What are your thoughts and experiences about wear or carry of camopatternd clothes or gear in a urban or otherwise civil enviroment?

Please let me explain the background of my question:
In a few postings I´ve read that some of you don´t like to use obviously military-born equipment because I fear (?) to be taken for a "terrorist" or something like.
Is this really an issue? Here in Germany you can very often see people (mostly the jung ones or lowerclass subjects) in the streets wearing BDU jackets or pants (usually only one of it at a time !) or army-style-packs.

I would like to read your opinions.

greets
Molf

I carry a military style pack EVERY day (Eagle Becker Patrol Pack) - sometimes wear a plain OD Army jacket - used to wear cammo occasionally - never had problems except when a co worker said that if I was going to blouse my sleaves, do it RIGHT, and he showed me how (Ex tread head Major) - My reply "Yes SIR"

I still wear a civilian pattern of cammo jacket on rainy days - it's my best goretex

A lot of people I know wear camo most of the year round around here(small towns). I even go to church with 2-3 people that wear camo to church so it is no big deal. I will wear camo bdus on days off because they just feel good. My large BOB is camo and I carry a large FAK and PSK in butt packs.

for what situations? in normal condition, it's not such a big deal. If you wear OD from top to too, you will hear people refering you as a soldier. Although the dutch army had changed to a camoflage pattern for opver a decade... if you wear cammies, you will hear the same. Trust me, i used to wear camo trouwsers all the time. I now have changed to BDU type trouwsers in grey, navy, tan, etc.

i'm in SoCal. you probably read one of my post about the ALICE pack and that I want to paint over the camo.

around here, in the los angeles area, most of the time when you see camo, it's mostly either 1) wannabe commandos looking "hard" or 2)homeless folks. personally i have no problems with people wearing camo, but for me, I don't really care for the attention wearing/packing camo brings in an urban/suburban area.

Edited to add: especially since alternate-color options are fairly easy to find. the only reason I would pack camo is cost consideration for items that are not very likely to be used. Like my ALICE pack which will be a vehicle BOB.

There are lots of people who wear camo in the midwest, it's a fashion statement with some college kids and even a minor foopah to wear digi and forest camo together....(not really).

I have no problem with it and avoid said folks who are so lopsided as to stereotype the "camo types".

Keep the equation unanswerable....NPR and NRA unite.

Depends on the were and the when. I mean, the hippies around here (and I use that term literally) mostly wear old field jackets, but we are pretty rural. I think it an overreaction, myself, but I also know that in some urban areas, the cops for a while were over reacting.

Me, I don't care. The biggest reason to not wear it, is so that no one thinks you aren't showing up for duty when your Reserve/Gaurd unit is activated, but if your gear is all older gear and obviously civilianized, no biggy. Add patches, a bright colored coat under the flap, hang a few stuffed greatful dead bears or the heads off a few Barbie dolls on it. No one will think you are in the military.

Although the Barbie heads might have them worried for other reasons.

I live in the mid-west (Michigan) I don't wear camo. For two reasons 1. I don't want to attract attension, I live in a very liberal town, I also carry alot. 2. Because of my job EMS, and Fire Rescue, I get called to rescues at all times and camo. brings to mind millitary and police which makes some people jittery.

I wear digital camo trousers, black tee shirts and steel toed boots all the time except if I have to go to traffic court or a job interview. I basically don't care what anybody else thinks.

I live in San Antonio, TX (AKA Military City, USA). Lots of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Also lots of Reservists and Guardsmen.

I spent 25 years in the Army and don't have much liking for wannabes.

I try to blend into my environment. Now that I'm retired I wear slacks, a polo shirt, sometimes a sport coat. The sport coat covers the butt of my Kimber Ultra Compact.

To the average person I look like a middle-class office worker, not a threat. To a cop I look like a citizen, not a perp. To a military guy, I look like a middle-aged non-threat.

To the criminal class, at a distance I look like a sheep. Up close, my body language radiates something different.

Were I to wear camo (even civilian) I'd look different. To the average citizen I'd look like a country boy (possible threat). To a cop I'd get a second look, maybe a close scrutiny. To a military guy, I'd get the same.

To the criminals, the combination of clothing and body language might make me look like a competitor. They might stay clear, they might target me for attack first.

I prefer to stay off of everyone's radar.

YMMV.

Bill

badgerw, well said.

I would say a great percentage of those who wear camo in the midwest are not wannabes....they're outdoorsmen, who don't have a huge wardrobe. Polo shirts are a real upgrade for a lot of midwesterners. You want to blend into your surroundings in the midwest....bring your camo and some old flannel shirts and leave your polo shirts at home.

As I said, YMMV.

Here in South Texas you see camouflage clothing on a few specific groups:

1. Construction workers favor woodland BDU trousers. Most don't rate a second glance.

2. Homeless men in woodland BDU trousers and/or jackets. To Joe Citizen they are invisible. To cops they are checked over. To VCAs they are potential victims.

3. Good Ole Boys are often in woodland BDUs (trousers, jackets, or both), various styles of civilian (hunter) camo, or combinations thereof. To other country boys, no issue. Joe Citizen of the 'burbs tries to figure out which ones might be the basis for "Deliverance." Cops are all over the place on this one.

4. Well-to-do sportsman are often seen in jeans and a hunter camo shirt with a collar, placket front, and long sleeves with button cuffs. They are usually driving 3/4 or 1-ton Cowboy Cadillac pickup trucks. Rarely rate a second glance by anyone.

5. A few wannabes in woodland BDUs, almost always between 15 and 25. Mostly invisible, except perhaps to the cops.

Were I to wear camo, I'd probably appear to be in one of those groups. It would depend upon my choice of item and pattern.

Bill

While not camo-pattern, I'll confess to wearing a field jacket from time-to-time when the weather gets a little chilly (much to my wife's chagrin). In doing so, I'm not making a statement. This field jacket is an old friend, issued back in '63, and has, literally, been through the war with me (and it looks like it <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ). We're not about to part company any time soon.

In this day and age, I'm not so sure it's what you wear, as it is how you wear it. My daughter recently pointed out to me that a couple of American Idol female contestants were wearing camo pants. They've become a fashion statement.

Dan

As long as you are not wearing accompanying camo face paint, probably wouldn't give you a second look. Of course, I've always lived in areas that had military bases close by.

I did hear that some place prohibit the wearing of Camo/BDU's off-station.

If I were to wear my tiger stripe camo bdu's in Ohio [which no longer fit anyway] , I would probably get really weird looks and get arrested or at least investigated. On the other hand, I don't think solid color bdu's would rate much of a look from cops or the public, except maybe in a white-collar workplace.

For those who really want to wear camo, and with impunity, I have one word: enlist.

Dan

Like I said - I sometimes wear my hunting Goretex, and never get a comment

Interestingly - the OLD "pre cammo" Field Jackets are fairly common here in NYC - I've never gotten a comment on my OD field jacket - that, and a pair of "Loden" colored chinos - hey - good to go

Thing is, I'm not looking for Cammo - I'b be perfectly happy if the jacket had some pattern - Make me a field jacket that doesn't LOOK like a field jacket - I'd be happy - I get lonely without all the pockets - pockets are a GOOD thing