[areth]

If I were in an urban setting when TSHTF... well, I guess that I won't be taking my BOB with me. Tomahawk... well, I could probably carry something that makes self-defense both easy and all you need is to move your hand...

The Wrist Mounted Flamethrower*

Who here thinks this would scare away anyone who didn't have a gun? You'd need a safety measure to make sure you didn't accidentally set it off, though...

*I don't recommend this unless you're willing to risk a small burn...
---

Besides that awesome flamethrower... I guess you could put George Bush stickers on a backpack and no one would ever even think about stealing it

Now I'll be serious... knife in your pocket, sheathes attract attention. Gun in your pocket, and please make it small, nothing big. Dirty (just has to look dirty, doesn't actually have to be dirty) clothes will probably make you less of a target, and if I were you I wouldn't carry a backpack. One of those small Sports Bags (those small synthetic ones with the draw strings) would be okay... just don't make it look like you've just come out of a nice, clean apartment.

And grow a beard and try and look like a homeless person. You might not be as much of a target... as homeless people, you know, can't usually afford much.

[lpm67]

Welcome Alex.
Definitely food for thought and I was just about to put an order in with Mac.....sorry Mac.
So what do you recommend for carrying around 50l of gear? I had thought of bum bag and maybe vest with a heap of pockets worn under a jacket....at my age people would assume I'm fat (they wouldnt be wrong...lol)

By the way Areth...I think I would probably stick out with a beard....us girls are funny that way...lol

[George]

If somebody wants to rob you, bum bag would probably be asked for and likely to be asked to empty pockets too, so precious survival gear would have to be attached to body somewhere else.

[TaintRight]

Where I live if you ARE NOT wearing camo, you stick out like a Budweiser salesman in a Salt Lake City convenience store.

[stairman]

Ha, kind of that way around these parts too. Big sellin point for me too but far from urban which is what the subject is about which is why I say GETOUT!!!

[TaintRight]

Yeah, getting away from urban areas WTSHTF is a must. In fact I recall reading somewhere that urban areas are actually where the "fan" is located.

I'd even go as far as suggesting you not stop moving until everybody you see is sporting camouflage; including babies. Or at least the people should all be wearing Dale Earnhardt or Bass Proshop ball caps. Only then would I feel safe enough to stop and rest.

Down here you get to that point 25 or 30 miles south of Turner Field. Forty miles and you can sleep. At least with one eye open.

[Goblin]

Ditto on the low profile look. Also, make friends with as many people in your building or on your block as you can. They may come in handy in a defensive scenario. You don't have to tell them you're a prepper.

[Omegaman]

Here are a couple of things I learned doing jobs in bad cities and bad countries. Don't draw attention to your self, no jewlery, just a cheap plastic watch ( no wedding bands), no military boots or expensive sneakers with known logos, no brief cases or lap top bags, No black, OD, camo, bright or military style clothing. Don't wear clothes that draw attention too you, wear what the locals wear. Do carry a give away wallet with some cash and fake pictures and old phone cards and blank gift cards and fake address and phone number even fake buiness cards. , carry as much of your kit on your person as you can conceal, that way should you have to give up or drop your bag as a decoy you are not empty handed. My bag was a very dirty looking and ducktaped gray backpack ( no bright colors or military style packs ). Attached to my pack was a card board shipping tube, you would be amazed at what types weapons or tools that will fit in a standard cardboard shipping tube. I even had my passport photo and drivers license and other ID's taken in work clothes and farm coat and unshaved, that way if passport or ID was taken I did not look like I would be worth any money and did not look to interresting. I also don't plaster gun or hunting or NRA stickers all over my truck. We were told to look like every other fish in the pond because the gold fish among carp gets the most attention. The best compliment we cold get is I didnt even see you or notice you or we didn't even know you were there.

[ON/OFF]

Interesting thread,don't daw attention to ya self.
Considering the sheeple that will be everywhere maybe that could work against ya.
Could I at least put forward the Idear that many sheeple will give way to an official type person,disscounting an official "Look" may be a downfall.

A portable flashing light,although"In ya face",could be somthing to carry in ya BOV,along with maybe a few dress changes.FFS,you guys make the movies.Think A Team,now that was lame.Seriously though,most ppl would fall for that kinda shite.

Excuse me SIR,are you captain Peters(Obviously not,It's your story!!)Are you holding the county line?Try that without looking official.Ya carn't allways go through/around a blockaid,thats when the charm comes in.Your Not,shit man,stay here and hold on,we got 4 trucks comming this way with supplies for most ppl,I gotta go,Captain Peters need s conformation of the convoy and all lines of communication are down,Sir,What is your name,sir please stay focused,I need you to stay put and direct the convoy where it is needed.

I just might have gone a bit too far on that,afterall color isn't everything,sometimes color is all ya got.Sometimes ya gotta think outside the box and not hide within it.

ON/OFF.

[TaintRight]

I reckon you are right. "wits" are a valuable yet often overlooked survival tool.

Somewhere I have an old Civil Defense ID tag the Federales (DOD?) issued to my father in the late 50's. It was to give him access to a "secret" bunker down in Eastman Ga. As I recall, he was supposed to hunker down there and then come up when the radiation cleared to help coordinate the rebuilding of the "transportion industry" after a nuclear exchange. He was in the trucking business.

I may stick it in my BOB for later use. (I look a lot like he did 50 years ago) With the proper load of BS it might get me past a road block. Who knows? If not I can use it to scrape frost off my windshield. After all, every piece of gear you lug about should have two or more uses.