I usually look at the colors that the university (college) kids have for their
backpacks and go with something similar. That's pretty safe.

Thanks for sharing that Andy

I would go with the tan also. I think black would attract more sheeple attention.

i have been thinking about his alot as well. I would love to get the new maxpedition gear slinger. was thinking tan as it seemed less tactical then black.

but black would tend to blend in better with the jacket i normally wear, so at a distance, would not be as visible as something in tan.

But i also have a subdued flag, a calico jack pirate patch, and a custom leather name tag (aka flight suit style). so regardless of the color, to a sheeple, i'm sure it screams tactical.

see, i dont think that having a normal black backpack makes you seem "tactical." i mean cmon, define tactical... what does it REALLY mean. it means whatever the person really wants it to mean and is a completely subjective term.

im with Wayne, get whatever color you want. I think black is best because its more versatile.

I could have sworn I posted on this thread earlier? Anyway, I agree look at what people carry black is a very common if not the most common backpack color. If you look around a college campus you see alot of black, blue and green.

Another thing I notice is people carrying backpacks in stores. At school it didn't seem out of place but in the mall I always wonder what the person is about to steal <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Personaly, I don't think 9 out of 10 people know what PALS webbing is or care. If you know tactical you just know; it is a different crowd. Black hides some stains better than tan but in dusty West Texas tan shows less dirt. It also doesn't get as hot in the sun.

I opted for tan is my TAD Gear dispatch bag.

I'm sorry, i have to chime in here.

NONE of my friends who hike a lot even know what "tactical" is or looks like.

I have shown up wearing a Black MOLLE loadbearing vest with pockets and the general reaction is "WHOA! COOL!"

when i have worn an all black fleece with my all black pack on top, the reaction has been, "OH its you, i thought there was a black bear coming down the trail."

seriously, the general population does'nt have a clue on whats tactical or military. Even my old Alice pack, most people thought it was an old trappers pack.

and furthermore, I am NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, going to change my gear and clothing choices, because someone might think its "tactical".

thats their problem, NOT MINE, and they have to live with own screwed up neuroses.

one more:

if Black = tactical, then there are around 50,000 tactical people walking around the fashion district in downtown here.

Black is just a color, it is not a terrorist, or bad intent indicator.

Bushman5, I agree. But I think the thought was if you didn't want someone to know you had any "tactical" whatever then what flys the most under the radar. Sort of like how a fanny pack screams I am carrying a gun. Personally, I don't care if people carry unconcealed. But if I didn't want anyone to know I was packing I wouldn't carry a fanny pack.

Lol, 3rd time is a charm on the edit.

bushman you hit the nail on the head brother

If you want to blend in and not look like a threatening target then you are going to need to dress like a normal Joe off the street.

To me it's not so much the color as the military look. You take a black backpack that is just a normal civilian book/hiking backpack and it won't raise any eyebrows. My Camelback HAWG (civilian version) is black and looks very normal. I have a Camelback Alpine too and it's black. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

It's not so much the color, but the combination of color with style, your other gear, and how you carry yourself. You take a three day assault pack with MOLLE webbing and you have much more tactical look going on. You take that same pack and add a big honkin' knife strapped onto the side and you are going to get much more attention than if you look like you are headed out for a dayhike with a "normal" pack and your knife tucked away.

I don't like all of that attention, that's all I'm sayin'. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />