Editor’s Note: Virtus has entered a new chapter since this review was originally published. The patented Virtus camouflage portfolio is now under new ownership, with a new family-owned team carrying the brand forward. We’ve updated this review with current ownership information, corrected links and additional context while preserving our original hands-on experience with Virtus gear and camouflage.
Good camouflage has one job, keep you from being seen. Good outdoor gear has a much longer list of demands. It needs to be durable, functional, comfortable and capable of performing when conditions turn against you.
That’s what originally brought Virtus Outdoor Group onto our radar. We spent time with the company’s apparel and patented camouflage patterns, putting both through real-world use rather than simply judging them from a catalog.
A lot has changed since this review was first published. The gear we tested remains part of the Virtus story, but the company behind the name has entered a new chapter. The patented camouflage portfolio is now under new ownership, and the team taking it forward has plans for what comes next.
Before we get there, it’s worth revisiting what made Virtus interesting in the first place.
I first came across Virtus a couple of years before writing this review. My wife found the company’s three-jacket system online and ordered one. She loved it, and people regularly stopped her to ask where she got it. Eventually, I ordered my own. She wasn’t wrong.
The material didn’t feel like ordinary run-of-the-mill fabric, and the cut worked well. After putting it through plenty of use, it became one of my favorite jackets for shooting and travel. What I didn’t realize at first was that Virtus was much more than an under-the-radar jacket company.
The Original Virtus Story
Being a veteran-owned company, VOG has strived to create combat-forged gear unlike anything on the market – both in material and style. The founder, a former Marine, David Johnson Wood, is not only a fabric specialist, but also an elite athlete. After having gone through different equipment and apparel, David set out to find something that would meet his needs.
After meeting with multiple CEOs of outdoor gear companies, it was evident that no one was taking this idea to the level it needed. It was from this that Virtus Outdoor Group was born.
For this original review, however, I focused primarily on two things: the company’s three-layer jacket system and its camouflage patterns. Those were the products that initially caught my attention, and they remain an important part of the Virtus story.
Virtus Outdoor Gear
The original Virtus layering system centered around three jackets: the Helios, Astraes and Proteus. Each served a different purpose and could be worn independently or combined as conditions changed.
I spent time with the system, and the Helios and Astraes remain available through Virtus Outdoor today.
Helios Jacket
The Helios was designed as the lighter layer in the system, and it quickly became one of the pieces I used most. Its outer material does a good job cutting wind and shedding moisture, while the light fleece backing adds warmth. The fabric also stretches well enough that it doesn’t become restrictive when you’re moving.
That’s a big part of what made the Helios work for me. It could handle time outside or at the range without feeling like a bulky technical jacket. The current Helios remains a wind-resistant, breathable softshell with a light fleece backer and four-way stretch construction.
Astreas Jacket
The Astraes serves as the more substantial mid-layer of the system. It offers more insulation than the Helios while maintaining the mobility that initially impressed me with the Virtus jackets. This became another favorite of mine. It provided warmth without making movement difficult, which matters when you’re using a jacket for shooting or other outdoor activities. The current Astraes uses a stretch shell with insulation and ventilation designed to balance warmth and mobility.
Proteus Jacket
The Proteus was the outer layer of the original system and was designed around protection from harsher weather. It incorporated sealed zippers, taped seams and ventilation into a lightweight outer shell. Paired with the Helios and Astraes, it completed the original three-layer system I tested.
The Proteus is part of my original experience with Virtus, so I’m leaving it in this review. However, it is not currently listed among the products on the new Virtus Outdoor storefront. That’s an important distinction in an updated review. My experience with the jacket hasn’t changed simply because the company’s current product lineup has.
More Than Jackets
Even when I originally reviewed Virtus, the company wasn’t limited to jackets. Its lineup included pants, shirts, hoodies, hats and other outdoor apparel. That remains true today. Virtus Outdoor carries apparel ranging from jackets and activewear to tactical pants and accessories. All I am going to say is I know what I am getting my wife for Christmas. They have apparel for not just the warrior but, also the entire family.
Some previous Virtus gear, like the Virtus Kaos Pants or the Virtus Phantom Pants, can also still be found through outside retailers, giving readers another option when looking for specific pieces from the brand.
Virtus Outdoor Group Tactical Camouflage Review:
The apparel was only half of what made Virtus interesting. The company also developed its own patented camouflage patterns, with designs intended for different terrain, light and environments. That side of Virtus has expanded considerably since this review was first published.
The current Virtus Camo portfolio includes multiple patented patterns organized across Operational and Lifestyle applications. The Operational patterns emphasize concealment and visual disruption, while Lifestyle designs bring the company’s distinctive pattern families into apparel and outdoor applications.
Types of Camouflage:
NYX: Introducing Nyx. Applying darker colors that mask and hide in the evening through morning conditions, Nyx will give anyone the undetectable concealment desired.
EKHO: When it comes to keeping a low profile in specific environments, concealment is non negotiable. Ekho will provide an overall advantage in any populated environment. With a blend of gray colors, the camouflage concealment that it provides, no matter the atmosphere or elements, will be unmatched.
TARIIS: For hunters, concealment is the name of the game. Taking the Tarris camouflage pattern, it will not only make you undetectable to any “beast of the field” but also provide you with the desired outcome utilizing this technology. The Forest, won’t even know your there!
XEROS: Getting ready to take a long journey? Xeros, with 5 color options, will help you get the job done using the sleekest shadow tones today. It will “white out” anyone in any open and barren region giving you the long-range concealment you need.
DELOS: Looking to avoid detection in an underwater environment? Then Delos camouflage is your best option. Used by elite veteran warriors, this camouflage will over-deliver on its ability to conceal, whether that is underwater or above it.
PYRA: Calling all first responders and rescuers! The Pyra pattern scheme allows you stay comfortable and ready in your environment. When the time comes to be the hero, the Pyra camouflage will deliver on its part to help you achieve just that.
BOREAS: Not to be outdone by the military, VOG set a new standard when it comes to snow camouflage. This patented technology covers anyone in total concealment under the umbrella of snow and ice and all-mountain terrain.
Virtus Camouflage Beyond Clothing
Virtus camouflage isn’t limited to apparel. The company is now actively positioning its patented patterns for licensing across commercial, tactical, outdoor and apparel applications. That makes the camouflage side of Virtus particularly interesting because the patterns themselves are part of the company’s portfolio.
The original review discussed applying Virtus patterns to hard goods, including firearms and other gear and equipment. That concept remains relevant, although manufacturers and brands interested in using the patterns can now work directly with the company through its camouflage and licensing business.
Virtus Enters a New Chapter
The Virtus story didn’t stop with the gear and camouflage patterns we originally tested. Since this review was published, the patented Virtus camouflage portfolio has changed hands. Today, Virtus describes itself as a veteran-led, family-owned company, with a new team carrying the brand forward.
That team brings an interesting mix of experience to the company. There are military, law-enforcement, outdoor and industry backgrounds represented within the new ownership, which gives Virtus an extraordinary amount of firsthand perspective as it decides where to take the brand next.
The transition also carries some history with it. Virtus was built under previous owner David Johnson Wood, whose work helped establish the gear and camouflage featured in our original review. The new ownership team isn’t trying to erase that foundation. Instead, they’re taking on the challenge of building from it.
For now, much of that work is happening behind the scenes. The team is concentrating on new products, production and the next stage of the Virtus brand. That leaves Virtus at an interesting point. The camouflage portfolio is established, the original gear built a following, and the people now behind the company bring their own experience and ideas to where it goes next.
We’re not going to tell that entire story here. There’s more history worth exploring, new products still to come and a new team behind Virtus that deserves a closer look of its own. Consider this the beginning of a new chapter, one built on the foundation of the last.
Final Thoughts
Our original time with Virtus gave us plenty to like. The apparel was functional, comfortable and thoughtfully designed, while the camouflage offered a different approach from many traditional patterns on the market. More importantly, those impressions came from actually using the gear. The Helios and Astraes became favorites, while the three-layer system demonstrated that Virtus wasn’t simply designing outdoor apparel to look the part.
There was thought behind how the pieces worked together. Some of the specific products from this original review have changed since it was first published. That’s why we’ve updated the links throughout this article to direct readers toward the company’s current offerings.
For current apparel and gear, start with Virtus Outdoor. If the camouflage technology and patterns caught your attention, Virtus Camo is where you’ll find the company’s current camouflage and licensing information. The products in this original review introduced us to Virtus. What happens from here is a story worth following.
