Materials
IR Remission Fabric: Cordura, Multicam, Webbing and Paint
· 5 min read
An IR remission label promises one thing: in a night vision device the material does not stand out against grass and leaves. But a kit is not made of one fabric. At night a silhouette is more often given away by webbing, hook-and-loop, patches and reflective strips, so every detail is checked.
IR remission fabric: what to check in each item
| Item | What can stand out | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Vest cover and pouches made of Cordura | the dye of the main fabric | the label on the fabric and a document for the batch |
| VKPO uniform, field suit | inserts made of another fabric | whether the main fabric and inserts look the same |
| MOLLE webbing, belts | webbing dyed separately | IR remission webbing or webbing printed with the pattern |
| Hook-and-loop, thread, elastic, mesh | small hardware | the colour and label of the hardware |
| Reflective strips, IR patches | bright reflection of the IR illuminator | remove or cover them while working |
| Home paint job | uneven coat, worn edges | evenness and resistance to rubbing |
One wrong item cancels out the rest: in the device the eye catches the brightest or darkest spot.
What the "IR remission" label on fabric means
Behind the label is the dye, not a special fibre: it is chosen so that in near-infrared light the device sees the fabric as grass and leaves. The physics of the property and lab measurements are covered in a separate article.
For a buyer something else matters: a word on a tag is not proof. It is confirmed by a document from the mill that made the fabric: specifications or a measurement report. With no document, what is left is a check with a night vision device.
Cordura with IR remission
Cordura is a dense nylon fabric. It is used for vest covers, chest rigs, pouches and backpacks. The property comes from the dye, not the nylon. Cordura of the same colour and weight comes with IR remission and without it, and the eye cannot tell them apart.
The figure in the marking, such as 500D or 1000D, shows the thickness of the yarn. It affects abrasion resistance, but not how the fabric looks in night optics.
Multicam and other camouflage with IR remission
In a multicolour pattern each colour is dyed with its own dye, and each must comply. If one colour turns light or black in the device, the pattern falls apart into spots and stops breaking up the silhouette.
The name of the pattern says nothing about the property. Multicam, digital pixel or plain olive from different mills can look different in night optics. Check the label and the document for the specific fabric.
The VKPO uniform and its inserts
The vest covers the torso, while arms, legs and shoulders stay in the uniform. If the uniform looks lighter than the vest in the device, the silhouette reads by contrast: a dark torso on a light figure.
Uniforms often have inserts of another fabric: elbow and knee reinforcements, mesh, knit. They are checked separately: inserts may lack IR remission even when the main fabric complies.
Webbing, hook-and-loop and hardware
MOLLE webbing and belts are woven and dyed separately from the main fabric. There is plain webbing with IR remission and printed webbing with the camouflage pattern applied. Ordinary webbing shows up in the device as rows of stripes across the vest.
Hook-and-loop, thread, elastic, cord and mesh: each part is made of its own material. Black buckles and side-release clips show up as dark dots against light foliage. The parts are small, but there are many of them.
Reflective strips and logos with a retroreflective layer light up in the beam of an IR illuminator. Patches for friendly identification are meant to be bright in night optics. The OBSIDIAN assault vests have hook-and-loop areas for them, and such a patch is removed while working.
Paint with IR remission
For small parts there are paints that behave like the natural background in the near infrared: for plastic, metal and fabric. They are used on helmets, buckles and torch covers. On fabric the coat makes the material stiffer and wears off first at folds and edges.
For a vest cover, uniform and pouches, paint is a temporary fix. Factory dyeing lasts longer and lies evenly.
How to check your kit before work
- Put on everything you will work in: uniform, vest, pouches, backpack, helmet.
- Go out to a meadow or a forest edge after dark, away from street lighting.
- A partner looks through a night vision device from the distance you would be searched from: first without the IR illuminator, then with it.
- Note everything that looks like a light or black spot against the foliage.
- Replace those items, cover them or take them off while working.
Repeat the check after changing pouches and after frequent washing: items from different batches can look different in the device.
What fabric the OBSIDIAN assault vests use
Both assault kits, OBSIDIAN MAX and OBSIDIAN Basic, are built on CORDURA BALLISTIC 500 with IR remission. On the front there are hook-and-loop areas for visible and IR identification patches. The contents and weight of both kits are set out in our article on assault body armor.
Call us at 8 800 101-76-37 and tell us what time of day and what terrain you will work in: we will suggest the configuration and size. The other models are in the tactical and assault body armor catalogue.
FAQ
What does an "IR remission" label on fabric mean? The fabric is dyed for near-infrared light and reflects it like vegetation. In night optics a person wearing it looks neither like a white nor a black patch.
Can you see IR remission with the naked eye? No. By day both fabrics look the same. The difference is shown by a night vision device or a lab measurement.
What is IR remission webbing? Webbing for MOLLE or belts dyed so that at night in the device it does not differ from the vest fabric. With ordinary webbing the vest looks striped in the device.
Can a phone camera be used for the check? No. Phone cameras have a filter against infrared light, so the picture does not match what a night vision device shows.
Does IR remission affect the vest's protection class? No. Bullets and fragments are stopped by the ballistic panel and plates; the cover fabric does not change the class.
