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As opposed to listing out every possible combination of clothes, coats, boots and so forth, this article will discuss some of the more common do's and don'ts of zombie survival dress. We've also got some specific clothing options listed. Feel free to sound off on each item with your opinion.
Trench-coats - In spite of their commonly held notion of being safe, reliable and so forth, they are in truth an utter liability. Most trenchcoats aren't thick enough to prevent a bite from a zombie, due to the fact that they don't just bite.. They gnaw. They get their teeth in, and they pull and tug at what they bit until its in their mouth. Now, the trenchcoat may prevent the first bite, but it will only shred under the continued gnawing of a determined zed. Couple this with the abundant amount of material you present with the oh-so-cool but oh-so-baggy trenchcoat, and the fact that wearing one quickly becomes uncomfortable in all but the coldest of winters, and you have a survivor ala mode. Unless the weather dictates such dress, and even then if there is no alternative, then be wary of the vulnerabilities your presenting yourself with.
Gloves - As above, avoid these if weather allows, and be cautious in them if you must wear them. Gloves of any thickness become a liability due to the sheer reliance that human beings have on their sense of touch. The ability to load a pistol without looking, or to feel through a pocket, or any of the other things that you don't' even realize you NEED a sense of touch to be able to do effectively. These are recomended though but not as armor it would be good to have a pair around for chores such as moving that barded wire out of the way trenching through the unforgiveing wilderness, the last thing you want to be consentrating on is how much your hands hurt from all those little cuts witch will almost kill the awarness you have with your surrondings.
Helmets - Only to be worn if in a hazard area where there is risk of falling debris. I won't include the chance of survivor friendly fire in this due to the fact that a civilian is unlikely to own a helmet that can withstand the impact of a bullet, and those that do would likely be rendered unconcious by the impact of the blow.
Boots - Important to avoid ankle grabbers.. While they won't stop ALL bites to the lower legs, boots are still a good start. In addition to this, they are generally a good pick for any survival situation. However, this only applies *IF* you own a pair of boots that you've broken in and are completely comfortable in wearing. If you do not, then go with your trainers or track shoes, because the blisters that you will form from trying to break in the boots in a survival scenario will present more of a danger then the occasional ankle level zombie will.
Tight clothes - Seems simple, but is in fact a much overlooked defence against being grabbed and bitten. Less loose cloth = less target, and less for a zombie to drag you in by. While this doesn't mean that you should romp about in latex bodysuits, it does mean that cargo pants, over-sized shirts and the like are best left at home.
A belt - Again, simple, but again overlooked. In addition to their original intent, which is still quite important ( You try having your trousers drop in front of a pack of zeds.. I doubt they'll see the humor! ), the belt can give you a place to hang holsters, survival packs, and in worst case scenarios can be used as a very effective tourniquet or rigging.
A hat - Preferably a baseball cap. Assuming that your survival is spent out of doors, a simple hat will work wonders to help prevent sunburn. This is a mere inconvenience in most situations, but a nasty sunburn on the back of ones neck can limit the range of motion to the head and make for a generally distracting bit of easily avoided discomfort. Consider a Gore-Tex sombrero-style hat, available from REI or the like. Not only will it keep you dry, but you can actually carry water in it.
A watch - Keeping track of time can be important, especially if one is trying to coordinate with over survivors. Also, being able to know what time it is can actually do quite a bit to prevent one from having distopic, pessimistic thoughts that come from feeling as though the ordeal with never end.
A bandanna - In lieu of a hat, one could settle with a bandanna of any color or pattern. Even if not worn, a bandanna can make for an excellent signaling tool, bandage or a number of other uses that may present themselves. If you're trying to keep track of your team, consider color coding them. It's easier to avoid shooting the heads of survivors if they are clearly differentiated from a Z.
Weather appropriate attire - in addition to these specifics, remember to dress according to where you're going to be. Wear a heavy coat and dress in layers if your going to be staying in the frigid Canadian north, but don't dress like you would there if one is heading for an island in the Pacific. The regional dress that works best will not be covered for now, though it may be added at a later date.
Canvas: Very sturdy, light weight and reliable clothing, protecting against abraision and providing reasonable bite protection. Look to brands like Carhartt.
Leather: sure it may be hot. Yet, nothing is going to bite through that. I would rather deal with heat than death. You can also get skin tight leather as well. Trust me it will work. I tried biting through the stuff myself to see if it would work. Pleather is definitely a material to steer clear of though because I bit right through it and made my arm bleed.
Zombie Survivor Fashion Don'ts:
Trench-coats - In spite of their commonly held notion of being safe, reliable and so forth, they are in truth an utter liability. Most trenchcoats aren't thick enough to prevent a bite from a zombie, due to the fact that they don't just bite.. They gnaw. They get their teeth in, and they pull and tug at what they bit until its in their mouth. Now, the trenchcoat may prevent the first bite, but it will only shred under the continued gnawing of a determined zed. Couple this with the abundant amount of material you present with the oh-so-cool but oh-so-baggy trenchcoat, and the fact that wearing one quickly becomes uncomfortable in all but the coldest of winters, and you have a survivor ala mode. Unless the weather dictates such dress, and even then if there is no alternative, then be wary of the vulnerabilities your presenting yourself with.Gloves - As above, avoid these if weather allows, and be cautious in them if you must wear them. Gloves of any thickness become a liability due to the sheer reliance that human beings have on their sense of touch. The ability to load a pistol without looking, or to feel through a pocket, or any of the other things that you don't' even realize you NEED a sense of touch to be able to do effectively. These are recomended though but not as armor it would be good to have a pair around for chores such as moving that barded wire out of the way trenching through the unforgiveing wilderness, the last thing you want to be consentrating on is how much your hands hurt from all those little cuts witch will almost kill the awarness you have with your surrondings.Helmets - Only to be worn if in a hazard area where there is risk of falling debris. I won't include the chance of survivor friendly fire in this due to the fact that a civilian is unlikely to own a helmet that can withstand the impact of a bullet, and those that do would likely be rendered unconcious by the impact of the blow. General Clothing Guidelines:
Boots - Important to avoid ankle grabbers.. While they won't stop ALL bites to the lower legs, boots are still a good start. In addition to this, they are generally a good pick for any survival situation. However, this only applies *IF* you own a pair of boots that you've broken in and are completely comfortable in wearing. If you do not, then go with your trainers or track shoes, because the blisters that you will form from trying to break in the boots in a survival scenario will present more of a danger then the occasional ankle level zombie will.Tight clothes - Seems simple, but is in fact a much overlooked defence against being grabbed and bitten. Less loose cloth = less target, and less for a zombie to drag you in by. While this doesn't mean that you should romp about in latex bodysuits, it does mean that cargo pants, over-sized shirts and the like are best left at home.A belt - Again, simple, but again overlooked. In addition to their original intent, which is still quite important ( You try having your trousers drop in front of a pack of zeds.. I doubt they'll see the humor! ), the belt can give you a place to hang holsters, survival packs, and in worst case scenarios can be used as a very effective tourniquet or rigging.A hat - Preferably a baseball cap. Assuming that your survival is spent out of doors, a simple hat will work wonders to help prevent sunburn. This is a mere inconvenience in most situations, but a nasty sunburn on the back of ones neck can limit the range of motion to the head and make for a generally distracting bit of easily avoided discomfort. Consider a Gore-Tex sombrero-style hat, available from REI or the like. Not only will it keep you dry, but you can actually carry water in it.A watch - Keeping track of time can be important, especially if one is trying to coordinate with over survivors. Also, being able to know what time it is can actually do quite a bit to prevent one from having distopic, pessimistic thoughts that come from feeling as though the ordeal with never end.A bandanna - In lieu of a hat, one could settle with a bandanna of any color or pattern. Even if not worn, a bandanna can make for an excellent signaling tool, bandage or a number of other uses that may present themselves. If you're trying to keep track of your team, consider color coding them. It's easier to avoid shooting the heads of survivors if they are clearly differentiated from a Z.Weather appropriate attire - in addition to these specifics, remember to dress according to where you're going to be. Wear a heavy coat and dress in layers if your going to be staying in the frigid Canadian north, but don't dress like you would there if one is heading for an island in the Pacific. The regional dress that works best will not be covered for now, though it may be added at a later date.Specific Clothing:
Canvas: Very sturdy, light weight and reliable clothing, protecting against abraision and providing reasonable bite protection. Look to brands like Carhartt.
Leather: sure it may be hot. Yet, nothing is going to bite through that. I would rather deal with heat than death. You can also get skin tight leather as well. Trust me it will work. I tried biting through the stuff myself to see if it would work. Pleather is definitely a material to steer clear of though because I bit right through it and made my arm bleed.
Chain Mail: With todays alloys it can be lighter than the knights endured. This is option requires a layer of water resistant cloth or leather underneath. The layer underneath the mail does two things, it stops the chain mail from breaking the skin and prevents any saliva from getting into any cuts or wounds that you may have. To save weight, avoid using chain mail to protect your chest, stick to protecting the easily bitten areas. On the downside, steel chain mail is heavy, loud, and hot. The exception to the heavy constraint is titanium mail. A shirt of welded titanium mail weighs between about two and four pounds, but will still need padding beneath it. The other downside is to titanium is the cost. Be ready to plunk down over a grand for this superior protection. Combat ready chain mail is extremely difficult to find. Even those of us in the reenactment community have a hard time finding it. Unless you're accustomed to fighting and running in chain mail, avoid it. 
Heavy duty steel armor:Not very practical if you're the run and kill kinda guy. But for this there's no way a zombie can bite you! For this your probably just going to want to save your energy and don't really run while your in this, but save your energy for one of the many weapons you can use. Remeber you cannot run for any length of time and if attacked by multiple zombies they will catch up with you through stamia alone and they will jump you and hold you down, if you are alone they will keep you long enough to die of dehydration. Just,from experience, try to get out of the suite before *Ahem* go to the bathroom. But on a lighter note, it goes great with chain mail if you want to be fancy.
Jacket: You should have a leather jacket with long sleeves, making it less likely for a zombie to bite through. This being a fairly common item, I see no difficulty in procuring it in a timely manner. Look no farther than your neighborhood motorcycle shop to find a variety of upper-body zombie resistant armor. 
Gloves: The best type of gloves to wear are kevlar hard knuckle style gloves. They can most likely be found in military surplus stores or motorcycle shops. This is up for debate (see Fashion Don'ts above)
Jeans: Denim is tough and hard to bite through, making it a good tool to hold off bites. Just remember to wear jeans that are thick and comfortable, as opposed to stylish ones. A good trick is to put your pant leg into your boot to prevent any zombies getting at your exposed ankles.
Snake-Bite-Proof Chaps: As mentioned by one of the survivors courageous enough to tell his story in the oral history of the dark times, these work well at keeping both poisonous serpents and undead crawlers from getting under your skin. These can be found in boot form, as gaitors, or as full-length chaps (pictured).
Shoes: Steel-toed boots are the way to go. These boots are easy to acquire and will give you plenty of protection from zombies. They hold up well and if you get a good pair will still allow you to make a quick getaway. Military combat boots are probably going to be a good bet as well. They'll hold up in combat and they're extremely comfortable.
Kevlar covers: Light and practically bite proof, but kelvar is designed to protect against bullets so is put on the larges area of your body the chest (not in much danger when dealing with zombies) it would be best to take these vests and cannabalise them for use in sleeves and leggings both more easily bite able targets. 
Wet-Suit: Tight, waterproof, a little less flexible but almost bite proof. Specifically the shark-divers suit. It's made to withstand shark bites, so it will stand up to a bite from the undead.
Helmet (Optional): A good full-faced motorcycle helmet, for example, does not hinder your vision in any way and provides protection against all sorts of apocalyptic dangers the zombie holocaust is sure to produce. 
Tarp: A thick plastic tarp protects against bites and can also be useful as a shelter. 
Motorcycle Gear: Good motorcycle gear is an often overlooked full body zombie resistant armor solution. Easy to obtain from most motorcycle shops and dealerships, it is strong enough to protect the body from a fall at 60 mph, so it is definitely strong enough to protect against a zombie 1-on-1. Most think that this means leather; this is simply not the case as many manufacturers have developed textiles that are inherently breathable, vented,light and just as effective as leather. On top of that the jackets, pants and chaps often have armor built right in that adds a negligible amount of weight, but could be lifesaving. Coupled with a full-face helmet, thick gloves and boots, riding gear is the perfect addition to a zombie survival kit.General Notes: Short hair and tight clothes are the best protection, as this leaves the least possible amount of area a Zombie can grab.
THOUGHTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE WIKI
One thing I think people are forgetting to worry about is the damage a zombie can do without biting you. The protection list above me is a great list but no where does it state what a zombie can do to you without biting, A zombie cannot bite through most of that stuff but it cant still bite hard enough to break or fracture a bone. So yes, chain mail will not let the bite puncture the skin but once someone, zombie or not, clamps its teeth on you there can be severe muscle and bone damage. Just giving everyone a heads up :). EnriqueB
That's actually pretty smart, I never would have thought of that. ZombieSlayerRC
In my experience, zombies were of the same strength as your average human, and endowed no extra strength, just the fact no pain is felt. So to say that it will fracture a bone, goes a bit to far, maybe some muscle damage through armour, true. But its teeth, now also rotting, and so forth, will most likely break before breaking your bone, unless you suffer from some form of calcium deficiency, or the zombie is biting you with his molars, then it would be feasible that he could break a bone, but as he would have to have no cheeks to bite with a molar, that, though not infeasible, is highly unlikely. So just imagine a strong pinching pain through leather, probably stopped pretty fast if you use a small hand pick axe as a weapon.. everyone forgets, that its shape will pierce hard rock, so therefore a structure such as a skull is no problem, it would break through, and in most cases damage the brain. causing a fatal, or paralysing shot to your foe, living, or non living . deathsrising
A very good item to have is the "FX-1 FlexForce Riot Control Suit". It is nearly indestructible and is impervious to zombie attacks. You can find them for $429.99 and up (maybe less). They provide protection from blood entering your mouth and eyes, they are a dark color to prevent you from being seen (just remove the white front label), all you need to do is buy the boots, the gloves, face mask, and the helmet. These are a great thing to have in your closet for Z-Day. As soon as I raise me some cash I'm buying me a suit. I recommend you buy one too.
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Also, in regards to clothing and protection of this sort... Leather is nearly always a fantastic choice. The only problem is lack of breath-ability, which may cause dehydration and fatigue. Using leather should be done carefully, and layering of other materials (synthetic in particular) should also be considered for personal protection. And a final note on footwear. Steel toed boots are always a fantastic idea, but if you are worried about fatigue or durability, a standard military issue pair of boots can be a good alternative. These boots may be purchased at any military outlet, and even online for rather cheap.
-EvacMedic
Something that doesn't seem to have been noted on this page so far is sound. Some of that armor, while also being heavy, constraining and generally impractical, will also make a lot of noise to alert the zombies to your presence. This could be true of leather, trenchcoats, tarps(who really listed that?), and some of the weather appropriate stuff(though rain should create a louder masking sound). Shoes with a loud footfall should also be avoided. Remember, you are surviving, and that requires stealth in many cases. -McSkullcracken
A suggestion for someone who's got limited access to proper helmeting, I'd recommend obtaining a paintball mask and several pieces of cloth such as bandanas. The paintball mask itself will protect most of your face from hazardous fluids splattering all over you, as well as having the benefit of designating friendlies from friendly fire as previosly noted with bandanas. Granted, the portion around the mouth is still open enough to allow fluids to fly in, which is where the cloth comes in. Simply place the cloth over your mouth area, it should act as a perfectly breathable filter and protect you from a splatter or two so long as you switch out the cloth almost as soon as it comes into contact with the fluids. While not perfect it may save your skin a couple times from the inherit danger of fluids getting in your mouth, nose, eyes or other open facial wounds. Also in the event of a military force using chemical weapons simply piss on the cloth, place it over your mouth and nose and run for it (preferably to the north or south where the wind is less likely to blow). While not perfect, and only provides limited protection against gases attacking the respiratory system, the technique did save quite a few lives on the French side during World War I. -Piratelord78
This page is for Protective Clothing only. The other categories that where on the Weapons and Gear page with this category are listed as following:
codeman
i myself would cut up a trampoline and use the matirial to make a suit.....or at least put it under my regular clothes...
Why would you do that? That is quite possibly be the most retarded thing I've heard recently.
These pages are filed under Other kinds of Weapons and Gear and under Weapons and Gear
