15 Pieces of Riot Gear for Urban Survival

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Preppers need the ability to bug out of a city, but what if in the chaos there is a riot, or a riot is causing the chaos? Do you have the riot gear needed to aid your escape?

Riots can pose a serious threat to anyone living in or traveling through a city. The following supplies should be considered for any urban bug out bag or urban get home bag where/when violent protests or riots pose a threat to safety and survival.

1 – Proper Shoes

Protecting your feet, while maintaining the ability to move quickly on foot, is essential to survival in an urban SHTF situation, particularly riots. The streets will be unpredictable and hazardous. Expect broken glass, rubble, and other debris scattered across the concrete. Expect crowd patterns to change without warning, requiring you to be able to change direction or move quickly to avoid danger.

You want sturdy, lace up shoes with thick soles to protect you from the cuts and punctures that running on debris might cause. You need traction because the ground can become wet and slippery. Think water cannons, for example.

They should have some level of ankle support both for additional debris protection but also for stability in that kind of environment where you have to move quickly. The last thing you want in the middle of a human stampede is to fall over with a sprained ankle. Your shoes should also have a sturdy toe box in case your feet get stepped on by others.

You don’t want something too rugged, however. Heavy hiking or work boots offer a lot of protection, but they are not comfortable for running and will slow you down, particularly if you have to run long distances. They are also not great for jumping or climbing fences. Good examples would be trail running sneakers.

My choice would be the Danner 600 lightweight hiking boot, but for many, solid running sneakers might be best choice.

2 – A Riot Gear Bag to Carry it All

If you want to carry everything I’m mentioning here you’re going to need a bigger bag than you might like. The problem is that a bigger bag slows you down.

You can compensate for some of those disadvantages by using a contoured, lightweight backpack that hugs your body and has a thick waist belt to keep the weight off your shoulders. This is the best option for someone that needs to cover all of their bases and needs to bug out THROUGH a riot or can keep everything in the trunk of a vehicle – just in case.

However, if you have to travel through a riot, much of the riot gear I mention here will already on your body, dramatically reducing the size of the bag.

My preferred pack company is Osprey. They make strong, lightweight packs that are not overly “tactical” (think gray man). Their packs also hug closely to your body, which helps you move more quickly, more comfortably.

Best

Totally Fine

A lower cost, albeit lower quality pack would be the INOXTO 40L pack.

3 – Proper Clothes

Wearing proper clothes during a riot is important for protection, mobility, and safety. The right clothing can help shield you from environmental hazards, prevent injuries, and allow you to move freely.

Generally speaking, you want to avoid anything that screams “protestor.” So, you should wear neutral colors. This is going to help you blend in with the general population and not be seen as part of the protest or riot.

You should particularly avoid wearing black, which is often associated with different types of protests. Black is often worn by protestors in what’s called a black bloc. Protestors will all wear black clothing, ski masks, sunglasses, helmets, etc. They do this to conceal their identities from the police and opposition parties who might be trying to dox them. It’s a tactic that also allows them to appear as one large unified mass.

On the flip side of that, if you ARE taking an active part in a protest, it is probably wise TO wear black. Not only to show unity with your side, but also to help you blend in and better protect your identity.

Whatever color you choose, you should wear long sleeve pants and shirts. The obvious reason for this is that it will help protect your skin from flying debris, tear gas, pepper spray, etc. If you have tattoos on your arms or legs, it will also cover those, which can help you from being identified by authorities. This is important whether you’re taking part in a riot but also if you’re caught up in one where you could be guilty by assumption.

Personally, I would wear lightweight zip pants, the kind I wear for hiking. This gives you the option to quickly turn them into shorts if needed, and, if you need to change your appearance for any reason, turning pants into shorts can’t hurt. It also has a variety of pockets that I can use to hold different gear I want quick access to.

You might also consider disposable rain gear if you think being contaminated by tear gas or pepper spray is a significant risk. Something like a stasher jacket, a cheap rain jacket carried by hikers, is perfect for this.

Dress Like a Construction Worker

Here is an off-the-wall idea to consider. Carry a high visibility vest. That could also aid your escape. An article by Vice News concluded that wearing a high visibility vest can get you into many places for free. A few guys tried it and got into the movies, a zoo, and a concert. In a pinch, you might be able to escape a riot by appearing as an essential worker and walking past
barricades without question.

If the idea of disguise appeals to you, consider wearing a shirt or other piece of apparel with PRESS written on it. Law enforcement won’t treat you special, but they might overlook you if they think you’re not part of the chaos, merely reporting on it.

4 – Head Protection

You gotta protect your head in a riot. It’s critical. Protestors throw bricks and bottles. Police fire rubber bullets. People also get hit on the head with fists, boards, pipes, and batons. The last thing you want in a riot is to get knocked unconscious or to end up with traumatic brain injury.

You need a helmet of some type. A sturdy helmet will protect your head and it might make you less likely to be singled out as an easy target by an aggressor. Tactical helmets will offer the best protection, but they’re expensive and might make you stand
out more than you’d like.

Good

A bike helmet is a better option because they’re common, easy to blend in with the crowd, relatively inexpensive, and you might already own one.

Better

A climbing helmet is another option. They offer good ventilation, even stronger protection, and they’re exceptionally comfortable.

Best

A construction hard hat is another solid choice. They’re sturdy and widely available. If you use one, you could also carry a bright construction vest. If you needed to suddenly change your appearance, the two together would make you look like a construction worker, not a troublemaker.

5 – Face and Eye Protection

Face and eye protection are crucial in a riot situation to shield yourself from the hazards we’ve already discussed – flying material, pepper spray, tear gas, water cannons, etc. Dust, dirt, and shattered glass are all common in chaotic urban environments. Smoke from fires as well. You need to maintain your vision to escape danger.

Protecting your face and eyes will make you better suited for any physical altercations. A face shield can absorb the impact from blows, protecting your face, teeth, and jaw. Impact resistant goggles would work for your eyes. Ballistic goggles would work even better.

Best

A helmet with a face shield would combine both head and face protection. If you purchase a quality hard hat as your helmet, it likely incorporates some level of eye protection.

Good Enough

For me, I use simple shooting range glasses as they’re affordable and I find my vision to be more crisp through the amber-colored lenses.

6 – Lung Protection

For the chemical agents used to disperse crowds, you also need lung protection. Tear gas and pepper spray are commonly used crowd control measures. These chemicals cause severe irritation to the respiratory system, leading to coughing, choking, difficulty breathing, and a burning sensation in the lungs and throat.

Cheap and Easy

Simple N95 masks will help you breathe through smoke and ash while also protecting your identity. That’s a cheap, quick option, and preppers should already have a stock of those, but they won’t do much against pepper spray.

To get an idea for the effects of pepper spray, or at least PAVA powder, see my video Me vs Pepper Grenade.

As I mentioned, riots often involve fires as well, which means smoke from burning vehicles and buildings, toxic fumes, or carbon monoxide. For these, the ideal protection is going to be a full gas mask that comes with a face shield, protecting your lungs, face, and eyes all in one.

Okay Choice

Some people find these claustrophobic, but that is more of an issue with cheaper surplus masks. They’re harder to see and breathe in.

Best Choice

A better option is the more modern gas masks like those from MIRA Safety. You can see my video testing this against a smoke grenade and pepper grenade.

A full-face gas mask with appropriate chemical filters provides the most comprehensive protection against these hazardous agents, reducing the short and long-term risk of lung damage and making your movements through a riot much safer.

7 – Ear Protection

Riots are loud! Ear protection is a critical piece of your riot gear. Noise canceling head phones won’t do the trick!

Police use different types of sound deterrent devices in riot control and crowd management. They’re non-lethal, but really, really loud. They emit sounds and tones that are beyond the normal human threshold of pain and they can permanently damage hearing. They’re painful and disorienting.

If you’re on the receiving end of these things you’ll definitely want to move. You won’t have a choice. You’ll be glad you packed ear protection. The Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) is probably the most well-known sound deterrent. It’s
a highly directional device so police can target specific areas of the crowd.

The Acoustic Hailing Device (AHD) works in a similar fashion. They’re less intense than LRADs, but they can also be used as communication devices. Think of it as a megaphone on steroids.

Solid Choice

Having gun-range worthy hearing protection is important. Simple shooting range earmuffs work will, but a better choice would be the electronic earmuffs, which only kick on when a loud noise hits. This key feature allows you to hear what else is going on around you – important in a chaotic event!

Cheap and Easy

However, you can use the traditional soft foam earplugs. They’re cheap, small, and lightweight. You could pack a ton of these to hand out to others.

8 – Hand Protection

Gloves are another essential piece of protective gear. There is a high likelihood you could encounter sharp objects, broken glass, debris, and generally just need to protect your hands from injury. Gloves can also provide a protective barrier if you’re administering medical care to someone that is bleeding.

You want gloves that will maintain finger dexterity. You might need to scale a fence, jump barricades, grip tools, handle ropes or wires, etc.

Simple Choice

Basic work gloves will suit most people just fine, and odds are high you probably already have a pair.

They’ll also go well with the essential worker helmet and vest to complete that outfit.

Also Good

I like my cheap “tactical” gloves. They are not overly robust or high quality, but they offer solid knuckle protection (think possible melee situation), and they are affordable enough to buy a few pair to stash in different vehicles or kits.

9 – A Bottle of Water

Water is essential for hydration, but when it comes to social unrest and riots, it often serves another purpose – flushing eyes to get tear gas and pepper spray out. You might need this for someone else, a friend or loved one, or you might need someone to use it on you.

But you are more likely to use your water for hydration. Getting away from danger in an urban setting can be physically demanding, particularly if it’s on a hot day. Dehydration can lead to weakness, dizziness, and impair decision-making, thus compromising your safety. For that matter, including some food, like energy bars, would also be helpful.

10 – Trauma or First Aid Kit

If you’ve seen news clips of riots and urban chaos, it almost always contains imagery of people who have become bloodied, injured, or even killed. Protests turn violent amazingly fast. People get hit, smashed, trampled, and burned. It can be horrible.

Common injuries include blunt force trauma, burns from fire or explosions, contusions from rubber bullets, sprains, and – as mentioned, eye and respiratory injuries.

Carrying a trauma or basic first aid kit will ensure you are prepared to handle injuries that might occur.

I have a basic IFAK, Individual First Aid Kit, here that covers the basics. It’s lightweight and compact, which, again, is important for maintaining the ability to move quickly.

Whatever it is should contain the supplies needed to stop bleeding, reduce swelling, and stabilize injuries so they don’t get worse before you can find medical attention.

11 – City Map

Carrying a map in a riot situation is a strategic and practical safety measure for several reasons. Cell service may be disrupted or intentionally shut down, GPS signals might be unreliable, or your phone could run out of battery. Digital maps may become inaccessible if the internet is down.

A physical map allows you to navigate the area without relying on technology. You can identify your location, plot escape routes, and find alternative paths to safety even if your phone is unusable.

Roads may be blocked, public transportation could be shut down, and crowds might make certain routes impassable. A map helps you identify safe zones, such as police stations, hospitals, or other places of refuge. You can also use it to plan multiple escape routes, avoiding main thoroughfares where clashes are more likely to occur.

Urban areas often have complex layouts, with alleys, side streets, and public transport routes that might not be immediately obvious. A detailed map gives you a better understanding of the local terrain, including shortcuts, alleyways, or even building layouts that can be used to evade crowds or find shelter. It can also help you identify elevated areas or bridges that could provide a better vantage point or escape route.

A map helps you avoid these bottlenecks by finding less congested routes, reducing the risk of getting stuck in your vehicle in a potentially dangerous situation.

Studying a map in advance allows you to plan and memorize these routes, so you’re better prepared if you need to move quickly or if primary routes become blocked or dangerous.

12 – Multi-Tool

A multi-tool typically includes a variety of tools like a knife, pliers, screwdrivers, and more, all in one compact device. This versatility means you’re prepared for a wide range of challenges that might arise during a riot.

You find yourself trapped behind a barrier or need to cut through a seatbelt in an overturned vehicle. The knife or scissors on your multi-tool can help you cut through materials like seatbelts, rope, or zip ties.

While not ideal as a primary means of self-defense, the knife blade on a multi-tool can be used to fend off an attacker in a pinch, and if you’re caught up in the chaos and arrested, a multi-tool will make you look less like a hooligan intent on causing harm than say a fixed blade knife might.

The scissors can be used to cut bandages, gauze, or clothing away from a wound, and the tweezers can help remove small shards of glass or debris from a wound.

I have found the Leatherman Wave+ to offer the best balance between quality, available tools, and cost.

13 – Self Defense Tools

You will want some type of self defense tool if you need to escape an area being overrun with rioters. Cities often have pretty tight laws around what you can carry, concealed or otherwise, when it comes to firearms, so I’m not going to give you any advice there. Check the laws in your area and do what seems right for you and your situation. There are some non-lethal tools that you can consider, however.

Multi-Use Choice

A tactical flashlight is another idea. These powerful lights can either be used to temporarily blind someone, signal for help, or with their jagged ends, be used as a scraping or jabbing tool. Of course, they’re also critical to have on-hand if you are operating at night, particularly when power might go out in the city. For that reason, I would also recommend a quality headlamp so you can move with your hands free.

Best Choice

Pepper spray and stun guns are also good nonlethal options, just make sure to check the laws in your area. In tight situations, pens, and in particular tactical pens, make great, discreet self defense tools. If you need to move in a crowd, or move someone out of a crowd, pressing the end of a pen into their side, between the ribs, will absolutely get them moving out of your way. Just watch out for them to swing an elbow in your direction.

Unsuspecting Choice

Tactical pens are unsuspecting self-defense tools that are sleek and easy to carry. Particularly in crowded situations, they can be very effective when used correctly to press between ribs, into the neck, etc. The Olight tactical pen has the additional benefit of including a small light.

The point here is that riots are violent by nature. Rioters throw things, smash windows, loot stores, and even surround vehicles. Plan and act accordingly.

14 – Communication Device

Carrying communication devices during a riot will help ensure your safety, keep you informed, and let you coordinate with others.

A cell phone is going to be your obvious first and most important communication device. They’re like small computers in addition to phones, so you can use them for a whole lot more than just calling or texting. If you’re going to rely on your cell phone, you should also consider having a small power bank in case you are out for an extended period.

Cell phones are also a great asset in a riot, because of their cameras. You can record crimes in progress. You can snap photos of people committing crime, license plates, etc. Hold these people accountable.

All of that being said, there are potential downsides to carrying a cell phone in any type of urban unrest situation, because they can be monitored. If riots are breaking out, you can bet that phones will be tracked, during or after the event. You’d want to avoid making calls and sending texts in the thick of the chaos. You could keep it turned off entirely, only turning it on if you need it, or you could consider a burner phone, but leaving it at home might be a wise choice for some.

Another option is to carry your cell phone in a Faraday sleeve like those from Mission Darkness. This would cut the signal that your phone emits and receives entirely, but also allowing you to keep it with you should you need to use it.

There is also the risk that cell service is down or could go down. Having a communication device that doesn’t rely on cellular towers is wise, even if just for backup communication.

This is where a handheld ham radio can help. You don’t need cellular towers and it’s perfect for grid-down communication. It can serve as a scanner, keeping you informed about what’s happening if you program it in advance. A simple Baofeng radio can offer many advantages.

These WILL have limited range in an urban center due to high-rise buildings, but you can offset that to some degree by upgrading the antenna to something more powerful.

Having a good communication device can not only help keep you informed, and keep you connected to loved ones, but you can also use it to CALL law enforcement or to CALL for medical services. Maybe you want to report crimes in progress. Law enforcement might be too busy to handle it, but maybe not, too. You don’t know. You need the option.

15 – Cash and ID (maybe)

Just like your cell phones, credit cards can leave digital breadcrumbs indicating where you have been. Even if you’re not directly involved in a riot, you don’t want to be remotely associated with one, so having cash on hand would allow you to buy something in the area without leaving a digital trail of your having been there. I wouldn’t stash this in my bag, however. You might lose it. Keep it in your pants pocket, bra, shoe, or somewhere else.

As for your ID, use your judgment here. If you get caught up in the mayhem and are swooped up by authorities with everyone else, not having your ID might keep you stuck behind bars for a longer period of time.