Best SHTF clothes question and discussion

[Mopster]

So I was wondering about what I would be wearing when SHTF. As I live in a city I was thinking black colors and as there's "no" guns we wont need heavy bullet proof vests. We could wear camo but it screams out prepper or military.
So this is what I think so far:

Head
No balaclava - people might mistake you for looters or bad guys.
Maybe a hat - a plain black one.

Lower face
Bandana - a plain black one.

Shoes
Boots - plain black, make sure they are looked after, these will be the most important item.

Socks - some socks I saw called SmartWool - http://www.smartwool.com/mens/socks-2/ph...rew-1.html

Trousers - Black Tactical Pants

I'm stuck on what I would wear for my top, vest, coat etc etc

[Sunna]

best.... for me off road motorbike gear tough plenty of padding elbows sholders ect , waterproof /windproof and if you need to keep your head down you could always put some cammo clothes over the top

[NorthernRaider]

Actually in nature and in urban environment black is a shoot me colour, your better off white grey, charcoal,graphite, tan, dark blue, dark green etc in flat shades an irregular straight edge patterns ( digcam) or Urban cammo.

Urban steetwear will probably be the best stuff like we have been discussing recently such as Scott clothing or Blade runner clothing

http://www.bladerunner.tv/

http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Fleece_7.shtml

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(25 May 2013, 21:07)NorthernRaider Wrote: Actually in nature and in urban environment black is a shoot me colour, your better off white grey, charcoal,graphite, tan, dark blue, dark green etc in flat shades an irregular straight edge patterns ( digcam) or Urban cammo.

Urban steetwear will probably be the best stuff like we have been discussing recently such as Scott clothing or Blade runner clothing

http://www.bladerunner.tv/

http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Fleece_7.shtml

That should read your better off with grey,charcoal etc

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Magnums and Spyders are good urban boots as are oddly enough DMs,

[Mopster]

Thanks NR, do you think its worth to invest in Kevlar?

[NorthernRaider]

(25 May 2013, 21:20)Mopster Wrote: Thanks NR, do you think its worth to invest in Kevlar?

Are you planning on getting into a gun or knife fight?? I think their is some kevlar cloth in the Blade Runner clothing to make it stash n stab resistant that would be a wise investment, but I would'nt waste money on body armour of the HD vest type stuff.

[Fantasia2013]

I'd wear what I wear now
Leggings, cargo pants, t-shirts, hoodies, heavy boots, trainers
Body warmers, thick sheep skin coat for colder weather

[Grumpy Grandpa]

I'm quite a newbie prepper, as many of you will no doubt be aware but I do have a question about this thread. What on earth difference does it make what clothes you wear when the SHTF?

While on clothing, can someone please tell me, what makes a pair of trousers tactical? Colour I understand of course, soldiering for too long not to know what will make me stand out but 'tactical'? There trousers! Tactics are in your mind, not your trousers...

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Pardon my faulty grammar - they're trousers...

[Talon]

(26 May 2013, 02:28)Grumpy Grandpa Wrote: I'm quite a newbie prepper, as many of you will no doubt be aware but I do have a question about this thread. What on earth difference does it make what clothes you wear when the SHTF?

While on clothing, can someone please tell me, what makes a pair of trousers tactical? Colour I understand of course, soldiering for too long not to know what will make me stand out but 'tactical'? There trousers! Tactics are in your mind, not your trousers...

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Pardon my faulty grammar - they're trousers...

Personally I avoid anything with the term tactical, I don't like the sound of it (makes me feel like I'm dressing for the Arabian embassy siege).

I like browns and greens, strong earthy colours.Also whenever possible I like 100% cotton.I have regular black snickers cargo pants for work, they're a cotton and cordura mix.Very tough and hard wearing with plenty of pocket space,and a brown pair for my street wear (these cost £29 and are very good).

For boots I like caterpillar, my last two pair cost £26 each in a closing down sale and I've been wearing the first pair for over a year, plenty life left in them.

Wool socks,an assortment of cotton vests,shirts and t shirts (a vest and 2 t shirts keeps me warm even in the depths of a Consett winter)
A hard wearing leather jacket covers most of my needs,though I do have full armoured leather bike gear (for the bike) and a sturdy pair of Altberg boots which are absolutely superbly hard wearing and water resistant.

Also I avoid cammo ,purely to avoid standing out,since I don't dress for fashion I like to stick to tough hardwearing gear.

[River Song]

I think someone said that the first rule of defence is to be invisible.
Sadly, camo, whether brown/green or urban blues/greys does not make you invisible
it makes you stand out like a sore thumb

Personally I go for black as far as possible - I respectfully disagree with NR that it is a shoot me colour.
It is very neutral.

Baselayer = Bladerunner t-shirt. NB - Bladerunner material is NOT stab proof - they are slash proof.
Shirt + Jumper.
I have as top layer a Berghaus Gore-Tex jacket. Very non-descript and very windproof and rainproof.
In winter - it is lined with something warm.
Trousers? - I dont wear jeans. I dislike the feel of them on my beautiful legs.
I recently started wearing cargo pants - Oh my - what a revelation. All those pockets!. I can do without
a handbag. Got a lovely pair from M+S - and then I discovered ScrewFix.
They have these black working trousers called "SITE" Beagle at £16.99 with a special until 3rd June 2013
of two pairs for £22. If I've got a serious rain problem to contend with then a pair of slip-on Berghaus
over trousers.
Shoes? Well I've never been Imelda Marcos darling and white stilettos don't work in a SHTF situation innit!
Any decent boot that's comfortable.

Thats it for me

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Also my mother told me the golden rule ....

"Black goes with anything darling"

[NorthernRaider]

I often wear kit that is loosly and often badly named as tactical, but basically the " Tactical" nomenclature refers to the stuff being made with military or security forces in mind, EG Civilian cargos are often poly cotton with 30 mm belt loops, no or few re enforcing patches etc and will often have cargo pockets without pleating or bellows thus rendering them cosmetic. Where as the tactical spec cargos are likely to be made from ripstop cloth UV treated, some are flame retardent, 45 mm re-enforced double belt loops, double or triple stitching on all seams, better quality wear bands on cuffs and hems, more pockets designed for SPECIFIC items etc.

I like em primarily cos they are tougher than many civilian brands and more useful. But they are often more expensive to a point being prohibitively so, so I only buy em if they are on offer and for most EDC duty I wear stuff like Craghopper Kiwi cargos..

The tactical / Military or Nato spec "tag" can often be beneficial if you are selecting gear that MUST be reliable, EG you can go into town and buy a cheapo rucksack that looks really pukka but will fall apart in no time at all, or you can spend a bit more and buy a used ex forced ruck that is built to an internationally recognise specification for the type of construction, wear characteristics, damage rsistance etc. And if your rich you can buy the NEW Nato numbered kit and KNOW its going to do the job and take away the guesswork

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GG Asks "I'm quite a newbie prepper, as many of you will no doubt be aware but I do have a question about this thread. What on earth difference does it make what clothes you wear when the SHTF?"

A great deal Sir,
(A) You may be wearing it continiously for weeks so it needs to be durable, tough, reliable and capable of staying together when heavily soiled.
(B) Garments like Fleece Joggy bottoms and Denim jeans are a ferkin liability especially when when cos they soak up water like a sponge and more than double in weight and take an epoch to dry, Propperly selected clothing will be water / UV resistant, Abrasion rsistant, quick drying, low noise etc and at lot more useful with plenty of securable pockets.
© Military and Civvilian expedition and spots clothing is designed primarily to be comfortable and practical to carry out heavy work in when worn most civvy clothing is designed to look pretty and not be protective or functional.

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Proper motorcycling gear is completely unsuitable for many prepping roles, its ideal for motorcycling but not walking or working, its designed to keep strong wind and rain out and its does this well but it also traps sweat in.

Cammos over biking gear would see the average prepper on foot suffer fom heatstroke in pretty short order.

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Companies like 511 and outer outdoor specialist clothing often do a modified range of civilian apparel that is produced to a higher spec than normal clothing, Jeans, Cargos, shirts, jackets that for example have hidden pockets for concealling radios and cell phones in, or even gun and flashlight and knife pockets. some come internally wired to I Pods and phones can be used with the wiring concealled.

Sometimes they are slash / stab resistant or fire resistant, most come with double or triple taped seams, wider belt loops and extra padding or double layers. But to look at they look just like ordinary everyday street clothing.

Lots of preppers like this better quality gear because they can carry a full EDC kit without it being noticable

Pistol Magazine
Knife
Multi Tool
Flashlight
Spare batts
Compass
Radio
3 G phone
Shades
Gloves etc
all in pockets n pouches specifically designed and located on the garments to provide maximum concealment but instant access.

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At the end of the day though its best that preppers dont all dress the same or look like they are paramilitary ( thats why I dont like black)
and of course we all have different kits, different methods of transport, live in different regions and have different priorities and different budgets.