Zombie Clothes

[muttSRT]

I just re-watched 28 days later (yeah I know not a "classic" zombie flick, but one I think is more likely to happen than the re-animation of dead tissue) and it got me thinking, What would be the best zombie outfit? When they head to the high rise to meet up with the guy and his daughter, the guy had on what looked to be basic riot gear.

What do you think is going to be the best zombie-proof wear? Keep in mind, with the movie listed, these are more agile and faster rage type zombies. My outfit for classic zombies would differ quite a bit as I wouldnt have to move as fast and therefore could carry more stuff.

What will you be wearing??

 

[whynotvap]

Fast, infection-based zombies... Optimal would be a wet suit with a titanium 'shark proof' mesh/mail over it for possible contact protection. If weather permitted it, I'd sandwich the mesh between layers to minimize noise (by the way, neoprene waders would work for upper chest to toe coverage and they're easier to find than a scuba suit). Take a decent gas mask and duct tape it to a rain poncho and you should have an impromptu Hazmat suit that doesn't weigh too much. Biggest drawback would be in summer due to high temps though... I guess I'd settle for just the mesh/mail in warm temps

Slow/traditional zombies? I'll be hammering on construction signs until I have some rudimentary plate armor. I'll finish fitting it to my upper's and lowers in my spare time but trash can style will work in a pinch! Top it off with a football helmet up top and maybe some external plating to my combat boots. In a perfect world I could hard anodize it all a matte grey or black for trouble free maintenance and I should be okay.

Day to day wear in either case would pretty much be my level IIIa vest, not that I wouldn't wear it under the armor too

 

[muttSRT]

I mentioned the shark suit/ chain mail in another post, but didnt get any response. I still think its a great idea, shark proof=zombie proof, at least for the bites. Care would still have to be taken against open wounds and infected blood, or god forbid that 1 pesky drop of blood that falls from a bird just as you happen to look up.

Its going on my "fantasy" list cause at $23,000, I dont see me owning a shark proof suit anytime soon. Maybe if I was still living in Florida and was close to the coast where I could scout out a couple suits, just in case all hell breaks loose, but we dont get much call for them here in the foothills of Georgia.

Where the shark suit and the old school chain mail differ, is on the old school, they dont weld the connecting ring pieces together. On a shark suit, they do. The average shark suit (according to the video I just watched with Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs) has 400,000 metal rings and 400,000 little welds. Thats where the cost comes in. Now, I dont think that zombies will have the bone crushing power of a shark, so maybe old school chain mail will be more realistic? A shirt and head protection will run about $140 on ebay and its made out of zinc plated steel. So eventually its gonna rust, but rusty or not, it should withstand a zombie bite. Then maybe you can either contact the makers and see if they will custom make you a set of pants or better yet a set of "chaps". Something that can be easily put on/taken off.

 

[whynotvap]

$140? That's pretty cheap! Do they have XXL's at that price? The easy way to clean chain mail is the old school way as well, with a small barrel partially filled with sand. Just roll/kick it around for 15-30 minutes if you don't feel like making a belt driven cradle attachment to a bench grinder. The pants, like you said, would be hard to fit but chaps would pretty much be a shirt flipped upside down with some creative ring clipping. It WILL be rather heavy though and I don't want to think about trying to run with 10-15 pounds of steel bouncing up, down, and side to side. It'll play havoc with your balance for sure.

I think we need Troy Hurtubise to design something for the public!
YouTube - Halo / Storm Trooper inspired combat suit

Well everything but the groin clock would work

 

[muttSRT]

Yeah, chain mail wont be user friendly and definitely not something I want to try and run in. Heres a link for some- $130 with shipping...says it fits up tp XXL 17 " x 31 " Silver Medieval Chain Mail Armor Set - eBay (item 170581832553 end time Jan-19-11 18:51:28 PST)

The halo looking suit, thats pretty freaking sweet...

I am gonna be sticking to multi layered clothing, with genuine leather as the top layer. Not exactly bite proof, but I would feel ok saying bite resistant. I already own biker clothing-leather duster, chaps, gloves, hell i even got a button up leather dress shirt and a leather face mask. Add my knee high lineman boots and I am feeling pretty good that I have a bite resistant set-up. The cool thing is everything is already broken in so its pretty flexible and easy to move in. Plus being all black leather that should help with the blending in the shadows.

 

[whynotvap]

Heavier cycle leather should be bite proof. Something like the "50's" traditional double breasted jacket is usually 5mm+ thick and it would take some serious chompers to get through that! Most pants and chaps aren't that thick though since you need to walk in them so they're more in the resistant class like you said. If you could get a full body crotch rocket suit that didn't look like... well... an Anime character, it would provide better protection for your mid (softest, most vulnerable parts) section. A good kidney belt would help a lot though. Linemen boots are perfect though! Do you have the climbing spikes too? Would be a nice add on especially for those that can still swing their legs higher than waist level (which leaves me out). Sounds like a pretty complete set-up to me too. I wonder if those dragon jeans (with the kevlar) have a ballistic rating...

Quick personal question though about the duster. How the heck did you keep it from getting caught in the belt or chain? I never felt confident enough to risk wearing mine when I rode to just tuck it and I never had a shaft drive bike.

 

[muttSRT]

7 of my harleys were chain driven. At the end I finally bought a newer one and had a belt drive. I always worried about the duster flapping and ending up caught in the chain or even the rear spokes are anything that it would wrap fast and pull me off the bike. I always pictured it getting caught and not being able to rip it would just pull me from the seat.

When I rode with the duster, I usually sat down and then took any loose part and crotch tucked it while I rode. Because of this, I rarely wore it when I rode. If I did want it with me, it was more than likely rolled and strapped to the triple trees and then worn when I got to where I was going.

As far as chaps go, being from florida most of the chaps I owned were the light weight style you were talking about. I did inherit a thick pair with from a friend of mine, but ended up getting rid of them because they were just too bulky and hot for florida. I will have to go through my leather closet and see what I have left. I had a THICK pair of leather pants ( i always called them my rock start pants) but have gained a pound or 3 since I got married this last time. I am the one on the right: Login | Facebook

 

[muttSRT]

Dont know if this goes in clothing or tools, but is anyone else using a gasmask? if so what kind, where did you get it etc etc

 

[Dr Evil Zombie]

Dont know if this goes in clothing or tools, but is anyone else using a gasmask? if so what kind, where did you get it etc etc

I got an Isreali gas mask and some fresh canisters at my local military surplus for around $30-40 total.

 

[muttSRT]

Thats the one i was going to get... NEW FALLOUT ISRAELI GAS MASK SURIVIVAL NBC FILTER+TUBE - eBay (item 380303698750 end time Jan-06-11 10:58:28 PST)

 

[Dr Evil Zombie]

Thats the one i was going to get... NEW FALLOUT ISRAELI GAS MASK SURIVIVAL NBC FILTER+TUBE - eBay (item 380303698750 end time Jan-06-11 10:58:28 PST)

Yep, that's the one. Those NBC canisters are only about $5 a piece too. Don't know how long they last though. You can get children's versions and even one's designed for dogs. I just have one for me though, along with the extra canisters.

 

[muttSRT]

i just missed a bulk pack of 20 filters for $60

 

[muttSRT]

So...lets see. If I had to create my Zombie wear-

Layered selection of shirts, topped off with a leather duster. check!

Denim jeans (loose fit for running and fighting), and a set of leather chaps for the legs. check! (but having loose jeans will cause a bunch up in the .... area if chaps are worn...I know this from experience, but the duster will hide it, LOL)

Linemans boots (with spikes if possible)...I had heavy duty zippers put in mine to help get them on and off. check!

Black cowboy hat because a zombie hunter has to look good. check!

gas mask. check!

leather gloves. check

I think my zombie wear has been planned out and I am feeling good about my choices.

 

[muttSRT]

NEW...NATO NBC Gas Mask sealed filters 40mm . LOT OF 20 - eBay (item 290517612588 end time Jan-06-11 18:44:47 PST)

 

[CES]

if we must go with chainmail, there's no reason it can't be fashionable

 

[bssage]

hate to break it to you mutt. If you wear the mask the beard has to go. OSHA reg's sorry. And you know they will still be around. No reason for the Zombie's to eat someone from a federal government branch.

And those legs have me flashing back to a internet video I should have never watched.

 

[muttSRT]

hate to break it to you mutt. If you wear the mask the beard has to go. OSHA reg's sorry. And you know they will still be around. No reason for the Zombie's to eat someone from a federal government branch.

And those legs have me flashing back to a internet video I should have never watched.

Yeah i figured for a good seal, the beard goes...to be honest if SHTF, then More than likely the hair goes as well...will just be easier...plus I hate the idea of splatter in my hair cuz you know I am gonna kill me a bunch of zombies

 

[MuddyWaterMan]

Sounds good mutt on the gear! I think I would throw some snake boots in for extra measure though! Can't bee too careful. Why are we going the gas mask route though? I would think a good pair of goggles or other eye protection and a decent face mask (painter style or similar) would be enough. For me in the South Texas heat it would HAVE to be!

 

[muttSRT]

I was thinking face protection just for the slaughter. No one is going to be sure how the Z-virus will spread initially, and I figure the first wave of the virus will be the strongest, so I plan on protecting myself as best as I can from bites, blood splatter, dirty air etc. I am thinking something like this might be better suited for zombie killing: MSA Gas Mask Advantage 1000, Large LG - eBay (item 230567671750 end time Jan-26-11 15:58:02 PST)

 

[MuddyWaterMan]

OHHHHHH I like the looks of that! Might be less to get in the way while shouldering and aiming too!