SHTF Personal Protective Equiptment

[jansman]

I am a hardcore cyclist, and helmets, frankly, are useless above 8 MPH. The OP with his? Question about protective kit is in cloud cuckoo land. Sorry, but steel plates and riot shields are up there with tin foil helmets

[bigstan]

Hi its all will and good having a riot shield but remember they are not bulletproof / fireproof / acid proof . ok sure they may stop a .22 rf but nothing bigger like a shotgun .

[SooBee]

I've just read this thread quickly but it is worth mentioning that in Shetland they developed an extra long version of the leather biker jacket in plain black with the added layer of a leather "waistcoat" (usually from an old biker jacket made sleeveless). Those kids were tough and quite used to knife related problems. Might be worth you gents looking into this...for the grey man look!


Soobee

[ForgeCorvus]

I'd suggest one of these...

http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_eng_s ... tAod0nwA-g

A cycle helmet without a bike would still stick out.

Might save you from one strike, might not.

Test specs here

EN 812: 2012
Bump caps

Impact / Shock Absorption

Unlike industrial helmets, bump caps are intended only to protect the wearer from static objects (e.g. walking into low ceilings or hanging obstructions). As such, impact tests are carried out similar to those required for industrial helmets, but using a lower energy level – a 5 kg flat striker is dropped onto the helmet from a height of 250 mm, with a maximum allowable transmitted force of 15 kN. Impacts are carried out on the front and rear of the helmet, with the headform tilted at 30° and 60° to reflect the nature of any impacts likely in use. This test is carried out on several helmet samples, following pre-conditioning to high temperature, low temperature, water immersion and UV ageing. There is also the option to expand the temperature range for the pre-conditioning if claimed by the manufacturer.

Penetration

As with industrial helmets, bump caps are intended to provide protection against sharp or pointed objects (such as corners or protruding elements of static objects), and so a penetration test is required. The test is based on a method similar to the shock absorption test, in that a striker is dropped from a set height onto the helmet fitted to a fixed headform. However, in this case, the striker is a pointed cone, and rather than measure the transmitted force, the assessment is based on whether the striker makes contact with the headform underneath the helmet. This can be carried out using indicator material (e.g. plasticine or soft metal) on the headform itself, or by establishing electrical contact between the striker and headform (where if the striker contacts the headform, a circuit is complete which sounds an alarm). As with shock absorption, the penetration test in EN 812 is carried out at a lower energy (500 g striker dropped from 500 mm) than that specified in EN 397, to reflect the nature of the hazards. As with the impact testing, this is carried out on helmets pre-conditioned to high temperature, low temperature, water immersion and UV ageing.

[Charlie 5]

I've just read this thread quickly but it is worth mentioning that in Shetland they developed an extra long version of the leather biker jacket in plain black with the added layer of a leather "waistcoat" (usually from an old biker jacket made sleeveless). Those kids were tough and quite used to knife related problems. Might be worth you gents looking into this...for the grey man look!


Soobee

If you are willing to spend the money you can completely kit yourself out covertly in Aramid (Kevlar) lined clothing. Depending on the thickness of the aramid fibres, you can achieve decent levels of protection from slashing and cutting injuries, notwithstanding the fact that aramid fibre is inherently flame retardant. Certainly enough to protect your carotid, radial and femoral arteries

[triffid]

I'd suggest one of these...

http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_eng_s ... tAod0nwA-g

A cycle helmet without a bike would still stick out.

You can currently buy these at Aldi for £3.99 They were 'on special' a couple of weeks back, so try your local store - they may have some left? (They do have some at Shepton Mallet, Somerset) I already had one but I bought one for my FIL, not thinking of riots by simply because he's a clumsy sod - always walking into beams in his garage/workshop!)
edit to add linky: https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/t ... -bump-cap/


I accept these are less effective than a riot helmet or 'proper' safety helmet. But I think the 'grey man' approach dictates that you probably don't want to look like an extra from one of those TEOTWAWKI films! -In any case you'd probably be arrested by the authorities for looking like you were 'going equipped' or you'd be lynched by an angry mob thinking you were the authorities.

And a 'bump baseball' cap would be of use as a baseball cap (not that you'll be playing much baseball ) , I mean it would function as a 'hat' if/when you reach your destination - a 'proper' helmet would be a liability unless you were actually under attack.

[nickdutch]

If there is a house fire, you are gonna get out of the house and not try and fight the fire by yourself. So you need an umbrella, a good rain coat and sturdy shoes. Possibly a chemical or charcoal hand warmer and gloves too. Hopefully you will be keeping the kelley kettle outside of the house so you can get to it and still make tea.

As far as protective clothing in case of violence is concerned, I think you had better have long legs that you can run with instead of tonnes of armor and weaponry to weigh you down.

Do you want to survive?
Do you want to start a war?
Do you want war?
And if you harm someone, whats the likelihood of their friends coming after you?

What the heck are you really preparing for?

Think you have to think about those questions ya know.

[triffid]

If there is a house fire, you are gonna get out of the house and not try and fight the fire by yourself. So you need an umbrella, a good rain coat and sturdy shoes. Possibly a chemical or charcoal hand warmer and gloves too. Hopefully you will be keeping the kelley kettle outside of the house so you can get to it and still make tea.

As far as protective clothing in case of violence is concerned, I think you had better have long legs that you can run with instead of tonnes of armor and weaponry to weigh you down.

Do you want to survive?
Do you want to start a war?
Do you want war?
And if you harm someone, whats the likelihood of their friends coming after you?

What the heck are you really preparing for?

Think you have to think about those questions ya know.

Good point. Speed & adaptability are the key. Exhaustive lists & equipment CAN become a hindrance rather than a help in certain situations.

[badgersden]

If there is a house fire, you are gonna get out of the house and not try and fight the fire by yourself. So you need an umbrella, a good rain coat and sturdy shoes. Possibly a chemical or charcoal hand warmer and gloves too. Hopefully you will be keeping the kelley kettle outside of the house so you can get to it and still make tea.

As far as protective clothing in case of violence is concerned, I think you had better have long legs that you can run with instead of tonnes of armor and weaponry to weigh you down.

Do you want to survive?
Do you want to start a war?
Do you want war?
And if you harm someone, whats the likelihood of their friends coming after you?

What the heck are you really preparing for?

Think you have to think about those questions ya know.

question to your answers are this civil breakdown,natural disasters etc of which all would create very nasty situations,
i know quite a few people who work in a supermarkets and the story's of people arguing over food at Christmas is unbelievable ,so think what its going to be like when the supermarkets are empty

nick sometimes you cant run away from a situation especially if it involves your children,wife or people that stand with you (not people that will run away) you have to stand your ground and be counted if i had the choice of course i would leg it but sometimes you cant
wearing a stab vest under a jacket or baseball hat it not going to start a war,personally its not for me but if people want them and feel safer then let them have want they want,
you cant hide forever and put your head in the sand and pretend if i don't harm someone no one will harm me that is very naive of you good luck there,

If you go back to the early 90s in Yugoslavia they butchered each other even neighbours killed each other,read about it you will be surprised and horrified on want they done to each other,if you look around the world now Iraq,Afghanistan,Libra, even northern Ireland part of the uk they are killing each other and many more countries could be added to the list
your question on do you want to survive? you should really ask yourself that

[jonb]

Very interesting subject.

My own view is the grey man approach is best , better to look like a bag of sh*te , a nobody that's not worth bothering with.

However , as a motorcyclist I wear body armour every time I ride and there are lots of cheap jackets and trousers containing armour to CE spec on lots of sites online for reasonable money you could adapt.

Clearly not bullet proof but no way near as heavy as Kevlar or ceramic plates.

Wearing Police or Military style gear , in my opinion is just asking to be attacked in SHTF.