Looking like a survivalist?

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
3,164
Hiking with combat boots, a camo boonie hat with BDU's and a large knife on belt seems to be the stereotypical survival look. How do people feel about the survival look? Can it bring problems in a survival situation with other people?
 
I don't think it would be a problem in a survival situation. I think it would be most welcome. Hopefully the person knows his/her stuff and is at least prepared for an emergency.
The look depends on the person wearing it and the place in which it is worn. I think it also depends on the attitude that the person is trying to put across. Is it worn in a rough house tough guy mentality; or these are my clothes and I like them.
Some places I like the look and other locations I do not.
 
IMHO, that look has definite connotations associated with it. Depending on the viewer, those connotations could cause a very strong reaction, positive or negative.

In a small group, hope-of-rescue type situation, this could help establish you as someone trained and/or prepared for this situation who can keep people alive.

In a larger situation, post-Katrina being the first example to come to my mind, this appearance would likely have you being quickly rounded up by the Guard and police who would see you as a threat to restoring control.

Just my two cents.
 
I personally go for the rustic look (kilt, hiking staff, leather hat), not so much into the BDU thing anymore. FWIW, I think the camo/BDU/combat boot look might get you some strange looks on the trail (but what the hay, so does my get-up), but in a real survival situation people will hopefully be more concerned with actions, not looks. Although people under stress/in fear sometimes react strangely, so I guess you just can't tell. Nylon trail clothes will do just as good a job (even better, if your camo stuff is cotton), and be less obtrusive in normal encounters...
 
By the way, are we talking more about a Katrina-type situation (somewhat more urban), or a lost-in-the-woods thing? I guess that might impact the answer a bit, eh?
 
I personally like to look sheeple friendly, Dont like attracting unwanted attention. Kaki pants, some plain jane hiking boots, a fleece sweater this time of year and a boonie hat.
 
I don't generally look but one way 24/7/365. If people don't like it I guess that's just tough. Nobody has said anything yet. :D
 
My typical dress in the bush is OD BDU's and a long sleeve T-shirt. Normally the BDU shirt is in my pack. I also use jungle boots, a beat up bush hat. Its just a matter of practicality, the clothes work well and I don't wear oput the rest of my clothes. This reminds me I need a new set of OD's. I do have a set of the new digitals but I think they look like pijamas.

The only time I ever had a problem was in Canada. Some old guy said something nasty to me in French, which was fine, as I don't speak French. I think he was more offended by my Ka-bar.

In the woods in PA I carry my .45 openly and I could care less about sheeple. Mac
 
I avoid that look like the plague, I will not use Camo' at all for preparedness equipment and my BOB is a plain looking "student" type backpack.

The last thing you want to do in a "survival situation" is stand out with an "I have survival stuff" look about you.

Never forget the dangers of scared, hungry and desperate people!

Remember after Katrina, when news crews were told not to drag out their bottled water and food in front of people stranded in N.O.?

There was a very good reason for that.
 
pict said:
Some old guy said something nasty to me in French, which was fine, as I don't speak French. I think he was more offended by my Ka-bar.
Click to expand...

Many Quebeccers still consider themselves to be French. He saw the Ka-bar and said "We surrender." Don't worry, the French surrender to everyone... except, apparently, Green Peace.
 
Camoflauge uniforms were designed for a purpose and I don't find a need to involve that in my woods experiences unless I'm hunting. In my opinion there are some excellent alternatives that are much more effecient in terms of weight and protection, especially when wet. Trust me I've worn BDU's a time or two. Don't get me wrong, I don't wear hot pink clothes either. I go for more of the casual hiker look. I prefer to blend in. The less attention the better. That way they won't guess I have just laid my hand on my .357 mag or have a supresssed .22 in my ruck. Just my .02.
 
In the hotter months, I normally wear OD Bdu rip stop green pants, a khaki long sleeved shirt by Columbia, a white t-shirt, hiking boots, and a OD BDU green boonie hat when I go out in the woods. Of course it all depends on what time of the year it is too. I find this very comfortable and I really don't care if people look at me wierd. I'm not trying to look as a survivalist or any thing like that, but I'm not going to be uncomfortable neither.
 
My favorite article of "camouflage" clothing is a wool jac-shirt I picked up at LL Bean many years ago. It is olive drab, brown, and gray plaid. Blends in real well in both the bush and the city.
 
Most people usually give me some strange looks, a BK7 on a completely naked person is an acquired taste I guess. Shoot, and I live in Arkansas, maybe I should think about changing my attire?
 
I also like subdued colours, but I am not into the camo look. I prefer people to meet me and realize I'm out of my mind after talking to me for a bit rather than knowing it right away.



In all seriousness, I find that a lot of the camo types just want people to think they are tough, or violent, or potentially violent. While I admit I can think of some applications for that I think it's a lousy approach to life in general, and people who want me to think they are potentially violent generally succeed in making me think they are definitely pathetic.
 
People?!? Interesting... i occasionally catch a glimpse of one but theyre normally hurrying back into the undergrowth...
 
misanthropist said:
. . . In all seriousness, I find that a lot of the camo types just want people to think they are tough, or violent, or potentially violent. While I admit I can think of some applications for that I think it's a lousy approach to life in general, and people who want me to think they are potentially violent generally succeed in making me think they are definitely pathetic.
Click to expand...
You have such a way with words. . . you must be a lawyer ;)
 
Would I be wrong if I supposed that hunting is a very limited sport in Socal?

Codger
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top