Having read various reviews and heard so much about this innovative new brand of clothing for wildlife photographers, I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself. Being given the opportunity to review it only added to my anticipation and intrigue.

The quality of the clothing, material and workmanship are immediately evident and impressive on first impression. It was the functionality, forethought and design that really struck me though. You can tell from the off set that the gear really has been ‘designed by wildlife photographers for wildlife photographers’ every thing has been thought of!

Being exposed to the elements of weather, often referred to in Shetland as ‘four seasons in one day’, practical clothing is a must; windproof, wind stopper, breathable, water resistant/proof/repellent etc- there is so many things to consider and to confuse you…. Step aside for Stealth Gear!

With Otters being my main focus, passion and also something of a signature species and speciality of mine both as a naturalist and photographer, having suitable, functional and appropriate clothing is a must…. For animals as wild, secretive and shy as Otters, blending into their environment is imperative.

Blending in

First and fore most you’re clothing must blend in to the environment and habitat you are in. Initially one of my main concerns was how the clothing, (although suitably coloured) would compare from the various camouflage outfits I have worn in the past. This proved not to be an issue, as on my first evening wearing the gear I stalked myself into a position where I was only meters from an Otter family- the greens and greys of the ‘Teflon’ shoulders, pockets, elbows and knees merged into the rocky and seaweed smothered shores as good as my trusted camo gear,

Functionality

Like most aspects of the clothing, the functionality is impressive to say the least. Given that I regularly spend long periods of time literally lying in and around rock pools in close proximity to Otters along the Shetland shores, I continually found myself with either elbows or knees (usually both) getting soaked or just plain sore! The ‘Teflon’ knee and elbow patches and indeed liner pads (which can be easily removed) meant that this was no longer an issue. Similarly for the ‘open out and fold down seat off the rear of jacket.

Up to the elements

Spending long periods of time in the field in Shetland as I do, clothing that can stand up to the elements of the weather is essential. Having been very impressed with how the gear compared against the camo gear to which I have become accustomed (in terms of blending in), I was equally as intrigued as to how it would fare against the many elements of Shetland weather…

Leading tours and especially guiding photographers seeking to photograph Otters, often leads to spending long hours in the field and very often in weather conditions that would normally see me pack up and go home. But for visiting enthusiasts this is not an option as time in the isles is often limited. I have put the suit through the worst of such conditions of driving rain and winds of up to force seven and could not fault it. I was kept completely dry.

Comfortable and wearable

For me personally I found the jacket and trousers ideal for my purposes (as above). I also found the Jacket to be very comfortable and wearable for every day in the field birding and guiding, although I will say I removed the elbow and shoulder pads for this kind of use.

Additional Features

The additional extra features them selves were both impressive and functional. Cotton storm cuffs; I have found these very useful indeed, they can extend beyond your cuff to cover your hands, for warmth and for those close encounters where you want all your skin to be covered, this also applied to the face net as it is surprising just how much hands and face can give away your presence.

For me personally as a naturalist and wildlife photographer the gear is set head and shoulders above any vaguely similar or available products on the market. The various high street and increasingly ‘urban wear’ outdoor clothing brands just cant compete with the fore thought and functionality. The gear seems to be aimed at photographers serious about spending time in the field, any wildlife photographer wanting to get the results will want to get one of these!
It is with the design, fore thought and functionality of the Stealth Gear range that when wearing it you are effectively wearing a walking, crawling and effortlessly manoeuvrable hide yourself!