Master the Art of Being a Grey Man
In a survival situation, whether it’s a global, large-scale event that lasts years or a small, short-term situation, you don’t want to bring attention to yourself. Doing so can put a target on your back in a variety of different ways.
In survival prepping, there’s a concept known as grey man. This is someone who blends in easily with their surroundings to the point that nobody notices or can remember details about them.
The military and intelligence forces often use this strategy to help them in undercover or dangerous situations, so it’s something that preppers have adopted as a way to stay safe.
It’s not about hiding. In fact, it’s the complete opposite – it means you’re capable of going anywhere undetected. Hiding can make people suspicious just as much as loud, braggarts can when it comes to holing up with supplies other people want.
How a Grey Man Approach Helps You Avoid Threats
Adopting a grey man approach will mitigate the risks that you’re under in a survival situation. By being unrecognizable, you will keep yourself and your family safer. Sometimes, this means altering the perception people have of you so that you’re not standing out because you have prepared.
For example, if a government agency arrives in your community handing out supplies that everyone is desperate for and you don’t bother going, it’s a clear sign to everyone that you’re already stocked up, putting a target on your home.
Likewise, if it’s a long-term event and everyone’s slimming down due to the rationing of food and your family stays plump and fed, they’ll know you’ve got supplies on hand – and they’ll want them.
If you’re walking around carrying a heavy backpack stuffed with goods, you’re making people want to take it from you. In desperate survival events, you have to look the same as everyone else so that you don’t stand out at all.
Your mindset will even play a role in where or not people pick you out as someone who has prepped for the event. If everyone else is fatigued and stressed, and you’re upbeat and happy, they’re going to know something is off.
With the grey man concept, you are considering human nature and their behavior is critical to whether or not you go undetected as someone who has planned well and stocked up on supplies for your family.
In addition to dressing and looking the part, you need to become an expert in human behavior. Know when to keep quiet and when to add to conversations. Read the room and noticed subtle social cues to help you blend in easily.
Dressing the Part of a Grey Man
Embracing the grey man concept means you start by dressing and appearing the same as everyone else. Even your grooming will matter, because people in a stressful survival situation usually notice those who stand out as different.
Your clothing is where you want to start. Now is not the time to be wearing designer brands and emblems that make people remember you. You want plain clothes – no bold colors or logos.
Wear neutral tones like beige, grey, black and dark blue. You want to fit into your surroundings, so that may vary depending on where you’re located. A farm town might have different attire than an urban setting.
Your clothes can be functional, but you don’t want to go out on a supply gathering outing and end up walking around with stuffed pockets. If there’s a long-term crisis event, people may have more of an unkempt appearance – their clothes may start to show wear and tear, so yours will need to as well.
That extends to your personal grooming. You don’t want to stand out as clean shaven, with perfectly styled hair and smell like cologne or perfume if everyone else is looking dingy.
You don’t have to look like a walking disaster, either but just don’t stand out as something remarkable that makes people wonder how you have shaving supplies and grooming supplies when everyone else doesn’t.
When you’re planning your wardrobe and going out, don’t forget to leave any accessories at home that might signal that you’re a prepper or that you have something they want.
A tactical watch, paracord bracelet and survival clothing might indicate that you’d make a good target. For everyday outings, take a nondescript bag or backpack, not a tactical one made for survival purposes.
How to Behave as a Grey Man
Your behaviors are just as important as what you wear and how you look. Anyone who stands out and acts different is going to draw attention to themselves. If you’re hurrying through a crowd acting panicked, you’re going to make people look.
If you’re walking purposeful and smooth, moving with the crowd, no one will notice that you’re there. You want to maintain a neutral expression, too. Don’t look afraid or emotional.
You don’t want to avoid all eye contact, but don’t stare, either. It needs to be a glance that’s not memorable. If you have nervous tics or habits that people will pay attention to, train yourself to be still and not draw attention to yourself.
Keep in mind that sometimes, even the best stealth work can fail. You might be in a situation where you’re surrounded by people who are intent on targeting everyone, regardless of whether or not they blend in.
In that case, you want to escape the location without people noticing as much as possible. Gradually remove yourself from the area, rather than making a run for it where everyone notices.
You can also use your surroundings, whether it’s a natural landmark or an obstruction like a wall, column or table to stay hidden from the threatening situation and make your way out of the area.
You want to being practicing the grey man approach regularly. Try it in different settings, such as a hectic urban environment like New York City – or a suburban mall. Take public transportation and walk through the streets to see if you can meld into the background with ease.
Practice how you carry yourself and how you interact with others. Everything from the pace of your step to the eye contact you make will matter. There have been many civil unrest events in recent years, and this is the type of situations where a grey man approach can save your life by keeping you out of any confrontations.
The grey man approach isn’t just smart for survival situations. It’s a wise approach for everyday life. There are criminals targeting those who have more than they do on a daily basis, so expensive accessories, a lack of attention and the ever-present need for all eyes on you can have a dire effect if you’re not careful.
This is a highly adaptable strategy where you’ll need to avoid judgmental eyes of strangers as well as your neighbors and the community in general. It provides cover for your preparations and keeps your family and your supplies safe.
This is something you want to not only learn for yourself, but teach your loved ones, as well. It won’t help for you to be the only one practicing the grey man theory if your spouse and children all stand out like a sore thumb.
Becoming a “grey man” involves blending in and avoiding attention in various situations, often associated with survival or preparedness scenarios. Here are several products that can aid in learning and practicing the skills required to become a grey man. Click on the item to see what we recommend.
A low-profile backpack with features that do not draw attention but still provides essential functionality.
Compact EDC (Everyday Carry) Tools:
Multipurpose tools that are small, lightweight, and can assist in various situations without attracting attention.
Basic tools for lock picking, as they may come in handy in non-criminal situations where gaining access is necessary.
A compact first aid kit for addressing minor injuries discreetly and without drawing attention.
The most critical aspect of becoming a grey man is developing the skills and mindset necessary to navigate various scenarios discreetly and effectively.
