Blending in as the gray man takes many years to perfect, but it is worth whatever time invested in it. A gray man is about escaping or facing a crowd without getting detected by others. But why should you care about being a gray man? Should you be one?
An essential skill to survive an urban SHTF situation is knowing how to blend in and not be exposed like an off stub. It is not exactly how fast you’re at pulling the trigger, the supplies you’ve previously gathered, or the other skills you may have.
No, at this time, it is more about becoming a gray man; about how to look pretty much like the enemy, so he doesn’t identify you.
Who Is A Gray Man?
A gray man is a camouflage tactic aimed at surviving distress in urban settlements, such as the city. Practicing this may be the sole reason you don’t have a bullet lodged in your skull, or there’s no hit on you yet. So, if you’re becoming a gray man, recognize its significance and, more importantly, do it perfectly.
Failure to blend in properly is death, which brings us to, arguably, an unlucky fact: becoming an expert gray man takes years of practice. This means you must put in so much into blending, as anything short of perfection is a gunshot to the head.
So, how do you become the perfect gray man? We’ll see below.
Considerations For Blending In As The Gray Man
To blend in as a gray man, there are specific factors that you must know and consider. Let’s take a look at these things.
Size
How we look in size, precisely height, is an element that we have little or no control over, but this does not mean that we ignore the necessary knowledge.
The watchword of the gray man is ordinariness. Look, feel, and act ordinary. So, when it comes to size, an average look does best. In case you ever have to pick one of you to blend in and seek help, then a man who is 5’10” tall and weighing 180lbs is your best choice, while for a woman, its 5’4” and 166lbs.
Of course, this does not mean that you can’t blend in perfectly if you look shorter or taller. It simply posits that you’ll look more ordinary with such a height. So, as I said before, you know who to pick out of a full house.
Mannerisms
I assume you know how to act as a gray man, but assumptions can kill. You must be discreet and appear small, almost as if you don’t even exist in the setting. Avoid extravagant, attention-seeking gestures. Reduce your energy levels to a minimal simmer.
You have to be alone, withdrawn, and aloof, but do not do so in an obvious way. An easy way to spot a gray man is deliberate withdrawal. So, just walk casually — not like a majestic tiger sashaying towards its kill but not like a limping cat running away from danger.
Optimize the use of your peripheral vision. Turn your head completely sideways only when it is unavoidable. Keep the eyes away from contact and tilt the head forward slightly.
Movement
How you walk matters a lot. When in a crowd, you must tailor your steps to the baseline, meaning that you match the exact speed of the crowd. I must warn you that you may feel the urge to push through the sea of bodies and be ahead of the movement. Learn to resist that urge: the best spot for you in a crowd is the middle.
Match the cadence and speed of the crowd, showing purpose but avoiding the portrayal of authority. This aspect is often a common giveaway. You must match the behaviors of the crowd or people. You have to move at the speed of others, make their gestures talk as loud as they do, and copy any other exhibited character.
Sometimes, you may not even be in a crowd, but you’d be identified by how you walk and act. So, I’d suggest that you spend some time in the local coffee shop to observe everything you should.
Dressing Kit For Blending In As The Gray Man
You can control how you dress, so you have an advantage here. Your dressing choices have to be ordinary. Avoid looking special in any way. Let’s look at clothing items to put on when blending in.
Headwear
An easy way to camouflage is to have on a headwear. I usually suggest a plain hat that matches the earth’s tone. Your hat should be curved at the brim to cover some parts of your face. With a curved, casually looking hat, especially when the weather requires one, you’d hardly be recognized from afar.
Shirt
The typical t-shirt for the average American carries the emblem of his passion, emotions, and beliefs, and this can be a huge problem if you find yourself among a hostile crowd. Imagine putting on a white supremacy t-shirt amid a BLM movement.
So, the ideal options for the gray man are tee shirts with dull, ordinary colors like black, grey, and ash.
Jacket
If you want to go gray in an instant, a simple jacket can do the job. Settle for a stasher jacket or winter coat for that fading look in the open. Apart from helping you blackout, your black stasher jacket will keep you warm from the cold.
Mask
The mandatory use of masks makes now the safest time to blend in. Your mask covers about half of your face, and unless you’re being specifically searched for, it will make it difficult to identify you. With your mask, you can travel long distances without getting bothered — after all, you’re obeying the law… and becoming gray.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses have been a disguise tool for a long while, and that’s not changing any time soon. Your eyes easily give you away but not when you’re covering them with a pair of dark sunglasses. With your facemask taking up about half of your face already, imagine how you’d look with a pair of sunshades. And the better thing is, you’re not the only one having them on.
Key Takeaways On Blending In As The Gray Man
Blending in as the gray man requires practice and time. I would therefore advise that you start practicing from now. You don’t necessarily have to wait until SHTF before becoming gray. Fade today.