We’d wager it’s never been easier to spot camouflage than it is right now. Not because the British Army has let its standards slip, but because there’s now more camo on the high street than on the front line. Camouflage – especially the real-tree variety – is everywhere. Caps, trousers, tees; it’s all fair game. Once designed to help you disappear, today’s camouflage is worn for exactly the opposite reason: to stand out. Or at least, that’s what we think the original idea was.
And to be perfectly honest, we were beginning to get a bit bored with the abundance of camo. That was until we saw Nike ACG’s latest release…
Titled Chamo Camo, Nike ACG have now turned its hand to the ubiquitous pattern, but unlike the played-out real-tree prints that have flooded our streets, this release actually has a story to tell…
Created for the trails rather than the pavement, Chamo Camo draws directly from the landscapes surrounding Chamonix, France (hence the Cham part of the name). Instead of borrowing from hunting gear or military surplus, ACG’s designers looked to the granite, limestone and sandstone that make up the Mont Blanc region, alongside its dense pine and spruce forests. The result is a layered, genuinely thought-out camouflage print that mirrors the changing colours, textures and shadows runners experience as they climb from sunrise through to dusk.
The new print features across the All Conditions Racing Department’s athlete race kit, including Dri-FIT ADV singlets, distance tees, race shorts and half tights, before extending into a wider apparel and footwear collection for everyone else. So whether you’re lining up beneath Mont Blanc or just heading out for a weekend hike, the same terrain-inspired aesthetic carries across the range.
Of course, performance is still the priority. This is Nike ACG after all. But in an age where camouflage has been turned into yet another done-to-death trend, it’s refreshing to see a brand return to the pattern’s original purpose and build something that feels considered rather than a cash-in.
The Nike ACG Chamo Camo collection launches via Nike on July 23, before arriving at select ACG retailers, including Sentier in Chamonix, on July 30.
