Looking like a survivalist?

Threads like this are both interesting and frustrating at times. This is, "Looking like a Survivalist." Others like it devolved into "Survivalist Vs. Preparedness Geek" or "Evil, Racist Survivalist Vs. FEMA Approved Disaster Nerd."

You wonder how negative stereotypes get started and snowball? Look in this thread!

What did the fictional "John Rambo" where in "First Blood?"

He had a pair of jeans, a wifebeater and an OD Green M65 Field Jacket. He used some old canvas tarp...he had weeds all over him.

Where was the camouflage clothing?

Answer: Nowhere.

What about the second flick? It's been about 18 years since I have watched it or the Third in the series, but I don't remember camo clothing. I remember black BDU pants and black wifebeaters. I remember MUD and weeds and other things...but the whole "Rambo Mystique" began with the first movie, First Blood, and it stuck...some people who had camouflage clothing were called "Rambos."

See how stupid it is?

I guess I shouldn't expect reasonable or rational behavior from a society that shoots botulism toxin in its collective face and sucks the fat out of its collective ass and shoots that into its collective lips and face. :)

Or believes that canned tuna is bad for you and ...

Some of you are actually perpetrating this nonsense by repeating it. Stop that. Most of the people that are wearing black BDUs now are cops. Some of them go off on the Rambo stuff as well...while they actually wear what he wore in two of the movies. Go figure.
 
Oh Don, that was not directed to what you said. I know ur just having fun. I was just saying that cause it was on my mind....No worries.
 
I see that everyone here wears what they think is comfortable or maybe what's appropriate. Everyone has a choice on what they want to wear. If you want to look like a John Rambo, then go for it. If you don't wear BDU's because your afraid of what other people think. Then that your decision on not wearing them. Nuff said
 
Four thoughts.

1. Lots of cotton among people's choices out there. There are those who say that that's just about the worst possible if you end up getting wet and worrying about hypothermia--which can happen under all sorts of circumstances, even in the Southwest deserts, even in July. Though I love cotton cargo pants, I've got to say I'm not sure it's the best choice.

2. My uncle's a professional hunter and hunting writer, and was previously an investigative reporter in a bad-news urban area, and before that, a military sniper. When I wrote to ask his thoughts on camo, he replied that the core function of camo was to attract the attention of purchasers of clothes--and he opined that "neutral gray" was, in practice, just about as effective as any camo pattern.

Whether that's true or not, I've got to say that neutral gray would do a lot of what one would want in any "be unobtrusive" survival situation--almost nobody's going to read it as "I am preparing to fight you from concealment"; yet you'll be hard to see.

3. Another VERY serious consideration is that you are likelier to be saved by bright, obtrusive colors under a lot of no-kidding survival situations, than by invisibility. Most survival situations, as I understand from the commander of one local SAR group, are the result of some experienced outdoorsman getting injured while on a "minor" trip. If you're unconscious and getting hypothermic, bleeding, etc., you might have been better off wearing blaze-orange plaid than your digital camo BDUs, etc.

4. What about the possibilities of camouflage clothing causing problems as presenting the appearance of actual military uniform? I understand that there are some countries where this might cause some problems--though I have no specifics. Kind of a shame if your favorite Gore-Tex parka happens to turn out to be illegal (or, worse, to identify you as an enemy soldier!) in some country where you happen to end up touring. One could imagine martial-law scenarios, especially abroad, where walking around in what looks like military uniform might draw really unpleasant attention. I recall feeling a bit sore-thumb-like on a college-era trip to Israel and the West Bank, in which my main luggage was a (British) army-surplus duffel bag; only after arrival did it occur to me that I might look like an unarmed Israeli Defense Forces soldier on leave.
 
Good points all but...

...I might look like an unarmed Israeli Defense Forces soldier on leave...

I don't believe there is any such thing! :)

Codger
 
Here , the only people walking around in cam gear are soldiers , weekend warriors actually , on training .
Or wannabe weekend warriors .
Either way , its a bit of a sign post to any LEO that this dude is going to have something dangerous on their person , and here thats a no-no , if a cop can see a way that it can be used as a weapon , it is confiscate-able , and a person walking around in cam gear is plainly advertising that they are wanting to be seen as something to do with the military - some kinda dangerous dude

Not knocking cam gear , or people who want to wear it , its just that around here , int he Hunter Valley , horse stud and coal mining district , cam gear looks way outa place from the norm .

standard civies , faded jeans and t shirt and work boots or grotty joggers are the go for blending in in town , or not looking out of place in the bush where others are gunna be .

I do not really bother blending in .. this place is full of runts , and they usually only come to my shoulder height , I kinda stick out anyway , so I wear what I like and forget about blending in .

I dont run around in cam gear tho , dont like it .
 
I agree with Don, in the sense that we, nonignorant members of a wilderness survival forum, should have a deeper insight into a survivalist's look than just clothing. That however is not the nature of the thread, the nature of this thread is the choices we make knowing full well how "sheeple" or authorative persons might interpret our clothing choices.

Some people chose not to be concerned at all with how they might be viewed. Others were in situations where it was not different and still others chose to blend into the fabric of societies accepted norms.

I think it is important to understand the choices one makes and how that can set the stage for future relations with people. It is also an important reminder that we don't fall into the same appearances trap that "sheeple" might make, e.g. thinking someone knows their $hit because they have the right knife and clothes.
 
GEC said:
I see that everyone here wears what they think is comfortable or maybe what's appropriate. Everyone has a choice on what they want to wear. If you want to look like a John Rambo, then go for it. If you don't wear BDU's because your afraid of what other people think. Then that your decision on not wearing them. Nuff said
Click to expand...

You're totally missing the point. Again, the fictional "John Rambo" didn't wear any camouflage except what he found in the woods in the first movie and didn't wear any camouflage BDUs in the second or third, IIRC, either. So, basically what you posted is meaningless.

If your post has any meaning, then don't wear jeans and wifebeaters. :rolleyes:
 
Yeah, I have to plead guilty to that one on tank top Ts. From the moment I heard the nickname for them, I started laughing, but you are right, it's a negative stereotype. Thanks for bustin' my bullz on that one. :D
 
Return of the J.D. said:
Four thoughts.

1. Lots of cotton among people's choices out there. There are those who say that that's just about the worst possible if you end up getting wet and worrying about hypothermia--which can happen under all sorts of circumstances, even in the Southwest deserts, even in July. Though I love cotton cargo pants, I've got to say I'm not sure it's the best choice.

2. My uncle's a professional hunter and hunting writer, and was previously an investigative reporter in a bad-news urban area, and before that, a military sniper. When I wrote to ask his thoughts on camo, he replied that the core function of camo was to attract the attention of purchasers of clothes--and he opined that "neutral gray" was, in practice, just about as effective as any camo pattern.

Whether that's true or not, I've got to say that neutral gray would do a lot of what one would want in any "be unobtrusive" survival situation--almost nobody's going to read it as "I am preparing to fight you from concealment"; yet you'll be hard to see.

3. Another VERY serious consideration is that you are likelier to be saved by bright, obtrusive colors under a lot of no-kidding survival situations, than by invisibility. Most survival situations, as I understand from the commander of one local SAR group, are the result of some experienced outdoorsman getting injured while on a "minor" trip. If you're unconscious and getting hypothermic, bleeding, etc., you might have been better off wearing blaze-orange plaid than your digital camo BDUs, etc.

4. What about the possibilities of camouflage clothing causing problems as presenting the appearance of actual military uniform? I understand that there are some countries where this might cause some problems--though I have no specifics. Kind of a shame if your favorite Gore-Tex parka happens to turn out to be illegal (or, worse, to identify you as an enemy soldier!) in some country where you happen to end up touring. One could imagine martial-law scenarios, especially abroad, where walking around in what looks like military uniform might draw really unpleasant attention. I recall feeling a bit sore-thumb-like on a college-era trip to Israel and the West Bank, in which my main luggage was a (British) army-surplus duffel bag; only after arrival did it occur to me that I might look like an unarmed Israeli Defense Forces soldier on leave.
Click to expand...


Well put, I couldn't agree with you more.

As far as camouflage goes, if you aren't wearing a guilli suit, light brown is just as good as anything out there. Just think of deer, how hard are they to see when they're not moving?:eek: I found this out when playing woods paintball in my friends backyard in rural Ohio. I had a light brown flannel shirt that was the best camouflage that I ever used, until I got my guilli suit that is. I don't have any experience with gray, but I can see how the same can be true.

If I was really in a survival situation I would definitely want to be seen easily, yet on the other hand, I don't want to look like a walking distress flare before I get into a survival situation.

As much as I think camos are overrated for camouflage and a sure sign of a wanna be, I love seeing kids walking around wearing camo shorts from GAP:jerkit:, I have to admit that my go to fishing/hunting/paintball/work/hiking/camping pants are the same pair of surplus camo BDUs that I've had for 9 years. They are indestructible, that is why I wear them, and until recently I never new you could get them in solid colors. And now that "surplus" isn't much cheaper than new, that's one less reason to get the camo ones. So, until I can afford to replace them, that is what I'll wear, but when I do replace them, I think I'll be going with a solid neutral color this time instead of camo.

BTW: Does anyone know what colors BDUs come in? And what company(ies) are the official suppliers to the military? I only like them because the materials the surplus ones are made of is bullet proof, I don't want some knock off, just because they are "BDUs". I want them because they are made of that wonder fabric that my surplus ones are made of.
 
What I use instead of the ripstop, are the German BDUs in OD. Made of HD cotton moleskin, they wear like iron and don't have the swish-swish sound as you walk. Mainly because of the fit. Being European, they have a more tailored fit and are size specific.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
A sensible position, although, from your posted name, would we expect less? :D

Doc
Click to expand...

No, I guess not!

I sometimes feel guilty about that name as I don't really dislike people all that much...but I have used it on every forum since I first went on the internet when Y2K was the thing to be worried about, and it keeps me honest because I can't escape anything I post!

On the other hand...I sure do like to be left alone!
 
I'm afraid I havn't waded through all the posts here but I can't even see why this is up for debate !
If you are out hiking , camping , hunting etc then you dress for your climate, location and terrain, who gives a stuff what other people think, it is usually people such as those that get lost and end up dying of exposure because they are not dressed correctly !!!
 
Myal,
May I ask where "here" is, the LEO sounds a bit paranoid.

I agree with the issue of cotton, I have heard the saying "cotton kills" but am guilty of wearing it.

Stingray,
Go to uscav.com, they have BDU's
 
I go into the woods wearing whatever I have on at the time.I don't set aside anything special for hiking I just wear whatever feels comfortable.I keep the BDU's for paint ball.
 
I have two different "outdoors advenure" outfits that I wear. One for summer, spring, and fall. The other for winter.The only thing different is that my winter outfit is darker colors and may or may not include thermal undies and a jacket. Either way, the focus is on keeping me at the right temperature, being comfortable, and the materials being strong enough.
I like the mil-spec kahki BDU pants a lot once they get washed a few times. They break in real comfortable, have draw strings at the bottom to keep the buggies from getting in and they are light in color. That keeps the sun from being absorbed all day and building up heat.
As for the shirt, if i plan on doing something where my arms might get rubbed or scratched up like climbing trees, carrying stuff with a rough hide or bark, etc. I'll wear a nice and comfy light colored long sleeve shirt. Otherwise it's usually a brown good quality t-shirt.
I always have a nice pair of comfortable boot on. Something nice and cushioned so it feels like a sneaker and light in color. Sometimes, if I'm just going to be doing a ton of walking and maybe not so much rugged stuff, I'll wear a good pair of tan Merrils. I love these shoes. They are awesome for hiking.
A hat is always a good idea, whether it be a boonie, ballcap, whatever. It's nice to have something with a lot of covrage to keep the sun off your face and neck and out of your eyes. I'm guilty of preferring the bonnie hats, only because they can be folded up and stored quickly and you can soak them in water and then put them on for a little more cooling.
I also keep some sort of a hand towel or bandana on me for sweat and to use for extra cooling if needed. Everything is light colored though.
In the winter, the dark colors will allow you to do much the same as a cold blooded animal. You can sprawl out and soak up some heat. It's nice if you're out for a week or two in the draw and you need to lounge for a while and get comfortable. Speaking of draws. If you're planning on getting through some, it's not a bad idea to pack a pair of welding gloves on you. The come in handy for all sorts of stuff like picking up hot rocks, cooking, most of all grabbing big ass thorn bushes and either pushing or pulling them out of your way, or pulling them off you.

None of my clothes have a particularly "survivalist" look to them. They certainly don't look like I just stepped out of Heartbreak Ridge. I look fairly normal trotting through the wilderness. There's never really anyone around to see me unless one of my hiking buddies goes with me, but if someone did, they'd probably ask me if I was lost.
 
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