Being noticed is usually a great feeling. But there are times when staying unnoticed is the real deal. That includes emergency situations when everyone acts irrationally to fight for their survival.
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The best gray man backpack should be as ordinary as the
JanSport Big Student Backpack and have these 5 attributes:
- Dull colors and simple design to avoid drawing attention.
- An average size, not too big to draw attention or too small to leave out vital survival gear.
- A stealth backpack, with multiple and secret compartments.
- Made of durable and safe nylon or polyester material.
- Comfortable to carry with padded straps and back panel.
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What is a Gray Man Bag?
A gray man bag is a stealth backpack, one that you can carry around without alerting everyone that you are prepared for survival should SHTF or any disaster situation threaten your life and wellbeing.
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Specifically, being a gray man means concealing your survival preparedness by:
- The way you move in a crowd during an emergency situation.
- Wearing ordinary clothes that do not attract attention but instead help you blend into the crowd.
- Taking a normal posture and maintaining a general appearance so you don’t stand out.
- Carrying a stealth backpack in a way that does not suggest you are an equipped survivalist.
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Attributes of a Good Gray Man Backpack
When purchasing a gray man bag you should keep in mind the two purposes it must serve:
- Carry your survival gear without giving in to the elements or abrasion.
- Fit into your gray man plan and not draw attention from those around you.
To meet these functions, the best gray man backpack must have these 5 attributes.
1. An ordinary look (should not draw attention)
The obvious statement that ‘eyes were made to see’ makes us put this attribute first. If you are walking in town with a brightly colored backpack, one with innumerable external pockets, one with a rare design, or a huge one that completely covers your back, you will certainly draw the attention of those around you.
A good gray man backpack is the most ordinary one that you see around often. The commonness of a backpack may be defined by:
- A trending brand, which means a lot of people are going for it and no one will consider your bag as out of the ordinary (consider our JanSport top pick).
- Dull colors that don’t attract people’s attention as would shouting colors.
- Simple designs without MOLLE straps, ALICE clips, or military colors such as ACU (Army Combat Uniform) and MARPAT.
- Neatly packed without gear items such as paracords or sleeping bags hanging in the outside.
2. Average size
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An average size bag will also fit all the items that you need in a gray man EDC backpack including:
- Bottled water and canned/freeze-dried food
- A smartphone and portable charger
- A wallet (with cash)
- A watch cum compass
- A multi-tool
- A folding/fixed blade knife
- A water filter
- A flashlight
- A mini first aid kit
- A self-defense tool
Read our article on
Gray Man Gear for a more comprehensive list of what you should include in your EDC gray man gear list.
3. A stealthy backpack (with multiple and secret compartments)
Part of carrying a gray man bag is to conceal crucial survival tools so that no one guesses you have them. Besides, it’s important that your backpack is well packed and does not look bloated as this could attract attention.
A multi-pocket/compartment bag allows you to do this in several ways:
Concealment and organization
Multiple internal pockets, main compartments, front and back pockets as well as elasticized side pockets allow for easy and organized packing so that your survival gear items are evenly distributed and your gray man backpack does not look stuffed.
Anti-theft pockets
A gray man bag with anti-theft secret pockets like the reviewed Business Travel Backpack will let you carry valuables and personal/family documents without the risk of losing them or having them stolen.
Firearm and valuables’ pockets
Other stealthy pockets include the Roll-down Assault Compartment (R.A.C.) for concealing firearms as with the 5.11 COVRT18 Tactical Covert Military Backpack or the secret back pockets that keep valuables safely lying on your back.
Some essential items any gray-man minded prepper should have in their gray man backpack are self-defense tools. Check out our guide for the best non-lethal self-defense tools for preppers.
4. Durability and safety
A good gray man bag should be made of high-quality material that can withstand the elements, the strain of carrying the weight of the survival gear, as well as the test of consistent use with time.
Backpack material
Nylon and polyester readily pass the test for heavy-duty backpacks and are recommended for gray man bags. Even though leather is also used, it is stylish and can draw the attention that you are trying to avoid, and so could a canvas bag for its rarity.
Nylon and polyester are majorly water-resistant (not necessarily waterproof). Additional waterproof quality is provided by the waterproof lining that is placed in the interior of your backpack.
Backpack hardware
Most people throw away ‘good as new’ bags because of broken zippers, shoulder straps, and O/D rings. It would be unwise to buy an extra-strong nylon bag with weak zippers or loosely stitched straps.
Go for bags with YKK-grade zippers and ensure any O/D rings used on your bag are good value. Also, check that the shoulder straps are reinforced and that the thread used on bag seams and strap joints is strong enough to resist weight. Double or triple stitching is recommended.
5. Comfortable to carry
Carrying your backpack with comfort has a lot to do with:
- The pressure that its weight exacts on your back and shoulders.
- Your daily activities (whether you are walking a lot or sitting in an office or class for the better part of the day).
- The possibility of changing the carrying position if you need to.
If your gray man bag feels uncomfortable on your back, you are not going to persist carrying it daily as an emergency readiness gear bag, which means limiting your survival chances in such situations. Besides, you could hurt your back carrying an uncomfortable backpack.
There are two major features to a comfortable backpack carry:
Padded and contoured shoulder straps, a grab handle, and hip belt
A backpack with adjustable padded shoulder traps feels comfortable and reduces the strain of the bag’s weight on your shoulders and back. If the straps are also contoured, they’ll take a natural shape that makes carrying your backpack even more comfortable.
A padded or rugged grab handle gives you a strong grip if you have to ‘grab and hang’ your bag in a hurry or need to rest your back and shoulders when walking for long distances.
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Padded and breathable back panel
A padded and breathable back panel enhances comfort when carrying your backpack because it not only feels soft but it also lets your back breathe, excluding the discomfort that could come with perspiration during the hot seasons.
If you would like to know more about stealth in emergency situations, check out our guide on how to be a gray man.
Best Gray Man Backpack FAQs
Now you know what to consider when ordering your gray man backpack. To complete your backpack carry and shopping knowledge, check these 3 FAQ:
Must a gray man’s backpack be grey?
The gray man is a concept used by survivalists to describe how blending into a crowd or the surroundings is key in helping you conceal from everyone that you are carrying survival gear during an emergency situation.
Gray is considered a neutral non-shouting color and is, therefore, used to imply that your clothing, actions, posture, and backpack should not stand out, but should instead make you look like everyone else. As such, any ordinary dull and non-shouting color is a gray color.
Who can be a gray man?
Anyone can be a gray man. That includes children and women.
What characteristics does a gray man have?
A gray man has these 7 characteristics:
- He/she dresses in muted dull-colored clothes or those that look like everyone else’s.
- He/she avoids tactical/military wear and gear.
- He/she walks, moves, and carries a natural posture.
- He/she does not appear to be threatening or defensive.
- He/she goes with the flow of the crowd.
- He/she keeps firearms or self-defense tools concealed.
- He/she does not panic but remains calm during an emergency.
Final thoughts on the Best Gray Man Backpack
Everyone hopes to come out alive and unscathed from any SHTF situation. But not everyone may be keen about maximizing their chances of survival by having their gray man backpack handy all the time.
While carrying a gray man backpack can be lifesaving, carrying one that announces to everyone that you are prepared for survival should SHTF is counterproductive. You run the risk of redirecting everyone towards you to share or even forcefully take your survival gear items and save themselves.
To avoid such a scenario, carry a stealth gray man backpack, one that has neutral colors, and without designs that make it stand out from the rest. Also, ensure your gray man bag is sturdy and comfortable to carry since you do not know for how long you’ll have it on your back.
In a survival situation, “being my brother’s/sister’s keeper” is a sham. So work on your chances of survival by jealously carrying your survival gear in a stealth gray man gear.
Full text is Best Gray Man Backpack [8 Stealth Backpacks]
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