so for the longest time, conventional wisdom has said that "tactical" and Molle gear is bad for bug-out/ready bags/get home kits because it "marks you"
but with the proliferation of Molle/tactical gear and "tacticool" culture do you guys think this is just the case? I mean, wal-mart carries Molle gear now. several people I went to college used assault packs for backpacks.
So what are your thoughts?

Hey, some Kelty or North Face equipment and a sack of granola and you're practically invisible no matter what else you're carrying.   

Guys,
If you're in a place under circumstances that make you think a "tacticool" or military style backpack is going to mark you, and by mark I'm guessing you mean draw unwanted attention and implying being robbed or assaulted, then you'll have the same issue if you're carrying a pink Kelty pack.

If things have gotten so squirrelly that someone is going to target you to steal your stuff they're going to steal ANY packs.   
If you're worried about official types, I sincerely doubt that they much about the color or style of pack you're carrying, they're going to <probably> be more concerned with crowd control and unless you're waving a firearm around or otherwise acting like a threat you're going to be just another face in the crowd. 

What I do recommend is that you not garb yourself head to toe to look like military personnel. You know the look.  If you've been to at least one gun show you've seen the someone dressed up in a ersatz soldier suit, either surplus US or Foreign, trying to convince you his myopic gaze is actually a thousand meter stare. 
Don't be that guy plus an alice pack, looking like your out playing jungle patrol with   your airsoft friends.  You'd probably just be the butt of jokes for all that see you if you do, bit there's a slim chance someone might think you'll do something stupid with all that kit and take preemptive measures. 
Just get the most durable, comfortable, functional pack for your needs that you can afford and make sure you have it fitted to you properly and use it periodically to  keep your stabilizing  muscles in shape.   
I'll repeat this again because it's more important than many people think- Make sure you get the pack properly fitted to you.  If it isn't you'll wear yourself out faster and be more prone to injury.   
The HPG packs and pouches my wife and I have are mostly in shades of coyote brown, with some OD stuff. Civilian boots, a brown smock from Arktis, clothing is all civilian looking stuff.     It's not going to be a problem if you look like you went shopping in the bargain bin at an old school Army Navy Surplus store, just try to avoid looking like Walter Mitty out for a stroll.

TL:DR-
Don't worry about .mil style or colored packs.  There is no "gray man" advantage to avoiding them in favor of "civilian" packs.   

It's a very real possibility to be targeted for being white or even a Christian, depending upon what the mob is about  .

Quite true, and I'd point out that under those circumstances the color or styling of your backpack are exceedingly unlikely to sway the crowd for or against you.

I think the "My Little Pony" backpack will mark you in an entirely different way.

I think you are entirely correct, sir. 

Screw perception,  if it's legit TEOTWAWKI,  you'll value having a pack that doesn't suck.  You seriously get what you pay for.  That said,  Molle isn' the end all/be all on a main pack.  Handy,  but not necessary.  And I say this a an endurance hiker that hauls either a Mystery Ranch Hot Top or a surplus Filbe main pack, depending on length of hike.  The molle farm is handy on a flak/plate carrier,  but less so on a pack.

YMMV,  I'm no expert,  I just know what I like.

Are you attempting to hint that your EDC is a My Little Pony backpack? 

I don't know about you but I keep my bug out gear in my My Little Pony lunch box...

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I really need to get my get home back in order for my sedan. I have a small gas container, shaker siphon, sleeping bag, fat max, and ability for fire. I have a machete and fishing pole for the more rural stuff, but I think that if it is going to be something political like what we have been seeing with antifa and civil unrest, then I believe I'll value food/snacks, a few comfort items like a fresh change of clothes/chapstick/etc, and a few bucks for gas or a pay phone more than the super tacticool stuff. My guess is that one box of ammo would and 3 mags would be the most one would need, tops.

I'm not staying and fighting, I'm leaving town  .

Are you attempting to hint that your EDC is a My Little Pony backpack? 

*haughty sniff* Please.

Rocket Raccoon.


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I've currently got one of these in the trunk:

this, however, is right out:



a friend and coworker spent an hour being detained while the base coppers tore his car apart after finding his 'safety tote'.

Goodness!  If you're really concerned about it, I would almost say cache something somewhere. They tore his vehicle apart just because he had a plastic crate that contained miscellaneous stuff in it? Unless you're buying a gun magnet, something really small, and putting it on the underside of the hood or wheel well, I just wouldn't risk it.

If he puts something on the underside of the vehicle with a magnet that would be tantamount to requesting a body cavity search. 
Force Protection has less of a sense of humor than the IRS.

If he's like most guys I know he won't care if they do anything to him, just don't let then mess with his truck  .

Then again, company vehicles don't count.

Most guys you know wouldn't care about getting a body cavity search?

'Wouldn't care' is the wrong word, but pick up trucks are sacred in Texas. I think most guys here would rather be tarred and feathered than to have some stranger poke around their beloved dually.

Is that what the kids are calling their junk nowadays? Never heard that before...