) So why would the Army or USMC cadets do any different?

[armysc_25b]

Not to be a jerk cadet, but I doubt that when the Air Force cadets are referring to their ABU pattern they call it anything other than ABU, (maybe Tiger Stripes.) So why would the Army or USMC cadets do any different?
Because the pattern on the ACU isn't known as ACU. The pattern is called the Universal Camoflague Pattern (UCP), just like the Marines' uniforms pattern is MARPAT. BDU's were a type of uniform which had multiple camoflague patterns and were uniquely identified by such (woodland and desert), but both were the same uniform (in terms of material, layout, etc.).

[Sandbagger]

Because the pattern on the ACU isn't known as ACU. The pattern is called the Universal Camoflague Pattern (UCP), just like the Marines' uniforms pattern is MARPAT. BDU's were a type of uniform which had multiple camoflague patterns and were uniquely identified by such (woodland and desert), but both were the same uniform (in terms of material, layout, etc.).

In passing, the UCP pattern on ACUs is sometimes referred to as "ACU pattern" because it is unique to the ACU. Through translation, foliage green is sometimes called "ACU gray". It is not technically correct but I've never felt the desire to be THAT picky about the wording.

[C/SSGT Seifer]

Because the pattern on the ACU isn't known as ACU. The pattern is called the Universal Camoflague Pattern (UCP), just like the Marines' uniforms pattern is MARPAT. BDU's were a type of uniform which had multiple camoflague patterns and were uniquely identified by such (woodland and desert), but both were the same uniform (in terms of material, layout, etc.).

I'm not saying that he/she was wrong, simply not to correct me as I know that he/she does the same exact thing with the Air Force uniform. We (in JROTC) call it the ACU pattern as the Air Force (JROTC) calls theirs the ABU pattern. So to correct us for calling the pattern by the incorrect name is hypocrisy.

[armysc_25b]

I'm not saying that he/she was wrong, simply not to correct me as I know that he/she does the same exact thing with the Air Force uniform. We (in JROTC) call it the ACU pattern as the Air Force (JROTC) calls theirs the ABU pattern. So to correct us for calling the pattern by the incorrect name is hypocrisy.
What Landwarrior was stating in the post you responded to was correct. The ACU describes the type of uniform, not the camoflague pattern. To call it the ACU pattern is technically incorrect, as it is properly known as the UCP.

[Sandbagger]

What Landwarrior was stating in the post you responded to was correct. The ACU describes the type of uniform, not the camoflague pattern. To call it the ACU pattern is technically incorrect, as it is properly known as the UCP.

Though as my point went, the UCP is colloquially known as ACU pattern, even in the army.

[armysc_25b]

Though as my point went, the UCP is colloquially known as ACU pattern, even in the army.
No argument there. Doesn't make it correct, but if that's what'll get everyone on the same page...