I value opinions on this site over most, which is why I bring this question to the table for discussion.
In a SHTF type of situation (I hate that overused term btw) what would you wear out in the general public in the suburbs/city? I’ve read numerous posts about how you should blend in so you don’t attract attention. In a senerio where there is chaos or highly possible chaos would you dress in normal daily clothes and carry your ccw piece or go more extreme? Keep in mind I’m a civilian.
I feel like this site has a higher percentage of military, LEOs and professional shooters than most. With that being said, would you dress like it (mil/leo) and expect civilians to dress like civilians (which you know a lot would be dressed like Rambo)
Hopefully this isn’t too confusing being posted from my iPhone. I look forward to the replies.
Wolf in Sheeps clothing. I think the “Rambos” will be fighting each other or be looking for “less prepared” persons. I’d rather someone underestimate me and find out the hard way than have them come at me with guns blazing because they see me decked out head to toe in combat gear.
Also add that mission dictates gear. There might be a time to be loaded out.
First of all, what are you doing outside walking around during SHTF??
Only go out if you absolutely have to, such as if you run out of food or water, or desparately need some type of medicine (and you might not be able to get it anyway). Then wear whatever would be appropriate to get what you need and survive.
One issue is if there are LEOs or .mil in the area. They may have free fire on anyone with a weapon or .mil kit. So what do you do? Snipe your way through them? Go home and hide in the basement a while longer?
There are no easy answers. But I think that trying to be casual in SHTF is just ridiculous. Wear whatever will maximize your chances of survival. Since it is only SHTF if people are killing each other, I think you may want to be armed, with vest, with trauma kit, etc.
Been concerned about this a long time. Nothing we own looks new or trick. If it was new we purposely put it on the cloths line and left it out in the weather for weeks, in some instances months to get that new brightness out of the product.
Most weapons are rattle can painted mags optics, boots are blacked but not polished. Packs and web gear look really really ratty. Not the case just the perception is what we hope to sell.
All rain gear looks old in fact it is old, however we have taken the time to Seam Seal every sewed joint. Our packs are older British rucks, some newer stuff but it’s just heavy and stiff.
We have also settled on British LBEs again all have been left outside to weather and soften.
Virtually every thing we carry on the outside is Teathered with cord.
, life goes on. Wood needs split, gardens need tended. Scouting needs to be accomplished. Intel needs to be addressed. Hard to accomplish inside the crib.
I personally only buy neutral earth tones for any clothing I wear, nothing flashy or bright but will blend in if I have to make haste thur a wooded area or blend into the shadows. My shirt is always slightly over sized to conceal my weapon or any other gear I carry.
I also deploy packs to mimic everyday collage students in dark colors as to not stand out and as we all are saying to “BLEND” with the other sheep until I decide different.
I guess it would be well advised to have everything you need and blend in with people. If they’re all Rambo dressed match them, if they’re casually dressed, do that?
I think I’d leave the house for things I’d need that I ran out to buy/trade for.
It depends on why Im out at that specific moment.
If Im moving to my primary location from where I am now, well I gonna have some gear on my person. I AINT tying a fuckin bandanna around my head tho!:blink:
If out snoopin&poopin, more subdued, but still heavily armed.
Matter of fact…I wouldnt see me either unarmed, or lightly armed, at all. I would assume that most of us here, would never be caught without our carbines, so that in and of itself will make us stand out.
But, as others said, I gaurantee we will see the Rambo crowd out and about, with there UTG/Condor/Airsoft shit strapped on.
Knowing how and when to move carefully, tactically, quietly, how to,
as my daddy used to say when teaching me how to hunt deer, “slip around” will be of monumental importance. Not drawing attention to one’s self. And also, Id probably never go out alone, always having a trusted partner to help watch our back. As much as Ive tried to envision “how itll be”…who the hell knows. But when I go back, and watch footage from Katrina…the L.A. riots…the blackouts, the brownouts…Chicago riots, ect…I can get a pretty damn good idea.
Prepare for the worst, and pray for the best, thats my motto.
If things are bad enough and have gone down the drain enough to where you don’t feel safe going out the door without a carbine strapped to you (in an overt fashion…not in a “concealed, off-body carry” method), then I highly doubt you’ll want to move around during the day…if at all. You’d better have a really damn good reason to do so if you do.
And if you have a carbine strapped to you, do you really think it’ll matter what your clothes look like, or whether you’re wearing armor? :blink:
Not to get too far OT, but on a side (yet related) note, “bubba snipers” would be my main concern, even over the “roving gangs” that some talk about. Daytime movement would be a HUGE catch 22, and really not worth it IMO unless for emergency. There is a reason that SpecOps guys do their thing at night…that’s what’s called a CLUE!
However, keep in mind, the above is with the assumption that the scenario is a TEOTWAWKI/Nationwide SHTF/“The Road”/“Book of Eli” type of situation. It may not apply to a blackout/hurricane/local riot situation.
Brother Ironman8-
As I said, who knows how things will be. But as someone who has been to nearly every major city, many times, some HUNDREDS of times, I can tell you there are places RIGHT NOW, TODAY, where I wouldnt feel/be safe, and would want my carbine on me now!!
I dont know anything about armor, but yes, I think, to some if your all “ninja’ed out” and armed, vs. jeans and t-shirt, you would not be as threatening to some as you would be to others.
I do not see a case where Id hole up and never ever go out.
As Dirk Williams said, there is stuff that needs doing. To sit back and not know how bad or better a situation is getting is to my mind faulty thinking. I know my AO well, very well. I know the types of people lll be dealing with. I share some of your concerns as well. I truly believe, in a looong lasting scenario, something over, say 3 months, we will see the absolute WORST come out in people, people who hadnt acted on hidden perversions and murderous desires yet in “civilized society”, but a little while after all law goes south, they will realize there is nothing to stop them now, no legal consequences.
Child molesters, would be rapists, murderers ect. The GOOD thing about that, is its a two headed coin. The minute they are found out, there aint no law stopping US from administering instant justice.
But as we agree on Im sure, there are endless possibilities/scenarios that could happen, and we just have to be ready, to be ready, and use common damn sense for whatever comes along.
FYI- I posted this on LightFighter back in September 2010. I have not made many changes to it.
I have seen a metric SH@* ton of threads about bug-out-gear. I have not seen much on if/ what people carry for bug-out-clothes. I have a go-bag pack set up with the basics but though about, “What if I am at the beach?”. I would not want to go into a survival situation, short or long term, wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals. That just does not sound like any kind of fun. So I decided to get a small bag to attach to my go-bag with some clothes in it. I thought about changing it seasonally but decided against it. I figure if it is any type long term situation I should be ready for any season. The criteria I was thinking was clothing that was:
Durable- That is all I have so it MUST LAST.
Comfortable- I may have to b moving by foot or any other type of means and all items need to be suited for that.
Versatile- The clothing will have to be able to be used for any possible situation, weather, or terrain .
Subdued colors- Looks like regular clothing but does not stand out in nature.
Not a “military” looking uniform- I figure in some cases you don’t want to look like some “ass-clown” running around in MultiCam.
Here is the list that I have for my TEOTWAWKI clothing list.
This is for the area of NC and I would most likly be headed to TX(Came up with this when I was still at Bragg).
Head Gear
Random Ball cap (Larue, Kifaru, Cabela’s)
GrayWolf “RECCE” Boone Hat- Khaki
Under Armour bennie- Tan
Neck Gator- Brown
Tops
Silk weight base layer- Tan
TAD Gear Ranger Hoodie- Coyote (barely meets #5)
(2) Under Armour T-shirt- Tan/Brown
REI long sleeve shirt (cotton/poly)- Brownish/Orangeish
Mountain Hard Wear rain/wind jacket (packable)- Brown/Black
Bottoms
Silk weight base layer- Tan
(2) BDU style pants (cotton/poly)- 1 OD Green / 1 Tan (Everyone wears them so it is good for #5)
Foot Wear
(2) Silk Weight Socks- black
(4) Under Armour Socks- Black
Merrell Sawtooth
Gloves
Flight Gloves (Nomex) - Tan
Silk Weight Glove Liners- Black
Belt
HSGI Riggers belt- Tan (it has an extra long tail on it- very handy for a strap if needed)
That is the list I have so far. Feel free to make any suggestions. I would like to see if anyone else has gone down this “rabbit hole”.
Phila, which packs are you using to blend in with college students? Which colors are preferable?
It would seem to me that it’s best to steer clear of most of the Maxpedition gear as it just screams gun owner to me. The general population might not know what it is, but most LEO and people familiar with firearms gear will.
It also seems that anything in tan or green could be a bit of a tip off, but I don’t have experience with this in practice.
My idea of camouflage is a ball cap, t-shirt/sweat-shirt, boots, and a pair of cargo pants.
Gray man is the name of the game. Quality clothes/gear that won’t stand out yet are functional in Earth tones manufactured by tier 1 outdoor adventure/work wear brands (i.e. Carhartt, Arc’teryx, etc.).
