Why always gray-man?

Posted by Stardenver@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 29 comments

Hi all

Edit: I used the wrong words and will try again and edit this post

So here we go:

People always recommend the same kind of gray-man and I am wondering why. From my understanding and with the input of this community here, I think it totally depends on the situation, what a gray man actually is. At least thats what I learned from you guys. I think that there are situations where something outdoor or even tactical may be less outstanding than some super expensive non-tactical. Countryside for example.

But someone shows his 5.11 Rush 12 and people recommend to get a GoRuck or Vertx Gamut instead, just because. I know many situations, where bags like these are much more visible and outstanding/shining than a standard outdoor/tactical backpack. But its like there is some backpack and gear 101 saying that Vertx, GoRuck, etc are always better.

In my former version of this post I also thought about benefits of showing tactical gear, as you don't look like some sort of easy bait. There may be situations where the nerd next door with his jansports or Nike backpack will cause more attention while someone using tactical gear may look "too difficult" as a target. But those were just thoughts but I wanted to mention it in case you read my former version of this post.

Thanks all for your input on this.

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demedlar@reddit

Now imagining that I would be in a situation (which I can hardly think of) where I would have to rob someone to survive, I would probably pick that nerd next door with his Nike backpack instead of someone I can somehow identify as "professional" by his choice of military equipment. The guy with a Adidas sling bag or a Jack Wolfskin laptop backpack looks like an easy target compared to someone having attached some TT or Vanquest pouches to his Maxpedition Condor, Rush 24/72 or a Mystery Ranch 2DAP. And even though guns are not that much of a topic here, someone may have gotten a CCW bag for a reason.

Right. Everything you say makes sense for you. You aren't going to target someone who looks prepared and possibly armed, because you're a normal, non-violent, law abiding citizen, who even in a disaster is thinking about non-violent crimes like stealing food or money to survive.

Grey man philosophy isn't aimed at deterring people like you. It's aimed at avoiding the notice of armed criminals, law enforcement, and the more crazy violent type of doomsday prepper. People who are moving in armed groups already and who, in the event of a major disaster, will think "I need more guns and other people with guns are potential threats" and preferentially go after the people with CCW bags.

If you're a random nerd with a Nike or Jansport backpack, you blend in with all the other random nerds. You're not in any more danger of being mugged or robbed than any random person with a backpack. And blending in with everybody else is the goal of grey man philosophy.

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xXKurotatsuXx@reddit

Thats actually a good point. You are more likely to be targetted by people who are also familiar with tactical gear and armed than some random joe. I was just considering getting a rush 12 for its layout and molle locations as an earthquake/ disaster go bag but might rethink it since in an emergency, 511 rush is one of the most well known CCW bags and would be dangerous to me since I dont own one but I might be mistaken as someone they can steal guns/ supplies from.

jtj5002@reddit

Gray man just mean don't look like an idiot by making yourself stand out.

NarcolepticTreesnake@reddit

This. The issue with it is a bunch of people think that means tactical designed grey man clothing instead of what it should mean, a hoodie and t-shirt from Walmart and a worn out pair of Dickies. The purpose made stuff ends up making people look like that famous picture of undercover feds at the protest.

osirisrebel@reddit

Not to brag or anything, but I scored done flannels 70% off at Cracker Barrel.

But to your point, around here, if you're rocking 5.11 or the tac Grey man suff, you're either a cop or a douche that fantasize about being a cop. That's how you're viewed anyway.

It's basically the same tactic as making yourself look bigger to a bear, but you just become very noticeable.

Melodic_Mongoose_817@reddit

I’ve been rocking a 5.11 bag for decade now, didn’t know that was a douche thing to do..

Beginning_You4255@reddit

look into kelty packs

therealesteverboi@reddit

I always assume everyone is carrying a gun anyway so it doesn’t matter what you wear; however, if you come in a grocery store with a backpack, I’m definitely profiling you more than the average joe.

V8_Hellfire@reddit

In urban areas, white dudes in hoodies tend to stand out.

Imagine living in an urban area

I do.

Try dressing up as an urban outdoorsman then. Try to get that fentanyl nod just right and you'll nail gray man.

Or, you can look like a suburban dad and no one gives a fuck.

Gurss your suburban dad's dress different then here based on your original post.

Yeah, I think most people overthink gray man look way too much. Think either lumberjack or Bill Cosby. That hoodie never looks normal unless you're in a rural area, unless you look like a construction worker. And then there's the question of whether a construction worker should be there.

I think it's a stupid concept, that people really think the world revolves around themselves, and that this is a natural extension of that.

I mean, it's not if you're a spy or PI trailing someone, but otherwise, by trying to look a certain way, people tend to stand out more.

Perfect-Season6116@reddit

Some of that shit makes you look like an easy target in and of itself, especially if you don't really have a grasp of how to wear or use what you have.

You can afford all the cool gear and have no idea what you're doing. You're just a turtle waiting to be flipped over on its back at that point.

Juggernaut78@reddit

Like the guys who ran out and bought ACUs at the pawn shop then keep the collars popped and velcroed! Yeah, you’ve never worn that before.

thesaurusrext@reddit

Like all the guys who registered on random ass 'gold merchant' websites with their government names and credit cards to buy gold and silver cuz people [the gold merchant website makers] were talking up gold and silver in prepper forums back in the day.

Them losers put their names on lists for life, ignorant fucks. What did they think they were preparing for?

Your cell phone, credit cards, and car all trace back to you. There's no way for you to stay out of the system. Even commenting here allows for your IP to be searched back to you.

Instead of worrying about being untraceable, a better scenario is developing plausible deniability for being somewhere or doing what you're doing.

In lieu of that, there's so much info everywhere that even if it's being taken down, no one can search through all of that. Best case scenario, stay under the radar to not be suspicious.

Even if AI flags you, its regular people that have to ascertain the threat you pose and interview you.

swampwitch_666@reddit

I don't think I understand the gray man thing. I get how dressing like an airsoft larper in a crisis would make you a target for leo but why wouldn't you just have sensible gear and comfortable clothes. All the examples I could find scream undercover cop which to me just makes you look like another kind of threat.

KiplingRudy@reddit

If you really want to be invisible in an urban area, copy the unhoused. Old worn out clothes and a shopping cart full of cardboard and trash bags (with your valuables hidden inside) will make you damn near transparent.

Lumpy-Soup8307@reddit

Homeless get robbed too

In a crisis, who is a juicier target, a homeless person with belongings of little or no value, or a person lugging survival gear?

Steelassault@reddit

None of what you described is "gray man", but simply prepper fantasy.

Gray man is to not stand out, blend in, and never draw attention to yourself. Guns, 5.11 cargo pants with magazine pouches, and goofy ass tactical bumper stickers are all 100% NOT gray man.

Sxs9399@reddit

No, this guy gets it. He’s saying in his environment people would be concerned about approaching the milsim types and prefer to go after the gray man.

This is flawed in that the gray man idea is to be a fish in a school of fish, sure the gray man is an “easy target” but there’s also 100s out there. Whereas maybe the milsim person might be more intimidating, it’s more likely they have valuable stuff, and as OP notes they are very conspicuous.

Overall, the gray man concept is a tactic that needs tailoring to your situation. It may or may not be practical to use.

The milsim guy doesn't look like a target, he looks like someone who is more likely to attach, and is therefore more of a threat.

pf_burner_acct@reddit

Do you live in a city where everyone has a 5.11 whatever? Get a 5.11 whatever.

I live in a city where people carry basic no-name cheap backpacks if they have to walk somewhere. Most people drive. Generally speaking, some BroDawg with a "tactical" backpack stands out. People will notice you.