How well do you try to "blend in"?

S

SBaker34

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Jun 16, 2010
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Somewhat of a silly question I suppose, I'm in college, and therefor I attempt to dress somewhat "normal" despite my preference for 5.11 style pants and such. But I don't typically act like a normal "college kid" in any other way. It seems a bit pointless as I care little for fashion. Do most you folks try to dress "normally"? I see a lot of people carrying enough guns knives and other gear that I have no idea how they do it if they wear jeans and a t shirt.
 
I wouldn't worry about it because your average person is oblivious. The only people who are likely to notice are those who are of the same mindset as yourself. In other words, as long as you go about your business, you'll be fine.
 
I wear 5.11 pants and shorts as well, which make carrying gear like knives and lights and extra mags easier but I still wear plenty of jeans as well. If I wear jeans usually I'll have a tucked in undershirt and an out shirt that isn't tucked in. I can comfortably wear and conceal my handgun in a holster Inside the waistband that way. Extra mag in a small mag holder on the belt, wallent and small knife in back pocket, medium sized folder clipped in pocket on right side, light and phone in left pocket or phone in jacket, and a Swiss Army knife in my back left pocket. That's a good amount of stuff with just jeans and a t shirt or + jacket too. It's still pretty comfortable and no one would know the wiser. At most they might see my knife or light clipped, that's about it.

I guess the idea is just that you need to be comfortable using clips and using the belt as well if you want to carry that much shit. Without the mag holster on my belt I wouldn't have that extra mag on me. And if I didn't use the clips on my knives it would be a pain in the ass. It's pretty easy for me to make it work although you have to prioritize and sometimes I need to leave something behind or whatever if there's no room.
 
One trick Ive learned for an added bit of "clandestine" activity is to move and act like you own the place. Walk with authority, be sure in your stride, and dont keep looking around like youre lost. It also helps to keep a steady pace, so youre not moving too fast or slow. With a bit of practice and your own ideas twisted in you could be wearing a chicken suit and no one would notice. Well, maybe not a chicken suit, but you know what I mean.
 
I too am in college. While I don't wear 5.11 pants, I do usually carry alot of gear. On my person, I usually carry two or three knives (within the college restrictions), and maybe whatever else I "need" that day. People are absolutely oblivious to everything. I myself don't understand, I analyze everybody who gets within about ten feet of me, and I could tell you if something was weird about them or if they had something on them. But for the majority of people, ESPECIALLY college aged, they are clueless about their surroundings. I usually get away with jeans, and if I'm off campus, like on a day trip, I carry my EDC bag with emergency stuff, paper, etc. And on the molle straps on the outside I have a big knife, a folder, a multitool, flashlight and pen and nobody has ever noticed them when I am walking downtown with it on. Or maybe they have and just keep their mouth shut ;) but the only tip I can agree with is to be confident in your choice, it was hard for me to explain to my significant other why I need to carry a bag with a big ass knife on it, but now I do it and it's actually helped me many times
 
Yes because for one reason I already feel like when I go somewhere everyone is staring at me lol. Don't know why though I try to realize the vast majority of people are so oblivious and/or self-centered that they don't notice anyone else. So I go as gray man as possible plus tactical wear isn't really my thing. I don't wear gun shirts or hats nor clothes with political statements on them. I do have a black Don't Tread On Me shirt I've worn a few times in public and even the gym and have been asked several times if I was in the military so I limit wearing it. I do occasionally try to pick out people who I think might be carrying and see if they're concealing well. If they have a knife clip, I always out of curiosity try to see what kind it is.

The one time I would've bet money that the dude was carrying probably multiple guns and mags was when I was in a Target once and saw a guy wearing a photographer vest buying groceries and it looked out of place with the rest of his attire. I know 99% of anyone else ignored it or thought it was a goofy vest, but it stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

I do know that if I was a college student these days, there's no way in hell I wouldn't have a firearm on me.
 
Little off topic but I have one of the tactical tailor hats in ATAC camo and a flag patch on it and I get asked literally every day if I'm in the military, which I'm not. Inevitably somebody gets upset that I'm wearing the flag. I am very grateful to those who serve and to me I should be able to wear the flag as a symbol of American pride, not necessarily because I'm military. But back on topic...
 
I also don't pay attention to fashion.
Living in Ca, i blend in just by jeans and a shirt, vans shoes or my Merrill hike shoes.
I probably spend the least on clothes of anyone I know.
 
I do a bit, sometimes my little maxped bag gets mistaken for a camera bag, sometimes people give a little, "wow, you look prepared for anything!" I usually give a smile and continue on. If I'm in full work gear I just look similar to any of the folks who work at the zoo, or similar. lots of brown hiking clothes. Out and about is generally pretty casual, but I don't go out of my way to fit in. What I do is to look like someone who has little worth taking, and isn't worth a fight. I'm a little dude, so I'm not big on anyone's mad-dog radar. But its also an avoidance thing. I don't go places where that is a concern very often, and when I do, its head up and eyes open time. I've been mistaken for a cop, I guess its all in how you move. the difference between being present, and being aggressive. Of course I'd loose a fight to a wet paper bag if it came to blows, so I gotta look like I have more bite than I do. Easy when I had the mohawk, easy now with the shaved head (gotta love early baldness). Of course I've also been mistaken for homeless, and as a courier, so maybe people are just not good at guessing? That said, I do go out of my way to keep my gear looking civil. I like my bag because it looks camera bag-ish. I don't carry knives on the outside of packs, and I try to limit the level of matching gear. The more hodgy-podgy it looks, the more it looks utility over tactical. The stuff I have hanging off my bag are things like keys, a compass, mini-towel. Stuff that is easily identified. I think we feel we are watched more than we are, but its very much an environment sort of thing. There are places I just do not fit in, and in those places I do my best to disappear, or get out. Don't want to be a target because some numb-nuts mistakes you for an easy tourist mark.
 
I try a little bit to fit in I guess. As a teacher, my love of knives, guns, fighting, metal and rap is not conducive to my profession so I've learned to tone it down. I won't go out of my way, but I'll put a little thought into it.

Examples of things I wouldn't wear around work even on a casual day:

-Shirts with knives or skulls
-Shirt with Mohammed Ali standing over a guy he knocked out
-My leather bondage outfit (just kidding)[emoji12]

I think it's OK to want to fit in as long as you don't change who you are fundamentally or change your core values. There's times I prefer to blend in and times I'm okay with sticking out, so my style varies from day to day. For example, yesterday I looked like a tactical douchebag, and today I look like a preppy guy in a cardigan. It keeps people guessing!
 
I noticed someone mentioned being mistaken for a cop, I've had that happen SEVERAL times. I suspose it's because I go the gym quite a bit and usually keep my hair short.

I suspose I'm just worried about giving off an active shooter or neonazi vibe. But like others have said I doubt anyone would notice boots and or pants.

I'm really starting to worry less about sticking out though. I've left the gym wearing a black tank top a few times and gone to class or shopping and people actually seemed more likely to randomly start talking to me.
 
that's the funny thing, I don't. 5'10 and 155lbs after a big lunch! oddly, I've also been mistaken for someone who knows where to buy drugs. I think the threatening vibe has more to do with attitude than appearance, although from time to time I've seen guys who set off the radar, but they look and act aggressively. Different from the few body guards I've seen, I guess they all buy the same suit, but hands in front, and danner boots kinda gives it away. They also tend to take up space, as in, people move around them, not just past them.

Another thing that prevents giving a hostile vibe is showing your face. a hood, sunglasses out of place, or anything like that will make people more uncomfortable. Some people have a friendly face, some don't.

as far as being invisible, or not, I once saw a guy get off a city bus in Calgary. acid washed jeans with rolled up cuffs, doc martins, black nylon bomber jacket and short stubble haircut. As skinhead as you could get without an armband. He looked around and realized he was all alone in a part of town mostly populated by south east asian immigrants. He started walking really fast. Thats a guy who knew the territory was hostile, and knew he might as well have had a neon "Racist" sign on his back. Pretty funny to watch really.
 
I don't know if I blend in, never thought about it. I wear 5.11 or similar, Magnum boots and my EDC pack is molle compatible. I just prefer the tactical clothing because its got lots of pockets, and is really durable. The 5.11 poly wool shirt I have never needs ironing and is just warm enough to pass as a jacket. The purpose of "tactical" clothing isn't fighting, it's more about being convenient, warm, dry and comfortable. Clothes so you don't have to think about shit like weather, which pocket something will fit in.

It does give a security/military vibe but I'm comfortable, so I don't care. Ironically if my clothing and gear was camo I'd look less Mil/LE. I'm mildly color blind so my wardrobe is mostly blue, black, brown or light khaki which are the colors that the stuff comes in.

Though, now that I think about it, I may look a bit odd. Never thought about it!! I guess with a hat and sunglasses I do like cross between Michael Douglas in the end of Falling Down and Splinter Cell
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If you're comfortable and not running around like a loony I wouldn't worry about it.
 
I wear 5.11's occasionally mainly because I really like the pocket layout.

I don't particularly care if I blend in, and as others have said, the average person is oblivious.
 
I stick to Dickies jeans and an offensive T-shirt of some sort. If you get close enough to read the patches on my vest... you'll know I'm safe to run toward.



 
I wear dress pants and penny loafers on a daily basis and notice all of the 5.11 pants that I come across. I then try and guess how many knives they carrying. :cool:
 
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If I see a "tacti-tard" in all the 511 clothing and Maxpedition fag bags... I laugh inside and give them a business card.
 
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