Sheeple related question

I wear BDU/military clothing when hiking/camping simply because of price. Surplus military goretex and polartec clothing is cheaper than similar sport clothing. Another thing is that I don't like all that bright red, yellow or pink :) trousers or parka. Black, gray and green looks simply nicer in the forest.

But it has a downside.
Last year I was hiking in Bieszczady - most remote polish mountains. I was wearing military camo parka, m65 cargo pants, and nice green hunting hat. I was trying to hitchhike to my camping spot. I waited over two bloody hours and no car stopped, but every single one slowed down when seeing me - everybody thought I was some kind of police forces or border guard. When they noticed that I was just poor traveller they speeded up again.:)
 
I often wear clothing based on woodland camo patterns, quite often the Finnish army M/91 suit just because I'm used to it. I would feel quite odd heading out in the woods wearing something made of very bright, flashy colours that would be very out of place in nature. Camo feels much more natural and blends in instead of sticking out. I haven't had people give me strange looks about it, either, but then, in this country, there are a whole lot of hunters, and we have universal (male) conscription here, so practically every man is military trained to some level and people are used to wearing and seeing camo clothing. Don't bother with people who give you weird looks based on how you dress.
 
I don't really care what sheeple think. I usually wear Carhartt pants/shoprts, anad a Carhartt shirt. Maybe a Carhartt coat when it's cold (ok, I frikkin like Carhartt). So I look like an extra from an Indiana Jones movie. I get strange looks, too. Although it might be the 5 1/2 foot long rifle I'm carrying as much as the clothes. . .
 
While writing the khukuri review, I was splitting sections of a tree that had been sawed up in the local/state park. A family comes around the corner right as the 17" blade is highest in the swing.

"Nice day, eh?"
"Quite, it's above freezing"
....

The good people just won't care, and I just don't care about anyone else.



EDIT:
There are times I do care, however. Such as when I accidentally went into the movie rental store with the khuk still on my belt in an incredibly liberal town in an incredibly liberal state.... now that was a bit awkward.
 
I say the heck with the public. I normally wear OD green BDU pants and Boonie hat. I find it very comfortable and I don't see the point to wear something out in the bush that will not hold up. They breathe in hot weather and to me that is a plus. As for shirts i wear a tan long sleeve Columbia shirt to keep the bugs off and what ever kind of t-shirt of any color.
 
I like camo BDU pants. I wore them for years. When I spill stuff on them it just blends in, so I can get an extra day or two out of them before washing. People used to stare, but now I see fake ones on sale in the mall for a lot more. My teenage girls think I am a trend setter. So to keep from being trendy, I wear Khaki or Sage hiking pants from Cabella's now. But if I were younger, I'd wear the trendy camo!
 
Camo is in fashion around here. In fact some High Schools even have "camo day" where all the kids wear it.

Unfortunately the Gov in the state where I work instituted a dress code for employees. No blue jeans. When they had the meeting to announce it my super said "that means no camo too Kirk" I used to wear camo jeans all the time. Now the only thing camo I wear is a turtleneck in the winter. Nobody complains:thumbup:

I see some people wear it in the woods but not usually backpacking because I never see any of those lighweight nylon convertible pants we all wear in camo.
 
idaho said:
But it has a downside.
Last year I was hiking in Bieszczady - most remote polish mountains. I was wearing military camo parka, m65 cargo pants, and nice green hunting hat. I was trying to hitchhike to my camping spot. I waited over two bloody hours and no car stopped, but every single one slowed down when seeing me - everybody thought I was some kind of police forces or border guard. When they noticed that I was just poor traveller they speeded up again.:)
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I hope you've learned something from this. next time you're hitching and look semi-official, flag the vehicles over as they slow down. tell them that you need to commandeer their car on state business and be on your way. :D
 
This is how camoflage works. You MUST watch this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=paxqCbW3qxE


But seriously, I walk right out of the city onto some of the local trails in BDUs and a belt knife, but I really don't care about what people think. I figure if people can walk around looking like freaks, I can walk around in comfortable, cheap, bomb proof pants.
 
I really like the new style digi pattern pants. I wear them in less traveled areas, but some of the trails I hike can get crowded. Those trails are also wider and better kept so shorts and trail shoes work better anyway. I just try and dress for where I'm gonna be.
 
Sheeple concerns usually follow two paths:
  • You're a bit paranoid about how others will view you and/or
  • You're actually a bit self aware and really are overdoing the "camo/knife/gun nut" thing.

Here in the big city, few folks would think twice about camo clothing, unless it were accompanied by odd behavior. There's a good chance you'd be pegged for a homeless guy if you're at all disheveled. If you really are overdoing it, you'd likely get more rolling eyes than scary looks.
 
I normally wear solid colors in combination in the woods - OD, tan or brown. I don't wear cammies. Probably my aversion to uniforms.

I have come across 'speed hikers' in their brightly colored, form fitting Spandex suits. Now THAT is strange.
 
I live in Austin, TX, so there are two types of people I see on a daily basis. Complete circus freaks, complete with a variety of hair colors, piercings, retarded looking clothes, and what have you, and the suburbanite yuppie-types that are unable to wear clothing that does not have a brand name label in plain sight for the world. I really don't care what either group thinks of how I dress. I am a country boy, so I'm usually in Wranglers and boots, unless hiking, then I wear the black BDU's and whatever.
 
Fraser said:
I have come across 'speed hikers' in their brightly colored, form fitting Spandex suits. Now THAT is strange.
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That's APPALLING!!! I am really glad this trend has not taken off here!






Wait a minute, were they hot chicks or anything? Then it might be okay.
 
You won't see me wearing camo.....that's the idea anyway !!!:D
JohnDean070.jpg
 
jca21 said:
sometimes i head out wearing jeans, or sometimes i wear cargos, in snow or rain i wear my gortex hiking pants. but my favorite pants are a pair of camo bdus which i find tough but comfortable. :o

i wore them on a local trail once and kinda got some odd looks from people. i wasnt wearing anything else out of the ordinary except for the camo bdu's (woodland green pattern). not even a knife on the belt, just my victorinox swiss tool spirit.:)

so what are your opinions on wearing camoflauge or "army looking clothing" while hiking or camping? :D

i see teenagers wear them all the time in the mall, although i think they wear it more for fashion purposes ;)

do you guys have any experiences you can share? am i just being too sheeple conscious? :confused:

cheers

JC
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NO you're not being too sheeple concious.It's a fact that when sheeple see camo they automatically think "uh oh I bet he's got a weapon" or "Watch out for him..he's probably unstable".I usually wear a camo baseball style cap to work & I get stupid questions all the time like "Are you a hunter?"..."Are/Were you in the military?".I just wear it cause it's the most comfortable one I have.It's nothing compared to when I used to wear my NRA Life Member cap.That used to bring on the nastiest looks & stupidest questions.
 
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